Stories to Tell in the Dark: Classic Children’s Tales

Light on your candles or flashlight as you are about to tell these thrilling classic stories, which will take your kids into a darker and more dramatic world

Get ready to set the scene with stories to tell in the dark! Light your candles or grab a flashlight, as these thrilling classic tales will transport your kids into a darker, more dramatic world. Telling stories to children is a special way for parents to bond, and bedtime is often the perfect moment for it—especially when your kids invite friends or relatives for a sleepover. Rather than the usual fables or fairy tales, scary stories can be a thrilling experience, sparking curiosity and adventure with these children’s storybooks perfect for reading in the dark.”

Deep in the Dark Woods: Captivating Stories to Tell in the Dark

First, let’s explore a dark forest. Dark woods have a deep connection with children’s horror stories and folklore. This setting conveys a sense of the unknown, straying off the path, fear, and danger. Here are some excellent options if you’re looking for children’s storybooks set in dark woods.

Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel is the first children’s book illustration you can read to your kids. It is one of the children’s famous stories written by the Brothers Grimm. It is about a little brother and sister named Hansel and Gretel.

Hansel and Gretel live in a hut with their father and not-very-loving stepmother. One day, they decide to leave their house. They walk deeper and deeper into the woods and find a hut they could never have imagined. The hut is made of candies and chocolates and has a gingerbread roof.

It turns out that this hut belongs to an evil witch. This old witch locks Hansel and forces Gretel to work all day. Gretel decides to save her brother so that they can escape from the evil witch. If you’re looking for Hansel and Gretel children’s storybook illustrations, you can quickly grab them on Amazon or GoodReads.

Little Red Riding Hood

The next children’s story that will take you deep into the forest is a story written by Charles Perrault. This story follows a little girl who has to deal with a cunning wolf. The little girl with a red cap enters a wood to visit her grandmother’s house.

On her way to her grandma’s house, she encounters a wicked wolf. Learning that this little red riding hood wants to see her grandmother, the wolf rushes into her house and pretends to be the old lady. This wolf wears the grandma’s clothes and lies in bed.

Little Red Riding Hood senses something strange about her grandmother, who is a cunning wolf. She then asks the wolf a series of questions. To get the Little Red Riding Hood children’s storybook, you can go to Amazon or Penguin Random House.

Snow White

Snow White is another story by the Brothers Grimm that takes you deep into the woods. It has been adapted for many animated films and tells the story of a beautiful princess facing her evil stepmother. The evil mother wants to end Snow White’s life because a magic mirror says Snow White is far prettier than the queen.

However, Snow White manages to escape by running far into the deep dark forest. There, she meets seven kind dwarfs who then shelter her. However, after learning that Snow White is still alive, the foul stepmother pretends to be an old lady and gives Snow White a poisoned apple.

There are, of course, many children’s storybook illustration versions of Snow White you can find. The classic version can be purchased on Amazon or Big Bad Wolf.

 

Veil of the Unpredictable

Let’s instill fear through uncertainty with these Stories to Tell in the Dark, which revolves around unpredictable elements and unknown situations.

The Three Little Pigs

The Three Little Pigs is one of children’s most read bedtime stories. It is a fable story about three sibling pigs who build houses to protect them from a big bad wolf. The first pig builds his house with straw, while the second pig uses sticks.

The third pig, however, uses a stronger material: bricks. When it finally comes, the wolf can quickly destroy the first and second houses. The first and second pigs run into the third brother, whose home is sturdier than theirs. The Three Little Pigs children’s illustration book can be purchased on Amazon or the Wonderful Books of Oz.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Another story that sparks fears of the unknown is Goldilocks and the Three Bears. This time, a little girl named Goldilocks breaks into the bears’ house. Goldilocks wanders in the forest and finds a home. After knocking on the door and getting no answer, she walks inside.

Inside the house, she sees three porridges in three bowls of different sizes. Hungry, Goldilocks tastes all three and even finishes the third bowl. She also tries three chairs in the living room and lies on a bed, finally falling asleep.

When Goldilocks is asleep, three bears return home only to find their porridge eaten and a little girl on their bed. This children’s storybook illustration can be found on Amazon and Good Reads.

 

Dark Antagonists and Hidden Truths: Mysterious Stories to Tell in the Dark

Dark antagonists and hidden truths in children’s horror stories will engage your kids in uncovering a twisting truth. So, take your kids on a journey of revelation with these interesting tales.

Blue Beard

Blue Beard is a French fairy tale published in 1697 that children have enjoyed for many generations. This story might take your kids through an intense experience as it tells about a rich man who kills all of his wives.

The story revolves around a young lady who just became Blue Beard’s wife and finds a room full of dead bodies of Blue Beard’s wives. The lady finds out about this secret room when Blue Beard is away. Luckily, the lady successfully escapes with the help of her sister and brothers.

