Favorite Bedtime Stories for Children

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As author C.S. Lewis said, “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.”

You know those bedtimes stories you never forget? My kids and I have ours. And, when I say “my kids and I,” that means that I have my own favorites. There may or may not be some books on this list that I would read even with no kids around. {grin}

Are any of these on your list?

bedtime stories for children

13 Fantastic Bedtime Stories for Children

1. Alexander, the Red Horse with Green Stripes by Harold Littledale has been a favorite since I was a kid. It recounts the tale of a horse named Alexander who gets into a lot of trouble. Or maybe he’s just the scapegoat for a grumpy little boy.

2. Too Much Noise by Ann McGovern is another book that’s been a favorite since I was a kid. I remember ordering it through the Scholastic book sale when I was in elementary school.

3. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst is a great read for when your kid is having one of those days when nothing is going right. Because some days are like that. Even in Australia.

4. Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann is a book we discovered at a library story time when my kids were little. We even made puppy treats to go with it once.

5. Bedtime for Frances (and all the other Frances books) by Russell Hoban. It’s hard to pick a favorite Frances book. Bedtime for Frances is another one that my mom used to read to me.

6. The Wolf Who Cried Boy by Bob Hartman is a new discovery with my kids and a fun twist on the boy who cried wolf fable.

7. All the Little Critter books by Mercer Mayer. I discovered the Little Critter books when my sister, who is nine years younger than me, was a kid. I used to love to read them to her just so I could enjoy them. My kids love them as much as I do.

bedtime stories for children

8. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton is the first picture book Josh would ever sit still for. That earns it a permanent spot on my list.

9. All the Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel…and we really like The List and The Story. Seriously, I love them as much as the kids do.

10. The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone was one I discovered when visiting family as a kid. I used to read it to my younger cousins and couldn’t wait to introduce it to my kids.

11. Frisker by MaryLauer Nowak is a fantastic classic about a shelter dog finding his perfect family.

12. All the Franklin books by Paulette Bourgeois are favorites for both the stories and illustrations.

13. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson tells the imaginative tale of a young boy who creates fantastic worlds with his purple crayon.

What were some of your favorite children’s books as a kid? What are some of your children’s favorites?

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Kris Bales is a newly-retired homeschool mom and the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest founder (and former owner) of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. Kris and her husband of over 30 years are parents to three amazing homeschool grads. They share their home with three dogs, two cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and seven birds.

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6 Comments

  1. Oh, so many good ones on your list! I would add

    Martha Speaks by Susan Meddaugh
    Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
    The Napping House by Audrey and Don Wood
    The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

    and I’ll stop there. Lawzy, we have such fun with books.

  2. This list could have been written in our house as well. We got the CD’s of Arnold Loebel reading the Frog and Toad books for the car and Noah loves to sit with the books on car rides and read along.

  3. GREAT list. I always loved The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I saw you TT so I thought I’d come check out your blog, I’m a fellow HS mama trying to learn my way around the blogosphere. I ADORE your blog title.

  4. Having no children and being a good half century down the road from the books of my childhood I can’t really comment on these books – the only children’s books I can think of are the Dr. Seuss books which I have always loved for the rhythmic nonsensical poetry and the images they evoked in my head. I often refer to Whoville and even have a blog called the Brat in the Hat, lol.

    My generation grew up on The Brother’s Grimm and other fairy tales which might explain the state of the world today. It’s no wonder I had a fear of the dark growing up, lol!

    My TT is 13 Legendary Film Stars that Never won Best Actor

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