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    The Children's Book Review

    5 Bedtime Stories for Falling Asleep With a Smile

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze4 Mins Read Ages 0-3 Ages 4-8 Bedtime Books Best Kids Stories Book Lists Picture Books
    Book A Flock of Fun
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    The Children’s Book Review | March 12, 2020

    There are so many different ways to coax a smile out of a child. Sometimes it’s sharing a funny moment, sometimes it’s getting to delight in a favorite thing, and sometimes it’s the contentedness of gratitude. No matter what brings a smile to your young reader’s face, I think we can all agree that a smile before drifting off to sleep while counting sheep is the most delightful way to end a day. The five bedtime stories featured in this list are sure to produce smiles for a myriad of different reasons that are unique to each author and illustrator’s style. Peaceful smiles and laugh-induced smiles are sure to appear!

    Book A Flock of FunA Flock of Fun

    Written by Raven Howell

    Illustrated by David Barrow

    Falling asleep can feel stressful at times, especially when the mind begins to overthink. A Flock of Fun takes this stress away by poking fun and creating a lighthearted view of the situation. Whipped together with bouncy rhyme, award-winning poet Raven Howell, in conjunction with illustrator David Barrow, brings humorous life to the age-old adage of counting sheep. The illustrations add comical life with adorable little lambs (especially the ones in underpants) and snails with their slimy trails covering the walls and his bed. The purply hues are just right for conveying the brightness of the night created by the glowing moon. This picture book is a fun choice for a stress-free bedtime story! Read our complete review »

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    Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Doodle and Peck Publishing | February 2, 2020 | ISBN-13: 978-1733717083

    Book Thank You For My DreamsThank You For My Dreams: Bedtime Prayers of Gratitude

    Written by HSH Prince Alexi Lubomirski and Sons

    Having a heart full of gratitude is a sure way to fall asleep with a smile. Thank You For My Dreams: Bedtime Prayers of Gratitude is filled with so many kid-friendly and relatable things to be thankful for, while also fostering a calming connectedness to those we love and the world around us. This particular prayer is especially fitting: “Thank you for bedtime stories when we spend time with Mommy and Daddy and they tell us cool stories about trains or dragons or funny mice.”

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    Ages 5+ | Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing | May 7, 2019 | ISBN-13: 978-1449497422

    The Goodnight Train Rolls OnThe Goodnight Train Rolls On

    Written by June Sobel

    Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith

    As the companion to bestselling picture book The Goodnight Train, young readers will happily get on board for this rhythmic bedtime read-aloud. One clickety-clack train, one herd of poky sheep, and a quick-thinking engineer take readers on a smile-inducing journey through Dreamland—the whimsical paintings adding a cheerful and peaceful tone the whole way through.

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    Ages 4-7 | Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers | September 4, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1328500199

    Moon- A Peek-Through Picture BookMoon: A Peek-Through Picture Book

    Written and Illustrated by Britta Teckentrup

    With lyrical prose and elegant illustrations, Moon: A Peek-Through Picture Book will put a smile on the faces of our non-fiction fans and animal lovers. With richly saturated images of animals and exotic locations around the world, readers will be drawn into this graceful and rhythmic book. Add in the smartly designed cutouts of the moon rolling through its phases, and this book is an interactive delight. From sweet little puffins up North to exotic birds and colorfully-eyed frogs in the evening mists of the jungle, every child will find their favorite animal on one of the pages.

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    Ages 3-7 | Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers | February 20, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1-524-76966-6

    goodnight-unicorn-a-magical-parodyGoodnight Unicorn: A Magical Parody

    Written by Karla “Pearl E. Horne” Oceanak

    Illustrated by Kendra Spanjer

    How about a Goodnight Moon parody to close out your evening? This picture book is for all those little lords and ladies who adore unicorns and have grown up on the classic Goodnight Moon tale. A sweet retelling, each page rhymes in the same singsong style of the original. It will be an instant classic for any unicorn-lover out there or any child in need of a great rhyming bedtime story.

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    Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Bailiwick Press | 2016 | ISBN-13: 978-1-93464963-3

    The article 5 Bedtime Stories for Falling Asleep With a Smile was curated by The Children’s Book Review and sponsored* by HarperCollins. For similar books and articles, follow along with our content tagged with Bedtime Stories, Raven Howell, and Sleep.

    What to Read Next:

    1. A Flock of Fun, by Raven Howell | Dedicated Review
    2. 5 Bedtime Picture Books for Sweet Dreamers and Explorers
    3. 4 Lovable Bedtime Stories Worth Adding to the Bedtime Routine
    4. Bianca Schulze Discusses Don’t Wake the Dragon

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Andrews McMeel Publishing Bailiwick Press Bedtime Bedtime Stories Britta Teckentrup David Barrow Doodle and Peck Publishing Doubleday Books for Young Readers HMH Books for Young Readers HSH Prince Alexi Lubomirski June Sobel Karla "Pearl E. Horne" Oceanak Kendra Spanjer Laura Huliska-Beith Picture Books Raven Howell Sleep Sleeping Books
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    Bianca Schulze
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    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

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