Kidliterate
I sell children's books for a living, and read almost nothing but. The first does not necessarily cause the second, as books for children and teens are better than anything in the world.
Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey by Emily Winfield Martin
Even though my daughter is seven, I'm taking this home tonight. Because you are never, ever, EVER too old for a beautiful picture book. Because she will love the idea of animals guiding you into your dreams at night:
"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."
The illustrations are lovely and alternate between color and black and white. There's an old fashioned quality to the faces of the children, a dreaminess to the painting that is the perfect companion for this sweet, drowsy tale.