10 Best Fairy Tale Books to Read to your Kids at Bedtime in 2024

There is no better starting place for fairy tales than the classic that inspired them all. Grimm's Fairy Tales were the original stories that brought to life the magic that is a fairy tale, and this book isn't just full of wonder and exciting adventure, but it's stunning from the outside as well. The book itself is leather-bound and features a beautiful gold emblazoned front, as well as over 200 original stories and an additional ten children's legends. The beautiful thing about this book is its introduction; along with a photo of the two authors who penned these stories is an inscription of what a fairy tale actually is. The way this type of story is described is simply beautiful and the authors claim it is, "... a traditional story that doesn't have a definite author but belongs to everyone equally." It brings home the notion that these tall tales have truly been passed down but remained the same in their original charm and content, if for nothing else but to bring joy to anyone who hears them. You'll find that this book is so much more than a collection of stories but is, in fact, a collection of history, culture, and exploration as well.

Age range

Grimm’s Fairy Tales should be read to young kids at an early age by the parent or an adult. These are timeless classics that are enjoyed many times through a person’s lifetime.

Emotional development

While these are not all highly pleasant stories for the youngest of kids, they do strike some emotion for children to enjoy. As kids look at the pictures, they can see the enthusiasm in the tales.

Educational value

There are just some books that deserve to be part of your child's collection. Grimm's complete collection should be on everyone's shelf simply because these stories are timeless and flawless in their writing and meaning.

Entertainment value

With so many stories in this lovely failry tale book, your child will have a new one for each night of the month. The classic prose and time-honored wording will get their imaginations flowing for wonderful dreams at bedtime.

Creativity

The design of this collection suits its purpose perfectly. The leather exterior and gold inscription on the front conveys just how powerful the stories inside are. Not to mention, it'll look amazing on any bookshelf!

Similar to fairy tales, fables are short stories that deliver a powerful message with one difference: Fables always have a moral to bring to the table, as well. Many of us remember reading some of these in grade school and having the intriguing job of figuring out what, exactly, the moral was from the particular story we were assigned. Aesop's Fables pulls the reader in with fascinating stories of various wild creatures in order to convey a message that will resonate and truly push the reader to think. Some of these fables are exercises in caution, some teach important life lessons, and others are simply a word of advice. They all represent some aspect of life that many can relate to and serve as a great piece of literature for any child's bookshelf. With so much literature that's intended to be read for pleasure only, Aesop's Fables still hold fast in their placement to deliver a powerful message; powerful enough to make kids truly ponder what it is they've learned from the text. If nothing else, many of these are entertaining stories of what not to do!

Age range

There is no age limit or minimum for these wonderful fables, as even infants will love to hear the sound of them being told aloud. Any age of child would be glad to have this book of these extraordinary stories.

Emotional development

Classics should always be read, at least once and often. Aesop's Fables is one of those collections that a child will commit to memory and can always look back on, which makes it a valuable part of anyone's book selection.

Educational value

We all need to learn the common lessons and morals of life to make it through with the wisdom needed for good common sense. These delightful stories give children these morals in small doses for lifetime learning.

Entertainment value

These stories are far from boring and serve as a fun guide in telling kids that not everything is as it seems, and even animals get themselves into some sticky situations.

Creativity

It's really the animals who are at the focus of each story that brings to life lessons that we still hold to be true today. With the use of the fancy characters, the morals are imparted on the child in a clever way.

Now, here's a novel that has taken the idea of the Brothers Grimm and turned it into something entirely creative and imaginative. For preteens and teens, this book series is an excellent way for them to enjoy the Grimm stories they loved so much as children in a more mature, adult way. This story tackles the (imagined) Grimm family history from the point of view of descendants of the Grimm brothers, who find out their relation through their grandmother. The imagination and creativity that went into writing this book are not to be missed, as the plot follows the idea that each Grimm tale is actually a case file! The Sisters Grimm take on the wild adventure of investigating each story which lands them in some crazy situations, but, of course, they always figure a way out of them.

Age range

The level of added maturity to these mystery books will captivate any reader over the age of eight. It's an easy read with a plot that will keep them hooked and coming back for more.

Emotional development

Quite an emotional ride for the older child as they read through this collection of wild tales, this volume of fun is perfect to read alone or with an adult. It goes to show that fairy tales can be very adventurous.

Educational value

When kids read such descriptive and creative writing such as this lovely book contains, it can possibly bring out the writer, illustrator, and creator in them to influence their own artful style.

Entertainment value

The Fairy-Tale Detectives is fun, adventurous, and truly encapsulates what it means to modernize the idea of a fairy tale without going too far or straying from the classic theme that the Brothers Grimm worked so hard to create.

Creativity

This book series is perfect for preteens and gives them a chance to dive back into the fairy tale world without re-reading stories they've heard before. It's a classic reimagining that's truly profound and addicting.

