Bedtime Books

Do you have any special bedtime books?  We read quite a few different "quiet books" at night, but the two that tend to get the most action in our rotation are Sandra Boynton's The Going to Bed Book and Nancy Tillman's On the Night You Were Born.

The Going to Bed Book is a story that tells how a group of animals on an ark get ready to... wait for it... go to bed.  They bathe and put on jammies and exercise all before heading off to bed.  It's a short book and not overly wordy, but the pacing is absolutely brilliant.  Without even noticing it, you tend to read the beginning with energy and vigor as the animals are splashing in the tub and jostling for a place at the sink to brush teeth, and by the final lines, "The moon is high. The sea is deep. We rock and rock and rock to sleep." your voice has unconsciously slowed and softened.  It's so soothing, even I feel drowsy by the end.

On the Night You Were Born is a beautiful little book of love.  The opening lines, "On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered, 'Life will never be the same.' Because there had never been anyone like you... ever in the world." set the tone of whimsical adoration that fills every page.  You read of polar bears dancing in the zoo and the rain whispering the child's name.  And the painted illustrations, oh!  Just beautiful.  It's the most perfect little book I've ever read.

Some other books I've been looking to add to our bedtime book library:
Someday by Alison McGhee
Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman
Sleepy Boy by Polly Kanevsky
There by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

We're always looking to add to our collection.  What are your favorite bedtime books?