Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve spent my whole life working with children’s books. Firstly, as a listener–I was lucky enough to be read to frequently as a child. Then, as a reader. Later, I shared books as a teacher, editor, and publisher. But perhaps my favorite moments with books have been as a mother and now as an author. That’s a lot of books read, written, edited, shared, and loved! And for me, bedtime is the best time of day to share a book with a child. So, snuggle up and enjoy a favorite book with a favorite little person–they won’t be little for long!


I wrote...

Winnie-the-Pooh: Once There Was a Bear

By Jane Riordan, Mark Burgess (illustrator),

Book cover of Winnie-the-Pooh: Once There Was a Bear

What is my book about?

A delightful new collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stories told in the style of A. A. Milne that explores life before the…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Uh-Oh, Niko: Bedtime

Jane Riordan Why did I love this book?

This colorful, interactive board book is great for encouraging toddlers to get ready for bed. I love the ‘Uh-oh’ refrain that everyone can join in with and the clever flaps and sliders that show little bear Niko getting everything a little bit wrong. It’s the first in a new series from Chris Chatterton and one that I love to read with the little people in my life.

By Chris Chatterton,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Uh-Oh, Niko as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 1, 2, 3, and 4.

What is this book about?

Boots come off.
Pyjamas on.
Uh-oh, Niko!
Your slipper's gone.

Help little Niko change into pyjamas and get tucked into bed in this interactive board book packed with push-and-pull sliders and flaps.

Uh-Oh Niko is a little bear who sometimes gets things a little wrong. Whatever happens, he always tries again and learns new skills along the way.

This series is the perfect way to help toddlers with their daily routines.

Children will love joining in with the fun-filled rhyming text which will inspire imaginative play within the story.

Want more fun with Niko? Check out the other books in…


Book cover of Goodnight Moon

Jane Riordan Why did I love this book?

Yes, it’s a classic–but it’s a classic for a reason! I found this book incredibly soothing at bedtime–both for my children and for me! Is it a bit quirky? Yes! Are the illustrations quite dated? Yes! But there’s nothing quite like it for calming and settling at bedtime. Yawn! I’m feeling sleepy already!

By Margaret Wise Brown, Clement Hurd (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

8 authors picked Goodnight Moon as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

A beautiful anniversary edition of the classic bedtime story with shiny gold cover flourishes - the perfect gift for christenings and birthdays.

Featuring a look at the fascinating story behind the creation of one of the most famous children's books in the world, beloved by Michelle Obama and Neil Gaiman alike, as well as tips on how to get your child to sleep.

In a great green room a little bunny is tucked up snugly and safely in bed and is getting ready to say goodnight to all the familiar things in his room, one by one.

Margaret Wise Brown's…


Book cover of That Rabbit Belongs To Emily Brown

Jane Riordan Why did I love this book?

This book is great for any time of day–not just bedtime but because it is a celebration of a child’s most loved toy it is perfect for cuddling up with at bedtime.

I love doing lots of funny voices when I read this book and I love the fact that the main character really stands up for herself–even against the Queen! My kids adored this book–perhaps because they had a grubby bunny who looked a lot like Stanley!

By Cressida Cowell, Neal Layton (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked That Rabbit Belongs To Emily Brown as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 3, 4, and 5.

What is this book about?

A stunning reissue of this classic picture book. When the Queen steals Emily Brown's favourite toy and erstwhile companion, a toy rabbit called Stanley, Emily sets out to get him back and teach that naughty queen a valuable lesson!

Winner of the 2006 Nestle Gold Award, chosen for the Richard & Judy Christmas book party, a Bookaboo Book Club book as seen on CITV and read by Amanda Holden.

'Charming, funny and gets my vote as the best picture book of the year.' - Financial Times

Written by Cressida Cowell, the bestselling author of the How to Train Your Dragon…


Book cover of Winnie-the-Pooh

Jane Riordan Why did I love this book?

It would be remiss of me not to include this absolute classic in my list. I’ve enjoyed the Winnie-the-Pooh stories ever since I was old enough to play with poohsticks, and now the words of A. A.

Milne inspires me in my work every day. Eeyore has always been my favorite, and the Tiddely Pom Hum was the very first piece of poetry that I learned by heart.

