The story shelf
Tonight’s story, in thirty seconds
Pick your child’s age, pick the lesson you want tonight, and read. Every story is written for reading aloud, ends calm, and comes with three little questions to talk about after.
24 stories on the shelf
Stories on the shelf
- 2–4Full cast
Goodnight, Little Fox
Little Fox says goodnight to each sleepy sound, but her four busy paws need one last thing before they can rest.
Winding down2 min - 2–4
Duck Shares the Puddle
Dodo finds one perfect puddle and wants every splash. But alone, even his mightiest jump makes one very small sound.
Sharing2 min - 2–4
The Little Boat Who Waited
Pip Boat wants to sail NOW, but the sea is far away. Pushing doesn’t work. Paddling doesn’t work. Then she starts to look around.
Patience2 min - 2–4
Bunny Says Thank You
Juniper finds sun, a crunchy carrot, and a feather as blue as fallen sky. Then one tiny bug needs help crossing a puddle.
Gratitude2 min - 2–4
Swish, Splash, Moon
Pebble braves three dusky places to find where the moon sleeps, and every swish and clip leads her deeper into the evening.
Courage2 min - 2–4Full cast
Ten Little Lights
Ten lights on the pond each whisper a tiny thank-you and go out, settling bedtime one gentle count at a time.
Winding down2 min - 2–4
Stompy Is Mad
Stompy’s stone tower tumbles and his mad is enormous. Mum stays close while he stomps, breathes like a trunk, and splashes.
Big feelings2 min - 2–4
The Kindness That Went Round the Pond
Acorn shares their last nut, and one kind act travels from friend to friend around the pond.
Kindness2 min - 4–6
The Bear Who Told the Truth
Bruno’s one forbidden roll cracks Granny Badger’s favorite pot. Soon a family of tummy bees won’t let him rest.
Honesty4 min - 4–6
The Firefly Who Feared the Dark
Flick keeps her glow blazing all night, because fireflies can have secrets too. Then little Dot loses the path home, and the meadow needs a light.
Courage5 min - 4–6
Hedgehog’s Prickly Hug
Everyone in the meadow does big squashy goodbye-hugs. Everyone except Hazel, who is all prickles. A hug, her friends decide, should fit.
Kindness5 min - 4–6Full cast
The Great Turnip Pull
Farmer Goose’s turnip is the size of a bathtub, and it will NOT come up. Not for Horse, not for Cow, not for anybody. Then a very small voice pipes up.
Teamwork4 min - 4–6
Owl School Starts at Dusk
Olwen’s first night at Owl School felt huge, dark, and full of strangers. She went gently anyway, one brave step at a time.
Courage4 min - 4–6
Rooney and the Very New Baby
Rooney’s new baby sibling has the lap, the song, and all the quiet. He tries three ways to win them back, with a low tail and a big voice.
Sharing4 min - 4–6
The Worry That Followed Moss Home
A small grey cloud follows Moss home and grows until it crowds his supper, his tunnel and his digging, while one brave sentence waits.
Big feelings3 min - 4–6
Gilly Goose Cannot Whistle
Gilly wanted to whistle with the lake birds, but every lesson ended in a honk and a wobble.
Trying again4 min - 6–8Full cast
The Kite That Learned to Fall
Milo’s handmade kite keeps crashing, and Professor Caw’s riddles are not exactly helpful. Or are they?
Trying again6 min - 6–8
The Marble No One Saw
Nobody sees Wren find Otter’s river-glass marble. Keeping it for one night seems simple, until the tiny treasure begins to grow heavy.
Honesty6 min - 6–8
The Night the Stars Took Turns
Long ago, every star shone all night as hard as it could, and nobody in the whole world could sleep. It was the Moon who thought of taking turns.
Sharing5 min - 6–8
Old Tortoise and the Hurry
Farrow the hare is made of hurry. Amble the tortoise is not. Between them swing one important basket and three hills of trouble.
Patience6 min - 6–8
Rufus and the Upside-Down Day
Rufus wants one thing to go properly, but sour berries, a chatty bee, and perfectly timed rain have other plans.
Big feelings6 min - 6–8
Thatch Builds the Bridge Alone
When the spring flood carries off the bridge, Thatch is determined to rebuild it alone, even when the river disagrees.
Teamwork5 min - 6–8
The Swallow Who Didn’t Want to Go
The flock is flying south, but Sorrel cannot imagine leaving her beloved barn. How can one small swallow carry a whole home?
Courage5 min - 6–8
The Snail Who Climbed the Lighthouse
Quill begins a whole night’s climb to see the sunrise, but the lighthouse is tall and the wind has other plans.
Trying again6 min
Want one starring your child? We’ll write a brand-new story with their name on the hero.
Make a story
Got a basket of puppets or stuffies?
We have short puppet-show scripts matched to the animals you actually own: voices, stage directions, and all.
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