Original bedtime stories to read aloud
Start with a character your child is curious about. Each story has its own small problem and a finished ending, so you can read straight through without planning the next chapter. The notes after the story suggest details to change if your child wants to join in.
5 min read
A Non-Scary Halloween Bedtime Story: The Pumpkin Postbox
Read a complete Halloween bedtime story with a pumpkin postbox, goodnight cards and no ghosts or chases. Includes a shorter version and a family story prompt.
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6 min read
A Mermaid Bedtime Story: The Window That Faced Home
Read an original mermaid bedtime story about Neri and a window with too many decorations. A complete tale, an optional question and a personal story template.
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3 min read
An Owl Bedtime Story: The Missing Moon Map
This owl bedtime story follows Orla as a missing moon map leads to an unexpected evening of drawing. Includes the full story and an optional personalization idea.
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3 min read
A Hedgehog Bedtime Story: The Umbrella With a Square Patch
This hedgehog bedtime story follows Hazel as an umbrella repair turns into a rather damp experiment. Includes the full story and an optional personalization idea.
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3 min read
An Otter Bedtime Story: The Ferry That Stayed Beside the Bank
This otter bedtime story follows Otis as a new bridge changes the job of his little river ferry. Includes the full story and an optional personalization idea.
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3 min read
A Penguin Bedtime Story: Postcards From the Same Snowdrift
This penguin bedtime story follows Pella as she discovers several postcard pictures in one familiar snowdrift. Includes the full story and an optional personalization idea.
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3 min read
An Elephant Bedtime Story: The Teacup Table
This elephant bedtime story follows Emmy and Mouse as they rearrange a tea party to fit both guests. Includes the full story and an optional personalization idea.
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3 min read
A Giraffe Bedtime Story: The Window Above the Clouds
This giraffe bedtime story follows Galen as a stubborn mark on a window turns out to belong there. Includes the full story and an optional personalization idea.
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3 min read
A Bear Bedtime Story: The Button That Would Not Match
Bram sorts his button collection and finds a different way to display one awkward favorite. Read the full original bedtime story, with a simple way to personalize it.
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3 min read
A Squirrel Bedtime Story: The Bakery's Crooked Sign
Suki opens an acorn bakery and discovers that her sign says something she never meant. Read the full original bedtime story, with a simple way to personalize it.
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3 min read
A Koala Bedtime Story: The Night Train's Empty Seat
Kip prepares a quiet railway station for one unusual passenger and a very large parcel. Read the full original bedtime story, with a simple way to personalize it.
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3 min read
A Turtle Bedtime Story: The Bridge With a Middle
Tessa builds a garden bridge and discovers that the crossing is also a pleasant place to stop. Read the full original bedtime story, with a simple way to personalize it.
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3 min read
A Whale Bedtime Story: The Lighthouse's Small Sound
Willa notices a missing sound at the lighthouse and helps its keeper settle into a quieter evening. Read the full original bedtime story, with a simple way to personalize it.
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3 min read
An Octopus Bedtime Story: The Scarf With Nine Ends
Olive's knitting mistake becomes a surprising piece of furniture for an underwater reading corner. Read the full original bedtime story, with a simple way to personalize it.
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3 min read
A Seahorse Bedtime Story: The Ribbon With Room for Another Message
Sera carries a ribbon of messages between two underwater gardens and makes space for her own reply. Read this complete original bedtime story and adapt one detail together.
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3 min read
A Jellyfish Bedtime Story: The Lantern Festival's Dark Corner
June helps arrange an underwater lantern festival and discovers a reason to leave one corner dim. Read this complete original bedtime story and adapt one detail together.
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3 min read
A Fox Bedtime Story: The Kite With a Pocket
Fenn repairs a torn kite and finds an unexpected use for the patch when the wind changes. Read this complete original bedtime story and adapt one detail together.
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3 min read
A Badger Bedtime Story: The Bakery Beneath the Floorboards
Bess opens an underground bakery, but the neighbors upstairs keep mistaking its sounds for something else. Read this complete original bedtime story and adapt one detail together.
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3 min read
A Deer Bedtime Story: The Picnic Basket at the Gate
Dara finds an unclaimed picnic basket and gives its owner time to remember where it is. Read this complete original bedtime story and adapt one detail together.
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3 min read
A Raccoon Bedtime Story: The Stars in the Washbasin
Rory tries to wash marks from a basin and discovers that the night sky has joined his chores. Read this complete original bedtime story and adapt one detail together.
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3 min read
A Beaver Bedtime Story: The Waterwheel's Day Off
Benny discovers why his model waterwheel has stopped and gives its smallest visitor a say in the repair. A complete original story to read aloud and personalize together.
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3 min read
A Robin Bedtime Story: The Song With a Borrowed Ending
Rosa practices a new song with her neighbor and finds a comfortable way to finish it. A complete original story to read aloud and personalize together.
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3 min read
A Bee Bedtime Story: The Last Flower on the List
Bea finishes a round of fantasy flower deliveries and discovers that her final address has changed. A complete original story to read aloud and personalize together.
