Stories Under 5 Minutes

72 stories
Animated The Hare And The Tortoise Cover
The Hare And The Tortoise4+

Being fast is one thing, but is that enough to win this important race?

  • 3 mins
Jack And Jill Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Jack And Jill0+

A classic nursery rhyme about a trip up a hill to fetch a pale of water

  • 1 mins
Animated The Bookbag Copter Cover
The Bookbag-Copter 4+

A promising young inventor ends up in a spot of bother.

  • 4 mins
Animated Humpty Dumpty Nursery Rhyme Cover
Humpty Dumpty0+

Humpty calls for all the king's horses after a nasty fall from a wall.

  • 1 mins
Animated The Fox And The Grapes bedtime aesop fable children's book cover
The Fox And The Grapes4+

A stroppy fox learns the true meaning of the term "sour grapes".

  • 3 mins
Five Little Ducks Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Five Little Ducks0+

Five little ducks wander off and mummy duck goes off to find them.

  • 1 mins
Sooper Books The Dog, The Rooster And The Fox Bedtime Story Animated Cover
The Dog, The Rooster And The Fox4+

The dog and rooster are best friends. Will fox spoil the party?

  • 4 mins
Disco Spider​ Sooper Books Rhyme Animated Cover
Disco Spider4+

A nasty accident leaves Disco questioning if he'll ever dance again.

  • 3 mins
Animated Sooper Books Charlie Bryce Bedtime Story Cover
Charlie Bryce4+

Chaos in the classroom when a louse jumps out of Charlie's hair.

  • 2 mins
Little Miss Muffet Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Little Miss Muffet0+

A classic nursery rhyme about a snacking girl being scared by a spider.

  • 1 mins
Itsy Bitsy Spider Still Animated Cover
Itsy Bitsy Spider0+

A classic nursery rhyme about a little spider climbing up a spout.

  • 1 mins
Hey Diddle Diddle Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Hey Diddle Diddle0+

A classic nursery rhyme about a cow who jumps over the moon.

  • 1 mins
The Fox And The Stork Animated Cover
The Fox And The Stork4+

The fox plays a trick on the stork and doesn't like what happens next.

  • 3 mins
It's Raining, It's Pouring Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
It's Raining, It's Pouring0+

A classic nursery rhyme about an old man who bumped his head.

  • 1 mins
Frere Jacques0+

Read and listen to the traditional French nursery rhyme, Frere Jacques.

  • 1 mins
London Bridge Is Falling Down Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
London Bridge Is Falling Down0+

A classic nursery rhyme about the falling of London's famous bridge.

  • 2 mins
Nursery Rhyme BINGO Animated Cover
B-I-N-G-O0+

Spell and clap along to the classic folk song, B-I-N-G-O.

  • 2 mins
Animated Cover The Grand Old Duke Of York Nursery Rhyme
The Grand Old Duke Of York0+

A classic nursery rhyme about a duke marching his men up a hill.

  • 1 mins
Hot Cross Buns Nursery Rhyme Portrait Animated Cover
Hot Cross Buns0+

A nursery rhyme about one of the beat seasonal treats, Hot Cross Buns!

  • 1 mins
Animated Sooper Books Mad Hair Day Bedtime Story Cover
Mad Hair Day4+

A freak bolt of lightning make a boys hair do very strange things.

  • 3 mins
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes Animated Cover Nursery Rhyme
Head Shoulders Knees And Toes0+

A classic nursery rhyme about the parts of the body.

  • 1 mins
Next Year I'll Win Animated Cover
Next Year I'll Win!4+

Roderick is determined to defeat his rival in an unusual contest.

  • 5 mins
Animated Flash The Fast Sloth Cover
Flash, The Fast Sloth4+

Flash is training for a very important race, but who will it be against?

  • 4 mins
Mary Had A Little Lamb Animated Cover
Mary Had A Little Lamb0+

Mary takes her little lamb to school in this classic nursery rhyme.

  • 2 mins
The Frogs Who Wished For A King Animated Cover
The Frogs Who Wished For A King 4+

A group of frogs learn to be very careful what they wish for.