Age Range

This book targets children between Pre-School age and Grade Two. It’s fun and silly and hosts a cast of characters that many of them will recognize from reading other fairy tale books or watching their favorite Disney movie. The pictures are bright, lush, and detailed to keep children’s attention even during re-reads and the vocabulary will challenge young readers learning to spell out words on their own without frustrating them.

Emotional Development

Reading helps children establish a whole host of skills outside of the world of academia. Reading is a gateway to empathy, allowing us all to see the world from different points of view and learn to relate to characters who might not look like they initially have much in common with us.

Educational Value

Whether you’re reading to your child or being read to by them, this book is a great starting point. It’s fun and silly which can help to alleviate some of the stress that comes with learning new and difficult things. Plus the illustrations take up the whole page and give children something to concentrate on between paragraphs.

Entertainment Value

Who doesn’t love a twisted fairy tale? This story does a brilliant job of mashing together many classic characters and tales into a cohesive and enjoyable plot.

Creativity

We love that the Big Bad Wolf gets a starring role in this narrative! Ready for a well-earned vacation, he decides to find a more “relaxing” story to reside in but along the way he twists some plots and discovers that most fairy tales aren’t a walk in the park after all!

Age Range

This book is aimed at a slightly older audience. Children in grades 4-6 are most likely to enjoy these tales. Breslin offers an explanation and additional resources in some of her stories so this is a book best enjoyed quietly rather than read aloud at bedtime or storytime. Emotional Development Kids can gain a lot by reading stories from other cultures. We love that Breslin has dredged up stories from her own childhood and then done the research to expand upon them. This book is 155 pages total with eleven stories in its folds. Educational Value Kids can gain a lot from this book academically! It’s meant to challenge them. You won’t find lots of pictures filling space or easy, rhyming couplets telling the story. If you have a child that truly loves to read, this will be right up their alley. Entertainment Value The book has longer stories with some research to back them up and help explain certain cultural phenomenon to readers. This is a great book for “big kids” or preteens that are interested in folk and fairy tales. The illustrations aren’t as lush as some parents had hoped so if you’re looking for a true-blue picture book, keep searching. Creativity There are folk and fairy tales from all kinds of cultures all over the world. We love that this book deviates from the most popular stories to tell some niche tales. If your little one loves magic, try searching for stories from other cultures to expand their repertory!">bedtime or storytime.

Emotional Development

Kids can gain a lot by reading stories from other cultures. We love that Breslin has dredged up stories from her own childhood and then done the research to expand upon them. This book is 155 pages total with eleven stories in its folds.

Educational Value

Kids can gain a lot from this book academically! It’s meant to challenge them. You won’t find lots of pictures filling space or easy, rhyming couplets telling the story. If you have a child that truly loves to read, this will be right up their alley.

Entertainment Value

The book has longer stories with some research to back them up and help explain certain cultural phenomenon to readers. This is a great book for “big kids” or preteens that are interested in folk and fairy tales. The illustrations aren’t as lush as some parents had hoped so if you’re looking for a true-blue picture book, keep searching.

Creativity

There are folk and fairy tales from all kinds of cultures all over the world. We love that this book deviates from the most popular stories to tell some niche tales. If your little one loves magic, try searching for stories from other cultures to expand their repertory!

The story goes that Cinderella was at the mercy of her stepsisters and wicked stepmother, however, no one has ever written from their perspective until now. This story dives into how Cinderella was the one who was a constant annoyance to her stepfamily, which has resulted in a hilarious re-imagining of a classic fairy tale and a popular Disney movie. Young readers will love the back and forth of this story and share a few laughs over the fact that Cinderella might not have been as innocent as she seemed to be. The accompanying illustrations by Gerald Claude Guerlais aid in the hilarity of the unique storytelling and help to paint the picture for readers.

Age range

Children ages six and over can enjoy reading this book independently as the words are easy to read and the storyline is simple enough for them to follow. The fun cartoon illustrations will make it hard for children to put the book down.

Emotional development

It's a cute way of re-writing the story from another point of view and adds a level of humor that young kids really enjoy and appreciate. Since it's such a short read, it's easy enough to get through and will help a child's literacy tremendously.

Educational value

With the story being from the stepmother’s perspective it adds a sense of hilarity that the classic does not include. The end of the book includes questions that encourage your child to engage in a discussion about the story.

Entertainment value

Aside from the fact that this is just a fun story overall, it makes Cinderella a modernized piece of literature, in a sense. Many kids who have no interest in reading the original story can get a kick out of reading this version of the story.

Creativity

Stories such as this that use an original tale and give an opposing view of one of the characters makes kids think for themselves and have an opinionated view of the world. It teaches independent thinking which is beneficial to their mental growth.

