© 2023 Storyberries

Visit Storyberries Bookstore

LET’S DISCUSS THE STORIES ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Friendship

1. Santa is really worried when Iris goes missing! He spends a long time looking for her. Why do you think he does this?

2. What other kinds of things do people do for their friends?

Bedtime Story written by T. Ferries

Illustrated by Halina Prakapenka

Music Video and sound effects from www.zapsplat.com and additional music by “Wish Background” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Sneaky Snitch” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Magistar” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Whiskey on the Mississippi” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Hyperfun” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, Movement I (Allegro), BWV 1049” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Angels We Have Heard on High” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “8bit Dungeon Boss” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Frost Waltz” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Arcadia” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Feelin Good” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Winner Winner!” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The post Where is Santa’s Cat? first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

Let’s Chat About The Stories ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

Kindness, Communication

1. Yellow is worried about being all used up. But still, she offers a part of herself at the end, to be the sunshine in the picture. Why do you think she does this?

2. How does Yellow make sure she is not all used up? Do you think this is a good way of protecting ourselves when we need to? Why or why not?

Bedtime Story written by Lê Thu Phương Quỳnh and Parul Batra

Illustrated by Nguyen Thi Ngoc Bich

Translated by Brian Kavanagh.

Other Credits:

Music Video by Starting Out Waltz Allegretto Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Starting Out Waltz Vivace Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ and from zapsplat.com

Where is Yellow? is translated by Brian Kavanagh. The © for this translation lies with Room to Read, 2012. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license. Based on Original story: ‘Màu Vàng Ở Đâu?‘, by Lê Thu Phương Quỳnh, Parul Batra. © Room to Read , 2012. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.

This story ‘Where is Yellow?’ has been published on StoryWeaver by Room to Read.

* THE STORY ‘WHERE IS YELLOW?’ WAS CREATED BY ROOM TO READ AND IS LICENSED UNDER A CREATIVE COMMONS -BY-4.0 LICENSE. FORMATTING CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ORIGINAL WORK FOR EASE OF READING ON OUR WEBSITE.

The post Where Is Yellow? first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

© Storyberries 2021

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE STORY ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Honesty, Independent Thinking

1. Do you think the little ghost was right to take the bone she found in the graveyard? Why or why not?

Communication, Independent Thinking

1. How does the skeleton get his bone back? Do you think this was the best way to do it? Why or why not?

2. How are some other ways the skeleton might have gotten his bone back? 

Traditional Fairy Tale written by Joseph Jacobs, adapted for Halloween by Jade Maitre

Illustrations purchased under license

Book design by Jade Maitre

Music Video by “Children’s Theme” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Dances and Dames” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Seven March” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The post Teeny Tiny Halloween Tale first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

‘It’s not my fault,” I tried to say,

“I told her she should go away.”

That’s what I said that fateful day

When an elephant followed me home.

My mom was really, really mad

And, of course, so was my dad.

They both said it was really bad

That an elephant followed me home.

But I was not to blame—no, no!

I swear I told her she should go.

I was quite clear. But, even so,

An elephant followed me home.

I wonder if you people know

What it would take to make her go?

If you do, please tell me so,

Cuz that elephant who followed me home?

.

.

.

.

She’s still here.

© Templeton Moss 2020

Poem for Kids written by Templeton Moss

Illustrations by Pixabay, with thanks.

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE POEM ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Communication

1. What do you think would be the best way to ask an elephant not to follow you home?

The post Followed Me Home first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

BEDTIME STORY WRITTEN BY MADHAV CHAVAN

ILLUSTRATED BY SANTOSH PUJARI

Music Video from Mixkit.Co

OTHER CREDITS: This book was originally published on Storyweaver by Pratham Books. Copyright (c) Pratham Books 2004. The development of the print version of this book has been supported by Dubai Creek Round Table, Dubai U.A.E. Pratham Books is a not-for-profit organisation that publishes books in multiple Indian languages to promote reading among children.

* THE STORY ‘’TIMMY AND PEPE‘ WAS CREATED BY PRATHAM BOOKS AND IS LICENSED UNDER A CREATIVE COMMONS -BY-4.0 LICENSE. MINOR FORMATTING CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ORIGINAL WORK FOR EASE OF READING ON OUR WEBSITE.

Let’s Chat About The Stories ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

Communication

1. Timmy knows just what Pepe is saying, even though it always sounds like ‘woof!’ Why do you think this is?

2. People can communicate in words. How else can people let others know what they are thinking and what they would like to say?

The post Timmy and Pepe first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

The first time I lost my tooth, my parents got excited.

“Do you know what this means?” they said.

“No. What?”

“You need to write a letter. To the toothfairy!” they exclaimed.

