Kids & Parents

Animals and birds all around the world are falling asleep as the moon and stars shine above.

Farmer McFitt’s mischievous sheep have escaped! Who wants to stay on the farm when they could be shot out of a cannon at the circus or go surfing at the beach—they even pose as art in a museum! Can Farmer McFitt round up this rowdy bunch in time for a wooly surprise? 

This rollicking, rhyming read-aloud will become a favorite counting and bedtime book for parents and kids. Bill Mayer’s energetic, expressive sheep are adorably silly, and his pictures are chock-full of hilarious details kids will love.

When it's time for good night, don't just close your eyes Mama and Cooper have a sweet surprise. With new songs to sing (you may know the tunes . . . ), Bedtime is special for these kangaroos. Cooper just can't fall asleep But Mama has an idea. Setting new stories to familiar tunes, Mama shares six new lullabies with her not-so-sleepy son. Which Kanga will be the first one to dreamland? This merry story--with original lullabies--was created by the talented author of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura Numeroff. The sonorous text is paired with art by illustrator Lynn Munsinger--known for her kid-friendly characters like Tacky the Penguin and Wodney Wat. Pair this with Lots of Lambs for another Numeroff/Munsinger treat

Little Monster needs to get ready for bed. That means howling at the moon, scrubbing his scales, getting into his creepy PJs, and enjoying a nice snack before bed: worm juice and baked beetle bread. And, of course, Little Monster's mother is nearby to tuck Little Monster into bed and turn on his night-light--because even little monsters can be afraid of the dark. Bonnie Leick's soft, child-friendly illustrations rendered in watercolor bring a new and quiet twist to the evening's bedtime ritual. Sweet dreams, Little Monster!

When the sun sets, it's time for Kittycat to go to bed. After all, she's had a very busy day of scaring mice and swatting yarn balls. Beautifully illustrated by Anne Mortimer, this lyrical poem offers a lullaby to help Kitty (and children) drift into sleep, and a gentle reassurance that bad dreams will stay away.

When wide-awake Lucy can't fall asleep she . . . Climbs out of bed,
Wiggles her fingers,
Wiggles her toes,
Scratches itches,
Itches scratches,
Buttons buttons,
Blows her nose.
But Lucy still can't sleep.

Amy Schwartz's gentle and reassuring story, along with her warm and comforting paintings, is sure to beguile restless children.

A baby—finally—falls asleep with the rest of the world in this soothing picture book from Kate and Jules Feiffer.

And the sun said,
“I’ve gone for the day.
When you wake up,
I’ll be back to play.”

Even though the stars are out and the moon is bright, the baby says, “No, go, sleep!” But as the world around the baby gradually goes to sleep—first the sun, then the moon, then the sheep, tree, and owl—the baby finally, finally, finally falls asleep too. Lyrically written, this lulling text, paired with soothing art, will put even the youngest reader in the mood to visit dreamland.

It is a hot summer day, and
Bear's eyes are droopy.
But . . .
"BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ"
pesky bugs are buzzing
here and there and everywhere.
What is a sleepy little bear to do?
He could try a growl.
GRRRRRR!
He could try a roar.
ROAR!
He could try swimming
and climbing and hiding
and running . . .
oh, dear!

It's a hot summer day, and
now Bear really needs a rest. Help!

Gerald is tired and cranky and wants to take a nap, but Piggie is not helping.

A baby orangutan is sleepy, but before he shuts his eyes he must first say goodnight to each and every part of himself: from the feet that ran him around all day, to the legs that did all that jumping, to the ears that listened so intently to the big world around him. Echoing the loving goodnight rituals that will be familiar to many a parent and child, the gentle text and softly-hued illustrations are just the thing for coaxing an active toddler to sleep.