This is one short story that will definitely be appreciated by those who are fans of the original Little Red Riding Hood tale. In reality, we don't really know much about the wolf, therefore, this story could actually be very valid! It's a witty and clever way of viewing the original story from the point of the villain and gives a completely new impression of Little Red Riding Hood. Was she truly that innocent? Was she an annoying person to begin with? What she out to get this wolf from the get-go? You'll never know unless you pick up this non-classical fairy tale book!

Age range

Kids will appreciate the humor and re-imagining of the characters that flips the story and creates something entirely new. Over a span of 24 pages, the author has managed to rewrite this story in such a way that makes it entertaining, thoughtful, and seriously funny.

Emotional development

As your little one enjoys this classic story from the perspective of the wolf, they will learn how important it is to hear each side of a story before forming an opinion. They will become more open-minded and considerate to others as they take into account the wolf’s reasons for his actions.

Educational value
While bedtime is the perfect time to read a fairy tale, with the book available on Kindle or as a paperback your child can easily take their book and read it on the go.

Entertainment value

This storyline is a fun take on a classic fairy tale. Not only is it entertaining but it will encourage children of all ages to take into account everyone’s perspective before forming an opinion.

Creativity

It's a great example of how every story has a separate point of view and will encourage kids to look at a situation from every side. Who knows, maybe the wolf really was the victim in the story!

Inside, kids will find all of their favorite classics with the most perfect pictures to accompany them. In 2003, this book won the Chelsey Award for its illustrations and it's a book that would look incredible on anyone's bookshelf. Your child doesn't necessarily need to be a fan of fairy tales in order to appreciate this and because of that, there's really no true age limit for it.

Age range

The story lines are well written and easy to follow for children of all ages. With each story, your child will easily be able to comprehend the moral that is lying inside the fairytale.

Emotional development

The pictures alone are enough to captivate a young audience and as your child gets older, they'll appreciate being able to read the stories themselves and relive each one through its illustration.

Educational value

This hardcover book is designed to be passed down through several generations of your family. The book is filled with classics such as Goldilocks & The Three Bears, Rumpelstiltskin, The Three Little Pigs, and many more.

Entertainment value

While the stories are wonderful, the beautifully crafted illustrations will captivate every reader’s imagination and make them feel like a character in the story. The book is a tad heavy, which makes it the perfect book to remain on your child’s shelf each day until it is time to enjoy it at bedtime.

Creativity

The oil painting-style art of this collection is what truly makes it a classic. Each story is brought to life through color, detail, and captivating artwork that simply can't be outdone.

Many of these have already been turned into animated movies, but the original stories hold a sense of wonder and magic still to this day. While these stories aren't terribly long, they are incredibly entertaining and detailed. These would work well for older kids because the text isn't on a grade-school level, however, it would also be a great addition to any young child's bookshelf for when they are older. The book includes a forward that provides a detailed history of these stories and is interesting to read for those who are truly fans of Anderson's work.

Age range

This is a great alternative for those who find Grimm's fairy tales to be a bit too dark, mature, or challenging to understand. These stories are age-appropriate for everyone and will do a great job of entertaining all readers.

Emotional development

Each of them has been created with a sense of adventure and truly captivates the reader during every journey as they follow the main characters through each narrative.

Educational value

Your child will be holding a piece of history in their hands when they open this fairy tale book. Each fairy tale has been passed down through the generations and contains imaginative scenarios filled with colorful characters that are truly brought to life on these pages.

Entertainment value

For a lighter edition of fairy tales, Hans Christian Anderson provides levity and lighthearted stories. These are a fun way to go on a literary adventure for any age.

Creativity

Full of short descriptive tales that exude adventure and excitement, your older child will be most appreciative of this superb collection of stories. It is a volume that can inspire the author or illustrator in your family.

Your little one can enjoy the classics you grew up with such as Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk, as well as a few stories that may not be as popular. Mary Hoffman has written each story with plenty of humor to entertain and excite children. The beautiful illustrations created by Julie Downing bring the story and characters to vivid life. When purchasing you can choose to order this fairy tale book as a hardcover or paperback.

Age range

Some fairy tales can be a little too complicated for a young mind. However, that is not the case with this book each story has been shortened and rewritten specifically to keep a younger audience engaged.

Emotional development

As your child listens to the stories being read, they will learn about pride, greed, and vanity while also learning the importance of love. The magic of each story will stimulate their imagination and encourage them to delve into a world of make-believe.

Educational value

These fourteen classic tales are what inspired and motivates young readers to explore further into the more difficult stories we know and love. These teach them the basics of good prose and story writing as it is professionally done.

Entertainment value

We all love the famous stories that we grew up reading which were first read to us by our parents and siblings. These tales entertain us for bedtime and storytelling time to spark our own imaginations.

Creativity

Kids learn the art of reading and writing by exploring what has already been written by others. what better way to learn this correctly than to read the classic tales that we all come to love as older kids and adults.