  • 3 mins
Animated The Biscuit Thief Cover
The Biscuit Thief4+

An uninvited guest is helping themself to the family biscuit tin.

  • 5 mins
The Spotless Ladybird Animated Cover
The Spotless Ladybird4+

A ladybird learns an important lesson when she tries to fit in.

  • 3 mins
Things In Beards Animated Cover
Things In Beards4+

A boy finds the strangest things hiding in his grandad's beard.

  • 3 mins
Hush Little Baby Animated Cover Nursery Rhyme
Hush Little Baby0+

A traditional lullaby about a list of gifts for a baby.

  • 2 mins
One Two Buckle My Shoe Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
One Two Buckle My Shoe0+

A classic nursery rhyme encouraging counting.

  • 1 mins
Little Bo-Peep Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Little Bo-Peep0+

A classic nursery rhyme about Little Bo-Peep and her lost sheep.

  • 1 mins
Sooper Books The Ants Bedtime Story Animated Cover
The Ants4+

Discover why this army of ants have started wearing underpants.

  • 2 mins
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Animated Cover
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star0+

A classic nursery rhyme about a twinkling star in the night's sky.

  • 1 mins
Animated Help Get a Broom Cover
Help! Get Broom!4+

Parents fight desperately to clean their son's out of control bedroom.

  • 3 mins
Animated Kentucky Fried Chicken Bedtime Story Cover
Kentucky Fried Children4+

A very clever hen plots to escape the farm and get her revenge.

  • 5 mins
Animated The Posh Rat Cover
The Posh Rat 4+

The original rhyme behind our smash hit story series "Posh Rat".

  • 3 mins
Schnitzel Animated Cover
Schnitzel4+

A gang of street dogs get suspicious when Schnitzel goes missing.

  • 3 mins
Five Little Speckled Frogs Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Five Little Speckled Frogs0+

Five frogs jump, swim and enjoy some grub in this classic nursery rhyme.

  • 1 mins
Sick Day Animated Cover
Sick Day4+

It feels lousy to be ill, but it sometimes comes with some benefits.

  • 3 mins
Animated Sooper Books The Toads Bedtime Story Cover
The Toads4+

A polar bear gives Mr and Mrs Toad something to think about.

  • 3 mins
Sooper Books The Bundle Of Sticks Bedtime Story Animated Cover
The Bundle Of Sticks4+

A father teaches his three sons an important life lesson using sticks.

  • 3 mins
The Fast Lane Animated Cover
The Fast Lane4+

A little hedgehog takes their road safety exam on a busy highway.

  • 5 mins
Animated The Pig Wig Cover
The Pig Wig4+

Bigsby is sad that he doesn't have hair, so he decides to go shopping.

  • 3 mins
Animated The Town Mouse And The County Mouse
The Town Mouse And The Country Mouse6+

A country mouse learns an important lesson on a trip to the city.

  • 4 mins
Sooper Books The Dog And His Reflection Bedtime Story Animated Cover
The Dog And His Reflection4+

A greedy little dog is generously given a bone, but is it enough?

  • 3 mins
Animated Cover Hercules And The Wagoner
Hercules And The Wagoner4+

Hercules teaches the wagoner an important lesson about effort.

  • 3 mins
Animated The Tortoise And The Ducks
The Tortoise And The Ducks6+

A bored tortoise wants to fly, but soon he learns an important lesson.

  • 4 mins
Mary Mary Quite Contrary Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary0+

A classic English nursery rhyme about Mary and her garden.

  • 1 mins
Hickory Dickory Dock Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Hickory Dickory Dock0+

A classic nursery rhyme about a mouse running up a striking clock.

  • 2 mins
The Shepherd Boy And The Wolf 6+

A shepherd boy learns a difficult lesson about trust and honesty.

  • 4 mins
The Rooster And The Fox Animated Cover
The Rooster And The Fox4+

A nasty, scheming fox tries to trick a rooster. But does it work?

  • 3 mins
The Owl And The Grasshopper Animated Cover
The Owl And The Grasshopper4+

A grumpy owl is awoken by a chirping grasshopper who won't stop.

