10 Classic Short Stories for Children's Bedtime

Snuggling up with children to get them off to bed and reading a book is often one of the favorite memories that parents and children have. I don't know a child that doesn't desire just those few moments of quiet time to snuggle and read a good book with their parent right before going to bed. What are the ten Classic Short Stories for Bedtime? With over 20 years experience reading good night stores to my children, I have to say that these rate among their favorites, whether they are 2 or 20.

1. Llama Llama Red Pajama

With a title like Llama Llama Red Pajama, who wouldn't love this story by Anna Dewdney, and who wouldn't want to read this classic, lilting, rhyming story right before bedtime? Poor little Llama is scared and frightened after being tucked into bed by his mamma, which is a story that every child can relate to. "Mama Llama's always near, even if she's not right here," reassures little ones right before they fall asleep.

2. Good Night Moon

Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown is a classic bedtime favorite with readers and children alike. Designed for ages baby to preschool, this popular board and rhyming book lulls children to sleep and is by one of the best- selling, children's book authors. One of my favorite quotes from the book is "good night noises everywhere," which explains to children that night time noises are normal and that we can all enjoy them and not be frightened. This book captures children's imaginations.

3. Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Whether you are an infant or an elementary aged child, the beautiful collage of colors plus the rhyme and rhythm of Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You See? is sure to not only soothe but also entertain your child and be a favorite for years to come. In our house it is one of those books that is so well loved that we have had to purchase it several times because it was so worn from reading. The repetitive nature of the story is soothing and calming, while each color of the animals reinforces color recognition.

4. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie/If You Give a Moose a Muffin

In these popular children's books by Laura Joffe Numeroff and Felicia Bond, we can all relate to the tale of giving a child (or mouse, or moose) one thing after another. After all, what parent hasn't encountered a child who has said, "I'm thirsty," "I have to go potty," or, "My stomach hurts," after we have tucked them in? Children will also recognize the familiar concept of trying to get away with just a little bit more than they should time and time again. In my home, the mouse is a favorite character.

5. The Three Little Pigs

It doesn't matter if I am reading this book for the 10,000^th time, or simply recalling it from memory while on vacation, each and every time my children hear The Three Little Pigs, they are caught up in the familiar story of the pigs building their house as well as the big bad wolf's attempts to "blow their house down." All the children will join in when saying, "I'll huff and puff and blow your house down!"

7. The Three Bears

What child doesn't enjoy the story of the fearless little girl, who eats the porridge all gone, breaks the little bears chair and falls asleep in baby bear's bed. No book is necessary with this story; children the world over can fall asleep as parents recite this popular bedtime classic from memory.

8. The Cat in the Hat

Definitely a classic that every family with children can relate to, The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss keeps children entertained with colorful illustrations and an entertaining and exciting story that never fails to delight. No matter how many times we read this story, each time every child finds something new to delight them.

9. Where the Wild Things Are

Have you ever been sent to bed without supper? I know I have. Even if we don't send our kids to bed hungry, we all definitely have a child or two who knows exactly how to get into the best sorts of mischief. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is exactly what I would imagine a child's world of imagination and creativity to be. The monsters are just different enough to be entertaining without being scary, and Max's temper tantrum is so similar to those by children all over the world, which makes this book easy to read and easy for children to relate to. Just like Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, Max and his readers find out that there is no place like home.

10. Knuffle Bunny

For every parent that has had to go searching for their child's "lovey," and for every child that has ever lost one, Knuffle Bunny is a bedtime story that all can relate to. In Knuffle Bunny, Mo Willems expresses a familiar part of family life, that of a child losing his favorite "lovey" and a parent desperately in search of it. My own children have their taggies and bunnies that make nap time and bedtime so much easier, as do most children. Familiar illustrations and the story make this a classical bedtime tale for all for children.

Honorable Mentions: Best Classic Bedtime Stories

The Little Prince

Written for children ages nine to 12, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was written in 1943 and many years later captivates elementary-aged children with the exploration throughout the universe of the endearing "Little Prince."

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

One of Eric Carle's most loved, classic books with a very hungry caterpillar, beautiful illustrations and a compelling story of the transformation of a butterfly, this story entertains parents and children alike when reading at bedtime or anytime. The Very Hungry Caterpillar has had more than 12 million copies sold in its original, full-sized edition.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

Do you have a little one who finds it hard to say "good night"? The ten dinosaurs in this New York Times best-seller try every good-night fighting trick in the book, from tantrums to tails, but eventually each one of them ends up getting tucked in and saying, "Good night."

Love You Forever

Love You Forever turns the tables on a familiar refrain by parents. After years of singing "I'll love you forever / I'll love you for always / As long as I'm living / My baby you'll be," a mommy is no longer able to sing it to her growing and grown up child. Finally the grown son is now singing it to his mother as he holds and comforts her.

No matter what classic bedtime story your child enjoys reading, the most important thing is the reading and the time spent together. Reading bedtime stories not only gives parents and children a chance to spend quality time together, but more importantly it gives them the chance to read a story that relates to them, their busy day, their life and the fears they also have at bedtime. Is it bedtime now? Then "look in a book" using one of these 10 classic bedtime stories to get your children off to bed with sweet dreams.