Book picks similar to
The Night Garden by Elise Hurst


imagination
bedtime
cats
picture-books

The Girl and the Dinosaur


Hollie Hughes - 2019
    . . In a little town by the seaside, Marianne can often be found foraging on the beach. But she isn’t playing with children her own age; instead Marianne is alone, digging for dinosaur bones. When she finds an entire skeleton, she names him Bony and vows to become his best friend.That night, she goes to sleep wishing with all her heart that her dinosaur might come to life . . . and her wish comes true. Together, a girl and her dinosaur’s adventures are only limited by their imagination.

Bringing Down the Moon


Jonathan Emmett - 2001
    Mole thinks the moon is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen, and he wants to have it for his own. But as his friends Rabbit, Hedgehog, and Squirrel remind him, some things are not as simple--or as close--as they look! Jonathan Emmett's lyrical text and Vanessa Cabban's woodland illustrations depict Mole's concerted efforts with gentle humor and charm.

The Pout-Pout Fish and the Bully-Bully Shark


Deborah Diesen - 2017
    Fish and all his friendsLove to play down at the park.But that ends when they're bulliedBy a misbehaving shark!Mr. Fish wants to help.He knows bullying is wrong!But he's just one fish--Is he really that strong?In The Pout-Pout Fish and the Bully-Bully Shark, the New York Times-bestselling Pout-Pout Fish teaches a bully shark about kindness and being a friend in this original picture book. Swim along as he discovers the strength of his community, and the power of his own voice.

I'm Going to Give You a Bear Hug!


Caroline B. Cooney - 2016
    Cooney and illustrated by Tim Warnes, is a playful and comforting bedtime book that helps your child imagine all the wonderful and silly ways someone might give and receive a hug. And the lively text and illustrations show the special connection between a parent and a child.I'm Going to Give You a Bear Hug!:Has sweet, whimsical rhymes that encourage playful interaction between a caretaker and childHelps kids 4-8 wind down and drift off to sleepFeatures all the ways kids love to snuggle with the ones they love with humor and whimsyCelebrates the special bond parents, grandparents, and loved ones have with the children in their livesIs perfect for bedtime and lap reading, as well as a gift for birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and ChristmasWhether it’s a big bear, gasp for air, knock over a chair hug or a wet and drippy, slimy, slippy fish hug, children will giggle their way through all the imaginative examples of hugs we can give and receive.If you enjoy I’m Going to Give You a Bear Hug!, be sure to check out I’m Going to Give You a Polar Bear Hug! for more hugging fun!

The Three Billy Goats Gruff


Janet Stevens - 1995
    “The pictures are exceptionally well reproduced, and Stevens makes clever use of her layout, propelling the actions out of the borders at times, giving them verve and movement.”--Booklist

Everyone's Awake


Colin Meloy - 2020
    Instead of settling down to sleep, Dad bakes bread, Mom fixes the roof, and Grandma plays cards with a ghost. And between the dog, the cat, Sister, and Brother, there's at least three different wars being waged!

Boris and the Snoozebox


Leigh Hodgkinson - 2007
    But suddenly--STAMP, STAMP, scribble, scribble--the box is taped up and zoomed off to doorsteps all over the earth and beyond Every time Boris drifts off to sleep, someone opens the box and wakes him up. Beady eyes peek inside and loud voices shout, This is NOT what I ordered! I DON'T want this cat! (They want a prickly plant...giant teapot...or remote-controlled space butterfly.) This quirky cat tale proves there's no place like a loving home--especially if that home happens to have a plumpish pillow perfect for snooooooozing!

The Berenstain Bears on the Moon


Stan Berenstain - 1985
    in full color. "In a delightful tale told in rhyme, the Bears copewith weightlessness, meteor showers, and moon dust. A winner for beginningreaders."-- "School Library Journal. "

A Lion in the Night


Pamela Allen - 1985
    A royal household is disrupted when a lion runs off with the baby.

OLIVIA and the Haunted Hotel


Jodie Shepherd - 2010
    Ian keeps insisting that the hotel is haunted, and everyone knows he's joking...but what if he's not? What if the hotel really is haunted? This funny, sweetly spooky story is based on an episode and sure to bring on chills and howls of laughter!Olivia and her friends decide to play “hotel” in this story. Ian keeps insisting that the hotel is haunted, and everyone knows he's joking...but what if he's not? What if the hotel really is haunted? This funny, sweetly spooky story is based on an episode and sure to bring on chills and howls of laughter!

If You See a Kitten


John Butler - 2002
    If you see a cuddly kitten, say ahhh! If you see a dozing dormouse, say shhh! But what if you see a spooky spider...or a cranky crocodile?From a pretty peacock (oooh!) to some slimy slugs (yuck!), this simple, interactive look at various animals and the reactions they evoke will coax giggles and spirited responses from young children as they follow along.From acclaimed author-illustrator John Butler, If You See a Kitten is the perfect read-aloud book young children will want to hear again and again.

The Mouse Who Ate the Moon


Petr Horáček - 2014
    What happens when her wish comes true? Little Mouse loves to look up at the moon every night. But one night, when a piece of the moon falls from the sky, she can't resist taking a little nibble. And another. Soon the moon is no longer round. What will happen to it now? Children will be eager to turn the pages and peek through the holes in an amusing tale of temptation featuring Petr Horácek's bold, vibrant illustrations.

Little Cub


Olivier Dunrea - 2012
    In this book we see the father and son from Old Bear and His Cub meet for the first time--and grow to love one another.With the same bold art and humorous twist on parenting, Olivier Dunrea's tumbling bears will melt your heart and show how strong the bond is between any father and son pair.

Up On Bob


Mary Sullivan - 2020
    Perfect for fans of Kelly DiPucchio and Vera Brosgol. Bob the dog doesn’t mind hard work when it means he can reward himself with a nap. But Someone is watching him sleep! Hopefully they will just go away if Bob lies really still. But Someone, who happens to be a cat, has other things in mind.Up on Bob is a humorous tale about sharing, working hard—and sleeping even harder. With irresistibly sly illustrations and pitch perfect pet dynamics, Geisel Honor–winning author-illustrator Mary Sullivan tells a sweet tale of friendship with a fresh new spin on the age-old cat-and-dog rivalry.

A Perfect Place for Ted


Leila Rudge - 2013
    Will anyone ever notice Ted?Ted has lived among the dogs at the pet store for as long as he can remember. But there are so many dogs there, nobody ever chooses Ted. So he decides to go someplace else — someplace perfect. But Ted can’t fly through the air like the circus dogs, and he doesn’t have fancy pom-poms like the show dogs. Just as he loses hope, he sees a sign: Wanted: Perfect Pet. Little animal lovers will be tickled along with Ted at the unusual household that finally becomes his perfect place.