Bedtime Stories

Bedtime stories - What can be sweeter than cuddling up with your little grandchild, reading a story? There is something magic about reading stories to a young child.

You may have tangible wealth untold
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold
Richer than I you can never be
I had a mother who read to me. Strickland Gillilan

Bedtime stories were a must in our family when I was a child,and again when my own children were small. When other parents would complain about how hard it was to get their children to bed, we had the answer. Our routine was that the girls got one book each, taking turns who had first choice of story. By the time I had read the two stories they were sleepy and ready to snuggle down. I am happy to say that my children have carried on the tradition with their own little ones.

The secret to reading to young children is to have a selection of bedtime stories that you can read over and over again without getting completely sick of them. Small children love repetition and they will ask for the same stories time after time! My grandson's favorite for years was Dear Zoo a pop-up book by Rod Campbell in which a little boy writes to the zoo and asks them to send him a pet. They send him a series of wildly unsuitable animals. Each page ends with the refrain "I sent it back" until finally they send him the perfect pet. My preference is for a bedtime story with some rhythm to it. If you keep that book for last it tends to lull the little one to sleep.
Add your most beloved bedtime story book(s) here:
Your favorite Bedtime Stories

Tell us about your grandchildren's favorite bedtime stories. Just give us the name, a few words about the book and why your grandchild likes it so much.
Is it the story, the illustrations, or does it touch upon something that is happening in the child's life?

Enter Your Title

Tell Us Your Story! [ ? ]

Close Help

Entering your story is easy to do. Just type!...

Your story will appear on a Web page exactly the way you enter it here. You can wrap a word in square brackets to make it appear bold. For example [my story] would show as my story on the Web page containing your story.

TIP: Since most people scan Web pages, include your best thoughts in your first paragraph.

Upload 1-4 Pictures or Graphics (optional) [ ? ]

Close Help

Do you have some pictures or graphics to add? Great! Click the button and find the first one on your computer. Select it and click on the button to choose it.

Then click on the link if you want to upload up to 3 more images.

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)

Click here to upload more images (optional)

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

Your Name

(first or full name)

Your Location

(ex. City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

Check box to agree to these submission guidelines.

(You can preview and edit on the next page)

Click here to see the rest of the form and complete your submission.

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

I Remember When...
I Remember When... is lovely tribute to grandparents. A hands-on board book that allows children of all ages to journey back and time and discover how ...

More Favorites:
Here is an oldie - I clearly remember my mother reading it to me more than sixty years ago - The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf with illustrations by Robert Lawson. Ferdinand is a peace-loving bull who only wants to be left alone to smell the flowers. Find out what happens when they put him in the bullring in Madrid and expect him to fight. This is a sweet gentle story about being yourself, and children love it.

Some suggestions from my daughters: Where Is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox, illustated by Judy Horacek. These happy looking sheep will keep your little ones laughing, and the children enjoy joining in the refrain "But where is the green sheep?"

Also by Mem Fox and beautifully illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes is a bedtime story for the very young. With delightful pictures of babies from all around the world, it gives a simple message of tolerance and diversity and love.

More for the little ones: Peek-A Who? by Nina Laden
and Peepo! by Janet Ahlberg were favorites with my granddaughter when she was just a baby, and later Go to Sleep, Daisy (First Daisy Book) by Jane Simmons and Animal Crackers: Bedtime by Jane Dyer

More family picks: Books by Todd Parr - The Okay Book , and Sarah Boynton - Pajama Time!

Then there are the Dr Seuss books of course! Believe it or not, I didn't know about Dr. Seuss until a friend introduced me to his books. From then on my younger daughter was a huge fan and when she grew up she bought the complete set for herself and "future generations"! Here is a starter collection - Dr. Seuss's Beginner Book Collection (Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop, Fox in Socks)

For the "older" set (5 - 6 year olds) I'm told that Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend by Melanie Watt was one of my grandson's favorites when he was that age. I haven't read it myself but I have seen great reviews of all four Scaredy Squirrel books

There you are, a few suggestions to get you started. Most grandparents are sure to have family favorites of their own. Please let us know yours. Click here to go back and add your own best loved children's books.

Just before you leave this page, here is a little bedtime video to watch with your grandchildren.

Return from Bedtime Stories to Home Page

Amazon.com Widgets

Bedtime Stories

Your favorite Bedtime Stories

What Other Visitors Have Said

Babies & Grandkids

For Grandparents

Website Info