Vintage Bedtime Stories

~ Becky Ross Michael

I can still see that dark orange set of books lined up on the shelf in my paternal grandparents’ home. In the mid-1950s, I would have begged someone to read one or two of the Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories to me. Later, I learned to read them on my own. That’s when I realized why my parents and older sister often skipped over certain tales they guessed would be much too sad for my taste. People died in some of those stories…even parents and children!

Heavy on guilt, prayer, and in-your-face morals, I did love many of the stories, however, especially those about being kind to people and animals. To this day, Volume One rests on my own shelf, amid other vintage books I’ve saved or collected. When I leaf through the pages, breathe in that old-book smell, and look at the illustrations, I can picture myself sitting contentedly on the floor in my grandparents’ small house, guarded by the highbush cranberry trees at the end of a quiet lane…

I’m happy to say that my own quartet of bedtime stories has recently been published on Empowered Parents! Pushing no heavy-handed morals, they do gently teach some important life-lessons about friendship, kindness, and family. I hope you’ll take a look and maybe share them with a little person in your life!

51 thoughts on “Vintage Bedtime Stories”

      1. You’re welcome!! I think when a writer is able to have a gentle touch, perhaps even some humor, the serious topic being discussed is more likely to be heard. Few adults like to be shouted and preached at so why would a kid be different?!
        Congratulations again!!!

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  2. I think there are no old books. The best old books never get old. If they are still present it is because they have something valuable to say. That would be the case with your grandfather’s books.
    My congratulations on your books. They will surely get the welcome they deserve. Good Sunday to you.

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  4. Puppies are perfect for children’s stories, congratulations. A family friend passed on Uncle Arthur’s stories when we were in Australia, I didn’t realise there was more than one volume. My mother used to recall a book her mother used to talk about that came down through the family. A Victorian book full of admonishment – a little girl was always being teased by her older siblings, one day she was so upset she ran out into the street straight into the path of a horse and cart or perhaps it was a carriage with four horses. Anyay she was crushed to death and the other children were filled with remorse and guilt for the rest of their lives!

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  5. In truth, I never was offended or traumatized over stories that have been ‘sanitized’ today, and I still love many of them. Perhaps one reason is that I was introduced to those stories in my mother or father’s lap; I fear that’s an experience too many children today are missing.

    Of course things have changed, and I’m glad you’re part of today’s approach to stories. I hope some of today’s kids enjoy them as much as I enjoyed books like Munro Leaf’s Manners Can be Fun! Wish I could give that to some adults I know!

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    1. Hi Bernadette, I really don’t know. The copyright says Great Britain and they were published in Washington D.C. I grew up in Michigan. I see online that more recent versions were published, as well. My grandfather was a Lutheran minister, and I suspect that was a connection since many of the stories involve. prayer. Thanks for stopping by!

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  9. Read your stories on Empowered Parents. Grandparents and parents need more stories like yours to share with their little ones.

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  14. I wish I had a little person in my life to share your book with but no such luck. I know children should understand the hardships of life but there are kinder ways to teach that to children. Congrats on coming up with such a book and getting it published. That”s huge.

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  16. These are wonderful children’s stories, Becky! There are plenty of serious stories as children grow, filled with lessons to be learned. These four really set the perfect tone appropriate for this age. We can all remember learning these lessons of superficial differences and longing for friendship.

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  18. lovely post; I love old books, the ones I read as a child, the fairy stories of course and those Aussie children’s classics, ‘The Magic Pudding’ and ‘Journey of the Stamp Animals’; I lost them along the way 😦

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  19. That has always been my favourite part of the day reading bedtime stories…sometimes the same one over and over but then it gave me chance to add my twist to the story…Congrats on the publication of yours, Becky 🙂 x

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  22. Congratulations, Becky!

    I have fond memories of the stories I was told, or read at bedtime when I was little. Teaching children to love books is so important. It must be wonderful to know you’re helping with that for (let’s hope) a huge number of children.

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