Bedtime is a great time for adult caregivers to read books and comfort children before going to sleep. In this last moment of the day, you can develop your child’s early literacy skills by holding a Bedtime Storytime.
*Book Suggestions (Check availability at your closest library):
• Dinosaur vs. Bedtime, by Bob Shea (Hyperion, 2008)
• Down in the Woods at Sleepytime, by Carole Lexa Schaefer (Candlewick, 2004)
• How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen (Blue Sky, 2000)
• Kiss Good Night, by Amy Hest (Candlewick, 2004)
• Llama Llama Red Pajama, by Anna Dewdney (Viking, 2005)
• The Napping House, by Audrey Wood (HMH, 2009)
• No, Go Sleep! by Kate Feiffer (Simon & Schuster, 2012)
• Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy, by Denise Fleming (Henry Holt, 2010)
• Sleepyhead, by Karma Wilson (Margaret K. McElderry, 2006)
• Song of Night: It’s Time to Go to Bed, by Katherine Riley Nakamura (Blue Sky, 2002)
• Ten in the Bed, by David Ellwand (Chronicle, 2002) (or another age-appropriate version)
• Time for Bed, by Mem Fox (HMH, 1993)
*Sing these songs using finger play. Song suggestions:
“Wee Willie Winkie”
Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown,
Rapping at the window, crying through the lock,
“Are the children in their beds, for now, it’s eight o’clock?”
“After My Bath”
After a bath, I try, try, try
To wipe myself ’till I’m dry, dry, dry.
Hands to wipe, and fingers and toes,
And two wet legs and a shiny nose.
Just think how much less time I’d take
If I were a dog and could shake, shake, shake!
“Star Light, Star Bright”
Star light, star bright
The first star I see tonight
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight
Closing Rhyme: “Wave Goodbye”
Wave high. Wave low.
I think it’s time, we gotta go.
Wave your elbows. Wave your toes.
Wave your tongue and wave your nose.
Wave your knees. Wave your lips.
Blow a kiss, with fingertips.
Wave your ears. Wave your hair.
Wave your belly and derriere.
Wave your chin. Wave your eye.
Wave your hand and say “goodbye”.
Little giggles before bedtime will help your child have sweet dreams.
Suggestions for libraries
Create a “mini bedtime Storytime” bag for checkout with 1 book and a sheet with songs and rhymes for bedtime. Encourage caregivers/parents to bring their kids to the library the next day and do an oral re-telling of the book they read the night before. (Librarians can do this activity at the beginning of their Storytime.)