Bedtime is one of the sweetest parts of the day: a warm bath, soft pajamas and a few favorite books. These bedtime and I-love-you books are perfect for babies and toddlers, with gentle words, cozy pictures and plenty of cuddles.
1. You Are Loved: A Capybara’s Welcome
written and illustrated by Helen H. Wu; CapyFun, 2026
A heartwarming ode to the love that surrounds us. Featuring a capybara parent and child, You Are Loved is a gentle, lyrical celebration of the bond between grown-ups and their little ones.
2. Hush! A Thai Lullaby
by Minfong Ho, illustrated by Holly Meade; Orchard Books, 1996
A mother in a Thai village asks a mosquito, a lizard, a water buffalo and other noisy animals to hush so her baby can sleep, while the baby stays wide awake. The repeating, rhythmic text and cut-paper art, which earned a Caldecott Honor, make it a delightful bedtime read-aloud.
3. Goodnight Moon
by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd; Harper, 1947
The classic bedtime poem: a little bunny says goodnight to everything in the great green room.
4. Guess How Much I Love You
by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram; Candlewick, 1994
Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare try to measure their love for each other in this beloved bedtime story.
5. I Love You Through and Through
by Bernadette Rossetti Shustak, illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church; Cartwheel Books, 2005
A simple, rhythmic board book that tells little ones they are loved on happy days, sad days and every day.
6. On the Night You Were Born
by Nancy Tillman; Feiwel and Friends, 2006
A lyrical celebration of how special each child is, from the moment they arrive in the world.
7. Time for Bed
by Mem Fox, illustrated by Jane Dyer; Harcourt, 1993
Animal parents tuck in their little ones one by one, in soft rhyming text perfect for winding down.
8. The Going to Bed Book
by Sandra Boynton; Little Simon, 1982
A silly, bouncy bedtime routine aboard a boat full of animals. A toddler favorite.
Looking for more? Browse all of my books on the Books page, or play free capybara games at CapyFun Play.
More picture book lists
- 10 Multicultural Children’s Picture Books For Mother’s Day
- Capybara Books for Kids and Grown-Ups: The Complete CapyFun Reading List
- 16 Best Children’s Books About Nature
- 12 Best Children’s Books About Space
Browse all of Helen’s picture book lists, or see all of Helen’s books.