The toothfairy?

I was given a pen and a piece of paper, and suddenly, there I was, having to write a letter to this fairy that I didn’t even know. I mean, I didn’t even know what she looked like, or what her name was, or how she got into our house. I didn’t know what she wanted to do with my tooth, either. If you asked me, it sounded weird, a fairy collecting teeth like that.

But I didn’t want to disappoint my parents. They looked so extremely excited. So I took the pen and the paper and I wrote just one thing:

Then I went to bed. I put my tooth in a cup. And the next morning she wrote back to me, and this is what she wrote:

Her writing was all wiggly like she’d written it on a bumpy surface. I thought she must have been pretty small after all, and it was probably wiggly because she’d have trouble moving the pen. It must be just about the same size as her. Still, though it was interesting, I had other things to do. Like homework, and riding my bike.

I put the letter away in my drawer and forgot all about her for a while. Then I lost another tooth. Mum and Dad were all thrilled and wanted me to write to Tabitha all over again. Out came the pen and paper. I honestly didn’t know what to write. I wondered where she had got into my bedroom. I didn’t know how I felt about some random toothfairy sneaking into my bedroom whenever she felt like it, and stealing off with my teeth.

So I sucked my pen and thought a bit. Then I wrote this:

Then I went to sleep, just like last time. And just like last time, when I woke up, there was a new letter from Tabitha Toothfairy, and a shiny $2 coin.

“Human hair?” I exclaimed, scrunching up my nose. “She said her mouse eats human hair!”

“I wouldn’t worry about it,” said Mum. “If you were extra concerned, you could just leave your hairbrush next to the bed next time you lose a tooth.”

“And how did she know I sucked my pen? It sounds like she’s watching me. That’s a creepy thing to do.”

“She probably just used your pen to write back to you,” Mum said. “I’ve told you a hundred times not to suck your pen too. You’re making the lid all crimpy.”

I sank back into my chair. I felt a bit strange.

“But what do you think she’s doing with all those teeth?” I asked, feeling my gum with my tongue. Mum shrugged.

“Who knows? Maybe you should ask her.”

Hmm, I thought. Maybe I would.

But it took a bit of time for my next tooth to fall out. By the time it did, two months had passed, and I’d forgotten all about the mouse that walks around my bedroom eating human hair, and the toothfairy that hangs out watching me suck my pen.

But when the tooth fell out and I had it in my hand, I felt the scratchy bottom of it and remembered all over again what I wanted to ask Tabitha about her night-time… activities.

The next letter was tucked right under my ear when I woke up, as if she wanted to make extra sure I would find it.

She was really a piece of work, this Toothfairy. It was all too strange. I couldn’t wait for another tooth to fall out, so I wrote back to her that night.

Then the next morning she wrote back:

It still didn’t add up for me. I persisted. I wrote to her again.

Got to run. Now does that sound like the kind of thing a tooth fairy would say to you? Not ‘I’ve got to fly’, but I’ve got to run. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t imagine a toothfairy running when she had these brilliant wings. I know I wouldn’t. So why would she say something like got to run? Unless there was something more to this toothfairy than she was letting on.

I waited, and pressed my tongue against my teeth, and ate lots of hard foods, and waited for another tooth to fall out. Luckily I didn’t have to wait too long. There is was in my hand, tiny and white and perfect, just like Tabitha would love.

I took extremely good care of the tooth all that day. I lost it at school but I wrapped it in a tissue and I didn’t let it out of my hand once. Handwriting, mathematics, none of it mattered… I just swapped that little tooth into my other hand and kept on writing.

When I got home I put it in the glass of water and went to bed early. Mum and Dad were surprised but didn’t say anything. My letter this time was simple:

Then I started the second part of my plan. I wasn’t going to sleep that night. At all. I was going to wait and see this Tabitha Toothfairy for myself.

It was hard going. I played games in my head to keep myself awake. Games where I was chasing white mice with a saucepan; where I swatted at a little fairy with long green hair, buzzing around my head like a dragonfly.

And then –

Then –

I really did see her.

The moonlight wasn’t playing tricks on my eyes; she was as solid as could be.

The toothfairy was real.

She was riding her little white mouse Harry like she was a cowboy; she had bright pink boots that she dug into his side when she changed direction. The mouse didn’t seem to mind it though; his kind little eyes winked as though he was smiling. Strapped to the mouse’s back , behind where Tabitha was sitting, was a pouch with my $2 coin in it.

Tabitha pulled the mouse up to beside my pillow and looked at me sternly. “You’re not supposed to be awake!” she scolded. “Harry told me you were, but I didn’t believe him. ‘Not Thomas,” I said to him. ‘Thomas’s a great kid; he wouldn’t cheat us.”

