As the sun sets and twilight falls, bedtime rolls around, transforming our living rooms and bedrooms into magical stages for enchanting story time. While children snuggle under their blankets, eager for a good night-time tale, parents often seek out fun, educational stories to read aloud to their little ones. Our collection of the 17 best stories about fear for kids, available free online, fits this bill perfectly.

These tales, available for download in easy-to-read English, come in various formats to suit your needs: printable PDF files, online read-alouds, and even captivating audio renditions for those nights when you might prefer to listen rather than read. From classic tales to modern narratives, short bedtime stories to longer, more elaborate tales, this collection promises to engage children across different ages, from toddlers in the early years foundation stage (EYFS), through preschool and kindergarten, and all the way to older elementary students.

Perfectly balanced between boys’ and girls’ interests, these stories explore the universal emotion of fear in all its complexity. Fear is often viewed as a vice, something to be conquered and vanquished. However, it’s essential to remember that fear also holds a critical position as a virtue. Fear helps us recognize danger and protect ourselves. It encourages caution, teaching us to pause and evaluate situations, fostering decision-making skills. These stories illustrate this delicate balance in a way that’s relatable and comprehensible to children.

Indeed, every story in this collection, be it a beloved fairy tale or a new-age narrative, comes packed with a meaningful moral about fear. As children explore these tales, they’ll learn to understand their fears, be it the dark, monsters under the bed, or the first day of school. Not only will this help them deal with fear in a more constructive way, but it will also make their learning experience more engaging.

Accompanied by vibrant pictures, these stories will entertain and educate, stirring their imagination just before sleep. Whether you’re looking for a quick tale to tell or a longer story to delve into, these online stories about fear are sure to make bedtime a memorable and rewarding experience for both you and your children.

Remember, fear isn’t always bad. It can guide us, protect us, and in some cases, even inspire us. So, embrace these stories about fear and let them start essential conversations, spur deeper reflections, and ultimately, inspire courage and resilience in your little ones. So, as the night embraces the world outside, open up this fascinating collection and let the power of words light up your child’s dreams.

Top 17 Stories About Fear:

