Bedtime Stories and Reading Guides

Practical guides for parents: choosing and reading bedtime stories, building a calm routine and where classic fairy tales come from.

• Fairy tale guides

  10 Classic Fairy Tales for Kids (Free to Read Tonight)

  A parent's guide to ten classic fairy tales for children aged 3–9: what each story is about, which ages it suits, and a free, gentle version to read aloud tonight.

  6 min read
• Fairy tale guides

  Where Do Fairy Tales Come From? The Origins of 10 Popular Stories

  Perrault, the Brothers Grimm and the English folk-tale collectors: a short, sourced history of where Cinderella, Snow White, The Three Little Pigs and other classics come from.

  6 min read
• Bedtime reading

  How to Read Bedtime Stories Aloud: 9 Simple Tips for Parents

  Practical, low-pressure tips for reading bedtime stories aloud, from choosing the right story to pacing, voices and what to do when your child wants the same book again.

  5 min read
• Bedtime reading

  A Simple Bedtime Reading Routine for Young Children

  A calm, predictable bedtime routine with a story at the end, based on NHS guidance: how to set it up, where screens fit and how to choose the right story for tonight.

  5 min read
• Fairy tale guides

  Gentle Fairy Tales for Young Children: Classic Stories Without the Scary Bits

  Traditional fairy tales can be surprisingly frightening. Here's how our retellings keep the magic and the lessons of Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs and Hansel and Gretel while ending calmly.

  4 min read
• Personalised audiobooks

  Personalised Bedtime Stories in Your Own Voice: How It Works

  How ReadMeToDream turns a one-minute recording of your voice into a personalised fairy tale audiobook with your child's name, and how we look after your recording.

  3 min read

Looking for a story to read tonight? Browse our free fairy tales for kids.