StoriesBedtime stories for children
Calm, slow stories for the last ten minutes of the day. Nothing scary happens in them. They are full of soft sounds, night skies and sleepy animals, and they end quietly so that a child can drift off. Dim the screen, or tap "Read aloud" and put the phone down.
- The Lantern at the Little StationAt the edge of the hills there was a railway station so small that it had only one bench, one bell and one lantern.Bedtime stories · Ages 3 to 7 · 2 min
- The Moon's BlanketOne cold night the Moon looked down at the village of Chhota Gaon and saw that everybody was awake.Bedtime stories · Ages 3 to 6 · 2 min
- The Little Lamp That Wanted to Be a StarOn Diwali night a row of clay lamps stood on the wall of an old house. The smallest lamp was at the very end, next to the doorstep.Bedtime stories · Ages 4 to 8 · 2 min
- Grandmother's QuiltAnu's grandmother had a quilt that was older than Anu's mother. It was made of a hundred patches, and no two were the same.Bedtime stories · Ages 4 to 8 · 2 min
- The Sparrow Who Counted CloudsChidi the sparrow could not sleep.Bedtime stories · Ages 3 to 6 · 2 min
- चाँद की रोटीरात हो गई थी, पर मुन्नी को नींद नहीं आ रही थी।Bedtime stories · Ages 3 to 6 · 2 min · हिंदी
What makes a story right for bedtime
A daytime story may be exciting. A bedtime story has the opposite job: to slow a busy mind. The stories in this list are written for that purpose. Nobody is chased, lost or scolded in them. They move at walking pace, they repeat soft sounds, and each one ends with someone safe, warm and falling asleep, which is a quiet suggestion to the listener.
How to read them
- Lower the lights first, and settle the child in bed before you begin, so that the end of the story is the end of the day.
- Read more slowly than feels natural, and let your voice grow softer on each page.
- Leave long pauses. A sleepy child needs time to see the picture in their mind.
- One story is enough. If the child asks for another, read the same one again, more quietly.
- Keep the questions for the morning. At night, simply say goodnight.
If you are away from home
Parents who travel, and grandparents in another city, can read these stories over a phone call. The "Read aloud" button on each story page can also read the text, but a familiar voice, even on a speaker, settles a child better than any device. More advice is on our page how to tell a bedtime story.