Book Finder

How many kinds of quiet are there? More than you might think beginning with the “First one awake quiet” to “Sound asleep quiet”. Readers will recognize the different situations (brought to life by expressively illustrated animals) and may even come up with their own brand of quiet.

When the day is over, a young rabbit cuddles with a parent to let the dreams begin. Soft illustrations combine with a calm, rhythmic, rhyming text to quiet young ones who share the tranquil appreciation of nature and nighttime as they drift off to a cozy sleep.

Round faced children watch animals prepare for bedtime in this soothing tale in a newly illustrated edition of an earlier book by Margaret Wise Brown. The alphabet is used as the device to countdown from A to children who “…zip into bed,/not another peep/go to sleep!”

In a happy but chaotic home, the bunnies had had a big day and a hard night — and Mama loved them throughout. As a tired Mama sits down at last, her dad comes in to reassure her that no matter how old children get, a parent’s love continues. Small, detailed, line and wash illustrations complement this warm, comforting story.

Even the youngest listener will recognize what the animals in the closed pet shop try to get the hamster to sleep. When they finally do get the hamster settled in for the night, it’s suddenly morning and the hamster is rudely awakened! Mellow illustrations and onomatopoeic language create a gently humorous tale of concern and friendship.

When it’s nighttime, everyone sleeps; that is, everyone except owl who notices other animals. Some sleep peacefully and quietly. Others sleep in unique ways - standing up or with one or even two eyes open. Succinct, almost lyrical language and highly stylized illustrations create a contemporary bedtime book with an old-fashioned feel.

From A to Z, the 26 lowercase letters rowdily get ready for bed. Told in verse and illustrated with slightly eccentric but appealing mixed-media illustrations the letters bounce and cavort until the uppercase “parent” letters put their kids to bed.

As an Inuit mother and her child paddle home in their boat, they notice other animal mothers and their children preparing for sleep. Attractive, stylized illustrations evoke the Arctic setting as mothers and their young prepare to rest.

How many kinds of lights will you see as you and your mother go out on a warm evening? Rich illustration and sparse text allow readers to explore lights all around them ranging from streetlight to starlight in this handsome, cozy book.

Poets have always looked to the sky for inspiration. A range of contemporary and older poets and their exploration of the stars, sky, moon — and more — are presented, illustrated with lush, evocative paintings.

Scaredy Squirrel is afraid of the dark; for in it lives a host of creepy creatures that may invade his dreams. His list of things to do fail, of course, as does thriving without sleep — but our hero’s tale is amusingly told in words and boldly lined, comic illustrations.

A young raccoon seeks attention from her ever-patient mother. She wants to be held then put down throughout their day together, until the youngster whispers “good night.” Soft illustrations in warm hues show their cozy world and affectionate relationship.

Fascinating sleep habits of various animals are presented in short text and full-color, appealing illustrations. The text can be read in a shorter form in a larger typeface or in its entirety.

Children everywhere enjoy similar things, celebrated here in rhymes from around the world. Some are traditional while others are by credited authors; each is accompanied by soft illustrations until it’s time to say good night (in many languages).

A spare, patterned text and glowing pictures explore the origins of light that make a house a home in this Caldecott Medal-winning bedtime book for young children. Naming nighttime things that are both comforting and intriguing to preschoolers—a key, a bed, the moon—this timeless book illuminates a reassuring order to the universe. (2009 Caldecott Medal Winner)

Even the most active baby or toddler must sleep sometime, and in this story the children “say goodnight.” Similar to Tickle Tickle and All Fall Down, this is a sure hit to share with babies and toddlers.

A cheerful child gets ready for bed, playing and saying “Peekaboo! I see…” until at last, ready for bed, the child sees “you!” This companion to Peekaboo Morning (opens in a new window) features the same child but stands alone.

Have you ever wondered where the sand found in sleepy eyes comes from? It’s explained in this appealing, old-fashioned feeling story of a tiny man named Tor who realizes that the sand from a found dragon’s scale makes everyone sleepy.

Night can be a great time for lots of things; seeing fireworks, or city lights. It’s even good for sleeping. This book is as fresh as when it was first published with lilting language and colorful illustration.

One of Carl Sandburg’s original, quintessentially American tales for children (from Rootabaga Stories) explains why it’s just not a good idea to kick a slipper at the moon. This illustrated telling will hold young listeners as they hear rich language best read aloud.

The sounds of a caterpillar munching through vegetation combine with Fleming’s distinctive illustrations for a small adventure in the tall, tall grass. The satisfying conclusion is a sleepy one, making this an ideal bedtime tale.

As he gets ready for bed, a cat can’t find his book anywhere! While young readers will see that the book is in plain sight, they’ll delight in what the cat imagines might have happened to it. Told with few words and lively illustrations, this is sure to delight.

In this gentle, imaginative countdown to sleep, a child and her mother imagine how a menagerie of animals would lovingly say goodnight; that is, all except the sloth and her cub. Rich language swirls around and through warmly-hued illustrations to create a satisfying bedtime tale.

A young child’s world is presented in a variety of poems, each illustrated with verve and humor. The large pages support the well-organized collection sure to be appreciated by young children and the adults who share the poems with them.