Bedtime Stories for Preschoolers: 8 Calm Stories for Ages 3–5

Little Rabbit wanted to stay up all night.

"Can I play now?" she asked the moon.

"Not yet," said the moon. "First, the birds go to sleep."

So Little Rabbit watched the birds fluff their feathers and tuck in their heads.

"Can I play now?" she asked.

"Not yet," said the moon. "First, the flowers go to sleep."

So Little Rabbit watched the daisies fold up their petals, one, two, three.

"Can I play now?" she asked, a little more slowly.

"Not yet," said the moon. "First, the wind goes to sleep."

So Little Rabbit listened as the wind grew softer and softer, until it was only a whisper.

"Can I... play... now?" Little Rabbit yawned.

The moon smiled. "Now," it said, "it's time for you to go to sleep. You can play in your dreams."

And Little Rabbit did.

Hush the little fox had the cosiest blanket in the forest. It was blue, with tiny yellow stars.

One chilly night, there was a soft knock at her den. It was Hedgehog, shivering.

"My leaf pile blew away," Hedgehog said. "I'm so cold."

Hush looked at her blanket. It was hers, and she loved it. But Hedgehog's nose was very cold.

"Come in," said Hush. "We can share."

Then came another knock. It was Mouse. "The wind is so loud," she squeaked. "Can I come in too?"

"Of course," said Hush.

The blanket wasn't very big. Hush, Hedgehog and Mouse had to squeeze close together. But squeezing close made them warm, warmer than Hush had ever been on her own.

"Sharing your blanket made it bigger," said Mouse sleepily.

Hush smiled. Outside, the wind whistled. Inside, three friends were snug under one starry blanket.

Goodnight, Hush. Goodnight, Hedgehog. Goodnight, Mouse.

Duckling came to a puddle. It was the biggest puddle she had ever seen.

"I can't jump over it," said Duckling. "It's too big."

Frog hopped by. "Why jump over it?" he asked. "You're a duck."

Duckling looked at her feet. They were flat and orange and perfect for paddling.

She stepped into the puddle. Splish. She paddled her feet. Splash. She floated right across to the other side!

"I did it!" Duckling quacked.

"You did," said Frog. "Sometimes the thing we're worried about is the thing we're good at."

That night, Duckling dreamed of puddles and ponds and big, wide lakes, and she wasn't worried about any of them.

Choo choo! Ravi's bedtime train was leaving the station.

First stop: the bathroom. "All passengers, brush your teeth!" called Conductor Ravi. Swish, swish went the toothbrush.

Next stop: the pyjama drawer. "All passengers, put on your pyjamas!" Ravi chose the ones with rockets on.

Next stop: the bookshelf. "All passengers, choose one story!" Ravi chose a story about elephants.

Next stop: the big bed. "All passengers, climb aboard!" Ravi climbed under his blanket. His toy elephant climbed aboard too.

Mama read the story. The train slowed down. Chug... chug... chug...

"Final stop," whispered Mama. "Dreamland."

The bedtime train pulled gently into the station, and Conductor Ravi was fast asleep.

Deep in the soft brown soil, a little seed was waiting.

"When will I grow?" it asked the worm.

"When the rain comes," said the worm.

The rain came, pitter patter, and the seed drank and drank.

"Now will I grow?" it asked.

"When the sun comes," said the worm.

The sun came, warm and golden, and the seed felt cosy all over.

Then, one morning, the little seed stretched. A tiny green shoot poked up into the light. Then two small leaves. Then, many days later, a bright red flower.

"I grew!" said the flower.

"You did," said the worm. "Good things take a little time."

And every night after that, the red flower closed its petals and rested, ready to grow a little more tomorrow.

"Where does the sun sleep?" Zara asked Papa.

"Let's imagine," said Papa.

"Maybe the sun sleeps behind the mountains," said Zara, "under a blanket of clouds."

"Maybe," said Papa. "Or maybe the sun sleeps in the sea, rocked by the waves."

"Maybe the sun has a nightlight," giggled Zara, "and it's the moon!"

Papa laughed. "That's a very good idea."

Zara snuggled down. "Does the sun need a story before it sleeps?"

"I think it does," said Papa. "The stars tell it one, every night."

Zara closed her eyes and imagined the stars, telling the sun a twinkly bedtime story.

And somewhere far away, the sun was sleeping too.

Ellie the elephant was so excited to play that she ran too fast, and bump! She knocked over Giraffe's tower of blocks.

The blocks tumbled everywhere. Giraffe's lip wobbled.

Ellie felt a funny, heavy feeling in her tummy. She didn't like it.

"I'm sorry, Giraffe," she said. "I was too fast. Can I help you build it again?"

Giraffe sniffed. Then he nodded.

So Ellie picked up the blocks with her trunk, very gently, and Giraffe stacked them, one on top of another. The new tower was even taller than before.

"It's the best tower ever," said Giraffe.

The heavy feeling in Ellie's tummy floated away like a balloon.

That night, Ellie told her mama, "Saying sorry made the funny feeling go away."

"It often does," said Mama, and she gave Ellie a big, warm elephant hug goodnight.

Before bed, Nia said goodnight to all her toys.

"Goodnight, Teddy. Thank you for the cuddles."

"Goodnight, Dinosaur. Thank you for the roars."

"Goodnight, Blocks. Thank you for the towers."

"Goodnight, Dolly. Thank you for the tea party."

"Goodnight, Ball. Thank you for bouncing."

The toys sat quietly on the shelf. Nia was sure Teddy winked.

Nia climbed into bed. "Goodnight, room," she whispered. "Goodnight, me."

And everything in the room was very still and very happy, and very ready for sleep.