Mentor Text referral: Bedtime Books

​Goodnight Moon. Time for Bed. The Going to Bed Book.  Who doesn’t love a good bedtime story?

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With soothing language and a soft cadence, bedtime books can be a great genre choice if you’re a children’s authors who enjoys writing rhyming and lyrical picture books. You can even mimic the rhythm of a traditional lullaby like “Hush, Little Baby” or “Rock-A-Bye Baby” to build your book around a set structure.

​Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it? But before you snuggle up to write your own bedtime book, consider this. There are MANY bedtime books on the market. In order for your book to stand out, it needs to be about more than just settling in for bed. You need a fresh angle. An intriguing, kid-friendly topic to weave into the fabric of your bedtime quilt. For example…

​…growing a garden, like in Goodnight Veggies by Diana Murray, illustrated by Zachariah Ohora.

​…using your imagination as a stall tactic, like in Bedtime for Sweet Creatures, by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon.

​​…or introducing kids to different branches of science, like in Dream Big, Little Scientists written by yours truly, illustrated by Alice Potter.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the strategies I use in Dream Big, Little Scientists to provide a unique take on bedtime.
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I balance bed-time-focused language with tangible science words. The illustrations then dig deeper into specific scientific elements.

For example, in this spread focused on geology, I use the kid-friendly geology-related words mountain and earth and the bed-time words quilts and snuggle. The illustration shows more about what geologists study and introduces a famous modern-day geologist, Jess Phoenix. 

As you consider your own bedtime book topic, think about how your illustrations can add layers of information to your topic.  ​

I rely on assonance to create a gentle lullaby tone. (See this Rhyme Doctor’s Post for more information on how to use assonance to enhance the read-aloud quality of your picture book.)

​Breath in deep, then let it out
And feel your heartbeat slow.

​I use back matter to further strengthen the science angle of the book.

I challenge you to DREAM BIG and try writing your own bedtime book. Just don’t forget to give it a fresh twist!

Rhyme Doctor Michelle Schaub