This story shows how curiosity leads to scary, hidden truths and has a moral lesson. To purchase Blue Beard’s children’s book illustration, go to Amazon, Etsy, or Rakuten Kobo.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Another story to tell in the dark with the dark-antagonist theme is The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, written by Washington Irving and published in 1820. This story follows an extremely superstitious schoolteacher named Ichabod Crane.

Ichabod Crane wishes to marry 18-year-old Katrina Van Tassel. Katrina is the daughter of rich farmer Baltus Van Tassel. Ichabod Crane wants to marry Katrina for her family’s wealth. However, Ichabod Crane has to deal with a local prankster and hero named Abraham “Brom Bones” Van Brunt.

One night after a party, Ichabod Crane, with his wild imagination, is followed by what he thinks is the famous legend of Sleepy Hollow. Your children will love this story’s exciting storyline and the idea of a ghostly rider. Buy the children’s illustration book on Amazon.

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast is one of the most popular classic fairy tales written by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve. It is about a beautiful girl named Belle. Belle must surrender herself to a beast living alone in an abandoned castle.

It is because her father takes a red rose from the beast’s garden, a red rose that Belle is wished for. Living in the isolated castle, Belle becomes closer and closer to the beast. Turns out, the beast is a young, handsome prince who is trapped under a spell.

Belle, however, must return home since her father is sick. You can get this enchanted book on Good Reads or Amazon to read the complete story.

 

Spirited Lessons: Moral Stories to Tell in the Dark

Stories that convey spirited lessons often have valuable morals or life lessons about honesty, empathy, bravery, and good vs. evil. So, to offer entertainment and guidance for your children, here are stories about spirited lessons.

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

This classic children’s story has become a famous bedtime story. It tells the story of the Pied Piper as the main character. Pied Paper helps people in a town called Hamelin who are having a huge rat invasion problem. Pied Paper is willing to help because the town chief offers money for whoever can get rid of those rats.

Using his pipe, the Piper plays interesting melodies to attract the rats and herd them to a river. The rats start drowning one by one. However, the Chief doesn’t reward the Piper as promised.

So, the Piper plays a wonderful tune with his pipe to attract all the kids in the town. Buy the illustration book on Target or Good Reads.

The Fisherman and His Wife

The Fisherman and His Wife delivers a valuable lesson about gratitude and always being grateful for what we have. This story is about a fisherman who lives with his wife in a small village. One day, when the fisherman casts his net, he finds a bright, colorful fish. This fish grants him wishes in return for releasing it.

The fisherman is excited about the offer and immediately sets the fish free. He rushes to his house and tells his wife everything. The wife says she wishes for a bigger house. Then, the fisherman calls out the fish and says they want a bigger house.

Instantly, their small hut turns into an extravagant house. However, the wife wishes for a more luxurious place. So, she asks for a palace. Once more, the wish is easily granted. However, the wife never stops asking something more and more. If you love the story, you can buy the children’s book illustration on Good Reads or Periplus.

 

Twisted Fairy Tales

Twisted fairy tales’ theme offers unexpected twists, playful perspectives, or flipped character roles. Here are some children’s classic stories that explore this theme.

The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe: A Classic Story to Tell in the Dark

The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe is a nursery rhyme published in 1794. There are several versions of the rhyme. All tell a story about an old lady with twelve children who has to care for them alone because a giant captivates her husband.

Her eldest son, Michael, builds a house for his mother and siblings from the giant’s old shoe. The mother tells her children never to look for their father for fear that the same thing might happen to them.

However, Michael decides to look for and save his father. This story teaches us the importance of effectively and adequately preparing everything when making a plan. You can grab this book on Amazon or eBay.

Rumpelstiltskin

Rumpelstiltskin is the next children’s classic story with a twisted fairy tale theme. Like The Fisherman and His Wife, Rumpelstiltskin is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm and published in 1812. It is the story of a miller who lives with his daughter.

One day, a king rides his horse in the Miller’s village. The miller thinks of a way to impress the king. He then tells the King that his daughter can spin straw into gold. Excited, the King captivates the Miller’s daughter.

The King locks her up in a small room where she meets a mysterious and wicked small man called Rumpelstiltskin. This story has many moral lessons as it tells about greed, dishonesty, and deceit. You can buy Rumpelstiltskin children’s book illustrations at Good Reads or Amazon.

 

Those recommended children’s classic stories are perfect for reading in the dark. To create an ideal atmosphere, use dim lighting when reading these children’s book illustrations. Lower your voice during suspenseful and mysterious moments, and raise it during surprising or tense moments. Enjoy the adventure with these Stories to Tell in the Dark, perfect for sparking excitement and curiosity. And don’t forget to also check out my article on ‘Fable Book Charm: Timeless Lessons through Storytelling‘ for more insights into the powerful messages behind these classic tales.