Our bedtime stories

Bedtime stories to read online. Here you’ll find notoriously familiar tales but also fables, folk stories, educational stories, sleep stories, and legends from all around the world. We work hard to cover every corner of storytelling.

Around the World

Puerto Rican Legend

The Owl’s Story

min

4.4

This Puerto Rican legend explains why owls only come out at night. The reason lies in the fact that a long time ago, there was a great celebration, at which the other birds kindly helped the owl. However, she did not pay them back with the same coin at all, and on the contrary, abused their willingness to help.

Folk stories

Hans Christian Andersen

The Little Match Girl

min

4.48

This touching story reminds us to be more attentive, empathetic, and caring. It has a sad ending and is about a poor girl who wanders the streets alone in winter. No one either notices, or helps her.

Folk stories

Brothers Grimm

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

min

4.8

This is a world famous story where good again wins over evil. When the beautiful Snow White escapes from the evil queen, seven dwarves living in a modest hut deep in the woods help her out.

Folk stories

English Tale

The Baker’s Daughter

min

4.66

A greedy baker in a small English town has been deceiving customers for years with his dishonest way of doing business. One day, his daughter, having learned her father’s devious methods, tries to cheat a poor old woman who comes into the bakery. Little does the girl know that it’s a fairy disguised as an old woman, and that if she insists on being deceitful, she’ll be justly punished.

Folk stories

English Tale

How Jack Went to Seek His Fortune

min

4.82

This fairy tale is about a boy named Jack who sets out to roam the world. Along the way, various animal friends join him, and when they encounter a house full of bandits, they do not get scared. On the contrary, they join forces and get the whole house for themselves, along with all the stolen treasure.

Stories for 5+ years old

Joseph Jacobs

Jack and the Beanstalk

min

4.74

Life is tough for an impoverished widow and her son… In order to survive the winter, the boy must sell their only cow. But instead, he trades her for a handful of magic beans. Little does he know that a single bean would grow into an enormous beanstalk overnight! The boy climbs it high up into the sky, where he defeats a fearsome giant and gathers many treasures.

Folk stories

Carlo Collodi

Pinocchio

min

4.86

A world famous tale teaches us that lying doesn’t pay off. When a lone woodworker carves out a wooden puppet just for pleasure, it suddenly comes to life. The extraordinary puppet becomes a restless and adventurous boy called Pinocchio. But when he lies, his little nose starts growing.

Folk stories

Hans Christian Andersen

The Emperor's New Clothes

min

4.56

This is a story all the children around the world know. Being constantly adored is the only thing that brings meaning to the emperor’s life. Two crooks who pretend to be weavers take advantage of his weakness. They tailor a breathtaking dress for the emperor. He feels so unique in it. However, there is a catch, which he must surely discover sooner or later....

Stories for 3+ years old

Marian Dyno Buric

The Motor Coach

min

4.75

It’s in our nature to replace old things with new things – things that are nicer and more modern. An old Motor Coach learned that the hard way. He couldn’t keep up with the demand of the modern times and was replaced with better, much faster high-speed trains. After long years of loyal service, the Motor Coach ended up in a cold, dark corner of a depot, like a useless old piece of rusty metal. Nowadays, it can only think back to those happy times when it used to take families with kids on their trips up to the mountains. Or could there still be someone who cares about the old train’s fate? You’ll find out in this story.

Bedtime stories

Readmio

Good Night, Forest Animals

min

4.54

The young listener is invited to glide through the forest at dusk on top of a babbling brook and bid good night to the different animals. As it gradually grows dark, we visit each creature and help them prepare for sleep, waving and wishing them sweet dreams… Until, finally, it’s time for the listener to close their eyes and enter dreamland.

Around the World

Irish Tale

The Brewery of Egg-Shells

min

4.18

When a mother goes to the cradle in the morning, she realizes her baby has been swapped with a fairy. She gets a lot of different advice, but only takes the advice of a famous healer to get her baby boy back.

Bedtime stories

Readmio

Good Night, Farm Animals

min

4.77

This bedtime story takes us to a busy farm which gets calmer by the end of the day as its animals get ready to sleep. Children can wish good night to all of the animals and also prepare for their own sleep.

Questions about bedtime stories

What age is the best to start reading to kids?

As soon as possible. For toddlers, rhymes are a great way to start. The rhythm keeps it interesting for the ears. Frequent reading is crucial for training sound recognition. At around 2-3 years, when their passive vocabulary becomes large enough, it’s good to start with longer stories (around 5 minutes). Keep in mind we are not machines, every child is different. Some start to enjoy storytelling sooner than others. Just keep it with the flow.

Can I read Readmio stories in a book?

At the moment, we don't offer a printed collection of all the Readmio stories - it would be a really thick book! What you can do, though, is download and save each story in pdf format, which you can then printout if you like to read from paper rather than from a screen. To enjoy the sound effects, simply scan the QR code in the pdf to open the story in the app, place your mobile phone or tablet next to you, and your device will accompany you as you read. Some reader salso like to pair their device with a bluetooth speaker :)

Why is it good to read to children at bedtime?

Children love bedtime stories for several reasons:

story time provides an opportunity for children to bond with their parents or caregivers. It's a special time when they can snuggle up together and share a quiet moment before sleep.
stories transport children to magical worlds, allowing their imaginations to soar.
the familiar routine of reading a story before bed can create a sense of predictability and safety.- listening to stories helps children develop their language skills.
listening to stories helps children develop their language skills.
stories often convey important messages about love, friendship, empathy, and perseverance and can help children make sense of what they experienced during the day.
the rhythmic cadence of storytelling and the soothing tone of a parent's voice can help children relax and unwind, making it easier for them to fall asleep.

What is the number one bedtime story?

What each of us thinks is the "number one" bedtime story is very subjective, and varies based on our cultural background, personal preferences, and individual experiences.
Here are some examples of classic bedtime stories from our Readmio library that are loved by many:
Cinderella by Ch.Perrault,
The Little Mermaid by H.CH.Andersen,
The Three Little Pigs by J.Jacobs,
Pinocchio by C.Collodi,
The Gingerbread House - Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm.
These stories are often chosen for their timeless appeal, making them ideal choices for bedtime reading to children.

Do bedtime stories help children fall asleep?

Over time, a bedtime reading habit does build associations that trigger and enhance sleepiness and relaxation – with repetition, bedtime reading becomes a very powerful sleep cue. Psychologists generally agree that bedtime stories can have positive effects on children's cognitive, emotional, and social development, as well as on their sleep habits.

What are 5 benefits of reading?

1. Reducing stress and helping the child relax.
2. Improving concentration and memory.
3. Expanding vocabulary and strengthening writing abilities.
4. Increasing knowledge.
5. Boosting imagination and creativity.