175 stories

Adventure stories

Quests, journeys and heroes who leave home and come back changed

Adventure stories

This is the largest collection on BedtimeStory.kids: 175 stories about leaving home and coming back changed. Most run five to eleven minutes and suit ages 4–10.

Adventure stories are the ones that make a child sit up rather than settle down, so read them a little earlier in the evening. Quests, rescues, long roads and the satisfying journey home. Most of these have several chapters in the story-book reader, so a long one can be stopped at a cliff-hanger and finished tomorrow, which is an old trick for getting a reluctant sleeper into bed on time.

Where to start with adventure stories

12 of 175 to start with. The full list follows.

7 min Ages 3–7 · Classic Tales The Gingerbread Man

A kind old woman bakes a delicious gingerbread man who springs to life and dashes off to explore the world. He meets a…

7 min Ages 3–7 · Classic Tales The Tortoise and the Hare

In a lush valley, the speedy Hare challenges the steady Tortoise to a race. Hare's confidence soars, while Tortoise…

13 min Ages 4–8 · Classic Tales Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood sets off through the enchanting forest to deliver a basket of goodies to her sick grandmother…

3 min Ages 3–7 · Classic Tales The Two Soldiers and the Robber

Tomas and Juan, two brave soldiers, are returning to camp when they encounter a fearsome robber in a dark forest…

4 min Ages 4–8 · Rhyming Stories & Poems A Christmas Star

Timmy, a curious boy, loves gazing at the stars. One snowy night, he spots a new, golden star shining brightly above…

4 min Ages 4–8 · Classic Tales Dapplegrim

Agnes and Elsa, two brave sisters, live in a village where a whispered legend tells of Dapplegrim, a mischievous forest…

4 min Ages 3–7 · Bravery & Courage Little Red Riding Hood (A Gentler Retelling)

Little Red Riding Hood loves visiting her kind grandmother, but the woods hold a warning: beware the sly wolf. When a…

4 min Ages 4–8 · Magic Prince Ariel

Prince Ariel is born with extraordinary magic, destined to bring peace to Eldoria. But a wicked sorcerer, Malachor…

4 min Ages 4–8 · Classic Tales The Dog and the Oyster

Rex, a curious dog in a quaint seaside village, discovers a glistening oyster on the beach. Intrigued by a faint sound…

4 min Ages 4–8 · Classic Tales The Fox Without a Tail

Fawkes the fox loves playing tricks, but one mischievous prank goes wrong, leaving him injured and full of regret. He…

4 min Ages 4–8 · Classic Tales The Thief and the House-Dog

Rex, a fluffy house dog, lives happily with the kind Johnson family. One night, a cunning thief named Jack targets…

4 min Ages 4–8 · Classic Tales The Thieves and the Cock

Two cunning thieves plan to steal a hidden treasure from a bustling farmyard. But the wise old cock, known for his keen…

How 175 adventures actually break down

A collection this size is only useful if you can cut it into pieces. Almost every story here follows the same shape, so the practical question is not what kind of adventure it is but how far from home it goes and how long it takes to get back.

Short journeys, four to six minutes

Dapplegrim is four minutes for ages 4–8 and one of the quickest complete quests on the site. A Christmas Star is also four. Lily and the Lion at five minutes and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves at five are the two to know for a weeknight where bedtime has already slipped.

Long journeys, nine to eleven minutes

East of the Sun and West of the Moon is eleven minutes for ages 5–12 and is the most rewarding long read here, a Norwegian tale with a genuine sense of distance. A Little Princess is also eleven, retold from Frances Hodgson Burnett, and Princess Susie matches it for ages 6–10. These are weekend stories.

Adventures that still end calmly

The reasonable worry about an adventure at bedtime is that it ends on a high. Some of these do not. Moonlit Secrets of the Celestial Forest is filed as an adventure but marked gentle, and lands softly after nine minutes. Henny Penny at eight minutes and Prince Darling at five are the other two gentle ones worth knowing.

Rabbit’s Eyes, eight minutes, ends on gratitude rather than triumph and is the one to use when your child wants an adventure but you need the room quiet afterwards. If nothing here fits, the honest move is to leave the collection entirely and take a short story from gentle sleepy stories.

Where to start at each age

Why the age range matters more here

The age ranges on these stories are worth trusting. An eleven-minute quest for ages 6–10 read to a four-year-old does not fail because of the content; it fails because the child loses the thread at minute six and starts asking about something else.

