TOP 10 Bedtime Stories for Kids
Ever since the year 2000 BC when Sir William WP Bedtime invented bedtimes, they have been accompanied by bedtime stories. Bedtime stories are great for teaching kids good morals, improving language, logical thinking and can be a bit of fun.
10. The Tale of Peter Rabbit
This classic children’s book was written in 1893 by Beatrix Potter. It follows a mischievous rabbit who is having a lovely time in the vegetable patch, until Mr McGregor spots him. The Tale of Peter Rabbit has is one of the best selling books of all time with over 45 million copies being sold.
9. The Ginger Bread Man
The Gingerbread Man first appeared in print in 1875 and follows the story of a growing group of characters chasing the Gingerbread Man keen for a taste.
8. Hansel and Gretel
Hansel and Gretel are brother and sister who are lost and hungry in a forrest. They stumble across a house made of ginger bread and candy. If this sounds too good to be true, it’s probably because it is. The story of Hansel and Gretel is thought to have originated in Germany over 600 years ago. It later featured in Grimm’s Fairy Tales in 1812.
7. Three Billy Goats Gruff
Three Billy Goats Gruff is the story of three goats who need to outsmart a troll to get to the other side of the bridge. The Norwegian fairy tale was first published in the 1840’s.
6. Jack and the Beanstalk
The story we know today as Jack and the Beanstalk first appeared as ‘The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean’ in 1734 and follows the story of a young boy who climbs a beanstalk to have an adventure in a magical land in the clouds.
5. The Hare and the Tortoise
The Hare and the Tortoise is one of Aesop’s Fables and tells the story of a slow Tortoise who is sick of the Hare’s arrogant behaviour and challenges him to a race.
4. Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood is walking through the woods to her grandmother’s house to drop off a basket of treats. But on the way she meets a wolf who wants the basket of treats for himself. The tale is thought to be over 300 years old and also appeared in Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
3. The Ugly Duckling
The Ugly Duckling is a story by Hans Christian Andersen and was originally published in 1843. In the story a mother duck’s eggs hatch and one of the little birds doesn’t look like the others and is outcast for ‘being ugly’. They are shocked when the ‘Ugly Duckling’ returns all grown up.
2. Goldilocks and the Three Bears
There are many versions this story but the most popular was first published in 1837. The bears go for a walk while their porridge cools but while they are gone Goldilocks intrudes, helping herself to porridge, sits in the bear’s chairs and eventually falls asleep in bed.
There have been many re-telling and modifications of The Three Little Pigs over the years but perhaps the best known version appeared in 1890 in Joseph Jacobs, English Fairy Tales. Each Pig builds a house from a different material and not all of them withstand the huff and puff of the Big Bad Wolf.
The Top 10 most popular bedtime stories for kids:
- The Three Little Pigs
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears
- The Ugly Duckling
- Little Red Riding Hood
- The Hare and the Tortoise
- Jack and the Beanstalk
- Three Billy Goats Gruff
- Hansel and Gretel
- The Ginger Bread Man
- The Tale of Peter Rabbit
If you love these Kids Bedtime Stories, then you are sure to love the rest of our bedtime stories, podcasts and website.
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