Come on get sleepy
Filed Under Stuff | July 20, 2007
When it comes to bedtime stories, you may (as we’ve been known to do) just grab whatever’s at hand, whether it’s bedtime-related or not. However, if you’re looking for true nighttime fare that may have a more powerful soothing effect on your savage little beasts, we have some great finds for you:
Time for Bed by Mem Fox, illustrated by Jane Dyer
We are huge fans of Australian writer Mem Fox. This is a lovely book, with
a succession of animal parents saying goodnight to their little ones. Beautiful pictures round out the text, which ends with a mom tucking in her little one, just like you’re longing to do.
Sleepytime Rhyme by Remy Charlip
You’ll be surprised to find that this lovely rhyming book, which depicts a mom dancing, snuggling and crooning to her tot as she marvels over each perfect body part, was written by a man and dedicated to his father and son. We know one mom who recited the text to quiet a loudly squalling baby on a long car trip. And it worked – truly a book worth its weight in gold.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague
Part of a brilliant series of “How do” dinosaur books, this version features a multi-ethnic cast of mums and dads trying to get a variety of little dinosaurs to go to bed. Toddlers will giggle and easily identify with the terrible bedtime manners of the dinosaurs as they pout, throw tantrums, and demand “One book more!”
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
You’re probably already familiar with this 1947 classic, but it’s worth mentioning just in case you haven’t yet discovered it. Simplicity itself in both words and pictures, the soothing rhyme will easily calm babes and may even send parents off to sleep if they’re not careful. Children will enjoy their own ritual of saying goodnight to beloved objects in their room before turning in for the night – hopefully.
Helen Moore is yoyomama’s kiddie lit correspondent. Helen is a local children’s librarian who is currently using her maternity leave to nurture the reading skills of her two sons, ages one and three.
July’s big share: We’re modeling such good sharing that we can’t understand why our kids have so much trouble with it. When you sign up for yoyomama in July you’ll be entered to win a $200 gift certificate from Natural Pod, a great local online source for natural items that meet all your kid’s needs from teething to playtime.
Me too! Already a subscriber? Don’t worry, we’re not leaving you out. Every time you use the forward feature at the bottom of your daily email to share yoyomama with a friend, you’ll be entered in our contest too.
Keep the sleep coming with Natural Pod’s Organic Lavender Cuddly.
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Let us know what you think or share your great finds with us so we can share them with other Vancouver mothers!
[...] didn’t want to tire you out completely with our list of bedtime-specific children’s books, so we kept a few in reserve for you to add to your child’s sleepytime [...]