Harry made an accompanying squeak; he was going cranky on me too.

“Everyone knows the rules for the toothfairy,” she continued. “There’s only one. One! Don’t stay awake for the toothfairy.”

“Sorry,” I said.

Suddenly Tabitha’s face turned ominous. I felt a chill pass over me.

“You will be…”

“Sorry?” I said, confused.

Tabitha looked at me coldly. Her voice was low and chill.

“Do you know the penalty for breaking the rules about the tooth fairy, Thomas…?” she asked.

I didn’t know there was a penalty, of course. But Tabitha was rifling around her skirts, and eventually pulled out a mean-looking pair of pliers.

“It’s this,” she said. “I take ‘em all.”

“What!” I yelped, and scrambled away with my back to the wall.

“Just kidding,” she laughed. “I don’t use pliers.”

“Oh thank god,” I said.

“It’s the string-on-the-doorknob technique, of course.”

“No!” I clapped my hands over my mouth, and backed away. Tabitha drew a long thread from her skirt and advanced. The mouse advanced with her. Then, when they reached halfway across my bed, she levitated off the mouse and flew towards me.

There she hovered, in front of my face, darting towards my mouth and away again like a wasp, as I started slapping her away as best I could. I couldn’t get her – she was too fast – but neither could she get inside my mouth.

To my horror, she even laughed as she tried to get me. She spun the thread around her head like a lasso. Her pink boots winked in the darkness. I wanted to call out for my Mum, but to do so would be to open my mouth, and let her in, and lose all my teeth in the process…

Still, I couldn’t help it. I was only eight years old. She was a fairy and I was just a human boy.

I took a deep breath to yell out…

“Oh stop!” laughed Tabitha, and dropped back down onto her mouse. He made a harrumphing sound and they laughed together at me, two pairs of upturned eyes having the best laugh they’d had all week, probably.

“What?” I mumbled. I had stopped being scared, for some weird reason. All the scariness of them had disappeared with their laughter. Tabitha wiped her eyes and leaned in close.

“Oh Thomas,” she said. “I’m not going to take your teeth.” I just looked at her. ‘Just the one,” she clarified. “I need a cradle for my baby that’s on the way.”

Still looking at her, she made the air sparkle. And then I saw a picture form in the mist. It was curled up in the bud of an orchid; the sweetest looking baby toothfairy I’d ever seen. Probably because it was the only baby toothfairy I’d ever seen.

“It’s nearly done,” she said softly. “Three more nights in the moonlight and it’ll be a real live baby toothfairy of my own, to kiss and cuddle and play with… oh, I can’t wait. And I’m going to use your tooth as a cradle.”

I believed her, this time. Tabitha looked as happy as could be. I took my hands away from my mouth and reached out for my missing tooth. Then I handed it to her, gently. Her wings made a gentle buzzing sound and lifted her up once again while she examined it in a moonbeam, this way and that, admiring it in the light.

“Oh it’s beautiful Thomas. Just the best! Just perfect for the purpose!”

She tucked it away in the pouch on the mouse, and handed over my $2. “Sorry about the little joke,” she said. “I just thought I’d kid you a bit. And your face!”

“Ha ha,” I mumbled. I was a bit embarrassed now. Who’s afraid of the toothfairy?

“And it is Halloween,” she added.

And so it was.

Now it’s been a few months since Tabitha last visited, and I bet she’s got her little baby sleeping in my tooth, just like she planned. I lost another tooth ages ago. But I haven’t told anyone – I’m saving it.

Saving it for the Big Payback.

April Fools Day…

Watch out Tabitha!

Short story for kids written by Jade Maitre

Illustrations by Nesma Soulfight

© Storyberries 2018

Let’s Chat About The Stories ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

Communication, Independent Thinking

1. In this story, Thomas isn’t all that certain that the tooth fairy is all that she’s supposed to be. How does he try to work out whether she’s good or crazy?

A note on the illustrations

The wonderful illustrations for this story were created by Nesma Soulflight. Nesma is a graphic designer, an illustration maniac & a cat addict. She has developed such a passion for illustrating children picture books over the years.

You can see her Portfolio by clicking here.

For commissions click here.

For inquiries click here.

The Tooth Fairy's Bicycle Helmet | Funny | Bedtime Stories

Thomas starts a correspondence with a creepy toothfairy called Tabitha.

URL: https://www.storyberries.com/bedtime-stories-the-tooth-fairys-bicycle-helmet-by-jade-maitre/

Author: Storyberries

Editor's Rating:
5

The post The Tooth Fairy’s Bicycle Helmet first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

Except on Halloween

When all the naughty ghouls and beasts

Storm through my field of green.

