The Savvy Five: Bedtime Stories

From poetic lullabies to rib-ticklingly funny antics, bedtime stories are a must. Experts have been extolling the virtues of reading to our children as early as in utero, so there’s no surprise that the choices for bedtime stories (because it’s all about getting to sleep) are vast.

So if you’re tired of your usual good nights to the moon and that big red barn, we’ve got this month’s SavvyFive, our favourite classic bedtime tales, ones you may not have heard of but that deserve a place on every child’s bedside table. Spoiler alert: they all end with lights out, goodnight (so as to better encourage little eyes to droop).

Peepo!
Good for: Very young children
Why It Made the List: This nostalgic British import is a modern classic that follows a day in the life of a baby in a busy household. The die-cut holes on each spread offer a sneak peek to the next scene. Because of the detail in the illustrations, this book can be enjoyed on many levels and its appeal will grow with your child. It’s as much fun to read (and look at) as it is to listen to. Buy the board book edition for added robustness. (Janet & Allan Ahlberg, Viking Juvenile Books, 1997, $9.99)

Where is the Green Sheep?
Good for: Rhyme, rhythm and repetition (which makes it a sure-fire hit with the toddler crowd)
Why It Made the List: By the author of “Time for Bed”, this story has a Mem Fox signature bonding-at-bedtime ending. The hunt for a green sheep takes numerous comical turns (we see a sheep skiing down a slide and standing on the moon) until the sheep is eventually found fast asleep (shhh!). The simple but clever rhyme is crisply illustrated with bucketloads of wit. Don’t be surprised if your little one asks for it night after night—and you find yourself chanting the catchy rhyme at odd moments during the day! (Mem Fox, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009, $8.99)

Cornelius P. Mud Are You Ready for Bed?
Good for: Kids that don’t like going to bed
Why It Made the List: This getting ready for bed book affirms the rituals involved in the process of winding down at the end of the day, but injects a big dose of fun and humour into it. The story follows a cheeky piglet as he gets ready for bed, but the vibrant artwork tells the whole story. Children will get more out of the story once they are old enough to understand that toys don’t belong in the fridge and that fish don’t thrive on chocolate chip cookies. It’s a short fun read that will leave kids (and their parents) with a smile on their face at bedtime. (Barney Salzberg, Candlewick Press, 2005, $22.99)

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?
Good for: Teaching bedtime etiquette
Why It Made the List: The familiar good-night stalling tactics of the 10 dinosaurs featured in this large-format bedtime story are richly illustrated with humour. The message (how to behave properly at bedtime) is buried in the fun of the story. The puckered lips of the T-Rex getting ready to give mum a good-night kiss are priceless. Budding dinosaur enthusiasts will love this book and its warm “good night, little dinosaur” ending. (Jane Yolen, Scholastic, 2000, $19.99)

And if the Moon Could Talk
Good for: Budding astronomers and adventurers
Why It Made the List: A sleepy, lilting lullaby of a bedtime story, this luxuriously illustrated bedtime story tells of both familiar bedtime scenes and related faraway scenes. The moon’s view of nighttime Earth are the best parts of the book—melodic descriptions of far-off places that offer up a glimpse of the world and set dreams in motion. The artwork and subject matter is best suited to older preschoolers, although the rhythm of the poetic text can be appreciated by all ages. (Kate Banks, 1998, MacMillan, $18.95)

Night, night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.

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