MarytaleBedtime stories for preschool
Bedtime stories for preschool: one character, one thing that happens, and an ending that needs no explaining.
If your child drifts off mid-story, look at the reading time under the title — it tells you more than the stage does.
Preschool is when a child will sit through a whole story and start asking why. The stories on this page have one character, one thing that happens to them, and an ending you do not have to explain afterwards: someone knocks, someone opens the door, and you see what comes of it.
They are illustrated page by page, so you can read them by pointing at the pictures on the nights when your child is not following the words. Most run five to eight minutes, which fits a normal bedtime without anyone having to hurry.
Expect to be asked for the same one twice in a row, or twenty nights running. That is not a shortage of choice — at this age, knowing what comes next is the part a child enjoys most.
113 stories
A Christmas Tree for the Forest Animals5-7 min read · 14 pagesA christmas bedtime story: a crooked spruce that nobody ever takes home, and the one who starts decorating it has nothing of her own.
Apollo and the Whole Wide Sky5-6 min read · 13 pagesHigh on the windswept cliffs, in a nest of sticks and sunlight, lived the smallest eaglet of all — a little dreamer named Apollo who longed to open his wings and touch the sky.
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep1-2 min read · 2 pagesBaa, baa, black sheep — the full words of the rhyme, and the three bags of wool that all have somebody waiting for them.
Bella and the Golden Acorn5-6 min read · 17 pagesDeep in the whispering woods lives Bella, a little squirrel with a big, brave heart and a nose for adventure.
Benny the Brave Little Boat3-5 min read · 12 pagesDown in a quiet little cove lived a small blue boat named Benny, who dreamed of faraway seas though he was the tiniest boat of all.
Bruno, the Keeper of the Woods6-8 min read · 12 pagesBruno is a bear with the biggest heart in the whole forest, and every creature knows that when trouble comes, he is never far behind.
Captain Leo and the Great Storm6-8 min read · 11 pagesIn a little harbor town where the waves whispered stories of faraway places, everyone knew Captain Leo — the bravest sailor who ever sailed.
Clara and the Crystal of Kindness6-8 min read · 13 pagesClara always dreamed of the secrets the enchanted forest kept hidden, and one bright morning she set off to find the legendary tree that grants wishes.
Coco and the Case of the Silent Deck4-6 min read · 9 pagesAboard a pirate ship where a single whisper can turn into the loudest news at sea, there lives a wonderfully chatty green parrot named Coco, who knows everything that happens on deck.
Elara and the Little Song-Bird5-6 min read · 7 pagesWhen kind Princess Elara rescues a small hurt bird, she has no idea their meeting was ever meant to be.
Emma and the Christmas Star That Went Missing5-7 min read · 13 pagesIn a snug little town wrapped in evergreen woods, the Christmas star that warms every heart has vanished from the tall tree in the square.
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed1-2 min read · 5 pagesFive little monkeys jumping on the bed — the full counting rhyme from five down to one, with the doctor, the telephone and the mother.
Flake the Snowman and the Carrot He Couldn't Keep6-8 min read · 16 pagesIn a cozy, snow-tucked backyard lives Flake, a snowman who is very, very proud of the brightest carrot nose in the whole wide world.
Follow the Thread: How Your Clothes Are Made7-9 min read · 12 pagesT-shirts, sweaters, dresses — we pull them on every single day, but have you ever wondered where they come from?
Frau Holle7-9 min read · 16 pagesFrau Holle, the Brothers Grimm tale to read aloud. A girl falls down a well into another country, where shaking the beds makes it snow.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears6-8 min read · 12 pagesGoldilocks and the three bears, the folk tale to read aloud. She tries all three of everything, and the third one is always just right.
Goodnight, Dinosaurs5-6 min read · 12 pagesA dinosaur bedtime story: every dinosaur falls asleep differently — standing up, on its side, curled in a heap, or right beside the river.
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes1-2 min read · 2 pagesHead, shoulders, knees and toes — the full words of the action rhyme, and how to speed it up until the whole thing collapses into laughing.
Hey Diddle Diddle1-2 min read · 2 pagesHey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle — the full words of the rhyme in which every single line is impossible.
