There’s a reason moms and dads call the hours between 5 and 7 p.m. the “witching hours”. If your household is like mine, that just when the kids are too tired to behave. Instead of being quiet and sleepy, they get wild and start running, in circles, around the house.

We have a bedtime routine we follow to help those sleepy heads calm down and get settled for sleepy time. Of course, reading books is part of the equation. Here are a couple of books we found at our local library.

The Baby Beebee Bird by Diane Redfield Massie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The baby beebee bird is a new addition to the zoo…and the other animals are annoyed! But why? The little beebee bird is so small and cute! The very first night of the beebee bird’s stay, he is up all night singing his song. “Beebee bobbi bobbi! Beebee bobbi bobbi!” Will the other zoo animals ever get some sleep? All the zoo animals, from the lion to the giraffe, hatch a plan to make the beebee bird stop singing at night. With pictures by one of my favorite illustrators, Steven Kellogg, this book is great for bedtime or for any time!

When the Moon Smiled: A Bedtime Counting Book by Petr Horacek

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A wonderful bedtime book, When the Moon Smiled also teaches counting. Not only that, but children are also introduced to some nocturnal animals. With its adorable crayon and watercolor illustrations, this book is a great addition to a child’s bedtime routine!

View all my reviews on Goodreads. To read other reviews from other book lovers, visit Little Sprout Books by clicking the button below!