The story of the Pandavas and the Kauravas from the Mahabharata is quite popular. The Pandavas were five noble brothers, and the Kauravas were their cousins. They had a great war over the throne of Hastinapura. It has many moral lessons like the importance of righteousness in the face of adversity.
The story of Hanuman is a favorite. Hanuman was a monkey - god with extraordinary strength and loyalty. He could fly and had many powers. His devotion to Rama was unwavering, and he played a crucial role in rescuing Sita. Kids love his adventures and his brave deeds.
The story of Theseus and the Minotaur is quite interesting. The Minotaur was a half - man, half - bull monster that lived in a labyrinth on the island of Crete. Athens had to send seven boys and seven girls every year to be sacrificed to the Minotaur. Theseus volunteered to go and kill the Minotaur. He was given a ball of thread by Ariadne, the daughter of the king of Crete. Theseus used the thread to find his way in and out of the labyrinth and killed the Minotaur, saving Athens from the horrible tribute.
A very popular bedtime story is about Ragnarok. It's the end - of - the - world scenario in Norse mythology. It tells of a great battle between the gods and the giants. While it might seem a bit intense for a bedtime story, it also has a sense of grandeur and finality that can be quite captivating when told in a more gentle way.
The story of Arjuna's penance is really interesting. Arjuna, one of the Pandavas, wanted to obtain divine weapons. So he went to the Himalayas to do severe penance. He stood on one leg for a long time, facing the sun, without food or water. His dedication was so great that finally the gods were impressed. Lord Shiva, in the form of a hunter, tested Arjuna's resolve. Arjuna passed the test and was blessed with powerful weapons like Pashupatastra.
Some kids like 'The Ugly Duckling' as a bedtime story. It's about a duckling that is different from others and is initially bullied, but in the end, it turns out to be a beautiful swan. 'Snow White' is another classic. Snow White is chased by her evil stepmother but finds refuge with seven dwarfs. These stories often feature good versus evil, which can be both exciting and comforting for kids at bedtime.
One popular mythology kids story is 'Perseus and Medusa'. Perseus goes on a heroic adventure to slay the Gorgon Medusa. Another is 'Theseus and the Minotaur'. Theseus enters the labyrinth to defeat the half - man, half - bull Minotaur. Also, 'Hercules' stories are well - loved. Hercules has to perform twelve labors which are full of challenges and excitement.
A story about the Valkyries could be a great bedtime story. Valkyries were female warriors who chose the slain warriors to go to Valhalla. Their strong and fearless images can be very inspiring for kids, and the concept of an afterlife for heroes is quite interesting.
'The Day the Crayons Quit' by Drew Daywalt, while not a pure sci - fi, has a touch of creativity that can be considered in the sci - fi realm for kids. It's about crayons that go on strike, and it encourages kids to think outside the box, which is an important aspect of sci - fi. It's also a very fun and light - hearted story for bedtime.
One popular story is about the Monkey God Hanuman. He was a powerful and loyal helper to Lord Rama. Hanuman could fly and had great strength. He once leaped across the ocean to reach Lanka to find Rama's wife Sita who was kidnapped. Another story is of Ganesha, the elephant - headed god. He was created by Parvati and his head was replaced with an elephant's after Shiva cut off his original head by mistake. These stories teach kids about values like loyalty, courage and the power of the gods in Indian mythology.
The story of Krishna's childhood is also very important. His mischievous yet divine deeds as a child, like stealing butter, are well - loved stories. They show his divinity in a more approachable and endearing way, and Krishna is one of the most popular deities in Indian mythology.
One popular kids Indian story is 'The Panchatantra'. It is a collection of fables that teach valuable life lessons through the adventures of various animals. For example, the story of the clever jackal shows how intelligence can be used to outwit stronger opponents. Another is the story of Rama from the Ramayana. Rama, the prince, goes on a great journey to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. It is a story full of heroism, loyalty, and the victory of good over evil.