  • 4 mins
Im A Little Teapot Animated Cover
I'm A Little Teapot0+

Read and act along with the famous American nursery rhyme. I'm A Little Teapot.

  • 1 mins
An Old MacDonald Had A Farm Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Old Macdonald Had A Farm0+

A classic nursery rhyme exploring all the animals on Old MacDonald's farm.

  • 4 mins
A Three Blind Mice Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Three Blind Mice0+

Enjoy this classic English nursery rhyme, Three Blind Mice.

  • 1 mins
Little Boy Blue Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Little Boy Blue0+

A classic English nursery rhyme featuring a shepherd boy.

  • 1 mins
Miss Molly Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Miss Molly0+

A nursery rhyme about Miss Molly and her sick dolly.

  • 2 mins
Row, Row, Row Your Boat Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Row, Row, Row Your Boat0+

Enjoy a trip down the stream in this classic Nursery Rhyme.

  • 1 mins
Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush0+

Get ready for the day with this fun nursery rhyme.

  • 1 mins
An Oranges And Lemons Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Oranges And Lemons0+

A traditional English nursery rhyme about London's church bells.

  • 1 mins
The Muffin Man Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
The Muffin Man0+

Enjoy this traditional English Nursery Rhyme, The Muffin Man.

  • 1 mins
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly0+

Enjoy this silly rhyme about an old lady who eats increasingly large animals.

  • 3 mins
A Pat-A-Cake Pat-A-Cake Baker's Man Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Pat-A-Cake Pat-A-Cake Baker's Man0+

Clap along to Pat-A-Cake Pat-A-Cake Baker's Man.

  • 1 mins
The Wheels On The Bus Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
The Wheels On The Bus0+

Enjoy this famous American folk song, The Wheels On The Bus.

  • 1 mins
A Ring A Ring O’Roses Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Ring A Ring O’Roses0+

A traditional nursery rhyme you can act along with, Ring A Ring O'Roses.

  • 1 mins
A Gingerbread Man Nursery Rhyme Audiobook Story Portrait Cover
Gingerbread Man0+

Enjoy this nursery rhyme based on a famous fairy tale.

  • 2 mins
A Teddy Bear's Picnic Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
Teddy Bear's Picnic0+

Enjoy this classic American Nursery Rhyme, Teddy Bear's Picnic.

  • 2 mins
If You’re Happy And You Know It Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
If You’re Happy And You Know It0+

Listen and act along to If you're Happy And You Know It.

  • 1 mins
The Queen Of Hearts, She Made Some Tarts Nursery Rhyme Animated Cover
The Queen of Hearts She Made Some Tarts0+

A classic English poem about a naughty Knave who steals some tarts.

  • 1 mins
Nothing Scary Animated Cover
Nothing Scary!4+

Anna can't decide which Halloween costume she wants to wear.

  • 5 mins
The Brussels Sprout Animated Cover
The Brussels Sprout4+

Who will be crowned the most popular veggie this Christmas?

  • 4 mins
New Year’s Eve With Maxie Lou Animated Cover
New Year’s Eve With Maxie Lou4+

After begging her parents to let her stay up late, they finally agree.

  • 5 mins

About these short stories

These are short stories for children, each one under five minutes. They are perfect for a quick bedtime read or a calm moment in the day. Every story is made by us, with a read-along audiobook to follow.

Every story here is made by us. We are Sooper Books, an original children’s storytelling studio. Our stories are read aloud by our own team of Emmy-winning storytellers. Each one is recorded in studio-quality audio you can follow on the page. We are backed by all five Dragons from BBC’s Dragons’ Den. We write, illustrate and record our own versions of the classics. So the stories your little ones read and hear here are ours. Never borrowed from anywhere else.

Frequently asked questions

What are good short stories for kids?

Fables and simple fairy tales work well when time is short. The Hare and the Tortoise or The Gingerbread Man read in a few minutes.

How long are these stories?

Every story on this page is under five minutes to read or hear.

Are they free?

Yes. Read every one here for free.