Hickory Dickory Dock1-2 min read · 2 pagesHickory dickory dock, the mouse ran up the clock — the full words, and the actions that turn it into a counting game.
Hugo the Hedgehog and the One Bright Berry2-5 min read · 9 pagesDeep in a snug little wood lives Hugo, a small hedgehog with the biggest heart of all.
Humpty Dumpty1-2 min read · 2 pagesHumpty Dumpty sat on a wall — the full words of the rhyme, and the fact that it never once says what Humpty Dumpty is.
Jack and Jill1-2 min read · 3 pagesJack and Jill went up the hill — the full words of the rhyme, including the verse where Jack gets his head mended with vinegar.
Jack and the Beanstalk7-9 min read · 16 pagesJack and the beanstalk, the English folk tale to read aloud. He sells the cow for five beans, and by morning one of them has gone up.
Leo and the Star Guest6-8 min read · 20 pagesLeo is a boy with a heart full of stars and a head full of questions about space.
Little Bo-Peep1-2 min read · 5 pagesLittle Bo-Peep has lost her sheep — the full words of the rhyme, including the verses where she finds the tails and has to sew them back on.
Little Jack Horner1-2 min read · 2 pagesLittle Jack Horner sat in a corner — the full words of the rhyme, and why he is so very pleased with himself at the end.
Little Miss Muffet1-2 min read · 2 pagesLittle Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet — the full words of the rhyme, and what a tuffet and curds and whey actually are.
Little Red Riding Hood7-9 min read · 16 pagesLittle Red Riding Hood, the Brothers Grimm tale to read aloud. She is told to keep to the path, and the wolf asks where she is going.
Little Thomas and the Spark in the Box6-8 min read · 12 pagesThomas is a curious little rabbit who finds a mysterious box beneath a tree one bright morning — and inside waits a tiny, dancing flame with a great big lesson to teach.
London Bridge Is Falling Down1-2 min read · 6 pagesLondon Bridge is falling down — the full words of the rhyme, verse by verse, with the wood and clay, the bricks and the iron bars.
Lucas and the Little Starship6-8 min read · 12 pagesEvery single night, Lucas lies in the grass and wishes on the stars, dreaming of faraway journeys through space.
Lulu the Kitten and the No-Touch Bottles6-8 min read · 12 pagesLulu is a tiny kitten with an enormous heart for adventure — there's nothing she loves more than poking her whiskers into someplace new.
Mary Had a Little Lamb1-2 min read · 4 pagesMary had a little lamb — the full words of Sarah Josepha Hale's 1830 poem, including the verses that usually get left off.
Mia the Monkey and the Magic of Clean Hands8-10 min read · 18 pagesDeep in the jungle, every day is an adventure — especially when a cheeky little monkey named Mia is around! But one afternoon, her favorite banana almost caused a whole heap of trouble.
Milo the Mighty Mouse6-7 min read · 8 pagesMilo is the smallest mouse in the village of Honeybrook, but she has always dreamed of doing something brave.
Nutmeg the Squirrel and the Stranger in Gray6-8 min read · 11 pagesDeep in a forest where the branches whisper stories, there lives a bright little squirrel named Nutmeg — cheerful, curious, and friends with every leaf and twig.
Old MacDonald Had a Farm1-2 min read · 5 pagesOld MacDonald had a farm — the full words, verse by verse, with the cow, the duck, the pig and the sheep, and how to let a child add the next animal.
Old Mother Hubbard1-2 min read · 4 pagesOld Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard — the full opening verses of the rhyme, and the dog that turns out to be remarkable.
Oranges and Lemons1-2 min read · 7 pagesOranges and lemons, say the bells of St Clement's — the full words of the London church-bell rhyme, and the game at the end.
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Want to know where these stories come from? The articles are here
Frequently asked
- How long is a preschool story here?
- Five to eight minutes read at a normal pace. The exact time is printed under every title, so you can pick one that fits the night you actually have.
- Can I read these to a two-year-old?
- Yes, and the shortest ones work best — the ones with a line that keeps coming back. A two-year-old joins in on the repeated line long before following the plot.