can anyone suggest a lovely calming bedtime book to read to a 2 year old?

[sbear]

My DD finds it hard to settle down at night and a bed time story helps so would love some suggestions for any that have worked for anyone else.

Peace At Last is our favourite

Well no book has 'worked' as such, because DS always seems to take the words 'time for bed now' as a reason to go mental...

However, I find 'Husherbye' by John Burningham a very calming book; all about falling asleep.

'Owl Babies' is totally lovely - agree on that one. Favourite stories in general Julia Donaldson, Mog, Little Red Train, Pugwash, Hairy MacLary, Lighthouse Keeper.

Definitely Peepo! It makes me cry I love it so much.

Wobbly lip every time! I am a complete sop though

Coming Home - Peggylicious and The Do Good Dog Clan is a book my grandson loves to hear before going to bed. It's all about how a black cocker spaniel comes home to her new family as a puppy and meets her best friend, a Terrier called Archie, for the first time. Together they create The Do Good Dog Clan, helping children in trouble and solving crimes. It's written in rhyme to help with reading development and is really beautifully illustrated. www.peggylicious.me

Papa please get the moon for me.

Pretty much anything by Mick Inkpen, but particularly One Bear at Bedtime and Lullabyhullabaloo.

Anything by Julia Donaldson ( I like Charlie Cook best!), also Guess How Much I love you is lovely. Dogs Don't do Ballet, and Giraffes Can't dance , all favourites here

Copy Me Copy Cub
Any of the Mog books

'Daddy's Lullaby.' Beautiful.

Peace at last. See someone else has mentioned it. They both loved it at 2, and they both love it (and so do I) at 5 and 3 .

Ooh yes yes to Owl Babies and Giraffes can't dance, I'd forgotten those, thanks, happy memories

Is It Bedtime Wibbly Pig?

Maisy's Bedtime.

Maisy's Rainbow Dream.

Mr Bear Babysits
Marvin wanted more
Guess how much i love you

Another vote for 'Is it bedtime wibbly pig?' It is Seriously cute also.

Repetition of Julia Donaldson's - smartest giant in town / squash and a squeeze - always seemed to calm.

But when she was cross and grumpy - No Matter What - did the trick - all about a grim and grumpy little Small whose mummy loved him no matter what even when he trashed the house. Although we always had two stories and then her bedtime song (few words and then hummed it getting quieter and quieter all within the space of 2 mins ), so how good my suggestions are I don't know.

Oh and one called Tiger - about a kitten who pretended to be a big tiger but was actually ever so cute. That got alot of readings.

I would second lots of the books already suggested - especially Owl Babies, Peepo (sob!) and The Snail and the Whale.

Some other ideas are:

Anything by Shirley Hughes - especially the 'Olly and Me' ones
Sleepy Me
I Took The Moon For a Walk

Def Ahlbergs,owl babies, hairy mclairy, tiger who came to tea, elephant and bad baby, little grey rabbit, beatrix potter and above all,

nursery rhymes. Usborne does good ones and there is a wonderful selection called lavender's blue but can't recall the publisher.

Children have a wonderful ear for rhythm and memory at this age.

Also fairy stories. Lady bird and Usborne both do good selections. And from all round the world.

Bedtime for Little Bears - there is a whole series.

Kiss Goodnight Sam.

we have gruffalo and gruffalos child every night.. or anything by julia donaldson. Nick butterworth does a nice set with percy the park keeper.

The Baby Catalogue. Written and illustrated by the Albergs (Same as Peepo)

There are no words, but lots of things to look at and discuss. My dd aged 2.8 doesn't read it so much now, but it was a fave every night for months on end from about age 1.10. Its such a sweet book.

DD1 (aged 2.7) loves Peepo, anything by julia Donaldson (especially Monkey Puzzle which is abour a little onkey who can't find his mum), Peace at Last like some other posters have said. Her current favourite is 'Whatever Next' by the same author which is about a little bear who goes to space in a cardboard box with a colinder on his head :) i love that one as well. she also like 'The Tiger who came to tea', the 'Say goodnight to the...' books by Ian Whybrow. also 'Each Peach Pear Plum'. plus anything about santa (in june ). Hope that helps!

Not sure if this has already been mentioned but its wonderful - I'll Love You Forever by ......sorry- can't remember!!

If you can read through the tears, your 2yo will love its repetitive, sleep inducing rhythm.

The Snail and the Whale has a lovely calming rhythm to it. The Big Night Night book is great too, we never owned it, just got it from the library once but can still recite most of it!

Another vote for Goodnight Moon.