Free bedtime stories for kids
62 illustrated stories to read tonight, from a cactus who wants a hug to a town with one true answer a year. Every page has a picture, every story can be read aloud, and none of them need an account.
Short bedtime stories for ages 4 to 6
These stories are built for reading aloud to younger kids. Each has ten illustrated pages with two or three short sentences on each, so a child can follow along by the pictures while you read.
A Brave New Flutter
Flick the caterpillar likes being small and plain and is scared of becoming a butterfly. A boy named Oliver promises to wait for him.
Ages 4 to 6 4 min read
A Drop and a Beam
A tiny raindrop and a cheerful sunbeam meet over a droopy flower and learn they can help it more together than apart.
Ages 4 to 6 4 min read
A World Up High
Clara wishes she could see a new world, then finds a giant stalk that reaches the clouds and climbs it with her friends cheering.
Ages 4 to 6 5 min read
AeroSub's Big Splash
A toy plane left out in the rain slides into a big puddle and bravely becomes something new: a submarine.
Ages 4 to 6 4 min read
Anya's Mailbox Adventure
Anya is a stamp who dreams of seeing every mailbox in the world. Her letter travels far, comes back home, and a boy finds a better way.
Ages 4 to 6 4 min read
Asha's Cloud Ship Adventure
Captain Asha sails her pirate ship through the clouds toward a strange, swirly cloud that turns out to be a friendly cloud whale.
Ages 4 to 6 4 min read
Barnaby's Big World Trip
A very tall blue bunny with a green backpack stops at the park and shows Lily and Sam the treasures from his trips around the world.
Ages 4 to 6 4 min read
Barnaby's Secret Map
A mouse drops his tiny map of hidden crumbs, and the boy who finds it learns it is a map of his own bedroom.
Ages 4 to 6 4 min read
Boxy's Big Surprise
Every morning the toys wake up in new places, until a teddy bear and a block robot discover what their toy box has been building.
Ages 4 to 6 4 min read
Bedtime stories for ages 7 to 10
Older kids want a story with a real puzzle in it. These run about 350 to 800 words, with riddles to solve, towns with secrets and characters who have to make hard choices.
Kaelan's Peculiar Paths
Kaelan finds every decision hard, until glowing doors start showing him what each choice would bring. Then there are far too many doors.
Ages 8 to 10 6 min read
The Annual Query
In Oakhaven everyone gets one question answered truthfully each year. Chloe asks about her lost ribbon, and Leo saves his question for something bigger.
Ages 8 to 10 6 min read
The Echoing Shell's Secret
On Aethel Island every object remembers who held it, except one giant shell. Tessa and Diego follow the island's whispers to wake it up.
Ages 8 to 10 9 min read
The Experience Orb Library
The library at the edge of town lends out experiences instead of books, and Kaelen borrows a jungle expedition with a riddle at the river.
Ages 8 to 10 7 min read
The Flight of the Forest Map
Arthur the fox follows an old map until a rushing river stops him, and a great horned owl offers to carry him the rest of the way.
Ages 8 to 10 8 min read
The Harbor of Lost Echoes
Some ships in Elias's harbor carry cargo from places that no longer exist, and Captain Silas has brought back a puzzle box from one of them.
Ages 8 to 10 7 min read
The Harmony Hub's Secret
Everything in Harmonia is perfectly in place, until Kaelo asks why and follows a tidy little robot to the top of the clock tower.
Ages 8 to 10 7 min read
The Listening Friend
Clara, Samira and Benny set out to find a missing locket. Everyone brushes off Benny's strange clues, but he is the only one really listening.
Ages 8 to 10 7 min read
The Market of Common Ground
A secret market appears in an alley when two strangers need the same thing, and Sophie and John both need the very last copper gear.
