Kids love bedtime stories. Whether it's short moral stories for kids in English, a story about magical lands with fairies in it or one where animals know how to speak - children can’t get enough of stories, especially when they’re tucked with their bedtime. A small story helps children visualise characters, and actions in a way that captures their imagination. Wouldn’t you love to tell your kids some short moral stories or classic Indian small stories that would also teach them valuable lessons about life?
If you’re one such parent who is on the lookout for interesting stories for children in English, then our list of bedtime stories for kids about popular Indian characters will excite you. These thoughtfully selected short stories for toddlers will not just entertain your kids and prepare them for a night of blissful sleep, but will also give wings to their flights of fancy.
Find some of the greatest Indian very short stories with morals below.
1. The Blue Jackal
Once upon a time, there was a jackal who was running frantically to escape a pack of dogs. While running he stumbles and falls into a vat of blue dye. Emerging blue, he convinces the forest animals that he's a special creature sent to rule them. The animals believe him and the jackal starts enjoying his new status. He becomes arrogant and convinced of his superiority. One day, a pack of jackals howl, prompting him to join in. This reveals his true identity and the animals chase him away.
Moral: Pretending to be something you're not will not get you anywhere.
2. The Monkey And The Crocodile
In a lush forest, a clever monkey befriends a gullible crocodile. Both the animals start spending a lot of time together and develop a good bond. The monkey shares delicious fruits from his tree and the crocodile enjoys them. He even takes some for his wife but the crocodile's greedy wife wants to eat the monkey's heart. To that end, the crocodile invites the monkey for a feast, to capture him. On the way, the crocodile tells the monkey about his wife’s wish. Sensing danger, the monkey pretends to have left his heart back at the tree. The crocodile remembers his wife’s instructions of getting the monkey’s heart and therefore he swims back, and the monkey escapes to safety.
Moral: Intelligence and quick thinking can save you from the trickiest of situations.
3. Sweet Talk
Once there was a fox who was very hungry. It was scouring the area for food when it saw a crow eating cake while perched on the branch of a tree. The fox was drawn to it but didn’t know if it could just ask the crow for some cake. The fox devises a scheme to obtain the cake by singing the praises of the crow. The fox praised the crow for some time and it really warmed the crow’s heart. After that, the flattered crow opened his mouth to thank the fox and the cake fell out of his mouth. The fox picked it up and ran away with it, fooling the crow.
Moral: Don’t fall for sweet words.
4. The Fox and The Drum
There was once a cowardly fox who was scared of every little thing. Her friends and family used to tell her to be strong but she could never muster the courage to be brave. She once heard a loud strange sound which made her afraid. She became frightened but still decided to investigate. It turned out that the voice that she was just scared of, was just a harmless drum being struck by a tree branch. The fox heaved a sigh of relief and felt brave. After that, she didn’t remain so cowardly and started developing inner strength.
Moral: Feel your fear but don’t be paralysed by it.
5. Literate
Once there was a scholar who wanted to cross a river. He gets into a boat and is surprised to find that the boatman doesn’t know how to read or write. He looks down upon the boatman and thinks of him as a useless fellow. He floats in his accomplishments and while he was thinking all this, a storm ensues which makes the boat overturn. The scholar doesn’t know how to swim and is scared for his life. It is the illiterate boatman who comes to his help and saves him. This made the scholar realise his mistake and he started respecting people for their different talents and abilities.
Moral: One should always be humble and respectful.
6. Changing color
Once upon a time, there was a very hungry crow. He noticed a group of white doves eating grains given by some people. The crow's stomach rumbled, and he wanted to join in. But when he flew over to the doves, they shooed him away because he looked different.
He felt sad but came up with a clever idea. He found a pail of white paint and dived right in, coming out completely white! Now looking just like a dove, he returned to the feeding spot. This time, the doves didn't chase him away, and he ate all the grains he wanted
Satisfied and full, the crow flew back home. But when he arrived, his crow friends didn't recognize him because of his new white feathers. They thought he was a stranger and turned away from him.