1. The Three Little Pigs: Once upon a time, an old mother pig sent her three piglets out to seek their own luck due to a lack of food. The first pig built a house of straw and encountered a big bad wolf who blew it down. The pig escaped to his brother’s house made of sticks. Again, the wolf blew the house down, and both pigs sought refuge with their third brother who had built a house of bricks. The three pigs devised a plan, and when the wolf tried to enter the brick house, he failed. In a final attempt, the wolf tried to come down the chimney, but the pigs foiled his plan by using a hot kettle. Scared off, the wolf vowed revenge but never returned, while the pigs lived happily ever after in their safe brick house.
2. The Ogre In The Woods: A young boy, lost in a wood, finds himself in a terrifying situation when he seeks shelter in a house inhabited by an ogre. The ogre’s wife warns the boy to hide, as her husband devours anyone he catches. The boy narrowly escapes the ogre’s notice by hiding behind tubs filled with brine and milk. Later, he encounters a friendly dog who pulls him in a barrel, ultimately leading him back home to his worried parents.
3. Thunder And Lightning: The passage discusses the nature of lightning and the two types of electricity present in all bodies. It explains that lightning is the result of the reunion of two electricities present in different clouds, and how they rush together with an explosion and a flash of light. The author emphasizes the role of lightning in purifying the atmosphere and warns of the dangers associated with tall structures and trees during thunderstorms. Lightning conductors, invented by Franklin, are mentioned as a means of protecting buildings from lightning strikes.
4. How They Ran Away: Two little boys, Tommy and Billy, decide to go on an adventure in the woods to play hunters. They gather their supplies, including bows and arrows, and set off into the forest. They plan to catch squirrels, snare woodchucks, and cook their catch over a fire. However, they realize they have brought the wrong lunch basket, and their food is gone. Undeterred, they try to catch fish and eat blackberries instead. While fishing, they accidentally trap a woodchuck but are unsure whether they can eat it. They hear a gun in the distance and decide to find the hunter and ask him to shoot the woodchuck. As they search for the hunter, they get lost and spend the night in the woods. Tommy climbs a tree to sleep while Billy hangs from a branch after falling from his perch. Eventually, a search party finds them, and they return home safely, learning valuable lessons from their adventure.
5. The Prince And The Ogre’s Castle: In a kingdom where the King and Queen were childless, they sought the help of holy men to grant them offspring for themselves and their favorite mare and dog. An ogre, disguised as a Lama, offered to fulfill their wish but requested three children from each. True to his word, three miraculous children were born to the royal couple, and the ogre returned to claim his share. The youngest prince, along with the youngest horse and dog, were handed over to the ogre. The prince arrived at the ogre’s castle and encountered strange tasks, transforming bundles, and enchanted creatures. Eventually, he discovered the truth from a captive princess who revealed the ogre’s nature and his plan to harm the prince. With the princess’s guidance, the prince successfully killed the ogre, destroyed his mascot, and revived the ogre’s previous victims. Thankful for his aid, the revived victims returned home, and the prince embarked on new adventures with his loyal companions.
6. Why The Tiger And The Stag Fear Each Other: In a land where a stag and a tiger both desired to build houses, they unknowingly chose the same spot. The stag worked during the day, and the tiger worked at night. Each time they returned, they were surprised to find the house further completed. They argued about who owned the house until they decided to live together. However, their uneasy coexistence led to a situation where they took turns hunting, and each time they brought back the body of the other’s kind, causing fear and sleeplessness. Eventually, a noise in the house caused them both to flee, and they continue to run away from each other to this day. The house, exhausted from waiting, eventually collapsed.
7. The King’s Son And The Ogress: A prince, accompanied by his vizier, goes hunting and gets separated from his companion. He encounters a weeping princess who has been abandoned by her people. The prince offers her assistance and takes her on his horse. They reach some ruins where the princess reveals herself as an ogress and plans to eat him. Frightened, the prince turns back and the ogress questions his fear. He explains his enemy’s intentions and his oppression. The ogress advises him to seek help from God. The prince prays for protection, and the ogress leaves him. The prince returns to his father, the king, and exposes the vizier’s treachery, leading to the vizier’s execution.
8. The Storm: Uncle Paul and Jules go out to hunt for caterpillars, braving the heat and signs of an approaching storm. They reach a pine wood where they find a nest filled with caterpillars. Uncle Paul explains the harm these caterpillars can cause to trees and crops and the need to destroy their nests. Suddenly, the storm intensifies, and they seek shelter in a rock excavation just in time to witness a lightning strike hit a nearby pine tree. They escape the danger and reflect on the importance of avoiding tree shelters during storms. As the storm passes and a rainbow appears, they continue their journey, grateful to have survived the ordeal.