Three suggestions

For three- and four-year-olds, Goldilocks and the FOUR Bears at eight minutes and My Sea Beast and the Bubble Garden Adventure at eight are written for ages 3–7 and keep one thing happening at a time. For five to eight, Aladdin and the Magic Lamp at nine minutes is the obvious classic. For six to ten, Long, Broad and Sharpsight at seven minutes gives three companions with three different talents and rewards a child who is paying attention.

Spreading a long quest over several nights

Nothing says an eleven-minute story has to be one sitting. Stopping at a natural break and picking up tomorrow teaches a child to hold a story in their head overnight, which is a real skill and a useful one. Pick the moment the hero sets off, or the moment before the last obstacle, and stop there deliberately rather than when everyone runs out of patience.

Ask one question at the break: what do you think happens next. Our guide to questions to ask during a bedtime story has more that do not sound like homework. For the full list of long ones, long bedtime stories gathers them, and stories for early readers narrows everything to the 5–8 band.

Adventure stories by age and reading time
AgeStart withMinutes
3–7My Sea Beast and the Bubble Garden Adventure8
4–8Dapplegrim4
4–8Jack and the Beanstalk6
5–8Aladdin and the Magic Lamp9
6–10Long, Broad and Sharpsight7
5–12East of the Sun and West of the Moon11

