our favourite bedtime stories
Who doesn’t love a little nostalgia?
Everyone has a book they cherished as a child. Even with the advent of addictive video games, to quickly escape into another world full of adventure is an unrivalled joy for so many children across the world.
Plus, reading is great for inducing deep, healthy sleep in children, and helps improve concentration and cognitive function – teaching skills that will be beneficial for years to come.
At Silentnight, we got our heads together to create a list of our favourite children’s bedtime stories, from the ages of 1 to 13. After much deliberation (and some disagreement) we created our ultimate list of favourite bedtime stories.
best bedtime stories for kids aged 1-4:
The Gruffalo
Author: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Axel Scheffler
Here’s something that’ll make you feel old – The Gruffalo is 20 years old this year (sorry)!
This story of a cunning mouse who invents his own folklore in the form of a monstrous, but easily-fooled, Gruffalo is based on a Chinese folk tale and hasn’t lost any of its enduring charm since its 1999 release.
Over 13 million copies have been sold worldwide since and you can even go on a Gruffalo trail around the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea
Author: Judith Kerr
This charming story about a tiger who decides to randomly gatecrash a family’s teatime was written in 1968 and is due to be adapted for television in late 2019, featuring the voices of Benedict Cumberbatch and Paul Whitehouse.
The author, Judith Kerr, also penned the popular Mog series, which deserves a shout-out too for its popularity and impact.
best bedtime stories for ages 4-7:
The Cat in the Hat
Author: Dr Seuss
A talking cat who wears a bow tie? Go on then…
Critically acclaimed and a commercial phenomenon, The Cat in the Hat has been adapted into films, TV series and theatre productions.
If you want to research further, it’s also been the source of argument, discussion and psychoanalysis. But, for now, you can just enjoy the weird and wonderful world of a talking cat who loves his quips and tricks.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Author: Beatrix Potter
Peter Rabbit was a bit of a wrong un’. Breaking-into vegetable gardens, stealing carrots and generally raising hell…
However, since its publication in 1902, Beatrix Potter has become a national treasure and The Tale of Peter Rabbit is one of the best-selling books of all time.
The book has earned acclaim for its excellent writing and storytelling, and for taking the ‘animal fable’ genre to a new level.
best bedtime stories for ages 7-10:
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Author: Roald Dahl
Illustrator: Joseph Schindelman / Faith Jacques / Michael Foreman / Quentin Blake
No list of favourite books is complete without an entry from Roald Dahl and, arguably, his most famous creation, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Roald Dahl’s 4th book has been adapted into two films – the latter featuring Johnny Depp being generally weird and unnerving.
This tale of redemption and morality captured hearts and minds way back in 1964 and quickly (and predictably) became a hit for both children and adults alike. A classic fantasy novel, it’s a dead-cert to entertain, enthral and amuse.
The Adventures of Tintin – The Seven Crystal Balls
Author: Herge
Tintin ran from 1929 to 1976 and follows the adventures of a brave – if not a tad reckless – reporter and his loyal dog, Snowy.
His adventures have taken him all around the world, to the former Soviet Union, Japan, Tibet and even the moon. In this volume, which critics regards as one of Herge’s finest efforts, Tintin investigates the disappearance of his absent-minded friend Professor Calculus.
What ensues is an indulgence of mystery, drama and intrigue; themes which are typical of the Tintin series as a whole.
best bedtime stories for kids aged 10-13:
The Hobbit
J.R.R Tolkien
This one needs little introduction.
Arguably the most recognisable name on our list, The Hobbit is ideal for young children/teens turning their reading skills up-a-notch and dipping into a whole-new level of fantasy fiction.
Goblins, orcs, dragons, wizards and weird little people with hairy feet – what more could one ask for in a fantasy novel? It has it all and then-some.
Recently made into a film trilogy starring everyone’s favourite ‘everyman’, Martin Freeman, as well as the much-loved Ian McKellen, The Hobbit is a genre-defining book that preceded the biggest selling novel of all time by the same author – The Lord of the Rings.
Holes
Louis Schar
We’re moving more into young adult territory with Holes, but it deserves recognition for being regarded as one of the finest contributions to literature for young children.
It follows the unfortunate events of a young teenager sent to a corrections facility for a crime he didn’t commit. The plot switches between modern-day and the 19th Century, featuring a wealth of interesting and endearing characters.
Thanks to its success, Holes was made into a film adaptation in 2003.
Sources and inspiration
https://www.momjunction.com/articles/benefits-of-reading-bedtime-stories-to-your-baby_00119461/#gref https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/our-recommendations/great-books-guide/ https://literacytrust.org.uk/
