Short Bedtime Stories for Kids

Make time for a story together. Explore selected Aesop’s fables with illustrations, familiar life lessons, and audio narration.

Selected for parents and children aged 6–9 to read together. Some words and lessons may need a little explanation.

8 stories to share

The North Wind and the Sun

Persuasion is often more effective than force.

Audio: 2:26

Read & Listen

The Travelers and the Plane Tree

Be grateful for the quiet blessings that improve our lives, even when they seem unremarkable.

Audio: 2:15

Read & Listen

The Tortoise and the Hare

Slow and steady wins the race.

Audio: 2:14

Read & Listen

The Crow and the Pitcher

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Audio: 2:10

Read & Listen

The Fox and the Grapes

It is easy to despise what you cannot get.

Audio: 2:22

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The Crab and Her Mother

Example is better than precept.

Audio: 2:20

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The Dog and the Shadow

Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.

Audio: 2:15

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The Milkmaid and Her Pail

Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.

Audio: 1:56

Read & Listen

A note for parents

These fables include everyday conflicts, mistakes, and disappointments. Choose a story that suits your child, pause to explain unfamiliar words, and talk about the moral together.

The time on each story is the length of its audio narration. Reading aloud together may take longer. Audio starts only when you press Play.