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Original poster

Which are your kids favourite cosy bedtime books?

50 replies

twick · 29/08/2004 21:11

We've been having trouble with dd sleeping lately and I've been wondering if it's partly to do with the books I've been reading her at bedtime.

She's 22 months and quite verbally bright, she can follow a fairly simple story with explanations. Which cosy, cuddly-type bedtime stories did / do your kids like at around this age?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 29/08/2004 21:14

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? is a nice one because it ends with the dinosaur going to bed like an angel after a hug and a kiss. I can probablyrecite it off by heart but can't tell you the author right now as it's in DS1s bedroom!

JanH · 29/08/2004 21:15

We had a lovely one when DD1 was this sort of age - it was a Richard Scarry, don't know if you can still get it (this was 20 years ago) - I am a Bunny ("my name is Nicholas, I live in a hollow tree") - it was very soothing and bedtime-ish.

Hooray - amazon - we loved it!

popsycal · 29/08/2004 21:16

DS is just gone 2. SOme of our more cosy bedtime books are:

  • I like it when by mary murphy - very simple but veyr sweet
  • giraffes can't dance - by giles andreae (it was on tikkabilla this morning too!)

will think of a few more - we have a bit of a monster theme going on at the moment!

SoupDragon · 29/08/2004 21:17

Each Peach Pear Plum is nice too. And the Hairy McLairy books. Any of the rhyming ones are good as they have a nice rhythm to them which is soothing even if the child doesn't understand the whole story.

SoupDragon · 29/08/2004 21:18

Giraffes can't dance you silly fool,
Oh Gerald don't be daft!

another fave in the Dragon household

Lowryn · 29/08/2004 21:19

We have lots of fairy story books for DD whos 3 in November. The latest one is a bit more graphic and features pigs and goats being eaten by big bad wolves. I thought Aimee was too young for this and used to amend the story, but she seemed to prefer the gory versions!
Her favourites are Jack and the beanstalk, three little pigs, seven little goats and Goldilocks and the three bears. All the ones that feature "scary" things (wolves, ogres and little blonde haired girls...?)

popsycal · 29/08/2004 21:19

soupy - we like 'the chimps all did the cha cha cha' and gerald's 'saturday night fever' pose near the end

Lowryn · 29/08/2004 21:20

JanH, I loved Richard Scarry when I was a kid. I still have my "What people do all day" book!

popsycal · 29/08/2004 21:22

oooh i had the best word book ever by richard scarry - ds loved my battered copy so much that i bought him a new copy for his birthday - we love that at bed time too

ooooh
just thought of another
'whatever next?' by jill murphy (i think)

MeanBean · 29/08/2004 21:24

Kiss Goodnight Sam is a favourite in my house. It's about a little bear and the rituals he goes through before bedtime (getting tucked up, having his toys, having his bedtime milk etc.) Very reassuring and cosy, and an unequivocal message about going to sleep!

Tommy · 29/08/2004 21:40

We're big Gruffalo et al fans here - now have them on tape too!

Original poster
twick · 29/08/2004 21:54

Thanks everyone, great replies!

popsycal (hello ) dd's been in a bit giants / monsters phase for a few months now and also, Lowryn, into fairy stories. She seemed to keen and amused and excited by them that we've kind of indulged it and now suddenly she's scared of the dark and calling me in to get rid of the 'monsters, giants and kings' every night!! Dp thinks she'll be a 'goth' by the time she's 4 at this rate.

I'll check out everyone's suggestions. Thanks so much!

OP posts:
Twiglett · 29/08/2004 21:59

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Chinchilla · 29/08/2004 22:14

'Six Dinner Sid' - ds LOVES it.

Clayhead · 29/08/2004 22:23

Kiss Goodnight Sam (as mentioned before)

Down by the Cool of the Pool an excellent rhyming book with a nice calm ending.

Bumpus Jumpus Dinosaurumpus ends with them going to bed

Lauren Child's Charlie and Lola Books

Paula71 · 29/08/2004 22:26

Ds twins (29 months) love Horton Hears A Who (Dr Seuss) which has a really nice theme of how everyone is important no matter how small!

There is an absolutely beautiful story I read recently, it was a library book but I am going to buy it for them. No Matter What by Debi Gliori is about the unconditional love from a mother fox to her little cub. I really enjoyed that one, as did they, I felt it was a good affirmation that no matter what your mummy loves you. It has a lovely theme.

stupidgirl · 29/08/2004 23:38

I remember Each Peach Pear Plum from my childhood

Second the vote for the Gruffalo, and anything else from the same author. We've just had Monkey Puzzle from the library and it is such a huge hit that we will have to buy it. We read it over and over and the kids repeat again and again "No, no, no, that's the elephant again" My 3 year old virtually knows the entire story by heart!

Peepo by Alan Ahlburg is nice, My Friend Bear by Jez Albrough (sp?), Padiwack and Cosy...can't remember who it's by...The Whale song...anyhting by Shirley Hughes...

There are so many fantastic kids books out there...I am totally obsessed...

enid · 30/08/2004 06:38

dd (22 months) loves Whatever Next by Jill Murphy and Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Reitherman (no text but brilliant illustrations and hilarious premise), also Shirley Hughes, Maisy ABC and Peepo and Each Peach... by the Ahlbergs. She still loves all her baby books too like Goodnight Moon, wheres spot? and Peekaboo.

Your little girl sounds very bright twick

batey · 30/08/2004 06:50

My dds loved, and still love, the Blue Kangaroo books. There's "I love you Blue Kangaroo", "Where Aare you" and "What shall we do". There's quite a lot of repitition in the sentences and they've always liked finishing the sentences off in the story, or shouting "where are you Blue Kangaroo" at the top of their voices.
Can't remember who wrote them, will post that later. HTH

jodee · 30/08/2004 09:20

Agree, anything by the Ahlbergs (ds enjoys all the Fast Fox, Slow Dog books);
Mog;
The Tiger Who Came to Tea;
Dogger.
All read again and again.

JanH · 30/08/2004 09:41

I love Dogger and it is a lovely ending but it makes me cry so it was never a happy bedtime book for us!

jodee · 30/08/2004 10:01

Awwww, Jan!

TraceyP · 30/08/2004 18:13

We love Giraffes Can't Dance too, but dd's favourite since she was about 3 is Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper. Fab pictures too.

TraceyP · 30/08/2004 18:14

oops sorry, slip of keyboard - I meant "since she was about 2"

KateandtheGirls · 30/08/2004 18:23

Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton is our favourite. (I actually love all her books, but this one is great for snuggles at bedtime.)

Ooooo...
Snuggle Puppy of mine
Everything about you is especially fine
I love what you are
I love what you do
Ooooo I love you!