Moral: Always remain true to yourself.
7. The Rabbit and The Turtle
Once upon a time, a speedy and overconfident rabbit decided to challenge a patient and steady turtle to a race. The rabbit laughed at the idea that the slow-moving turtle could ever beat him.
The race began, and the rabbit bolted off the starting line, quickly leaving the turtle far behind. He believed that his victory was certain, therefore, he spotted a shady tree and decided to take a break.
Meanwhile, the turtle kept plodding along at his own slow but steady pace. Step by step, he made his way down the path, never stopping or getting distracted.
Finally, the turtle crossed the finish line just as the rabbit woke up with a jolt.
Moral: Consistency wins and overconfidence loses, always.
8. The Lion and The Mouse
In a jungle, there lived a mighty lion and a tiny mouse. The lion, always confident and proud, loved to mock the mouse for his small size.
One day, a hunter came into the jungle and set a trap, catching the mighty lion in a strong net. The lion roared and struggled, using all his strength to free himself, but the net was too tough.
As the lion's roars echoed through the jungle, the little mouse heard his cries and hurried over to see the situation.
The lion watched as the tiny mouse began to gnaw at the ropes with his sharp teeth. Slowly but surely, the mouse worked his way through the tough net, one strand at a time.
Before long, the net began to loosen, and finally, the lion was free! From that day on, the lion and the mouse became the best of friends.
Moral: Love and kindness can be shown by anyone, big or small.
9. The Magic Well
In a quaint village surrounded by a dense forest, lived an honest woodcutter. Every day, he went into the forest to chop wood with his axe made of simple iron and wood. One fateful day, as he was chopping near a well, his axe slipped from his grip and plunged into the deep water.
Suddenly, a beautiful fairy emerged from the well, holding a gleaming golden axe. "Is this your axe?" she asked. The woodcutter shook his head. "No, that's not mine," he said. "My axe is plain and made of iron and wood."
The fairy smiled and disappeared into the well again, only to reemerge with a silver axe. "Perhaps this is your axe?" she asked. Once more, the woodcutter shook his head. "No, that one isn’t mine either,"
Impressed by his honesty, the fairy disappeared one last time and returned with his humble iron and wood axe. "Is this the one?" she asked. The woodcutter’s eyes lit up "Yes, that's my axe!" he exclaimed.
The fairy gave all three axes to the woodcutter as a token of her appreciation for his truthfulness.
Moral: Don’t desire the things that do not belong to you.
10. The Three Brothers
There was a father who was constantly troubled by his three sons. They were always fighting and never able to get along. The father knew he had to teach them an important lesson about unity.
One day, he called his sons together and handed the oldest a single stick. "Break it," he said. The son easily snapped the stick in half. Then, the father took three sticks and tied them together with a piece of string. He handed the bundle to his youngest son and said, "Now, try to break these."
The youngest son gripped the bundle and tried to break it, but it didn’t budge. He passed it to his brothers, and they struggled too, but no one could break the bundle of sticks. The father smiled and said, "You see, individually, each stick is easy to break. But when they are together, they are strong and unbreakable. The same goes for you three. If you stand together and support each other, you’ll be strong and unbreakable."
The sons looked at each other and realized their father was right. They promised to work together and support each other from that day on.
Moral: Unity is strength.
11. The Birds and The Net
A flock of birds were excitedly pecking at grains. Just then, a hunter threw his net over them, trapping them all. The birds flapped around in a panic, trying to escape, but it was no use.
Their wise leader chirped loudly and asked them all to work together. He instructed them to fly in the same direction at the same time. Following his lead, the birds flapped their wings in unison, and lifted off, carrying the net with them!
They soared high into the sky, far out of the hunter’s reach, and finally landed safely in a distant field.
