Bedtime Books About Bedtime

Friday 5 - Bedtime Books

Any book can be a bedtime book. But some bedtime books are also books about bedtime. Here are a few of our favourites, clockwise starting from the top:

  • Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, by Eileen Christelow – This rhyming story with fun illiustrations was a present from one of our relatives, the first time we took our eldest over to the US, and it was an instant hit. Five cheeky monkeys are jumping on the bed and inevitably fall off and bump their heads, but despite what their mother and the doctor says, they keep going until, one by one, they’ve all fallen off. You may think this moral of this story is not to jump on your bed but beware, this story may have the opposite effect on your kids!
  • I’m Not Sleepy! by Jane Chapman – Our eldest received this as a present from his German grandmother, because his name is Oskar and it’s a story about a baby owl called Oskar and his grandmother (though in the English edition the baby owl has a different name). It’s bedtime, and Oskar owl keeps coming up with excuses why he can’t to sleep, driving his grandmother to despair who is trying to read her book every time she’s tucked him in. She ends up turning the tables on him, and he finally goes to sleep. The English edition seems to only be available from third party sellers, but the German edition is still in print.
  • I am not sleepy and I will not go to bed, by Lauren Child – We are big Charlie and Lola fans in our house, and this book is no exception. Charlie has been asked by his mum to get his little sister to bed, but Lola keeps coming up with excuses to delay bedtime – a lion is eating the toothbrush, whales are blocking up the bathtub, and there may or may not be a ‘hippipotimus’ in the bed. Will Lola ever get to bed, and will the two dancing dogs let her borrow their pyjamas? Read it to find out!
  • Bear Snores On, by Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman – Another rhyming story, in this book it seems like Bear can sleep through anything. As animal after animal appear in his cave, and they make a fire, cook popcorn, brew tea and have a picnic, Bear snores through it all. Eventually he awakes, but what will he say when he discovers what has been going on?
  • Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear? by Martin Waddell & Barbara Firth – Finally, another story with bears, this time a Big Bear and a Little Bear. The darkness in the Bear Cave is scaring Little Bear and keeping him from falling asleep. Big Bear keeps bringing out lantern after lantern, each bigger than the other, but nothing helps. Until he find the perfect way to reassure Little Bear. A sweet story.

Do you have any other favourite ‘bedtime books about bedtime’? Please feel free to share your recommendations in the comments below!


Please note that all the book links in this post are Amazon affiliate links. That means if you buy any books via these links, I receive a small percentage – at no extra cost to you! – which helps to keep this blog running.

Comments: 11

  • reply
    30 May 2017

    This is brill. I’ve been looking for some new book recommendations for my son so I’ll definitely check these ones out.

  • reply
    30 May 2017

    What a lovely selection! I can’t say we have a favourite book about bedtime, although we have loads of favourite books for bedtime :)

  • reply
    30 May 2017

    Oh I have never heard of these! Erin loves books

  • reply
    30 May 2017

    Can’t you sleep little bear is a classic. My little sister loves it x

  • reply
    31 May 2017

    The books sound great. We need some new bedtime books so may check these out.

  • reply
    31 May 2017

    These sound lovely. My favourite is No Matter What which shows the run up to bedtime and the tricky question of love when we feel unlovable

  • reply
    31 May 2017

    We’ve not read any of these bedtime books yet. We like ‘Fox in the Dark’ and ‘Peace at Last’.

  • reply
    31 May 2017

    These are new to me but I do love a bit of Charlie and Lola. My kids now read them by themselves but bedtime reading is something to be cherished!!

  • reply
    3 June 2017

    My daughter loves 5 Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed, it always makes her sleep really well. I have not heard of the others but will

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