Every story in adventure stories, A to Z

  1. A Christmas Star4 min · Ages 4–8
  2. A Little Princess13 min · Ages 6–10
  3. A Midsummer Night’s Dream11 min · Ages 4–8
  4. Aladdin and the Magic Lamp16 min · Ages 5–8
  5. Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves19 min · Ages 6–10
  6. Babiole8 min · Ages 5–8
  7. Chicken Licken8 min · Ages 4–8
  8. Cinderella11 min · Ages 4–8
  9. Dapplegrim4 min · Ages 4–8
  10. East of the Sun and West of the Moon11 min · Ages 5–12
  11. Giauna the Beautiful8 min · Ages 4–8
  12. Goldilocks and the FOUR Bears!8 min · Ages 3–7
  13. Grandmother7 min · Ages 3–7
  14. Gubbon Seer7 min · Ages 5–8
  15. Hans in Luck6 min · Ages 5–8
  16. Henny Penny8 min · Ages 3–7
  17. How Jack Went To Seek His Fortune8 min · Ages 5–8
  18. How Molo Stole the Lovely Rose-Red9 min · Ages 6–10
  19. Jack and the Beanstalk14 min · Ages 4–8
  20. Lily and the Lion5 min · Ages 4–8
  21. Little Blue Riding Hood7 min · Ages 3–7
  22. Little Girl’s Christmas6 min · Ages 3–7
  23. Little Gretchen and the Wooden Shoe7 min · Ages 4–8
  24. Little Red Riding Hood13 min · Ages 4–8
  25. Little Red Riding Hood (A Gentler Retelling)4 min · Ages 3–7
  26. Long, Broad and Sharpsight7 min · Ages 6–10
  27. Moonlit Secrets of the Celestial Forest9 min · Ages 4–8
  28. Mudjee Monedo10 min · Ages 6–10
  29. My Sea Beast and the Bubble Garden Adventure8 min · Ages 3–7
  30. Old Sultan12 min · Ages 6–10
  31. One Eye, Two Eyes, Three Eyes7 min · Ages 6–10
  32. Prince Ariel4 min · Ages 4–8
  33. Prince Darling13 min · Ages 4–8
  34. Prince Hyacinth and the Dear Little Princess14 min · Ages 4–8
  35. Prince Yamato Take9 min · Ages 5–8
  36. Princess Belle-Etoile9 min · Ages 4–8
  37. Princess Pink Knickers11 min · Ages 5–8
  38. Princess Rose and the Golden Bird9 min · Ages 5–8
  39. Princess Rosetta7 min · Ages 4–8
  40. Princess Susie11 min · Ages 6–10
  41. Puss in Boots14 min · Ages 4–8
  42. Rabbit’s Eyes10 min · Ages 4–8
  43. Rapunzel21 min · Ages 5–12
  44. Riquet With The Tuft9 min · Ages 4–8
  45. Rose of Evening9 min · Ages 5–8
  46. Seven At One Blow7 min · Ages 5–8
  47. Snow White and Rose Red7 min · Ages 4–8
  48. Son of the Island and the Turtle7 min · Ages 4–8
  49. Starlit Quest for the Cosmic Petal8 min · Ages 3–7
  50. Sunbeam's Journey to the Ice Planet's Heart10 min · Ages 5–8
  51. Sunshine Stories10 min · Ages 3–7
  52. Tamlane10 min · Ages 5–8
  53. The Amber Amulet of the Dragon Star8 min · Ages 5–8
  54. The Ass, the Fox, and the Lion6 min · Ages 4–8
  55. The Baba Yaga9 min · Ages 5–8
  56. The Bear and the Two Travelers9 min · Ages 4–8
  57. The Bird with Nine Heads7 min · Ages 6–10
  58. The Birdcatcher, the Partridge, and the Cock7 min · Ages 6–10
  59. The Blue Bird20 min · Ages 6–10
  60. The Bull and the Goat6 min · Ages 3–7
  61. The Butterfly5 min · Ages 3–7
  62. The Cat Who Could Eat So Much6 min · Ages 3–7
  63. The Chronicle of the Pancake8 min · Ages 4–8
  64. The Cobbler Turned Doctor6 min · Ages 5–8
  65. The Coral Queen and the Space Pirate’s Curse7 min · Ages 6–10
  66. The Courteous Prince6 min · Ages 5–8
  67. The Crow and the Swan7 min · Ages 4–8
  68. The Crow Peri10 min · Ages 4–8
  69. The Crystal Caverns of the Asteroid Belt9 min · Ages 6–10
  70. The Dog and the Oyster4 min · Ages 4–8
  71. The Dragon of the North8 min · Ages 5–8
  72. The Dragon Tamers7 min · Ages 4–8
  73. The Dwarf With The Golden Beard5 min · Ages 4–8
  74. The Eagle and the Arrow6 min · Ages 4–8
  75. The Elfin Knight8 min · Ages 5–8
  76. The Enchanted Pig8 min · Ages 4–8
  77. The Enormous Turnip6 min · Ages 3–7
  78. The Fairy9 min · Ages 4–8
  79. The Faithless Parrot9 min · Ages 5–8
  80. The Fiery Dragon11 min · Ages 5–8
  81. The Fighting Bulls and the Frog6 min · Ages 4–8
  82. The Firefly Code and the Starlit Path10 min · Ages 5–8
  83. The Forgotten Tales of the Meteor Witch11 min · Ages 5–8
  84. The Four Wishes9 min · Ages 5–8
  85. The Fox and the Leopard7 min · Ages 4–8
  86. The Fox Without a Tail4 min · Ages 4–8
  87. The Frog Prince9 min · Ages 4–8
  88. The Giant Who Had No Heart In His Body8 min · Ages 4–8
  89. The Gingerbread Knight’s Sweet Victory in Space8 min · Ages 4–8
  90. The Gingerbread Man7 min · Ages 3–7
  91. The Golden Beetle8 min · Ages 4–8
  92. The Golden Nugget8 min · Ages 6–10
  93. The Golden Thread of the Interstellar Loom12 min · Ages 6–10
  94. The Golden Touch of King Midas9 min · Ages 6–10
  95. The Great White Bear and the Trolls6 min · Ages 4–8
  96. The Hare and the Tortoise6 min · Ages 3–7
  97. The Ice Mirror of the Frost Galaxy7 min · Ages 4–8
  98. The Kingdom of the Ogres8 min · Ages 4–8
