One example could be 'The Tale of the Lonely Lantern'. It's about a lantern that wanders through an old, forgotten forest at night, meeting strange creatures along the way. Another might be 'The Mystery of the Moonlit Cottage', where a child discovers a cottage that only appears on moonlit nights and the secrets it holds inside.
There is also 'The Velveteen Rabbit' which was a bit obscure for a long time but has now gained more popularity. It tells a heartwarming story of a toy rabbit becoming real through love. The story has deep themes about love, identity, and growing up that make it special among children's stories.
Kafka's short stories are often obscure. For instance, 'A Hunger Artist'. It's about a man who starves himself for public entertainment. Kafka's works are full of symbolism and complex themes that can be difficult to fully understand at first, which is why they are often seen as obscure.
Well, there's the Phantom Stranger. His origin story is full of mystery. He seems to be an otherworldly being, but the exact details of how he came to be are very much in the shadows. There are also hints of some kind of cosmic or divine purpose to his existence, which makes it all the more obscure. Then there's Mister Miracle. His origin ties in with the Fourth World of Jack Kirby's creation. It's not as well - known as Superman's origin, for instance. He comes from a world of gods and war and has to escape to Earth, but the whole concept of the Fourth World and his place in it is quite complex and obscure.
You can start by looking in old, second - hand bookstores. Often, they have collections of lesser - known tales that might include obscure bedtime stories. Another way is to ask older relatives. They might remember some stories from their childhood that are not well - known today.
An example is 'Gormenghast' by Mervyn Peake. It's set in a strange, decaying castle with a highly detailed and idiosyncratic world - building. The story and characters are often quite complex and not as well - known as more mainstream works. Also, the works of Angela Carter, like 'The Bloody Chamber', while not entirely obscure, have elements of the strange and off - beat that can put them in the realm of obscure fiction for some readers.
One example is 'The Saragossa Manuscript' by Jan Potocki. It weaves together multiple complex and mysterious stories set in different historical periods. Another is 'At Swim - Two - Birds' by Flann O'Brien which plays with Irish history and mythology in an unconventional way. And 'The Name of the Rose' by Umberto Eco combines medieval history and a detective - like plot in an obscure yet fascinating manner.
Some obscure science fiction works include 'The Stars My Destination' by Alfred Bester. It has a very unique take on teleportation and a rather gritty, noir - like atmosphere. 'The Left Hand of Darkness' by Ursula K. Le Guin is not as well - known as some of her other works in certain circles, but it explores fascinating ideas about gender in a science - fictional context. Also, 'Nova' by Samuel R. Delany is an underrated work that delves into themes like space exploration and artificial intelligence.
One example is 'The Little Red Hen'. In this story, the little red hen works hard to plant, harvest and bake bread while the other animals are lazy and don't help. In the end, she enjoys the bread all by herself. It teaches kids about the value of hard work.
Stories with a lot of sad elements, such as a little puppy that gets lost and can't find its way home, and then has to endure all kinds of hardships like hunger and cold. This kind of story is not suitable for bedtime as it may cause distress. Well, also stories where there are mean characters that are constantly being unkind to others without any positive resolution. It gives a negative feeling rather than a soothing one.
One example could be a story about a little owl who uses its wisdom to solve problems in the forest at night. Another is a story of a clever rabbit that outsmarts a fox using its intelligence. There could also be a story of a smart little girl who figures out how to make her dreams come true through her own knowledge and creativity.