10 Books with Bedtime & Family Themes

Please welcome my guest author, Jackie Azúa Kramer, today with her newest picture book, If You Want to Fall Asleep. You might remember her earlier from her post on picture books that celebrate imagination and friendship, and her book The Green Umbrella.

We are giving away a signed copy of If You Want to Fall Asleep. Please fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom to enter.

If You Want to Fall Asleep by Jackie Azúa Kramer, illustrated by Lisa Brandenburg

It’s bedtime but Little Mouse isn’t sleepy. Mama Mouse helps Little Mouse with a long routine to get her baby to sleep. It works … finally! [picture book, ages 2 and up]

Top 10 Picture Books with Bedtime and Family Themes

5 Great Picture Books with Bedtime Themes

1. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

The story of Harold and his artistic adventures has been entertaining kids for decades. Follow along as Harold in his pajamas has a colorful and epic expedition. From drawing city landmarks to creating his own purple picnic to finding his way back to bed, this bedtime story is magical. Bedtime has never been this imaginative and exciting. It’s simply a classic. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

2. Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Garth Williams

Frances and her bedtime delay tactics are as sweet and funny as they were when it was first published in the ’60s, and the black and white illustrations by Garth Williams are perfect. Caregivers and children alike will recognize themselves in this adorable bedtime battle. [picture book, ages 3 and up]

3. The Napping House by Audrey Wood, illustrated by Don Wood

A cumulative story that one by one, sleepy people and animals climb onto Granny’s big bed to sleep, until the very last one wakes everyone up. Little ones will want to keep reading as the hilarity of animals and people of all shapes and sizes snooze in one bed. [picture book, ages 1 and up]

4. Kitten’s First Full Moon by Keven Henkes

Kitten mistakes the moon for a large bowl of milk and tries, in vain, to reach it. The beautiful moon that hangs over each page radiates warm cuddly sleepy-time feelings. What can be sweeter than a kitten who believes the moon is a bowl of milk? Minimal narrative amps up the drama followed by the refrain, “Poor kitten!” [picture book, ages 2 and up]

5. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd

In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny sharing his goodnight wishes. “Goodnight room, goodnight moon.” The greatest bedtime book of all time is still as delightful as it was in 1947. Reading the simple, yet captivating text is completely satisfying, along with looking for the little mouse on each page spread in the quirky, green room as the light dims into moonlight. [picture book, ages 1 and up]

5 Great Picture Books with Family Themes

1. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole

The story of two famous dads — penguins Roy and Silo from New York’s Central Park Zoo. The two take turns sitting on an egg until it hatches, and Tango is born. This nontraditional family gets the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own. [picture book, ages 2 and up]

2. Happy in Our Skin by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Lauren Tobia

Our birthday suit—skin—is one of the most important parts of our bodies. This rhyming book shares all the important roles skin plays in protecting us. The inclusive theme shows children of all skills, religions, and color happily playing, swimming, and enjoying the day with lovely language—“bouquets of people, blooming and boisterous, brawny and thin, loving each day … happy in our skin!” [picture book, ages 4 and up]

3. Boundless Grace by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Caroline Binch

In this sequel to Amazing Grace, Grace struggles to answer the question “what is family?” She lives with her mother and her nana. Grace loves to read, but her books give her the idea that their family’s not like other families. Her father lives far away in The Gambia, and she only knows him through phone calls and letters. Through patient and warm conversations with her nana and papa, Grace discovers that families like people, “are what you make of them.” [picture book, ages 4 and up]

4. A Morning with Grandpa by Sylvia Liu, illustrated by Christina Forshay

Mei Mei’s grandpa, Gong Gong, is practicing tai chi in the garden, and Mei Mei is eager to join in with her own moves. The book depicts the sweet relationship between grandparent and grandchild while each learns new things together. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

5. The Family Book by Todd Parr

This is a story about families and all the different varieties they come in. Bright, bold, and whimsical illustrations show loving families of all shapes. It encourages children to ask questions about their family and the diverse families represented in the book. [picture book, ages 4 and up]

If You Want to Fall Asleep Signed Copy GIVEAWAY!

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Jackie Azúa Kramer was an actor, singer & school counselor. Now she’s an author and wiles away her time writing children’s picture books. She lives with her husband, ‘Muti-talented Brad’ and amazing kids ‘Jazz-hands Jonah’ & big sis, ‘Free-spirited Daisy’ in Long Island, NY.

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p.s. Related posts:

Best Bedtime Books GIVEAWAY & Kid Lit Blog Hop

Best Bedtime Books to Read Aloud

Yoga for Kids Bedtime Picture Book of the Day

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.

My books:

 Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World

• • • Junior Library Guild Gold selection
    • Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
    • Starred review from School Library Journal
    • Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
    • 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
    • Green Earth Book Award longlist
    • Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids

 Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me