By A.A. Milne, Ernest H. Shepard (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked Winnie-the-Pooh as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

An award-winning production, with an all-star cast including Stephen Fry and Judi Dench, brings to life one of the best-loved children's books of all time.

Packed full of fun and adventure with Winnie-the-Pooh and all his friends in the Hundred Acre Forest. This is a wonderful dramatisation of Winnie-the-Pooh with original music. This captivating adaptation conveys all the magic and humour of AA Milne's classic stories.

The cast includes the following stars:

Pooh - Stephen Fry
Piglet - Jane Horrocks
Eeyore - Geoffrey Palmer
Kanga (and Narrator) - Judi Dench
Roo - Finty Williams
Rabbit - Robert Daws
Owl -…


Book cover of The Going to Bed Book

Jane Riordan Why did I love this book?

Most bedtime books are reassuring and calming, but who says that going to bed can’t be fun and silly too? This book makes me giggle every time–the rhyme is infectious, and the facial expressions of the animals are just brilliant. Here’s to having fun with books right until the end of the day!

By Sandra Boynton,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Going to Bed Book as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Getting ready for sleep is tons of fun in this Sandra Boynton classic.

The sun has set not long ago.
Now everybody goes below
to take a bath in one big tub
with soap all over-SCRUB SCRUB SCRUB!

This classic bedtime story is just right for winding down the day as a joyful, silly group of animals scrub scrub scrub in the tub, brush and brush and brush their teeth, and finally rock and rock and rock to sleep.


Explore my book 😀

Winnie-the-Pooh: Once There Was a Bear

By Jane Riordan, Mark Burgess (illustrator),

Book cover of Winnie-the-Pooh: Once There Was a Bear

What is my book about?

A delightful new collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stories told in the style of A. A. Milne that explores life before the Hundred Acre Wood.

How did Christopher Robin meet his beloved bear? Did Pooh and his friends see any of London before they moved to the Hundred Acre Wood? These questions and more are explored in this charming new collection of stories. Each tale features a gentle adventure set in London or the countryside, and they include iconic locations such as Harrods, London Zoo, and the Natural History Museum. Pooh, Eeyore, and Piglet even make a new friend: Flo, the house mouse. Written in the timeless style of A. A. Milne, with illustrations that are true to the spirit of the original drawings by E. H. Shepard. 

Book cover of Uh-Oh, Niko: Bedtime
Book cover of Goodnight Moon
Book cover of That Rabbit Belongs To Emily Brown

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Knife Skills

By Wendy Church,

Book cover of Knife Skills

Wendy Church Author Of Knife Skills

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a thrill seeker when it comes to reading, and I want to be so immersed in a story that I have to read it in one sitting and then can be completely taken by surprise by a plot twist. It was extremely hard to pick only five titles, so to narrow it down, I 1) made an attempt to pick from a few different sub-genres and, 2) stipulated that Agatha Christie could populate the entire list. All of these titles blend wonderful writing with great twists, and I hope you enjoy them. I did my best to avoid spoilers in the descriptions, although by being on this list, it’s a little bit of a spoiler…

Wendy's book list on plot twists that nail the art of surprise

What is my book about?

"Dizzying . . . Audiences who wished the TV series The Bear had made room for Russian mobsters are in for a treat" - Kirkus Reviews Starred Review

Sagarine Pfister is a great cook but has been blacklisted by almost every restaurant in Chicago. She gets her chance at Louie's, a below-average restaurant, the only place that will give her a job. Things change when she finds head chef Louie Ferrar dead in the walk-in freezer of his restaurant. But instead of closing the place down, the owner, Russian gang boss Anatoly Morozov, offers not only her Louie's job but…

Knife Skills

By Wendy Church,

What is this book about?

"Dizzying . . . Audiences who wished the TV series The Bear had made room for Russian mobsters are in for a treat" Kirkus Reviews Starred Review

Sagarine Pfister is a great cook but has been blacklisted by almost every restaurant in Chicago. She gets her chance at Louie's, a below-average restaurant, the only place that will give her a job.

Things change when she finds head chef Louie Ferrar dead in the walk-in freezer of his restaurant. But instead of closing the place down, the owner, Russian gang boss Anatoly Morzov, not only offers her Louie's job, but also…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in bedtime, animals, and night?

Bedtime 40 books
Animals 234 books
Night 17 books