3 Great Bedtime Books for 5-Year Olds

When I was a young’un, my parents got me interested in reading with bedtime stories. Every night was a new tale of thought-provoking adventure between vividly colored illustrations. And when our books had been read a million times, my parents and I would make up stories until I drifted off to sleep.

With this in mind, I’ve pinpointed a trio of 5-year old children’s books for the amusement of slumber-ready tykes everywhere.

Reading together before drifting into dreamland is a tried-and-true tradition that (in my humble opinion) ALL devoted, adoring parents should practice. Bedtime stories, whether imagined or read, can inspire a child’s love of learning at a young age – making all the difference.

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Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker

What happens when the sunshine disappears over the horizon of a construction site? The machinery and equipment goes to sleep, of course!

This concept isn’t one that adults usually associate with construction sites, but the imagination behind the idea is amazing. Cement Mixers, Bulldozers, and a plethora of other massive, sometimes scary machinery yawns, smiles, and says goodnight after a rough-and-tumble day of hard work.

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The Going-To Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

This board-book depicts several awesome animals in their rush to prepare for bedtime. They’re going to bed, but first their teeth must be brushed, stretches must be performed, and goodnight kisses must be distributed.

And the awesome part? All of these animals are living on an Ark!

Packed to brimming, the silly critters have their specific routines to avoid running into one another. And at the end, when the stars are shining and all is quiet… “The moon is high. The sea is deep. They rock and rock and rock to sleep.”

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Frozen Little Golden Book (Disney Frozen) by RH Disney

Ella and Anna are siblings with unique personalities and an unshakeable bond; however, as Ella gets older, she discovers a wintry super-power that seems to be beyond her control. Growing up, she secludes herself to keep her abilities hidden, until an accident occurs and everyone finds out. Dubbed the Snow Queen, Ella flees the affections and understanding of Anna, forcing the socialized sister to team up with new friends to reestablish the love between herself and her sibling.

This book is AMAZING. And if you haven’t seen Disney’s Frozen movie, do it now! Both storylines are exactly the same and perfect, only in different formats.

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Additional resource - some very cool picks in books for 5 year old kids this year:

Interactive Books For 5-Year Old Learners

The best books for 5-year olds in 2013 are interactive, engaging, and entertaining. Children learn through these stories and activities, gaining essential life skills at their own pace. However, interactive doesn't have to mean electronic. Kids can gain the same amount of amusement from colorful illustrations and interesting tactile surfaces that they'd earn from LCD screens and computer monitors. As a matter of fact, this brand of interaction is easier on the eyes and mind, allowing kids to develop necessary reading skills, as they're educated with fun exercises on each page.

For example:
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My First Touch & Feel Picture Cards: First Words (DK Publishing)

Toddlers can learn their language skills at any age with vibrant photos and flash cards. From teddy bears to keys or shoes and beach balls, there are 16-pages of wordy, fun, high-quality memory cards for kids to touch, read, and learn. Each card represents an image with a range of activities underneath to make the exercise even more entertaining and engaging. For instance, the word "mirror" asks if children can spot any mirrors in their home, then follows up with how the word is pronounced in other languages. It's a cultural adventure without ever leaving home!

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Brain Quest Workbook: Kindergarten (Lisa Trumbauer)

Packed with hundreds of fun exercises and activities, these subject-inspired games teach ABCs, 123s, shapes, phonics, telling time, and so much more; all in 320 pages. Kids will have the chance to work at their own pace, completing "paint by letters," mazes, sorting games, and reading interesting stories about unique characters. For homeschool environments or public classrooms, this book packs a powerful punch of Kindergarten materials to help kids develop into intelligent, well-rounded individuals. Their language, number, and thinking skills will soar! Each page is colorful and kid-friendly to entice a child's need to learn.

My Mouth Is a Volcano! by Julia Cook

Julia Cook has done it again with yet another tale to add to the list of top 10 books for 5 year olds. It’s entitled “My Mouth is a Volcano!” – A story that revolves around interruption and how adults can teach their children to deal with feeling the need to interrupt. Illustrated in beautiful detail, this book features a cover photo of a little boy – his mouth open wide to spew forth a magma-like outpouring of words. While Cook’s illustrated covers are known to shock and awe, the interior tale is even more surprising.

Is this book appropriate for my child?

Does your offspring have a problem with interrupting when someone else is speaking? Is he perplexed as to why he should wait his turn when talking? Does she often blurt out exactly what is on her mind, despite the conversation others might be having? If those answers would be a resounding “YES!” then this book would likely help your child. The premise of the story focuses on Louis; a little boy who gets ridiculously excited about everything he has to say – which is a lot! He describes his words as living things that wiggle and jiggle against his teeth until he simply must push them out – every word tumbles out on the tip of his tongue during the most inopportune times. He describes it as an ERUPTION, where his teachers and other adults describe it as interrupting.

Louis works hard throughout the 32 pages to gain control of his volcanic mouth. Towards the end of the book, he finally develops an effective technique that allows him to speak his mind without being rude when others are talking too. It’s a creative and beautifully illustrated book, rife with the lessons that children will utilize for the rest of their lives.
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For more great picks in books for 5 year olds, visit:

http://www.squidoo.com/top-10-books-for-5-year-olds