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.

X post I was just going to suggest peepo it's lovely.

Seconding The baby who wouldn't go to bed. The illustrations are gorgeous and is always makes me yawn!

Baby Badger's Wonderful Night is a soft and gentle bedtime story that my DD really enjoys, very soothing and calming. Here

The Big Big Sea by Martin Waddell

Owl Babies is the best one for us. It seems to have a magic effect on DD and calms her down, even if she wakes up crying during the night.

I'm glad someone else said it!

Love you forever by Robert Munsch.

Not only has it been my daughters favourite story for the last 5 years (from the age of 1), it's a lovely story.

"No Matter What" by Debi Gliori, "Guess How Much I love you" By McBratney/Jeram or any Shirley Hughes' Alfie books

"I love my little story book" by Anita Jeram - gorgeous illustrations and just a fab book specifically for little girls 3-5ish.

How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jefferies. My 2 year old son loved this story so much I had to read it to him every night for 2.5 years (well, recited it quickly after a while :)

Time for Bed by Mem Fox - the main book to actually make DS yawn

Buster's Bedtime

DD is almost 2 and I read her the smartest giant, peepo, nighty night or the look and see bedtime book before we go upstairs. then once she is in her bed I sit in the armchair next to her with a cup of tea and read several chapters of a much longer book from my childhood which sends her off nicely

Goodnight Gorilla

We still giggle at it. It's a sweet charming book that has alot of detail in it ( the colour of the keys, the balloon, how many people at the window...)

And the Alfie books by Shirley Hughes and Dogger ( I still get teary).

My 3 all liked long story times but all wanted them to be 1-to-1 and a book of their choice. In the end, I got round it by reading them each one of their choice on their own and then putting on an ipod (or back then, a tape/CD) of other favourites which either I was reading myself or else I had bought the copy of the book which came with its own audio version together with the book (- I also used that as a teaching reading aid). Favourites included A Squash and a Squeeze, Room on the Broom + other Donaldsons, We're Going on a Bear Hunt, Owl Babies + fairy tales

totally agree with Goodnight Gorilla, and also by the same author '10 minutes to bedtime'. Both have tons of tiny details to notice and hardly any words so when you read them again and again you can make up different commentaries and not go out of your mind!

When The World Is Ready For Bed.

I also love Martin Waddell but DS won't read his books any more :(

Goodnight Moon - DS has had it every night from 6 months of age (now 2 going on 3)! We have offered him alternatives but he only wants that book- it has a lovely soothing rythm.

rhythm

Also he does read other books - just that one is always last, before sleep!

agree 'up and down' by Oliver Jeffers
and Mr Big by ed vere
and the smartest giant in town, and a squash and a squeeze

but usually I make up stories