Bedtime Books
As I've said in my post earlier this week, we are a bedtime story family. Before Mr. Bookworm started telling oral stories for bedtime, he would read to Mini Me several bedtime stories while she sat on his lap. Why him and not me? Because I was the primary food supply at the time. So our bedtime routine would consist of him making a bit of rice cereal for Mini Me and then they would sit on their special chair together and read through several books while he fed her rice cereal to 'top her off' before I would nurse her to sleep. We did this routine in the hopes that she would stay asleep for a longer stretch of time.
We have many bedtime story favorites but the ones I'll talk about today are the ones that involve bedtime.
Our two versions of The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton. Bedtime favorites surround Lotso Bear (from Toy Story) in thumbprint photo.
The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton: This one is such a favorite in the house that the girls and I made a re-imagined version via shutterfly with pictures of them sleeping in various positions and ages. And the 'exercise' page was especially fun as they posed for the different animals because Mr. Bookworm always points out each exercise finishing off with 'And the moose is lifting weights'. By the way, he can't mess up or he has to start over. This book is like reading a soft bedtime lullaby with the exact perfect topic and rhythm to soothe your little one to sleep.
Night-Night, Little Pookie by Sandra Boynton: Sandra Boynton has such a gift for the perfect rhyme/meter/amount of silliness in her books. Mama says good night to Little Pookie in a soothing and silly and reassuring way. Plus Boynton's board books are perfect for little hands to turn.
Pajama Time by Sandra Boynton (Do you sense a pattern here?): A silly little song/rhyme about pajama time. A sure way to make them smile before bed.
Snoozers by Sandra Boynton: Seven short little pages of stories to read your little one. We could never get by with reading just one. And who doesn't love a pteranodon yawn?
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown: We have read this one over and over again and I have my own version with substitute words that I would use to see if Little Lion was paying attention when she was a small toddler. Hint: she always was. I like to say 'a bowl full of oatmeal' instead of 'bowlful of mush' and I include "Grandmommy" (my mommy) in the book as well. Sometimes if I read the actual words, there is a protest and I have to start over again. Read-along the original version with me here.
A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na: We discovered this one with Little Lion. The illustrations are detailed and gorgeous and the owl does all his hard work overnight until it's his turn to sleep. Also a short rhyming bedtime story, much like Boynton's. Also perfect in board book version for little hands to turn pages.
Dinosaur vs Bedtime by Bob Shea: This one was also discovered with Little Lion Bookworm. She does a read-along on our channel and it's our most viewed video (See below). I'm not sure if it's Grandmommy watching over and over again, or if one of LL's friends loves to hear her read it, but it has 250+ views. We've probably read it that many times at home too. This series shows Dinosaur facing off against various 'obstacles' and this one is no different--watch Dinosaur battle leaves and grown-ups and toothbrushing....only to face his biggest adversary yet. Bedtime! A fun read for little ones, though it may have the opposite effect and rile them up. I advise reading it first in your pile of bedtime books, followed by a few calmer ones.
Goodnight, Darth Vader by Jeffrey Brown: I think we've already established that we're Star Wars fans over here. Why else would we do an epic read-along for #StarWarsReads? Jeffrey Brown outdoes himself in this rhyming book that Darth Vader is ostensibly reading to Luke and Leia to get them to bed. One of my favorite pages is when Jango Fett is challenged by Boba Fett. ("I need a drink." "Read me a story." "I have to go to the bathroom.")
Goodnight Already! by Jory John: Sigh. I love Duck and Bear. I've established that I'm a big fan of Jory John. And this book is no exception. I reviewed I Love You Already! as the first post of this blog and I still love both books. Especially as the bookworm girls do similar things when Mr Bookworm tries to nap.
