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Bedtime Stories for Kids

Short, gentle fairy tales perfect for reading aloud before sleep.

50 stories in this collection

WILLIAM ELLIOT GRIFFIS, D.D

WILLIAM ELLIOT GRIFFIS, D.D

1 minnon-fictionmoral justice
THE SEA PRINCESS

THE SEA PRINCESS

1 minfairy talehappy
OH, WHERE DO FAIRIES HIDE THEIR HEADS?

OH, WHERE DO FAIRIES HIDE THEIR HEADS?

1 minfairy talehopeful
THE WAR-HORSE AND THE ASS

THE WAR-HORSE AND THE ASS

1 minfablemoral justice
Pride will have a fall, and those who are arrogant may one day find themselves in a humble position.
THE LION, THE BEAR, AND THE FOX

THE LION, THE BEAR, AND THE FOX

1 minfablemoral justice
When two parties fight over a prize, a third, more cunning party may take advantage of their conflic...
THE HARE and THE TORTOISE

THE HARE and THE TORTOISE

1 minfablemoral justice
Slow and steady wins the race.
THE FOX AND THE WOOD-CUTTER

THE FOX AND THE WOOD-CUTTER

1 minfablemoral justice
Actions speak louder than words, and true help requires consistency between them.
THE HORSE AND THE LOADED ASS

THE HORSE AND THE LOADED ASS

1 minfablemoral justice
Be kind to the weak, for you may one day find yourself in their shoes, or suffer worse consequences ...
THE EAGLE AND THE JACKDAW

THE EAGLE AND THE JACKDAW

1 minfablemoral justice
We should know our weakness and our strength.
THE DOG AND THE ASS

THE DOG AND THE ASS

1 minfablemoral justice
When your friends need you, go to their assistance, as you do not know when you may need them.
THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN

THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN

1 minfablemoral justice
Gentleness and persuasion are often more effective than brute force.
THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES

THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES

1 minfablemoral justice
Self-help is the best help, and one should not rely on others to do what needs to be done.
BELLING THE CAT

BELLING THE CAT

1 minfablemoral justice
What seems an easy plan may be hard to carry out, and some things are easier said than done.
THE LION, THE FOX, AND THE ASS

THE LION, THE FOX, AND THE ASS

1 minfablemoral justice
Happy is the man who learns from the misfortunes of others.
THE FATHER AND HIS SONS

THE FATHER AND HIS SONS

1 minfablemoral justice
United we stand, divided we fall.
THE GLOW-WORM AND THE DAW

THE GLOW-WORM AND THE DAW

1 minfablemoral justice
Wisdom and cleverness can overcome brute force and wickedness.
THE FOX AND THE VILLAGERS

THE FOX AND THE VILLAGERS

1 minfablemoral justice
Bad news, especially concerning a known threat, spreads much faster and garners more immediate atten...
THE ASSEMBLY OF ANIMALS

THE ASSEMBLY OF ANIMALS

1 minfablemoral justice
What one boasts about as a strength can often be the very thing that leads to their downfall.
THE COCK AND HIS THREE HENS

THE COCK AND HIS THREE HENS

1 minfablemoral justice
People often love for different reasons, and what they claim to value may not be their true motivati...
THE BLACK DOG AND THE WHITE DOG

THE BLACK DOG AND THE WHITE DOG

1 minfablemoral justice
It is one thing to say, and another thing to do; empty boasts are easily exposed.
THE SUNLING

THE SUNLING

1 minfablemoral justice
Never jest with fools, as their misunderstanding can lead to disastrous consequences.
THE THREE FISHES

THE THREE FISHES

1 minfablemoral justice
We should all endeavor to be wise and act with foresight.
THE THIEF AND THE FOX

THE THIEF AND THE FOX

1 minfablemoral justice
Lies, especially absurd ones, are easily exposed by those with wit.
THE FOOLS AND THE DRUM

THE FOOLS AND THE DRUM

1 minfablemoral justice
Ignorance and stubbornness can lead to self-inflicted harm and unintended consequences.
THE GLOWWORM AND THE JACKDAW

