Are you a morning person or a night owl? Day and night, light and dark, awake and sleep…Explore these opposites with kids as we delve into the mysteries and treasures of each. Let’s get ready to read day and night books for kids.
Books For Kids About Day
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Chirp! by Mary Murphy explores all the sounds of birds as night turns to morning . With the turn of each page we see the sky getting lighter and sun rising.
The beautiful illustrations in Blue Sky Morning by Jihyun Kim will inspire you take a morning walk and look up at the sky. Releases May 2025.
As morning arrives, what sounds accompany it? Enjoy What Sound is Morning by Grant Snider to explore. Can you hear a baby babbling and birds tweeting?
Books for Kids About Night
This is the book to read before heading out on a night time walk. In Thank You, Night by
Dan McCauley, we not only practice mindfulness of the sights and sounds of the night, but also practice gratitude for all those things too. This would also make a great book for a story time walk.
Night Walk by Sara O’Leary lets us walk along with a child and father as they explore the neighborhood at night.
Wake up while it is still night. Time to get going. Walk, walk, walk. Hurry, hurry, hurry. We must get to the top of our destination to see…the sun rise. Travel along in the Night Walk by Marie Dorléans.
Flashlight by Lizi Boyd captures what you can see at night by shining a flashlight. Turns out that there are all sorts of creatures up and milling about. This wordless book will have you buzzing with words.
Sometimes at night, parents have to work. That means, that children have to sleep somewhere else. We meet a family who has a cot in the living room to help families who work at night in The Cot in the Living Room by Hilda Eunice Burgos.
The Lights & Types of Ships at Night by Dave Eggers is a beautiful book that showcases the lights on the water from boats and ships at night.
Ada and the Galaxies by Alan Lightman is the story of a child visiting grandparents in Maine. The child is most looking forward to seeing the night sky and it seems like that time of day will never arrive. But, when night comes and the fog leaves, there is a beautiful night sky to enjoy.
Seeking an Aurora by Elizabeth Pufford is a story of father and child on a journey to see the amazing light show- northern lights.
Where Do Creatures Sleep at Night? by Steven J. Simmons explores all the resting places for creatures. Did you know that goldfish sleep with their eyes open? And, did you know that rabbits sleep in holes in the ground?
In the Night Garden by by Carin Berger is a visual delight. The collage images are captivating pulling you right into the nighttime life and vibe. A very poetic beautiful read.
Books for Kids That Are About Both Day and Night
When it’s night in one part of the world, it’s day in another. One Moment in Time by Ben Lerwill takes us around the world to see what different children are doing at the same moment. From a child having breakfast in Mexico to a child brushing their teeth before bed in Thailand, you’ll see different children participating in the same moment.
Daylight Starlight Wildlife by Wendell Minor is great for comparing daytime and nighttime creatures. It also can be used to talk about the changes from day to night and back to day again.
Printable Book List of Books About Night and Day for Children
Download a list of the books described above. It’s perfect for taking to the library or tucking in with your lesson plans.
Enjoy exploring day and night with these read-alouds.