30 Best Bedtime Stories for Kids, Including Free Bedtime Stories Online | MommyPoppins

The homework’s finished, the dishes are piled in the sink, the children are snuggled in their beds…and they’re still awake. These 30 bedtime stories for kids are the final piece of that bedtime puzzle. Whether you read them to your kids, read them together as a family, or play the audio versions, these beloved bedtime stories for kids will help them drift off to dreamland in no time. There are even some free bedtime stories you can easily access online.

So dim the lights, get comfortable, and crack open one of these 30 great bedtime stories for kids. Once you’ve read through this list and need more options, check out our lists of 100 kids’ books every child should read before they grow up, the best LGBTQ books for kids, and 30+ children’s books to celebrate Black History Month.

 
Listen to Goldilocks and the Three Bears for free online. Original illustration by Joanna Pasek

Free Bedtime Stories for Kids Online

1. Goldilocks and the Three Bears

With a slightly modern twist, this story (like many fairy tales) holds a lesson. A little girl finds the home of the three bears during a walk in the forest. While they’re out she eats their oatmeal, sits in their chairs, and sleeps in their beds…and ultimately learns the importance of respecting others’ privacy and property.

2. Jack and The Beanstalk

This English fairy tale tells the story of a poor country boy who trades the family cow for magic beans, which grow into a beanstalk that leads to the castle of an unfriendly giant. You can read it aloud yourself or play the audio version for the kids.

3. The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

In this quick read—one of Aesop’s Fables—the Town Mouse visits his cousin in the country and turns his nose up at the Country Mouse’s lifestyle. The story’s theme of choosing a peaceful and simple life over a luxurious one is a message even little kids can grasp.

4. The Very Hungry Spider by E.B. Adams

This is a fun, silly story about a spider who thinks flies taste yucky. Author E.B. Adams has other fun books on his site, some of which are free to download.

5. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne

The children’s classic about a lovable, yellow, honey-loving bear and his pals, who live in the forest surrounding the Hundred Acre Wood, is available to read for free online.

6. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

A toy rabbit wishes to become a real bunny in this tearjerker. While you won’t see many of the fabulous illustrations in this online version, you can read the story for free.

7. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum

This classic tale is about a girl named Dorothy and her dog Toto, who get swept away in a tornado from their Kansas farm to the magical land of Oz. The famous ruby slippers are silver in the book, but the story still holds just as much whimsy and magic as the 1939 film.

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On the Night You Were Born is one of the most classic bedtime stories for kids. Image courtesy of McMillan Publishing

Best Bedtime Stories for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

8. On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman

This beautiful story about the overwhelming joy of a child’s birth may bring a tear to parents’ eyes. It’s a thoughtful and emotional book with illustrations little ones love.

9. Pete the Cat series by Eric Litman, James Dean ,and Kimberly Dean

Toddlers love these picture books about Pete the Cat and his adventures—especially the ones that come with a CD song. Parents will find themselves humming the catchy tunes long after the littles have fallen asleep.

10. Snuggle Puppy! by Sandra Boynton

Another sing-song book about a mother’s love for her child, Snuggle Puppy! is such a joy to read. You can come up with your own tune or use the official one from the album the book is based on.

11. Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

Good Night, Gorilla does not have many words, but the book is all about the illustrations. Toddlers love to point out what’s happening in each picture behind the zookeeper’s back.

12. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

One of the most classic bedtime stories for kids, Goodnight Moon features a rabbit saying good night to the items in its bedroom. It’s such a staple, in fact, that it’s been parodied many times.

13. Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman

This is a sweet, simple story about a little bird who falls out of the nest and meets various animals until it finds its mother. There is also a shorter board book version.

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There’s so much to love about Love You Forever. Illustration by Sheila McGraw from the book

14. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

Have the tissues ready for the first few reads of this story about loving your child no matter how big or old they get.

15.Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker

This gorgeous picture book, in which hardworking trucks get ready to go to bed, is one of the best bedtime stories for kids who love trucks. It is so popular that it spawned several follow-up books. 

16. Time for Bed by Mem Fox

Say good night to various animals—and to your little one—with this sweet, rhyming, and beautifully illustrated bedtime book.

Best Bedtime Stories for Kids and Tweens

17. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

According to a study by My 1st Years, Coraline is the number-one children’s book in the US. It tells the story of an adventurous 11-year-old who finds an idealized parallel universe—which also contains sinister secrets—behind a secret door in her new home. Some parts can be a bit scary, so the book is best for bigger kids.

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Is it time to enter the world of Harry Potter? Photo courtesy of Scholastic, Inc.

18. Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling

This wildly popular fantasy series about a magical world of witchcraft and wizardry includes seven books that range from 309 to 870 pages. Start with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and settle In for many nights of fantastical reading.

19. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Children who love fantasy and science fiction will be enthralled by the villain-turned-good-guy Artemis Fowl. There are eight books in the original series.

20. Matilda by Roald Dahl

Matilda is a childhood staple about a brilliant young girl who uses her smarts to help free her fellow students (and herself) from their school’s cruel headmistress.

21. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

This classic tale is a touching story of friendship between “Some Pig” Wilbur and a barn spider named Charlotte.

22. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Horse and animal lovers will love this classic, which is considered one of the best-selling books of all time.

23. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

A Little Princess is a favorite among educators. It tells the story of a young girl who is always generous and caring despite her changing circumstances.

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Alice’s tea party is a classic scene from Alice in Wonderland. Illustration by John Tenniel from the original edition

Best Bedtime Stories for the Whole Family

24. Alice in Wonderland by C.S. Lewis

Many children are first introduced to Alice through the Disney films and animated series, but the books are just as captivating. In the original book, a girl named Alice falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world full of peculiar creatures.

25. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

In this fantasy book, an orphan named James is left in the care of his evil aunts. Through magic, he finds himself on an adventure in a giant peach with a makeshift family of bugs.

26. Shrek! by William Steig

The hit DreamWorks film about a lovable green ogre was based on William Steig’s book of the same name. While there are some notable differences from the film, the book still has all of its great humor and adventure.

27. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Originally written in French, this beloved tale transcends culture and language. It tells the story of a young prince who visits various planets, including Earth, and experiences loneliness, friendship, love, and loss. The restored illustrations are truly beautiful.

28. Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

Like Alice in Wonderland, there are definitely differences between Disney’s version of Peter Pan and the original story. The original tale of a mischievous boy who can fly and never grows up is fun, adventurous, and worthy of reading without comparison to the film.

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Where the Wild Things Are illustrates the power of the imagination. Photo courtesy of the Maurice Sendak Foundation

29. Where the WIld Things Are by Maurice Sendak

In Where the Wild Things Are, a boy named Max lands on an island where he meets strange and mysterious creatures. Maurice Sendak’s illustrations are a big part of what makes this book truly enchanting. It’s been a staple in many families’ libraries for generations.

30. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

With such a vast library, it’s hard to pick just one Dr. Seuss book. The Cat in the Hat’s silly rhymes and mischievous titular character make it fun for the whole family to read.

Lead image courtesy of Bigstock