The best short rhyming picture books about animals

Brooke Hartman Author Of Dream Flights on Arctic Nights
By Brooke Hartman

Who am I?

As a mom of young kids who love animals, I know firsthand the benefit of finding fun books that are also easy to read, fun to look at, and short enough not to make you flinch when your kids pull them off the shelves during those later bedtime nights.

I wrote...

Dream Flights on Arctic Nights

By Brooke Hartman, Evon Zerbetz (illustrator),

Book cover of Dream Flights on Arctic Nights

What is my book about?

At night, just as the moon climbs high, I make a wish that I could fly.

Follow a child’s dreamy flight across the Arctic and discover the animals that live there, from wolves prowling through the snow, to goats and sheep leaping across mountains, to walrus and sea lions lying on icebergs. Told in singsong rhymes and colorfully illustrated with gorgeous linocut art, Dream Flights on Arctic Nights is a beautiful bedtime story for children to explore the Arctic before drifting off to sleep.

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The books I picked & why

Over in the Arctic

By Connie Roop, Peter Roop,

Book cover of Over in the Arctic

Why did I love this book?

This book is a fun, singalong read written to the tune of “Over in the Meadow” that introduces children to the world of arctic animals. Kids will quickly pick up on the tune and rhyming pattern and be able to read along with the story. The fun, jaunty story is also just the right length for a bedtime read-aloud.

Over in the Arctic

By Connie Roop, Peter Roop,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Over in the Arctic as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Over in the Arctic, snow blankets the land and ice covers the water. Come and count with the belugas, caribou, bears, and many other cold-weather animals that call the Arctic home.

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Whole Whale

By Karen Yin, Nelleke Verhoeff (illustrator),

Book cover of Whole Whale

Why did I love this book?

This is such a fabulous book about inclusiveness and making room for everyone, and the best part is that this message is hidden inside a fun, rhyming story about lots and lots of animals (one hundred, to be precise!) But don’t let that number scare you, the story is a fast and fun read, and the perfect bedtime length. Bonus? Kids will love finding all the animals and discovering the secret that helps the poor whale find space.

Whole Whale

By Karen Yin, Nelleke Verhoeff (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Whole Whale as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

One hundred unusual animals try to squeeze into the pages of this raucous rhyming tale. But will there be room to fit a whole blue whale? The humorous ending features an expansive double gatefold and educational endnotes list the 100 animals in the book.

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Moonlight Prance

By Serena Gingold Allen, Teagan White (illustrator),

Book cover of Moonlight Prance

Why did I love this book?

A companion book to Sunrise Dance, this interactive lift-the-flap book will entertain young readers as they read along during a midnight dance in a meadow, and all the animals that come and join the fun. Kids will love making the animals dance along by moving the flaps, plus it’s short enough for when you need that super quick read before a late bedtime.

Moonlight Prance

By Serena Gingold Allen, Teagan White (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Moonlight Prance as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In this sweet and interactive bedtime read-aloud-with the rollicking rhyme of Sandra Boynton's Barnyard Dance! and the bedtime themes of Sleep Like A Tiger by Mary Logue-young readers can make skunks scamper and possums prance with each push of a durable novelty element.

When you rest your head at night, nocturnal animals awake to dance and play! Push and pull the sturdy tabs to make foxes frolic and hedgehogs hustle in this sweet, interactive tale of nighttime fun.

A charming and interactive bedtime read-aloud, young children will delight in moving the durable novelty elements, making the illustrations transform through their…

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Sunrise Dance

By Serena Gingold Allen, Teagan White (illustrator),

Book cover of Sunrise Dance

Why did I love this book?

A companion book to Moonlight Prance, this interactive lift-the-flap book will entertain young readers as they read along during a sunrise dance in a meadow, and all the animals that come and join the fun. Kids will love making the animals dance along by moving the flaps, plus it’s short enough for when you need that super quick read before a late bedtime.

Sunrise Dance

By Serena Gingold Allen, Teagan White (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Sunrise Dance as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Make salmon splash and bear cubs bustle with each push of a durable novelty element in this sweet and interactive morning read-aloud.

When you wake up in the morning, playful animals are starting their day! Push and pull the sturdy tabs to make dragonflies dance and bear cubs bustle in this sweet, interactive tale of morning-time fun.

A charming and interactive bedtime read-aloud, young children will delight in moving the durable novelty elements, making the illustrations transform through their efforts.

FOR FANS OF BARNYARD DANCE!: With rollicking rhyme and dancing animals, this book is perfect for anyone who loves Sandra…

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Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey

By Emily Winfield Martin,

Book cover of Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey

Why did I love this book?

This gentle rhyming book is the perfect book for your child and their best stuffy friend to read just before they drift off to sleep. The imaginative watercolor pictures will stick with you, and children will love finding how each child’s BFFs find their way into dreamland. Bonus? The book is short enough for a quick bedtime story, but has enough of a story for you to read it over and over without making you feel tired, too!

Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey

By Emily Winfield Martin,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Dream Animals as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Take a bedtime journey with the New York Times bestselling author of The Wonderful Things You Will Be and discover the adventures that await while you dream!

You only have to close your eyes
And when you snuggle in….
You’ll be carried to your dream tonight
On wing or paw or fin
 
Snuggle into bed and discover what your dream animal might be and where it could take you! Could it be a bear who brings you to bake pastries? A fox who ushers you into a magical forest? Mermaids with whom you can sip tea?
 
With a perfect nighttime…

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