Moral: Anything can be achieved when you work together.
12. The Cap Seller
Once upon a time, there was a cap seller taking a nap under a shady tree after a long day of selling caps. Mischievous monkeys sneaked down from the trees and took away all his caps except one. When he woke up and saw the monkeys playing with his caps!
Thinking quickly, the cap seller grabbed the one cap left on his head and threw it on the ground in frustration. To his surprise, the monkeys copied him exactly and threw all the caps they had stolen onto the ground!
Seeing his chance, the cap seller gathered up all the caps while the monkeys watched, confused by their own actions.
Moral: Thinking on your feet can save you from difficult situations.
13. The Ant and The Grasshopper
On a sunny summer day, a grasshopper spotted a busy group of ants diligently storing food for the upcoming winter. He chuckled at their hard work, and wondered why they were wasting their time while he danced and played in the warm sunshine all season long.
When winter finally arrived with its biting cold and snow, he realised his mistake. While the ants enjoyed their well-stocked pantry, the grasshopper shivered in hunger, regretting his attitude.
Moral: Make hay while the sun shines.
14. Three Little Pigs
Three pigs were sent by their mother to construct their own houses. She had warned them about the big bad wolf lurking around.
The first two pigs, being a bit lazy, quickly put together houses made of straw and sticks.
Meanwhile, the third pig was determined to build a strong and sturdy house. He laboured day and night, gathering bricks and carefully laying them to create a solid structure that could withstand anything; even a huffing and puffing wolf.
Sure enough, one day the wolf came sneaking around the village and easily knocked down the houses made of straw and sticks.
But when the wolf came to the third pig's house, he was in for a surprise. No matter how hard he huffed and puffed, he couldn’t blow the brick house down!
Seeing that his brothers were in danger, the third pig invited them inside his sturdy house. Together, they waited out the wolf’s howls and growls, safe and sound behind the strong walls.
Moral: Hard work pays off.
15. Equal Division
Two mice found themselves with a big piece of chocolate and a problem: how to divide it equally? They spotted a clever cat passing by and asked for her help. The cat, pretending to be helpful, divided the chocolate into two pieces but sneakily made one slightly bigger than the other.
The mice, suspecting something fishy, asked the cat to make them perfectly equal. The cunning cat took matters into her own paws, taking a big bite from the larger piece. Before the mice could protest, the cat had gobbled up the entire chocolate, leaving them with nothing but empty wrappers.
Moral: Be careful of whom you trust.
16. The Peacock’s Colour
One day, all the birds queued up based on their height to get painted in bright colours. The tall friend, peacock, found himself at the end of the line, feeling a bit down as supplies of paint dwindled.
When his turn came and the paintbrush swept over his magnificent feathers, something magical happened! Despite the limited colors, the peacock turned into a stunning sight by rocking a blend of every hue imaginable. Suddenly, his sadness melted away as he realised he had become the star of the show.
Moral: Don’t lose heart, because everything happens for a reason.
17. The Foolish Thief
Once upon a time in Akbar's Kingdom, there was a robbery, and all the suspects were summoned to court. To uncover the thief’s identity, clever Birbal devised a plan. He handed out sticks to each suspect, announcing that the thief's stick would grow by two inches overnight.
The next morning, Birbal inspected the sticks and one stick stood out as it was two inches shorter than the rest!
Moral: A thief cannot have a clear conscience.
18. The Milkmaid
Once, a milkmaid milked her cow and filled two pails to the brim. Balancing the pails on a stick over her shoulders, she set off to the market. As she walked, she started daydreaming about all the wonderful things she would buy with the money from selling the milk.
Caught up in her fantasies, the milkmaid began to skip and hop down the path. She was so lost in her dreams that she forgot all about the pails of milk. Suddenly, she tripped, and the pails toppled over. The milk spilled everywhere!
She looked down at the puddle of milk and sighed.
