The sillier the stories, the better they liked them. We also did stories with puppets. Little brother might enjoy being one of the characters in the story. Finger plays can be a lot of fun, too, and are especially appropriate for energetic children. You should be able to find books of them at your local library.
Flexibility is the key.
When one thing doesn't work anymore, try something else. We have learned to stretch out our bedtime routine. Occasionally we reverse the order to accommodate a sleepy big brother. And when Daddy is available, we each take a little boy. Our toddler loves to have Daddy put him to bed, after spending all day without him.