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3 min read
A Butterfly Bedtime Story: A Seat Beneath the Leaf
Bina waits out a shower with an unlikely neighbor and discovers that their shelter has an excellent view. A complete original story to read aloud and personalize together.
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3 min read
A Firefly Bedtime Story: The Lantern Keeper's Evening Off
Fia helps a lantern keeper who cannot find her usual round after the garden paths are rearranged. A complete original story to read aloud and personalize together.
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3 min read
A Snail Bedtime Story: The Mail Route With a Lunch Stop
Sol changes one part of his mail route after discovering that a useful shortcut skips his favorite conversation. A complete original story to read aloud and personalize together.
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3 min read
A Ladybug Bedtime Story: The Umbrella's Missing Dot
Lottie repaints her dotted umbrella and discovers that one blank space can have a purpose. Read the complete original story and choose a small personal detail for a retelling.
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3 min read
A Friendly Robot Bedtime Story: The Robot's Almost Tidy Room
A small robot sorts a playroom and learns why an unfinished game needs its own place. Read the complete original story and choose a small personal detail for a retelling.
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3 min read
A Toy Astronaut Bedtime Story: The Planet Behind the Coats
A toy astronaut explores the closet and learns why a new planet keeps changing its weather. Read the complete original story and choose a small personal detail for a retelling.
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3 min read
A Toy Truck Bedtime Story: The Tunnel With an Echo
Toby tests a cardboard tunnel and finds that the best delivery is a little sound. Read the complete original story and choose a small personal detail for a retelling.
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3 min read
A Teddy Bear Bedtime Story: The Suitcase Seat
A teddy bear travels inside an open suitcase and finds a familiar place in a different room. Read the complete original story and choose a small personal detail for a retelling.
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3 min read
A Paper Boat Bedtime Story: The Harbor Beside the Flowerpot
A paper boat reaches a tiny gutter harbor and helps its neighbors decide what a harbor needs. Read the full original bedtime story, with a small idea for making it your own.
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3 min read
A Pencil Bedtime Story: The Door That Opened Onto White Paper
A pencil draws a door before deciding what belongs behind it, leaving room for a surprising visitor. Read the full original bedtime story, with a small idea for making it your own.
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3 min read
A Sock Bedtime Story: The Pair for the Puppet Show
Two mismatched socks audition for a puppet show and discover that matching is not part of the role. Read the full original bedtime story, with a small idea for making it your own.
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3 min read
A Cloud Bedtime Story: A Place to Rest the Shadow
A small cloud tries several resting places before finding a hillside that fits its wandering shadow. Read the full original bedtime story, with a small idea for making it your own.
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3 min read
A Cat Bedtime Story: The Chair Nobody Chose
Read an original cat story about a rainy shop window, an unwanted chair and a visitor who finds just the right place.
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3 min read
A Dragon Bedtime Story: The Bread Bell
A gentle original dragon story about a bakery bell that is too loud and a baker who finds another way to say the bread is ready.
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3 min read
A Unicorn Bedtime Story: The Unfinished Ribbon
Read a complete unicorn story about a ribbon that is too short, a garden gate and a plan that changes without losing its charm.
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3 min read
A Rabbit Bedtime Story: The Second Carrot
An original rabbit story about saving a seat at supper, sharing a small harvest and discovering who left a note.
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3 min read
A Dog Bedtime Story: The Quiet Parade
Read a gentle dog story about a parade that changes direction and becomes something smaller but just as welcome.
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3 min read
A Princess Bedtime Story: The Pocket Museum
An original princess story about a tiny museum where ordinary objects have stories worth remembering.
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3 min read
A Construction Bedtime Story: The Last Ramp
A complete gentle construction story about a small loader, a ramp and a useful job that takes careful noticing.
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3 min read
An Ocean Bedtime Story: The Shell Library
Read an original undersea story about an octopus librarian and a shell that has been returned to the wrong shelf.
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3 min read
A Forest Bedtime Story: The Borrowed Shadow
A gentle original forest story about a fox waiting for evening and finding a place to sit as the light changes.
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3 min read
A Farm Bedtime Story: The Windmill List
An original farm story about a list of evening jobs, a helpful hen and the one task nobody had written down.
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3 min read
A gentle dinosaur bedtime story: The fern blanket
Read The Fern Blanket, an original dinosaur story about a blanket that does not fit. A complete tale with a quiet ending and optional telling notes.
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4 min read
A space bedtime story: The last light in the moon garage
An original space bedtime story about a small moon rover finishing its rounds. Read the complete tale, with a quiet return home and optional prompts.
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7 min read
A Bedtime Story About Starting School: The Little Map
Read an original starting-school bedtime story, then borrow gentle prompts to make it personal. A complete story with a quiet ending, free to read aloud.
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6 min read
A Five-Minute Bedtime Story to Read Aloud Tonight
Read The Little Boat’s Last Delivery, an original gentle bedtime story, with a finished ending and simple ways to make the telling shorter or longer.
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