THE GLOWWORM AND THE JACKDAW

1 minfablemoral justice
Do not be easily deceived by appearances or promises of easy gain.
THE FOX AND THE STORK

THE FOX AND THE STORK

1 minfablemoral justice
One bad turn deserves another, or treat others as you wish to be treated.
THE CROW AND THE PITCHER

THE CROW AND THE PITCHER

1 minfablemoral justice
Small, consistent efforts can overcome great obstacles.
BELLING THE CAT

BELLING THE CAT

1 minfablemoral justice
It is easy to propose impossible remedies, but much harder to execute them.
THE ASS AND THE LAP-DOG

THE ASS AND THE LAP-DOG

1 minfablemoral justice
Clumsy jesting is no joke, and one should understand their place and abilities before imitating othe...
THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

1 minfablemoral justice
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.
THE MILKMAID AND HER PAIL

THE MILKMAID AND HER PAIL

1 minfablemoral justice
Do not count your chickens before they are hatched, meaning do not make plans based on future events...
THE LION AND THE MOUSE

THE LION AND THE MOUSE

1 minfablemoral justice
Even the smallest among us can prove to be a great friend and offer significant help.
THE LION’S SHARE

THE LION’S SHARE

1 minfablemoral justice
Those in power will often exploit the labor of others for their own gain, leaving nothing for their ...
THE FOX AND THE CROW

THE FOX AND THE CROW

1 minfablemoral justice
Do not trust flatterers, as their praise often hides ulterior motives.
THE BAT, THE BIRDS, AND THE BEASTS

THE BAT, THE BIRDS, AND THE BEASTS

1 minfablemoral justice
He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends.
THE BELLY AND THE MEMBERS

THE BELLY AND THE MEMBERS

1 minfablemoral justice
All parts of a system, even those seemingly passive, contribute to the well-being of the whole, and ...
SAMMAKOT KUNINGASTA HALUAMASSA

SAMMAKOT KUNINGASTA HALUAMASSA

1 minfablemoral justice
Be content with what you have, for in seeking change, you might find something far worse.
KOTKA JA KETTU

KOTKA JA KETTU

1 minfablemoral justice
Those who betray trust and harm the innocent will eventually face a fitting retribution, often throu...
KETTU JA HAIKARA

KETTU JA HAIKARA

1 minfablemoral justice
Treat others as you would like to be treated, for what goes around comes around.
HEVONEN JA JALOPEURA

HEVONEN JA JALOPEURA

1 minfablemoral justice
Those who try to deceive others often fall victim to their own tricks.
HEVONEN JA AASI

HEVONEN JA AASI

1 minfablemoral justice
Do not boast or look down upon others, for fortune can change quickly, and those you scorn may one d...
THE CAT AND THE MICE

THE CAT AND THE MICE

1 minfablemoral justice
If you are wise you won't be deceived by the innocent airs of those whom you have once found to be d...
THE BAT AND THE WEASELS

THE BAT AND THE WEASELS

1 minfablemoral justice
Look and see which way the wind blows before you commit yourself.
THE ASS, THE FOX, AND THE LION

THE ASS, THE FOX, AND THE LION

1 minfablemoral justice
Betray a friend, and you'll often find you have ruined yourself.
THE LION AND THE MOUSE

THE LION AND THE MOUSE

1 minfablemoral justice
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted, and even the smallest creature can be of gr...
THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN

THE NORTH WIND AND THE SUN

1 minfablemoral justice
Persuasion is more effective than brute force.
THE GOODS AND THE ILLS

THE GOODS AND THE ILLS

1 minfablemoral justice
Human foolishness can upset the natural balance, leading to an abundance of suffering and a scarcity...
THE HARES AND THE FROGS

THE HARES AND THE FROGS

1 minfablemoral justice
No matter how bad your own lot may seem, there is always someone worse off than yourself.
THE MILKMAID AND HER PAIL

THE MILKMAID AND HER PAIL

1 minfablemoral justice
Do not count your chickens before they are hatched, meaning do not make plans based on future events...
THE BEAR AND THE TRAVELLERS

THE BEAR AND THE TRAVELLERS

1 minfablemoral justice
Misfortune tests the sincerity of friendship.

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