Moral: Don’t count your chickens before they hatch!
19. The Two Frogs
Two frogs were hopping around when they accidentally fell into a deep pit. The other frogs gathered around the edge, looking down and croaking. They said that “You’re never going to make it out! It's too deep!"
Hearing this, the first frog lost all hope. He sighed, sat down, and sadly accepted his fate. But the second frog didn’t give up. With a determined look, he gathered all his strength and made a leap, springing right out of the pit!
The other frogs were stunned. Well, turns out the second frog was deaf. He couldn’t hear their discouraging words and simply thought they were cheering him on.
Moral: People's opinions can affect you only if you let them.
20. The Elephant Circus
A visitor once goes to the circus and thoroughly enjoys the elephant’s act. However, he observes that the elephants have been tied by a weak rope. The visitor gets surprised as he wonders why aren’t the strong elephants simply breaking away from them and asks the ringmaster about the same. The ringmaster says that they were made to believe that they were not strong enough from a young age, so they still believe that they cannot escape.
Moral: Don’t give in to the limitations set by people
The Psychological Impact of Short Moral Stories on Kids
Short moral stories can have a big effect on kids' minds. They teach important lessons about kindness, honesty, and courage. These stories make kids think about what's right and wrong, and how to treat others well. They also help kids understand emotions better and make good choices in life.
Why Parents Should Read Moral Stories to Their Children?
Moral stories have always been considered one of the most important learning tools for children. They unfasten the door to a world where kids learn virtues such as integrity, morality, truthfulness, prudence, fortitude, bravery, gentleness, and many more.
Kids also learn more about other cultures, gain an understanding of how to deal with complex situations, learn how to behave with others, and can differentiate between right and wrong.
Listening to stories also helps kids understand language, learn words faster, and grow reading comprehension skills.
Creative Ways to Share Bedtime Stories for Kids
Parents can read bedtime stories any time of the day, not only at bedtime. These stories seamlessly fit to be told anytime the little ones have leisure time or are free to listen to stories. From feeding time to just a story time with the entire family together, stories can be the medium of bonding of friends and family with the kids. Stories not only bond the listener with the storyteller but also foster curiosity, ingenuity, and imagination. All these qualities help shape the future of the kids. Parents don’t need to repeat the same story again and again. They can welcome their own twists and turns in the stories to make them unique and new to the children. In this way, parents will always have something to narrate and keep the kids busy.
Conclusion
Children also develop their passions after hearing specially prepared short stories for toddlers. You might easily discover children reacting and acting like their favourite characters from a short story. They also get easily attracted to outfits that depict any of their short moral stories. If you tell them a story about a princess or boy's favourite character The Hulk the next day they might want a princess dress or a The Hulk Shirt And the best part is One Friday offers you both. A cute dress that will make your little girl feel like a princess, and a The Hulk-themed t-shirt that boys can show off all day.
We hope you liked our list of children’s short stories in English. These make bedtime more exciting and also teach great life skills to kids. You can light lamps at night in your room to ensure a cosy environment while reading the stories. Also, ensure you dress up your little kiddos in comfortable night suits to help them get a restful sleep.
FAQs
1. Why are moral stories important for kids?
Moral stories are the medium to help teach kids moral values that they carry with them throughout their lives. The more they listen to stories, the more they hone their vocabulary and learn to imbibe good qualities, actions, and behaviours in every aspect of their lives.
2. Why should I choose good short moral stories for my children?
While there is no shortage of short stories for children, finding good moral stories for children can be challenging. However, choosing the right stories is essential to support kids’ growth and development. The stories they grow up listening to also influence their learning path and how they see themselves, others, and situations and react to them. The right one teaches children to do the right thing at the right moment.
3. How do moral stories for kids foster empathy and kindness?
Moral stories for kids that revolve around teachings of kindness, empathy, and compassion and show how these virtues reward the good ones and influence kids to follow the same path.
