Tales Across Bedtime
The Cricket Who Couldn't Chirp
Every cricket in the garden chirps at dusk except Tüsi. Part one of a three-part bedtime story, about four minutes to read aloud.
Reading time: 4 minBedtime stories to read aloud
A bedtime story is not really about getting a child to sleep — it is about those ten minutes when you are next to each other and the day finally slows down.
In this collection you will find two kinds of story:
The twelve-minute tale — one story in four chapters. Read it in a single sitting, or spread it over four evenings, one chapter at a time.
The three-part series — three separate stories along one arc. Every part is complete: nothing is left hanging, nobody has to worry overnight. The next part is only a soft invitation: “the next morning…”
Every story is written to be read aloud: short sentences, one event per paragraph, and a repeated line the child can say along with you.
Read-aloud time: 4 minutes per part, or about 12 minutes for the long tale.
Stories in this collection
Tales Across Bedtime
The Soft Dragon
Pihé cannot breathe fire, only warmth. A bedtime story in four chapters, about twelve minutes to read aloud, for ages 4–8.
Reading time: 12 min
Tales Across Bedtime
The Full-Moon Concert
The moon is full and everyone in the garden is singing. Tüsi finds out that the smallest sound is needed too. Part two of three, about four minutes.
Reading time: 4 min
Tales Across Bedtime
The Last Warm Evening
Summer is ending and the garden is settling down to sleep. Tüsi teaches the smallest cricket what he once had to learn himself. The last part of three.
Reading time: 4 min
Tales Across Bedtime
The Dragon Who Wouldn't Fight
A dragon lives on the hill, writes poems, and would rather sleep than fight. A retelling of Kenneth Grahame's 1898 tale, to read aloud to ages 4–8.
Reading time: 10 min
Tales Across Bedtime
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Peter squeezes under the garden gate, though his mother told him not to. A retelling of Beatrix Potter's 1901 tale for reading at bedtime.
Reading time: 3 min
Tales Across Bedtime
The Happy Prince
Above the city stands a statue of gold and jewels, and a tired swallow helps it see the poor of the city. A retelling of Oscar Wilde's 1888 tale.
Reading time: 4 min
Tales Across Bedtime
The Elves and the Shoemaker
The shoemaker has only enough leather left for one pair of shoes, yet by morning the shoes are finished — and one night he learns who made them. A retelling of the Brothers Grimm tale.
Reading time: 3 minFrequently asked questions
From what age are these stories suitable?
Ages four to eight, read aloud. The sentences are short so that the child can follow easily and the reader can still breathe.
How long does one story take?
Two formats: the long tale runs about twelve minutes (in four chapters), while the series break into three short parts of roughly four minutes each.
Which format should I choose?
For a longer bedtime routine, take the twelve-minute tale. To come back to the same story over three evenings, take the three-part series — each part is complete, nothing is left hanging.
Is there anything frightening in them?
No. No fear of the dark, no separation, no threat. Every story quiets down at the end, so it is good to listen to just before sleep.
What does 'retold classic' mean on one of these stories?
It means the story is our own retelling of a work that is in the public domain worldwide: the author died more than seventy years ago and the work was first published before 1930. We credit the author on the page and explain the copyright status there. Our public domain sources page has the details.
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