Reading to children is so important in their development, we all know this, and for most of us, reading to our children is that quiet snuggle moment we look forward to each day, when everyone gets along and is happy, quiet and calm for a brief moment.

This wonderful moment usually happens just before bedtime and a new series of books from The Secret Mountain makes this even more pleasant. These gorgeously illustrated books are totally charming and refreshing, and in addition they also each come with a complimentary music CD. Word to the wise, don’t listen to the Duck in New York City CD before bedtime, it’s way too much fun and upbeat for calming down at bedtime. Our favorite of books we’ve seen is the A Duck in New York City and the music in actually something I want to, and did, put, on my iPod for listening to on the next road trip. The story follows and little duck on his journey to what else…make it big in New York City! The Secret Mountain has many beautifully illustrated books, many stories available in French as well with songs by acclaimed Canadian artists. Many of these books and CD’s have received awards, Parent’s Choice Awards and even Juno Awards for the music. If your kids to like nodding off to music, Down at the Sea Hotel’s soundtrack would be just the right speed with gentle lullabies from the likes of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Don Henley, and Billy Joel. These sure aren’t the scary lyric’d lullabies we grew up with, have you ever actually listened to the words of Rock-a-Bye Baby? These are simply lovely and soothing.

A new bedtime ritual we started this year with our 5 year old son, is reading a story from a very special book. This is a book of 365 stories, 1 story or poem for each day of the year. So you just follow along each night, reading the story for that specific day. This is a book we had as children and my mother passed it on to me when I had my kids and now, after my son found it on his bookshelf, untouched for many years, we’ve started the tradition of reading from it. It’s funny, I remember some of the stories and I remember my mother reading the stories to me when I was little. Now, we can’t turn the lights out until we’ve read from this book.

What are your storytime bedtime rituals with your kids? Favorite bedtime reads? Share them with us…

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