Great Picture Books for Quiet

Aren't all books great for quiet?  Well, not always, some should be read with great gusto. The following picture books are great for showing children how to have quiet moments, how to enjoy the quiet and of course, just by reading, they become quiet.  There are certainly some silly books that are just not appropriate for calming kids down for bedtime.  I believe all of the following are great last books of the day.

Goodnight Moon 

by Margaret Wise Brown
An obvious classic, this is our favorite last book of the night.  It is naturally peaceful and quieting.  

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr
A girl and her father go owling late at night.  The girl must learn to restrain her natural tendencies, so as not to scare off the animals.  Going for regular nature hikes is a great way to practice quiet.  

The Quiet Book 

by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Renata Liwska

This is just such a lovely book that we instantly fell in love with.  Kinds of quiet that we may not even notice and can certainly appreciate.  The author has also written The Christmas Quiet Book for finding quiet at the most hectic of times and the antithesis of these is The Loud Book.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee 

by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin Stead
Amos' friends from the zoo come to spend some quiet time with him when he is sick and unable to visit them.  

Extra Yarn 

by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen

2013 Caldecott Honor Book
I am a big believer in old-fashioned toys.  The kids are usually more entertained by a box than expensive toys.  Such a simple, beautiful book reminds us that it really doesn't take much for a quiet happiness.  

Red Knit Cap Girl 

by Naoko Stoop
This book is almost Zen-like in quality.  The girl wants to talk to the moon, but how?   The texture of the artwork is wonderful.

Quiet Bunny 

by Lisa McCue

The quiet bunny is quiet, but wants to find a voice among the forest creatures.  He wants to be like the others, but really just needs to find his own way.  There are many subsequent Quiet Bunny books that are just as beautiful.

The Story of Ferdinand 

by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson
Ferdinand is a calm, quiet bull, content to just smell the flowers.  But he does not fit in with the rest.  Another lovely book about just being yourself, while also showing that calm and quiet can be wonderful, too.

Can I Just Take a Nap? 

by Ron Rauss, illustrated by Rob Shepperson
A very fun book, that my kids just adored.  It reminded me of a favorite of mine, Stay Awake Sally by Mitra Modaressi.  Can I Just Take a Nap? is a boys quest to find a quiet place to rest. This book won Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories contest in 2010, so you may have found this book in a box of Cheerios!

We love new books at our house - if you love any literature on this topic that didn't make my list, please do share!