Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

Quick Answer

Why This Story Works for Bedtime

Best for older kids and read in chapters. It has danger and tension, but it also features a brave helper, clear resolution, and a strong ‘use wisdom, stay safe’ message.

Story Synopsis

Ali Baba is a poor woodcutter who lives modestly while his brother Cassim grows wealthy. One day, while gathering wood, Ali Baba sees something astonishing: forty thieves arrive at a rock face, speak a password—“Open, Sesame”—and the stone doorway swings open to a treasure cave. After the thieves leave, Ali Baba tries the words himself. Inside, he finds gold and rich goods. He takes only a small portion and returns home, careful to keep the discovery quiet. But secrets rarely stay hidden. When Cassim learns of the cave, his greed overwhelms his caution. He enters, forgets the password to get out, and is caught by the thieves. The danger now spreads toward Ali Baba’s home. In this tale, the heart of the story becomes Morgiana, a clever servant in Ali Baba’s household. She notices what others miss: strangers watching, marked doors, suspicious jars brought into the courtyard. Again and again, she acts quickly—testing, watching, and outsmarting the thieves’ plans. The suspense builds through disguises, close calls, and careful trickery. In the end, Morgiana’s bravery protects the family, and the household chooses a safer, wiser life. The story can be thrilling, but it also offers a bedtime-friendly takeaway for older children: courage isn’t loud; it’s staying alert, thinking clearly, and protecting the people you love.

Story Excerpt

In a town in Persia lived two brothers. One was named Cassim, and the other Ali Baba. Cassim had married a wealthy wife and lived with plenty of fine things. Ali Baba, however, was poor. He cared for his wife and children by cutting wood in the forest and selling it in town. One day Ali Baba was in the forest with his donkeys, gathering wood. As he worked, he heard a rumbling like distant thunder — hooves on the hard ground — and saw a cloud of dust rising between the trees. “ Riders, ” he whispered, and his heart beat fast. Afraid they might be robbers, he hurried to a tall tree and climbed up into its branches, holding still as a leaf. The riders came nearer and stopped not far from him. Ali Baba counted them carefully. Forty men. They dismounted, tied their horses to trees, and spoke in low, watchful voices. One man stood out as their leader. He walked ahead to a place where thick bushes grew against a rocky cliff. Then, in a clear voice that carried through the woods, he said : “ Open, Sesame! ” Ali Baba stared. A hidden door in the rock swung open. The captain made the others go in first, and when the last man had entered, the door closed by itself, as if the stone knew its own secret. Ali Baba stayed in the tree, hardly daring to breathe. Time passed slowly. At last the door opened again, and the Forty Thieves came out. The captain counted them as they passed. Then he faced…

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