The story library
Every bedtime story on the site, sorted three ways: by what it is about, by how old your listener is, and by how long it takes to read aloud. 336 stories and counting.
There are five ways into the library, and they all reach the same 336 stories: by theme (what the story is about), by age, by how many minutes you have, by collection (a dragon one, a funny one), or by title in the A to Z. If you would rather not choose, one story is picked for everyone each day.
By theme
Each theme has a hub of its own, with advice on where to start and every story it holds.
The six parent themes
By age
Toddlers · 1–3Short, rhythmic and repetitive: rhymes, animals and gentle surprises
Preschoolers · 3–5Clear heroes, gentle magic, a problem and a happy ending
Early readers · 5–8Longer adventures, cleverer heroes, and morals worth talking about
Big kids · 8–12Rich language, longer tales, and stories that reward thinking
By reading time
Measured aloud, not skimmed: about 130 words a minute.
Three lengths for three kinds of evening
5-minute storiesComplete stories you can finish before the yawns win
10-minute storiesThe classic bedtime length: room for an adventure and a calm landing
Long storiesThe longest tales, in chapters, to read over one long evening or several short ones
Popular collections
Six to read tonight
A different six every day, drawn from across the library.
2 min
Ages 5–10 · Love
The Goodbye Garden
Asha and her cat Pip help plant Grandma's favourite flowers beside an empty chair. Stories, laughter and tears give…
6 min
Ages 4–8 · Classic Tales
The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion
The hardworking Ass befriends the mighty Lion in the forest. But when a cunning Fox appears, he tries to trick the…
7 min
Ages 3–7 · Classic Tales
The Fly and the Draught-Mule
Flick the fly loves to boast about his speed, often teasing the hardworking Draught-Mule. One rainy day, Flick finds…
1 min
Ages 1–3 · Nursery Rhymes
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
A friendly black sheep has three full bags of wool to share. The animal sound, simple question and counting pattern…
5 min
Ages 3–7 · Magic
The Friendly Frog
Freddie, the friendliest frog in the forest, discovers a mysterious, shimmering golden ball by the pond. With the help…
5 min
Ages 3–7 · Magic
The Fir Tree
A young fir tree dreams of sparkling like the stars in the night sky. As seasons pass, it learns patience and wisdom…
Questions about the library
How many bedtime stories are on the site?
There are 336, and the number grows as new ones are written. The library includes retellings of public-domain classics by the Grimms, Andersen, Perrault, Aesop and folk traditions from around the world, alongside original stories written for this site.
Can I print a bedtime story?
Yes. Every story page prints cleanly: the story, its illustrations and the discussion questions, without the navigation, the buttons or the adverts. Use your browser's print command or the print button on the story page.
Do I need an account to read a story?
No. There is no account, no email address and no app. Favourites and your place in a story are remembered in your own browser and never leave your device.
How do I find a story if I only remember the name?
Use the A to Z, which lists every title alphabetically and ignores leading articles, so The Velveteen Rabbit is filed under V. If you only remember what happens in it, try the search box in the header.
Newest stories
3 min
Ages 3–7 · Kindness
The Moonlight Post Office
2 min
Ages 4–9 · Problem Solving
The Pirate and the Moon Map
2 min
Ages 3–8 · Kindness
The Unicorn's Winter Bell
2 min
Ages 3–8 · Kindness
The Treasure That Grew
2 min
Ages 4–8 · Bravery & Courage
The Pirate Who Lost Their Roar
2 min
Ages 3–8 · Discovery
The Unicorn Who Waited
2 min
Ages 4–8 · Magic
The Unicorn and the Paper Moon
2 min
Ages 3–8 · Bravery & Courage
The Friendly Shadows