Listen or read along. “The Bremen Town Musicians” is a free
classic fairy tale for ages 4–6, narrated aloud in about 6 minutes.
The full text is below, and the Sleepfox app reads it to your child with a
calm voice, a dimming screen and a gentle sleep timer.
Once upon a time, there was a gentle donkey who loved to sing.
He had worked on a farm for many years, and now he dreamed of something new.
"I will go to the town of Bremen," he said softly to himself.
"I will become a musician there."
So the donkey set off down the dusty road, humming a quiet tune.
Before long, he met a tired dog resting under a shady tree.
"Where are you going?" asked the dog.
"To Bremen, to make music," said the donkey.
"May I come too?" the dog asked. "I love to howl gentle songs."
"Of course," said the donkey warmly.
So the two friends walked together, singing soft harmonies.
Soon they met a cat sitting on a fence, washing her whiskers in the sunshine.
"Where are you two going?" she purred.
"To Bremen, to be musicians," they said.
"Oh, I would love that," said the cat. "I can sing the sweetest meows."
"Then come along," said the donkey kindly.
The three friends continued down the road, their voices blending like a lullaby.
As the sun began to set, they heard a rooster calling from a barn.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!" he crowed, though his voice was gentle and tired.
"Come with us to Bremen," called the donkey. "We're going to make music together."
"That sounds wonderful," said the rooster, fluttering down to join them.
The four friends walked until the stars began to twinkle above.
They saw a cozy cottage glowing warm and golden in the woods.
"Let's rest there," whispered the cat.
They peeked through the window…
Inside, some grumpy travelers were eating a big supper and making quite a fuss.
"I have an idea," said the donkey softly.
He stood beneath the window, steady and strong.
The dog climbed gently onto the donkey's back.
The cat stepped carefully onto the dog's back.
And the rooster perched on top of them all.
"One, two, three," whispered the donkey.
Together they began to sing their most beautiful song.
The donkey hummed low and warm.
The dog howled soft and sweet.
The cat meowed like a gentle breeze.
And the rooster crowed like the sunrise.
Their music floated through the window, lovely and strange.
The travelers inside stopped their fussing and listened.
"What beautiful music!" they said, feeling suddenly peaceful.
"We should leave this cottage for such wonderful musicians."
And they quietly packed up and went on their way, smiling.
The four friends went inside and found the table still full of good things to eat.
They shared a peaceful supper together.
Then they found the softest places to rest.
The donkey lay down on a pile of hay.
The dog curled up on a warm rug by the fireplace.
The cat nestled into a cozy armchair.
And the rooster settled on a beam above, tucking his head under his wing.
"We're already musicians," yawned the donkey. "We make music wherever we are."
"And we have each other," purred the cat sleepily.
Outside, the moon rose full and silver.
Inside, the four friends drifted off to sleep in their new home…
Safe and warm and loved…
Dreaming gentle dreams together.
Listen to it free in the app
Sleepfox narrates every story aloud, dims the screen, and fades out with a
gentle sleep timer. A brand-new story is added free every night.
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