Ages 4–7Free
Bedtime Stories for Kids: Calm Picture Books to Read Aloud
- Ages 3–10
- Free to print
- Many play on screen
A good bedtime story is calm, short and ends somewhere cosy. These picture books were chosen for exactly that: a kitten looking for a place to sleep, a little llama saying goodnight, baby turtles following the moon to the sea, a desert night full of stars. The pictures are gentle and the stories slow down towards the end.
What’s inside
Choose an age to see only the sheets that fit.
Our picks
Popular sheets first. Every one can be printed; most can also be played on screen with instant marking.
Ages 4–7Free
Ages 6–9Free
Ages 7–10Free
Ages 5–7Free
Ages 3–5Free
Ages 3–5Free
Ages 3–5Free
Ages 6–8Free
Ages 8–11Free
Ages 4–6Free
Ages 4–6Free
Activity books
Themed workbooks that collect many pages in one printable book.
Picture books to read together
More about this collection
Keep the routine the same each night: bath, teeth, story, light out. Read in a soft voice and let your child turn the pages. If they ask for the same story every night, that is a good sign: repetition is comforting and great for language.
For older children who read alone, bedtime stories can be a quiet reading time: ten minutes with a calm book before lights out. The colouring scenes of starry skies and bedtime are a peaceful alternative on nights when a story feels like too much. Every book can also be printed, if you prefer paper at bedtime.
How to use these
- Use the read-aloud voice on nights when you are tired.
- Dim the screen or print the book for a screen-free bedtime.
- Ask one quiet question at the end: “what was your favourite page?”
Related collections
Worksheet topics
Questions and answers
How long should a bedtime story be?
Five to fifteen minutes is typical. Short stories that end calmly work best for winding down.
Is reading on a screen at bedtime a problem?
Bright screens can make it harder for some children to fall asleep. Printing the book or dimming the screen helps; if sleep is a concern, talk to your doctor or health visitor.
Are these printables free?
Yes. Every sheet marked Free can be printed or played as often as you like, at home or in class. Premium activity books are marked.
How do I print a sheet?
Open a sheet and choose Print. It fits A4 and US Letter paper. Most sheets can also print with an answer key on a separate page.
Can children do them on a tablet?
Most can: press Play to answer on screen with instant marking and stars. Colouring and drawing pages can be done with a finger or stylus too.