Ages 8 to 10 8 min read
Every story in the library
- A Brave New FlutterA story about a caterpillar afraid to change
- A Drop and a BeamA story about a raindrop and a sunbeam
- A World Up HighA story about a giant plant that leads to a new world
- AeroSub's Big SplashA story about a plane that becomes a submarine
- Anya's Mailbox AdventureA story about a stamp who wants to travel
- Asha's Cloud Ship AdventureA story about a pirate ship in the clouds
- Barnaby's Big World TripA story about a blue bunny who travels the world
- Barnaby's Secret MapA story about a mouse and his tiny map
- Boxy's Big SurpriseA story about a toy box that moves the toys
- Buster's Big AdventureA story about a sleepy dog
- Candle's Cozy SecretA story about a candle and a flashlight
- Chilly's Midnight MelodyA story about a fridge that hums lullabies
- Chromatic's Magical LinesA story about a magic crayon
- Elara and Grom's Brave RideA story about a princess and her dinosaur
- Fimble's Secret Garden FriendA story about a goblin who gardens in secret
- Kaelan's Peculiar PathsA story about a boy who sees a door for every choice
- Kaelen's Sparkle PizzaA story about a unicorn who makes pizza
- Kaelo's Cozy KnitsA story about a yeti who knits
- Kaito's Star-Berry SurpriseA story about a shark in space
- Kaktus's Cozy HugA story about a cactus who wants a hug
- Kazimir's Singing SpellsA story about a witch whose spells are songs
- Maya's Big Swing DreamA story about a swing that goes over the bar
- Maya's Marvelous LunchboxA story about a lunchbox that packs itself
- Orion's Wonderful TunesA story about a doorbell that plays a new song
- Orrin and the Big SeaA story about a lighthouse afraid of the sea
- Orrin's New Sky AdventureA story about a bird who lost a wing
- Percy's Cool Summer ShopA story about a penguin's ice cream shop
- Ravi's Moon AdventureA story about a bunny who flies to the moon
- Rusto and Zippy's Big AdventureA story about an old boot and a new sneaker
- Sky's Big Star FlightA story about a little plane that flies to space
- Sparkle Woods AdventureA story about a glitter trail in the woods
- The Airplane AdventureA story about following a paper airplane
- The Annual QueryA story about one true answer a year
- The Bridge-Builder TrollA story about a troll who builds bridges
- The Echoing Shell's SecretA story about an island where everything remembers
- The Experience Orb LibraryA story about a library that lends experiences
- The Extra Step MysteryA story about an invisible extra step
- The Flight of the Forest MapA story about a fox and an owl
- The Harbor of Lost EchoesA story about a harbor of lost places
- The Harmony Hub's SecretA story about a town that is too perfect
- The Hidden Closet DoorA story about a door at the back of the closet
- The Listening FriendA story about a friend who really listens
- The Mailbox's Dreamy DeliveryA story about a mailbox that delivers dreams
- The Market of Common GroundA story about a secret market for two strangers
- The Marshmallow Rain DayA story about the day it rained marshmallows
- The Memory Keeper's ChoiceA story about the keeper of a town's memories
- The Moon's Sunny VisitA story about the moon meeting the sun
- The Mountain's Softest SongA story about waking a sleeping mountain
- The Pebble and the River FriendA story about a pebble and a river
- The Piano's Secret SongA story about a secret in an old piano
- The Rainy Day TunnelA story about a tunnel that appears in the rain
- The Secret Attic BoxA story about a mystery box in the attic
- The Snowy FootprintsA story about footprints in the snow
- The Strolling Street of CobblesA story about a shortcut that changes every day
- The Whimsical Weather MachineA story about a weather machine in the attic
- The Whispering Star RescueA story about saving a forgotten bedtime story
- The World-Heart OakA story about the oldest tree in the world
- Uno's Counting BuddyA story about the loneliest number
- Whispers of the Ever-Changing HallA story about a museum that changes for each visitor
- Zip's Moon AdventureA story about a bicycle that rides to the moon
- Zola and Riku's Big RideA story about a dragon who rides a dinosaur
- Zoom's Big Adventure DayA story about shoes that walk to adventures
Questions parents ask
- Are these bedtime stories really free?
- Yes. Every story here is free to read on any phone, tablet or computer, with no account and no ads.
- What ages are they for?
- The shorter stories suit ages 4 to 6 and take three to five minutes to read aloud. The longer ones suit ages 7 to 10, with mysteries and bigger choices, and take five to nine minutes.
- Can the stories be read aloud to my child?
- Yes. Each story has a Read it to me button that uses your device's built-in voice, so you can listen together or let a child follow the pictures on their own.
- Where do the stories come from?
- Each one was made in the Storybox app from a single spoken idea, like a cactus who wants a hug or a fridge that hums lullabies. Storybox wrote and illustrated them with AI, and our team picked the best ones for this library and edited them by hand.
- How do I make a story from my child's own idea?
- Download Storybox on iPhone or iPad. Your child says what the story should be about, and a new illustrated story comes back in about a minute.
Want one about your child's own idea?
Every story in this library started as one sentence said out loud. In the Storybox app your child says the idea, and a new illustrated story comes back in about a minute.
Get Storybox for iPhone and iPad