The Usborne Little Book of Bedtime Stories

Written and retold by Philip Hawthorn

Illustrator: Stephen Cartwright, Wikipedia

Year: 2002

Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd., London

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 96

ISBN: 978 0 74604 844 0

This book is a collection of seventeen wise old fairy tales and folk tales with a modern twist and cleverly suited-up to be read as bedtime tales. From classics like Princess and the pea to the Giving Tree, the stories in this book are a great way to end the day for little ones.

Excerpt from Button Nose

‘Why, you little beast, there’s nothing here!” said the witch.

In a flash there was nothing of her either. She vanished in a puff of smoke, and in her place sat the king and queen. The magic spell had been broken because the witch had looked at the inside of the apple, which no-one had ever seen before.

Happy Birthday Santa!

Author: Gillian Rogerson

Illustrator: Ingela Peterson

Year: 2005

Publisher: Gullane Children’s Books, Great Britain

Age: 4 and above

No. of Pages: 26

ISBN: 978 1 86233 761 9

We’re all used to stories and movies about Santa bringing gifts for children. This book, though, is a rarity, in that somebody actually looks out for Santa and brings him gifts in the middle of the night.

Meet Sylvie, an elf and Rudolph , a reindeer who suddenly realize they don’t know when Santa’s birthday is. Strangely, neither do the Chief Elf nor Rudolph’s old Uncle Bert at The Reindeer Retirement Home. The duo has quite an adventure but their persistence finally pays off.

I liked this book because it's about giving gifts to Santa when it’s usually the other way around. The story ever so subtly hints at determination and persistence, qualities that our children are rarely exposed to in this 'instant' age. 

Excerpt

Sylvie and Rudolph found the Wise Old Owl getting ready for a night out.

“Excuse me, Owl,” said Sylvie. “Do you know when Santa’s birthday is?”

“No, my dear, I don’t,” said the owl.

Sylvie and Rudolph sighed. 

The Magic Treacle Jug

Author: Enid Blyton

Illustrator: Pam Storey

For Ages: 5 and above

No. of Pages: 20

Publisher: Grandreams Books, UK

Year: 2002

ISBN: 978-0-75540-907-5

Meet sneaky Miggle doing what he ought not to – peering through somebody’s window. When the window belongs to Mother Tick-Tock’s home, it can only spell a lot of trouble. Poor Miggle, gets into one sticky mess after another until he admits his mistake to Mother Tick Tock who then sets things right but not without extracting a punishment.  

Excerpt

Mother Tick-Tock, coming back from visiting her friend, was astonished too. But she knew in a trice what had happened.

“Miggle’s borrowed my Treacle-Jug!” she said. “I saw him peeping through the window when I used it the other night. The mean, thieving little fellow!”

The Frog Prince (Usborne Young Reading)

Retold by Susanna Davidson       

Illustrator: Mike Gordon

For Ages: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 48

Publisher: Usborne Publishing, England

Year: 2005

ISBN: 978 0 74607 023 9

Meet Princess Poppy who, while playing with her golden ball, meets a cheeky, talking frog. Of course, we all know how that ends.

This book from the Usborne Young Reading series makes a delightful read for young children.

According to the publishers, this timeless fairy tale has been around since the thirteenth century. The Grimm Brothers retold the tale we know so well.

Excerpt

“Are you all right?” she whispered.

“Yes,” croaked the frog, carefully feeling his head.

“I didn't mean to hurt you,” said Poppy. “I’m so sorry.” And she bent down and kissed him.

There was a loud crash of thunder, followed by a shower of sparks. The frog had vanished. In his place stood a handsome young prince.

“At last!” shouted the Prince. “I’m human again. No more slimy skin, no more webbed feet, no more flies…” 

The Elves and the Shoemaker

Retold by Katie Daynes

Illustrator: Desideria Guicciardini

For Ages: 6 and above

No. of Pages: 48

Publisher: Usborne Publishing, England

Year: 2004

ISBN: 978-0-79450-758-9

This is an abridged version of the Grimm Brothers’ heart-warming tale of a hard-working and kindly shoe-maker. The delightfully narrated and well-illustrated story, split into eight chapters makes for good bedtime reading.   

Excerpt

Everything was quiet … until midnight. Two little elves rushed in, wearing nothing but rags. They sat down at the table and quickly began to sew. The shoemaker and his wife listened carefully to the elves’ chatter.

“This is better than making cheap shoes in that rotten attic,” said the first elf.

“I wish the other elves had escaped as well,” said the second.

The Yellow Trumpets

Author: Enid Blyton

Year: 1926

Publisher: Award Publications, London

Age:  4 and above

No. of Pages: 40

ISBN:  978 1 84135 161 2

It's Enid Blyton time again and it’s one of those books with a surprise at the end. This time, it’s about daffodils.

Meet Pinkle and Flip, two hard-working and industrious elves who make trumpets by night and sell them by day.

One day, however, their ambition carries them just too far.

How the elves connect to daffodils, well, that’s the surprise! :-)

Excerpt

It was the baby trumpeters blowing their trumpets.

The older fairies didn’t mind at first. They liked the babies to amuse themselves and have fun. They put up with the noise and laughed.