The 25 Best Bedtime Stories of All Time

This hilarious collection of ten stories about ten delightfully dreadful children will have your kids rolling on the bedroom floor with laughter. 

In this time-traveling adventure, a bunch of misfits embark on a perilous quest to find their father. But really this novel is about the battle between good versus evil and the triumph of love. Aww...

This classic children’s story by the beloved Danish author comes with a lovely message—don’t judge someone by their appearance.

An existential reflection on bedtime that has been helping kids get ready for sleep for over 70 years—and it’s still as relevant as ever.

This sweet bedtime read follows a baby bird searching for his mother and all the animals he meets along the way. It’s been delighting young children since it came out in 1960 and is still simply adorable.

Want to spark your kid’s interest in the sciences? This educational series is a great way to do exactly that—from outer space and the human body to the city’s waterworks and the age of dinosaurs.

This beloved tale lets kids participate in the story of a ravenous caterpillar and his metamorphosis into a butterfly. Extra bonus? The story will help teach little ones how to count and the days of the week, too.

“Pull on the bottoms. Put on the top. Get yourself set to pajama-dee-bop. It’s Pajama Time!” Your kids will love the fun rhymes, and you’ll love the message that bedtime is important. 

An allegorical tale about love and loneliness written by a French aviator in the 1940s. This spacey read is pretty deep, so you might want to save it for your elementary schooler. 

This beautifully illustrated read from the brilliant author is one of the most fun ways to teach kids the basics of counting and colors.

Follow the courageous redhead whose feisty nature gets her as many friends as it does troubles in her adventures around Prince Edward Island. With her feminist and unapologetic ideals, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better female role model for your mini. 

This incorrigible little monkey has become one of the most beloved and cheeky characters of children’s literature, spawning multiple television series and films—but the books are the original magic. 

A captivating story about friendship and loss that will teach your kiddo that friends come in all shapes and sizes (and even breeds).

You’re going to want to read this one to your kid with a box of tissues on standby—this heartwarming story about a mother’s everlasting love for her boy is a real tear-jerker.

Sweet rhymes, funny characters and beautiful tissue-paper collage illustrations make this picture book a children’s favorite—especially for beginner readers.

A heartwarming tale in which Big Nutbrown Hare and his son Little Nutbrown Hare discover that love is not an easy thing to measure.

This charming tale of a young boy having an awful day is a great lesson on how not to let bad circumstances get the best of you. 

The author originally created this lovable pup as a bedtime story for his two-year-old son, and now Spot is one of the best-loved preschool characters of all time. And with this fun edition, children can lift flaps as they search for Spot on his first and most famous adventure. 

It’s bedtime at the zoo, but one sneaky gorilla has decided to tag along as the night watchman makes his rounds.

This poetry collection is funny, thought-provoking and guaranteed to challenge your child’s imagination. And the rhyming structure lends itself perfectly to being read out loud. 

Cherished by children and adults, this timeless classic is seemingly about a young boy being sent to his room without dinner who then discovers a magical jungle. But really, it explores big themes of anger, imagination and growth.

It’s hard to pick a favorite out of this author’s impressive collection, but this story about the intelligent and resourceful Matilda navigating a tricky childhood is one of his best.

Re-reading these magical books about a young wizard fighting against evil Voldemort is why you had children in the first place. Just kidding (sort of).

This rhyming tale about a little llama lying awake in bed is a dog-eared favorite on many bookshelves.

First published in 1902, this charming tale of a playful rabbit and the trouble he gets into in Mr. McGregor's vegetable garden still holds up. A cautionary tale full of beautiful illustrations and delightful characters.