Reading with your child is one of the easiest things you can do to give the best start in life. Sharing books together builds important skills such as listening, talking, memory and attention. Sharing a book at bedtime is a special time between you and your child and a lovely way to end the day. We lead such busy lives and often the only time you as a parent or carer have to sit down and share a book with your child is at bedtime. What better way to share such precious moments than through a story. There are so many wonderful books available. Here are some you might like to share at the end of the day.
Peace at Last by Jill Murphy
Mr. Bear is having difficulty getting off to sleep. Will he ever get any peace? There is snoring. Clocks are ticking all over the house. A story about a night of insomnia but with a peaceful ending.
“A book to delight that is full of rhyme and repetition.”
Dinosnore! by John Bendall-Brunello
A nice picture book that is well illustrated. This is the story of three dinosaurs who have fun trying to wake up their sleepy mum. Nothing seems to work. All she does is snore.
“Finally the young dinosaurs do wake her and are they in for a surprise.”
The Fox in the Dark by Alison Green and Deborah Allwright
A charming story about some animals who are afraid of a fox in the dark. There is a rabbit, a mouse and a lamb. They all squash into Rabbit’s house to hide. The question is, is the fox as scary as they think?
“A nice bedtime book that is also very funny.”
The Little Star Who Wished by Michael Broad
This is the story of adventurous Little Star who likes to sit on a cloud and make wishes come true. When he falls out of the sky into the sea, he doesn’t know how he is going to get home. Luckily, he finds a shipwreck full of starfish and some friends who help him make his special wish to get home to the sky.
“A story sprinkled with stardust.”
Can You See A Little Bear? by James Mayhew
A look-and-find book with super pictures. It tells the story of Little Bear going on a journey into magical places. On the way there are many wonderful creatures and a fascinating medieval world unfolds. Gradually Little Bear moves into the familiar landscape of teatime, bath and then bed. Older children can still enjoy this book at a higher level.
“Introduces repetitive words and concepts like opposites.”
Sleepy Places by Judy Hindley
Have you a favourite place to sleep? Could you sleep in a rose like a bee? How about in ooze like a frog? Big Sister reads to her sleepy siblings about where animals like to snooze. She tucks them up in bed before going to her own. Of course, everyone ends up there too.
“A book with a good ending, suitable for children of about three years.”