They’re rather cruel, they call me names

It’s tricky to retort

Because my brain is made of hay

Lacks intellect and thought.

I’m just one bone – one spindly stick

A witch flies me away.

“A lovely broom!” she shrieks with glee

“Don’t snatch me, please!” I say.

The monsters find my tattered head.

“Football?” they suggest

I’m feeling rather dizzy now

I think I need a rest!

Vampires cannot drink my blood

My veins are made of straw.

Instead they eat my carrot nose

And leave me on the floor.

My farmer mends my jumbled form

And gives me an upgrade.

“A pumpkin head will suit you well

No need to be afraid.

With hollow eyes and jagged teeth

Oh, this will work a dream!

Now you will scare the ghouls and beasts

Upon next Halloween.”

POEMS FOR KIDS WRITTEN BY PHOEBE COGHLAN

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE POEM ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Communication, Self-Confidence

1. All the naughty ghouls and beasts play with the poor little scarecrow, even though the scarecrow really doesn’t like it! The scarecrow asked the beasts nicely not to play with it, but nobody listened to their polite words. What do you think would have been another good way to try, if the beasts didn’t listen to the scarecrow’s wishes?

Independent Thinking

2. What do you think of the farmer’s solution to replace the scarecrow’s head with a pumpkin? Can you think of some other good things the scarecrow might have done?

The post SCARE-crow! first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

The mites were hearty creatures, they would never hurt a soul. But their problem was they never could achieve a single goal.

They knew just what they wanted, and they’d ponder it at length, but when it came to action, they just didn’t have the strength.

The maybees were quite similar, with only slight revisions. They’d say “maybe this” and “maybe that”, but never reached decisions.

There was a king, King Know It All, who loved to take advantage of these measly mites and maybees whom without him could not manage.

Or so they thought, for they’d been told and learned so deep within that there’s just no sense in trying when you know you cannot win.

And so the king, with ruling hand grew stronger every day. For the mites and maybees just assumed that his was the best way.

Till one bright day, out of the blue, a mini-mite was walking and in his sheltered innocence, he suddenly began talking.

“Why do we weed our gardens by hand when it’s faster with a hoe? And why do we sled in summertime instead of in the snow?

“Why do we paint our buildings brown, when red is so much brighter? And why do we carry sacks of rocks when stones are so much lighter?”

The mini-mite kept asking more, like a record that was broken. Though all of them had thought these things, none had ever spoken.

“Shhh! Pipe down!”, were the frightened cries as they worried their king would hear. The mites and maybees looked around, their eyes spread wide with fear.

“I’ll be quiet”, said the mini-mite, “but I just have one more query. If there’s more of us than there is of him, why is he so scary?”

The mites and maybees pondered this, this thought that was quite new. And as they tugged and wrestled it, the logic in it grew.

Suddenly everything seemed so clear; they all had minds of their own, so why were they letting King Know It All rule his mighty throne?

Well, it didn’t take long once this thought was in place, for weeds to be pulled out with hoes. And it didn’t take long for paint to be red and for sleds to be used when it snows.

Soon the king got weaker, and finally left; Left the whole kingdom far behind. For he realized that not even he was as strong as the power of speaking your mind.

Copyright Arden Davidson, 2019

POEM FOR KIDS WRITTEN BY ARDEN DAVIDSON

Illustration by Kseniya Shagieva

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE POEM ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Communication

1. This poem talks about what can happen when we say what’s on our minds. How do you think we can change the world by telling people our ideas and thoughts?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ MORE POEMS FROM THE SAME AUTHOR?

What’s Weird About A Mirror: 101 Curious Poems

written by Arden Davidson and published by Storyberries.

It’s a long-awaited, hilarious collection of children’s poems by poet Arden Davidson, and includes topics ranging from a snoring grandma to a six-footed camel to reflections on the weirdness of mirrors.

The post The Land of Mites and Maybees first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

I’ve got ants in my pants, so I’m begging you, Teach. Please don’t make me give that speech.

Copyright Arden Davidson, 2019

POEM FOR KIDS WRITTEN BY ARDEN DAVIDSON

Illustration by Kseniya Shagieva

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE POEM ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Communication

1. Why do you think children are sometimes asked to give speeches at school?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ MORE POEMS FROM THE SAME AUTHOR?

What’s Weird About A Mirror: 101 Curious Poems

written by Arden Davidson and published by Storyberries.

It’s a long-awaited, hilarious collection of children’s poems by poet Arden Davidson, and includes topics ranging from a snoring grandma to a six-footed camel to reflections on the weirdness of mirrors.

The post Stage Fright first appeared on Bedtime Stories.