Bedtime stories for six- to eight-year-olds.
Older children enjoy a story with a little more in it: an idea to think about, a character who has to decide something, or a world with its own rules. These seven free stories were chosen for that, across seven different topics. Some are short and some are long, because older doesn't have to mean longer. Here's what each one offers, so you can choose tonight's.
7 complete stories2 to 10 minutes eachfree to read
Seven stories with a little more in them
magic · about 2 minutes to read aloud
The Tailor Who Mended the Night
A tailor climbs onto his roof each night to stitch tears in the sky, and every stitch becomes a new star.
For a listener who likes an idea to turn over: what if the night sky could tear, and someone had to mend it?
Read The Tailor Who Mended the Night
pirates · about 2 minutes to read aloud
Captain Pebble and the Treasure of Stars
A captain, a parrot and a wise old cat sail to a crescent-moon island and find a treasure that isn't gold.
For a listener who expects treasure chests, with a different kind of treasure at the end.
Read Captain Pebble and the Treasure of Stars
robots · about 3 minutes to read aloud
The Quietest Instrument
Two workshop robots try one loud invention after another before building an instrument quiet enough for bedtime.
For a young inventor who enjoys trial and error, and funny failures along the way.
Read The Quietest Instrument
friendship · about 2 minutes to read aloud
Sorry, Said the Little Bear
Two bear cubs fall out when their stick tower collapses, sit with the uncomfortable feeling, then make up.
For a listener working out quarrels at school, since the cubs have to choose to say sorry.
Read Sorry, Said the Little Bear
kindness · about 3 minutes to read aloud
Toby Mends the Picnic Bag
A mole quietly mends his friend's torn bag overnight and leaves it on her doorstep without a note.
For a listener who might like to talk about doing something kind that nobody sees.
Read Toby Mends the Picnic Bag
farm animals · about 5 minutes to read aloud
Percy the Pig Looks for a Bed
A pig tries sleeping with the hens, the ducks, the horse and the goat, then finds his own straw is best.
For a listener who enjoys a running joke: about five minutes, with each attempt sillier than the last.
Read Percy the Pig Looks for a Bed
grandparents · about 10 minutes to read aloud
The Story Quilt
A grandmother tells the story behind each square of her patchwork quilt, from a wedding veil to a goat-eaten scarf.
For a long night: about ten minutes, with small stories inside one big one, and family history to wonder about.
Read The Story Quilt
How these differ from the stories for younger children
More to think about. The tailor who mends the sky and the treasure that isn't gold are ideas to wonder about after the light goes out, not just pictures to follow.
Characters who choose. The bear cubs decide to say sorry, and Toby decides to help without being thanked. Older listeners often like to talk about why.
Short and long. Five take two or three minutes; Percy is about five and The Story Quilt about ten. These are our suggestions from reading the stories, not an assessment of what every child of this age needs.
Tomorrow, the story continues
A story can be written anywhere. Pimlo remembers the world.
Older children love a story that remembers what happened before. In Pimlo, your child's own story world carries on from one night to the next.
Parents set the age band and what to avoid, and stories are checked before playback.
For parents and caregivers. No child information needed.