Adjustafresh did a great post on bedtime books back in October, and I noticed a bunch of people commented on it. I found a few new ones there for my older kids, including the hilarious and genuine Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

I thought I’d do another one, this time focused on a different kind of bedtime story. These are for younger kids, maybe 2-5, and what they have in common is the pairing of a kind of quiet cadence with a story line that reflects the deeper truths of life, nature, and humanity. You might call them “mystical” bedtime books.

If you know any of the below, you know what I mean. Each of these five classics uses a simple story and beautiful illustration to communicate something universal and profound in about ten minutes. There’s something special about these books, something magic to both soothe and enrich your sleepy toddler.

First up is the charming Can’t You Sleep Little Bear? The book tells the story of a little bear trying to sleep despite a fear of the dark, while his papa goes to greater and greater lengths to show he is safe and warm at home. Whether your little one is afraid of the dark or not, this book is sure to leave them feeling the same.

My next pick is Owl Moon, which carries some of the same messages of a loving father figure and a shared connection to the natural world as Little Bear. This book perfectly captures the feeling of moonlit snowfall on a deep, Winter night, and the unspoken camaraderie between a father and son as the former crosses into boyhood. There’s a reveal in the book, an illustration that marks the finding of the owl, that will light up your kids just like the glowing landscape throughout this minor masterpiece.

Speaking of a masterpiece… Sophie’s Masterpiece is the third book. It tells a story of personal sacrifice and the blessings of children, from the perspective of a tiny spider with a special gift. This is a sweetly sad book for grownups, who can fill in the blanks that might trouble a toddler. But the story is beautiful, and helps your child understand the preparation and anticipation that marked their entry into the world.

Fourth is Min-Yo and the Moon Dragon. All three of my kids love this one, and even the 8 year old will sit in when I read it to the youngest. It’s probably my favorite as well, with it’s magical Moon Dragon and story of bravery and friendship. Min-Yo is the heroine of the story, a child chosen to save the world simply because she is the only citizen both light and brave enough to climb the wispy silken strand that leads to the rapidly descending moon. Her clever choices and innocent pragmatism save the day, and make a friend of the mythical beast so poorly understood by the people below.

Finally, another story set in the China of long ago, the wise and brilliant Stone Soup. In it we meet three nomadic monks who come upon a town beset by trouble and suspicion, and set it on the right path with a recipe for brotherhood and community. Stone Soup unfolds with a subtlety and a sharpness that matches its pen and ink illustrations, to teach a lesson that – well learned – could do nothing less than make the world a better place.

Check ’em out, let me know what you think, and what books have a magic for you and your child.