9. The Ogre Of Rashomon: In Kyoto, people live in fear of an ogre who haunts the Gate of Rashomon, believed to be a cannibal that preys on unsuspecting victims. General Raiko, known for his bravery, and his five knights discuss the rumors. Watanabe, one of the knights, decides to prove the existence of the ogre and rides to the gate. There, he encounters the ogre and engages in a fierce battle. Although he cannot capture the ogre, Watanabe manages to sever its arm as proof of the encounter. He returns home and safeguards the arm in a strong box. Later, an old woman claiming to be his nurse requests to see the arm. Reluctantly, Watanabe allows her to look into the box, but to his astonishment, she transforms into the ogre and escapes with the arm. Despite this, the ogre never returns to terrorize Kyoto, and Watanabe’s courageous act becomes legendary.
10. The First Swimming Lesson: Theo, a little boy who loved swimming, was scared and nervous for his first swimming lesson. His parents prepared him as best they could, but when his mother dropped him off at the pool, Theo started crying. The trainer noticed his distress and reassured him, offering him the option to observe the other kids instead of participating. As Theo watched, he gained confidence and saw that swimming could be fun. In the next lesson, Theo joined in, remembering what he had observed. With the help of the trainers, he overcame his fear, became a great swimmer, and developed a love for swimming lessons.
11. Benny The Scared Bat: In a dark and spooky forest, Benny the bat was afraid of the dark, which held him back from exploring. Teased by other bats, Benny decided to conquer his fear. He flew out at night and discovered the beauty and excitement of the forest, realizing that his fears were unfounded. Benny felt a sense of freedom and liberation, and he returned to his cave with pride and a newfound confidence. From then on, Benny became known as “Benny the Brave” and was respected by all the bats in the forest.
12. Scared Of The Hairdresser: Little boy Anthony had a fear of going to the hairdresser due to the sound of scissors and the fear of getting his hair cut too short. His parents let his hair grow, but as it became longer, it became a hindrance. They devised a plan to take him to the hairdresser by tricking him into thinking they were going to the playground. Initially angry, Anthony’s perspective changed when he could see clearly after the haircut. He realized the benefits of a haircut and decided to go without fuss, feeling clean, happy, and free.
13. The Little Skater Who Could: Lily, a little girl with a passion for figure skating, struggled to stay on her feet despite her dedication. Her parents and coaches tried to help her, but nothing seemed to work. One night, a magical ice fairy visited Lily in her dreams and told her the secret to gliding on the ice was to let go. Inspired by the fairy’s words, Lily approached the ice rink with a newfound determination, closing her eyes and releasing her fears. Miraculously, she glided smoothly and gracefully, impressing everyone around her. Lily realized the power of letting go and trusting in herself, which led her to become a champion figure skater and achieve her dream.
14. The Brave Little Boy And The Big Slide: Huggy, a brave little boy, set out to conquer his fear of sliding down the big slide at the playground. With determination, he climbed to the top but felt scared when he looked down. A friendly squirrel encouraged him to believe in himself and reminded him of his dream. Taking a deep breath, Huggy pushed off and slid down the slide. As he felt the wind and the thrill, fear turned into joy. Huggy had overcome his fear, and from that day on, he knew he could accomplish anything. He eagerly looked forward to more adventures at the playground.
15. The Big Flood: During the Watersnoodramp of 1953, Maria and her family were awakened in the middle of the night by rushing water flooding their farm in the Netherlands. They quickly climbed to the roof to escape the rising water and watched in despair as their village and livestock were swept away. Stranded and freezing, they were eventually rescued by soldiers. Though they lost their farm, they rebuilt their lives and returned each year to remember the tragedy. The story serves as a reminder of the power of nature and the importance of resilience and preparedness in the face of disasters.
16. The Shipwreck Of Robinson Crusoe (1/6): After living and thriving in Brazil, the narrator, known as Maria, shares her trading experiences with fellow planters and merchants. Impressed by her stories, they propose a secret plan to sail to Guinea with her managing the trading on the coast. Maria agrees, making arrangements for her plantation and even drafting a will. However, their journey takes a turn for the worse as they encounter storms, deaths, and a shipwreck. Maria survives and finds herself on an unknown land, fearing for her life. With no provisions or weapons, she takes refuge in a tree, preparing for a challenging and uncertain future.
17. The Reindeer Who Couldn’t Fly: In a land far away, a little reindeer named Glow-Nose is afraid to fly. While the other reindeer tease him, Santa Claus recognizes Glow-Nose’s special gift: his glowing nose that guides the way on foggy nights. With Santa’s encouragement, Glow-Nose gains confidence and starts practicing flying. On Christmas Eve, Glow-Nose leads the way, fulfilling his important role in delivering presents. From then on, Glow-Nose overcomes his fear, embraces his uniqueness, and joyfully flies alongside his friends, knowing he has a significant job to do.

In conclusion, our collection of the 17 best fear-themed stories for kids offers a splendid blend of education and entertainment for your bedtime reading ritual. With their morals, colorful illustrations, and easy language, these stories make the emotion of fear approachable and relatable, helping children navigate their fears while fostering emotional growth and resilience. From toddlers to elementary students, every child can find a story that resonates with them, whether they prefer a printable PDF, an online read-aloud, or an audio version. Embrace these stories and let them transform the night-time into a memorable journey of learning, fun, and inspiration, because after all, the best way to dispel the darkness is to shine a light into it – and what better light than the enchanting glow of a good story?