Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Schultz
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sweet, silly board book makes bedtime fun and cozy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 2+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In Sandra Boynton's THE GOING TO BED BOOK, several wild animals on a boat watch the sunset and then get ready for bed together. They head to the lower deck to wash, change into pajamas, and brush their teeth. Then they go back to the upper deck and do silly exercises before returning to the lower deck, where the boat rocks them into a peaceful sleep.
Is It Any Good?
Among Sandra Boynton's board books for toddlers and preschoolers, The Going to Bed Book is one of the sweetest and funniest, making a soothing, entertaining end to any child's day. As the animals in the book wash, change, and brush teeth together, young children get the warm feeling that kids everywhere have the same nighttime routine. There's lots of fun to be had in the pictures as animals first put on the wrong-size pajamas and then do silly exercises before heading to bed. The lovely rhyme and the boat's rocking at the end invite parents to rock their little ones.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about bedtime. What do the animals do before bed? What do you do when it's bedtime?
Do you think you'd like to live on a boat like these animals? Is it a fun thing to pretend?
What's your favorite picture in this book? What do you like about it?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Sandra Boynton
- Genre : Board
- Topics : Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little Simon
- Publication date : November 30, 1982
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 2 - 5
- Number of pages : 14
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Kindle, App
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate