May is Better Sleep Month and if there's anything that a parent needs more of it's sleep! And one of the best ways to develop a nighttime routine for your little ones while developing good reading habits is the classic nighttime story.

Check out these offerings from Raising Readers, a grant-funded program that provides hospitals, adoption agencies and physician's offices children's books to encourage early literacy for all of Maine's kids.

All of these books are specific to bedtime and, bonus, books through this program also try to include Maine authors and illustrators whenever possible.  Who doesn't love a home connection in their readings?

These books are doctor recommended books for Maine kids for bedtime:

  1. Bedtime by Elizabeth Verdick (Ages 15 months - 2 years)
  2. The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton (Ages 15 months - 3 years)
  3. Nighty-Night, Cooper by Laura Joffe Numeroff (Ages 18 months - 3 years)
  4. Sleep Baby Safe and Snug by Dr. John Hutton (Ages 0 - 2 years)
  5. It's Time to Say Goodnight by Harriet Ziefert (Ages 1 year - 4 years)
  6. Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney (Ages 2 years - 4 years)
  7. Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker (Ages 2 years - 5 years)
  8. Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker (Ages 2 years - 5 years)

Here is the full list of bedtime stories with pricing and descriptions provided by the Raising Readers program.

For more Maine resources for libraries and education, check out the Additional Resources page at the Raising Readers website.

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