  99. The Lad Who Went to the North Wind10 min · Ages 6–10
  100. The Light Princess7 min · Ages 5–8
  101. The Lion and the Fox8 min · Ages 5–8
  102. The Lion, the Fox, and the Beasts10 min · Ages 5–8
  103. The Little Good Mouse9 min · Ages 4–8
  104. The Lost Melody of the Nebula Brook10 min · Ages 6–10
  105. The Mad Goose and the Tiger Forest8 min · Ages 4–8
  106. The Magic Fishbone6 min · Ages 5–8
  107. The Man and the Wooden God6 min · Ages 6–10
  108. The Master Maid9 min · Ages 4–8
  109. The Mischievous Dog6 min · Ages 3–7
  110. The Missing Unicorn7 min · Ages 5–8
  111. The Monkey as King8 min · Ages 5–8
  112. The Monkey’s Heart7 min · Ages 5–8
  113. The Moon-Cake6 min · Ages 3–7
  114. The Mouse, the Frog, and the Hawk10 min · Ages 5–8
  115. The Musicians of Bremen13 min · Ages 4–8
  116. The Nightingale11 min · Ages 8–12
  117. The Nodding Tiger5 min · Ages 3–7
  118. The Old Lion and the Fox9 min · Ages 4–8
  119. The Old Witch7 min · Ages 4–8
  120. The Orchard Sprite of the Forbidden Planet6 min · Ages 4–8
  121. The Photon Harp of the Storm Nebula7 min · Ages 5–8
  122. The Picky Prince, the Princess and the Peanut6 min · Ages 3–7
  123. The Pied Piper of Hamelin17 min · Ages 6–10
  124. The Pied Piper… and BUTTERFLIES!10 min · Ages 5–8
  125. The Prince and the Goblin7 min · Ages 6–10
  126. The Pumpkin Giant9 min · Ages 4–8
  127. The Queen Bee8 min · Ages 4–8
  128. The Rainbow Bridge of the Galactic City7 min · Ages 4–8
  129. The Ridiculous Wishes7 min · Ages 4–8
  130. The Sapphire Crown of the Desert Moon8 min · Ages 5–8
  131. The Seven Foals6 min · Ages 5–8
  132. The Shepherd and the Lion5 min · Ages 4–8
  133. The Sleeping Beauty In The Wood14 min · Ages 4–8
  134. The Snow Queen8 min · Ages 4–8
  135. The Star Wife7 min · Ages 6–10
  136. The Stones of Five Colours and the Empress Jokwa8 min · Ages 5–8
  137. The Story of the Old Man Who Made Withered Trees to Flower9 min · Ages 4–8
  138. The Straw, The Coal, and The Bean7 min · Ages 6–10
  139. The Tale of Tom Thumb11 min · Ages 6–10
  140. The Thief and the House-Dog4 min · Ages 4–8
  141. The Thieves and the Cock4 min · Ages 4–8
  142. The Three Billy Goats Gruff7 min · Ages 3–7
  143. The Three Dwarfs5 min · Ages 3–7
  144. The Three Golden Apples5 min · Ages 4–8
  145. The Three Princesses in the Blue Mountain9 min · Ages 4–8
  146. The Three Robbers9 min · Ages 4–8
  147. The Tinderbox15 min · Ages 6–10
  148. The Tortoise and the Ducks6 min · Ages 3–7
  149. The Tortoise and the Hare7 min · Ages 3–7
  150. The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse8 min · Ages 4–8
  151. The Troll Wedding7 min · Ages 4–8
  152. The True History of Little Golden Hood6 min · Ages 4–8
  153. The Twelve Dancing Princesses14 min · Ages 4–8
  154. The Two Frogs5 min · Ages 4–8
  155. The Two Soldiers and the Robber3 min · Ages 3–7
  156. The Velvet Paw and the Throne of Stars5 min · Ages 5–8
  157. The Weeds8 min · Ages 4–8
  158. The Whispering Winds of the Galactic Well9 min · Ages 5–8
  159. The White Doe6 min · Ages 4–8
  160. The White Duck5 min · Ages 4–8
  161. The Wild Swans10 min · Ages 6–10
  162. The Wise Girl6 min · Ages 6–10
  163. The Wolf and the Crane7 min · Ages 4–8
  164. The Wolf and the Lamb7 min · Ages 6–10
  165. The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids8 min · Ages 5–8
  166. The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing6 min · Ages 5–8
  167. The Yellow Dwarf8 min · Ages 5–8
  168. Three Feathers10 min · Ages 6–10
  169. Thumbelina7 min · Ages 4–8
  170. Tom Tit Tot11 min · Ages 4–8
  171. Twinkling Feet’s Halloween7 min · Ages 3–7
  172. Whatever Happened to the Pea?5 min · Ages 3–7
  173. Why The Animals No Longer Fear The Sheep7 min · Ages 4–8
  174. Why The Autumn Leaves Are Red8 min · Ages 4–8
  175. Why the Sea is Salt6 min · Ages 4–8

Collections that share these stories

Ranked by how many stories they have in common with this one.

Questions about adventure stories

How many adventure stories are on BedtimeStory.kids?

175, which makes it the largest collection on the site. They run from about four minutes to eleven and cover ages 3 to 12.

Is an adventure story a bad idea right before sleep?

Only if it ends on excitement. Moonlit Secrets of the Celestial Forest, Prince Darling and Rabbit's Eyes are adventures that finish gently.

What is the longest adventure story here?

East of the Sun and West of the Moon and A Little Princess both run about eleven minutes, as does Princess Susie.

Can I read a long story across two nights?

Yes, and it works well. Stop at a deliberate point, such as the moment the hero sets out, and ask what your child thinks happens next.