Free Audio Stories for Children
Lots of words have popped up lately to describe things you can listen to from the internet: podcasts, audiobooks, streaming media, etc. What’s important about what’s offered here is that they are downloadable MP3s (they’ll play on virtually any audio device…and because you can download them…you don’t have to be on Wi-Fi to listen…so they are perfect for long car trips!), and that they are FREE. We also know that many of you don’t download them at all, but just stream them from a nearby mobile device…using the shorter ones as bedtime stories, for example. 😉
Below, you’ll find a list of the audio stories that we’ve created especially for you, all read by me (Chuck Brown). Click on the story title to visit that story’s page, where you can read along and download the audio file. And oh, by the way…if you write stories for children, please take a moment and visit this page.
Finally, for those who might have interest…I have created quite a number of additional bedtime stories which are now available for sale. They are popular with parents of young children for personal use, but also for those who wish to post them as content to YouTube, or add them to apps to help with sleeping. You can find out more right here.
Something Different!
Light Up Your Brain is nearly 30 years old now, and the biggest reason folks visit it time and again is the audio stories for kids, which we think is great!
However, times are changing…and it’s now becoming apparent that there are more popular platforms than individual web sites like ours, which can work even better than what we’ve been doing so far in some ways. So…beginning now, when we publish new audio stories for kids, they will be on a special channel that we’ve started on YouTube, so that we have the potential to reach way more people than we’ve been able to draw here. Our brand new channel already has several stories posted…and our focus is on “sleep stories”, rather than just calling them bedtime stories. We’ll only be providing a single theme graphic per story, so it’s not quite like you are sitting down to read a book with mom or dad before bed. In fact, it would seem to make even more sense to push Play and close your eyes and hopefully drift off to sleep as the story plays. But, that’s just our thought. There are no rules on how best to do it. To kick this off, we are going to post the first few YouTube videos on this page. If you like them, we encourage you to Subscribe and click Like, so that you are notified when new stories have been posted. And here is the direct link to that channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFhGIJEHTAwcJq0i9eOsL7w
Windswept
(5 mins) Written by Nadine D’Souza. A Copperpod tree learns that it takes two to tango.
Piggis Play Games
(6 mins) Written by Dave Donicci. Boy and girl pigs tackle outdoor games.
The Persistent Rain Cloud
(6 mins) Written by Nadine D’Souza. A blustery cloud bully needs to be taught a lesson.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
(7 mins) Written by Beatrix Potter. One of the most popular children’s stories ever written.
Petie’s Peanut Butter Pizza
(7 mins) Written by Joan Winifred . A story about a boy who is a very finicky eater.
How The Camel Got His Hump
(8 mins) Written by Rudyard Kipling. The dangers of being too lazy when there’s work to be done.
The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies
(8 mins) Written by Beatrix Potter. Another cautionary tale from the author of The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
The Fantabulous Cumulo-Nimbuli Pump
(8 mins) Written by Chuck Brown. My first (and only…) story, written in a Dr. Seuss style. It’s about a special vacuum that sucks up clouds!
The Three Little Pigs
(8 mins) Traditional. How a Wolf was outfoxed by his third ham dinner.
The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
(9 mins) Written by Beatrix Potter. Another cautionary tale from the author of The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
(9 mins) Written by Beatrix Potter. A smart-mouthed squirrel pays a high price for his rudeness.
The City Zoo
(9 mins) Written and Illustrated by George Comninos. A wonderful tale about teamwork, the value of hard work and self-sacrifice.
Rapunzel
(10 mins) Traditional. This version is from the Red Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang. A mother’s fixation has long-term consequences on the life of her family…especially her daughter.
The Legend Of The Black Sea
(11 mins) An old fisherman learns the importance of giving others the benefit of the doubt.
Guppy Goop & The Adventure of the Big Bad Fish
(13 mins) Written and Illustrated by Chato B. Stewart. What does it take to learn a good lesson, anyway?
The Emperor’s New Clothes
(13 mins) Written by Hans Christian Andersen. A great lesson about arrogance.
How The Leopard Got His Spots
(13 mins) Written by Rudyard Kipling. Wonderful African lore.
The Music Box
(15 mins) Written by Nadine D’Souza. A tiny ballerina seeks her place in the world.
The Story of Snow White
(21 mins) Traditional, translated by L.L. Weedon.. Beauty is wonderful, but what’s more important…outer beauty or inner beauty?
Little Louie
(21 mins) Written by Pamela Bell Bagley. A young boy saves a litter of puppies, gets a great wagon and brings joy to his neighborhood.
The Velveteen Rabbit
(26 mins) Written by Margery Williams. A delightful tale about real love…
Cinderella
(27 mins) Traditional, retold by Henry W. Hewet. A story of good character rewarded.
Jack & The Beanstalk
(27 mins) Traditional. This version is from the Red Fairy Book, edited by Andrew Lang. The cleverness and courage of a brave young boy rescues his family from desperate poverty.
The Little Mermaid
(52 mins) Written by Hans Christian Andersen. A lovely young mermaid falls in love with a human prince. (not the Disney version – for more info click here)
The Light Princess
(93 mins) Written by George MacDonald. A king, a queen, a princess, a prince…and, of course, a witch. The makings of a great story!
The Jungle Book, Pt 1
Written by Rudyard Kipling. The adventures of Mowgli, a boy raised among wolves…of those who love him and care for him, and of his enemy, Shere Khan.
Got through all those? Then, check out More Stories and Story Links! 😉
Like great free stuff? Visit The Free Site!