Families who loved Good Night, Sleep Tight, Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite! by Diane deGroat often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is facing their first major independent milestone, such as a school sleepover, summer camp, or even just a backyard tent adventure. It is specifically designed for the child who is oscillating between the excitement of 'being a big kid' and the very real anxiety of being away from home at night. Through the eyes of Gilbert the opossum, children see that it is possible to be both brave and nervous at the same time. In this story, Gilbert heads to Camp Hi-Dee-Ho with his friends, only to be rattled by stories of a camp ghost. The book masterfully handles the common peer dynamic where children try to out-spook one another, showing how imagination can turn a simple night sound into something scary. Parents will appreciate how the story normalizes nighttime fears and highlights the comfort found in friendship and shared experiences. It is a gentle, humorous tool for opening a dialogue about what to expect when sleeping in a new environment.
