Short stories

Mum, read me one more story, please...Okay, just a short one. Looking for "one more" bedtime story? Our short stories will entertain and enlighten children in just a few minutes. They're perfect when you need entertainment on the go, to fill a short wait, or when you're tired but want to round off the day with a proper happy ending.

Tereza Sebesta

The River

min

4.65

Meet a friendly river, listen to its story and join it on its journey through the countryside. This peaceful story is a perfect bedtime read that teaches children about nature’s water cycles.

Short stories

Katarina Gondova

The Cocky Inflatable Crocodile

min

4.27

A tale about a green crocodile who isn’t just a blow-up toy, but also a puffed-up one, who spits poison with every word he says – so much so that all the other inflatable toys by the lake are afraid of him. But even a big scary crocodile can burst into tears at the sight of something as simple as a little pointed nail.

Bedtime stories for toddlers

Celtic Tale

The Russet Dog

min

4.67

This Celtic tale brings you a merry story of a savvy fox. When her beautiful russet coat becomes a home for annoying fleas, the fox thinks of a clever way how to get rid of them.

Short stories

Jana Kasparova

The Sad Scooter

min

4.86

The new pink scooter is the best gift Becky could have wished for, but as the time goes by, she uses it less and less, until it spends most time left in a corner. With the help of her mother, Becky learns an important lesson: things we don’t use anymore can make other people happy and become useful once again.

Bedtime stories for toddlers

Hana Do

The Dandelion

min

4.83

A little dandelion grows happily from a crack in a sidewalk and enjoys every day. Then mocking words of the flowers in a flowerbed make it wonder if it should really be ashamed of its ordinariness. But as it turns out, even ordinary flowers can bring a lot of joy.

Short stories

Jana Kasparova

Jake’s Big Ears

min

4.5

Jake’s classmates laugh at him because of his ears. They are too big, unlike the small ears of his friends. However, everything changes the moment Jake turns the mockery to his advantage. Find out what he can do, thanks to his ears, in this story about tolerance and diversity.

Short stories

Ancient Mayan Legend

Deer Fur

min

4.72

The legend explains how deer happen to have that discreetly camouflaged golden colour in their fur. Before, it was beautifully radiant and they were easy prey. But a chance encounter helped them lead much calmer lives.

Short stories

Tereza Sebesta

How Winter Began

min

4.32

Have you ever thought about when exactly winter begins? The raven is impatiently waiting for the first snowflake, and an old top hat is waiting for the black bird in the bushes. What does the raven need it for? You’ll find it out in this magical winter fairy tale.

Christmas stories for kids

Tereza Sebesta

Frost

min

4.79

This winter fairy tale for the youngest children is about an unhappy boy named Jake. He has to stay in bed because of the flu, so the only thing he can do is look through the window at his friends skating on the lake. But then the magical Frost appears outside of the window and cheers Jake up with his magic brush.

Christmas stories for kids

Dominika Sakmarova

Christmas For Everyone

min

5.0

Christmas is coming soon and little Carl is worried about whether their lonely neighbour Mrs Lizzie will get any Christmas presents. So he decides to make a gift for her himself. But how will the boy deal with it?

Christmas stories for kids

Katarina Gondova

The Unusual Racer

min

4.71

Only the best kid-racers can take part in this race, and Lucy is among them. From the start, we can tell that Lucy is not an ordinary racer, but we don’t know what makes her exceptional until later in the story. The message here is that regardless of who we are, we can achieve our dreams.

Short stories

Dominika Sakmarova

The Proud Cherry Tree

min

4.64

The cherry tree boasts a lot about her fine flowers, which are also admired by the other inhabitants of the garden. She wouldn’t trade-in her pretty blossoms for anything in the world — they are as white and delicate as snow! But then she has a chat with a Chrysoperla insect and suddenly realises that there are more important things in life than pride.

Short stories

Marian Dyno Buric

The Life of a Caterpillar

min

4.6

A caterpillar hatches and instantly begins to discover the beauty of the surrounding world. However, it’s disappointed at its own appearance when compared with all that it sees. Eventually that sadness disappears when it learns that it’s still developing and will one day turn into a beautiful butterfly.

Bedtime stories for toddlers

Readmio

Mio in Music Class

min

4.5

Read more about the experiences of this cute little elephant called Mio! Today during the music lesson, Mio learns the sounds made by different musical instruments, along with the children. Do you know the sounds of the different instruments too?

Short stories

Jana Kacmarova

Adventure of the Germs

min

4.68

In this story you will learn about some extraordinary travellers: germs. They travel anywhere and everywhere. But one of their favourite destinations is the tummy of a child who doesn't wash their hands. How to get rid of such keen travellers, you may ask? Read on.

Short stories

Hana Do

The White Chalk

min

4.71

Mia was using her brand-new coloured chalks to draw on the pavement, when she met a boy named Steve. Boasting about the many colours of chalk she had, she learned that Steve had only white chalk. She somehow felt superior to him until finally realising that white chalk was just as important as all the colours. Steve was a kind-hearted boy and they became good friends. Mia will not make the mistake of boasting about anything again.

Short stories

Hana Do

How the Sunshine Made Friends with the Rain

min

4.76

Annette is grumpy, because it is going to rain all week while she is on holiday with her family. But on the way to the campsite she learns some new things about why rain is important. And then she sees something magical in the sky! Read this story to find out what it was.

Short stories

Abby Voss

Monkey-Business

min

4.64

As with many younger siblings, Clive feels like he’s a nuisance to his big sister. And indeed, Frances finally reaches her wit’s end with him. But then circumstances change, causing Frances to realise that her little brother is actually pretty great after all.

Short stories

Questions about

Short stories

How long does it take to read one of the short stories?

Most of our short stories can be read in about 4 to 7 minutes. The estimated reading time is shown in the story details, making it easy to choose a story that fits into your schedule.

Do the short stories come with activities or worksheets for children?

Many of our short stories are accompanied by fun, educational activities like interactive quizzes or free colouring sheet printables that help children interact with the story on a deeper level and expand their creativity.

How do I know which short story is right for my child?

Each story on Readmio comes with a brief summary of key details that includes its themes, recommended age, and length. In the app you can also filter our story library by topic and by age group, or search by keywords. So it's easy to find something that's just right for your child. For example, if you're looking for a quick and light-hearted read for younger kids, About a Ladybird is a great choice, while older kids might enjoy more reflective tales like Hercules and the Potter. Need more tips? Check out our article about short bedtime stories!

Are there moral lessons or themes in the short stories?

Yes, even our shortest stories often explore important values like kindness, courage, empathy, and honesty, subtly teaching children life lessons through engaging storytelling.

Are these short stories accompanied by audio or sound effects?

Yes, Readmio short stories are enriched with sound effects and music that bring the tales to life, making the reading experience even more magical and engaging.

Are the short stories suitable for group activities or classroom use?

Yes! Many of our short stories, like The Grasshopper and the Ants, are perfect for group reading sessions in classrooms or at home. They make a great starting point for discussions about important values, like teamwork, forward-thinking, or helping others, and can lead well into other interactive activities.