The best background music for reading children's stories is often instrumental, calm, and atmospheric, such as classical music, ambient tracks, or gentle acoustic pieces. For a more tailored experience, match the music to the story's theme: use fantasy or nature sounds for fairy tales, science fiction ambient tracks for stories about space, and upbeat, fun tunes for more energetic stories.

By genre or mood
Classical: Often cited as a perfect choice for reading because it is usually instrumental and can be kept at a volume that supports the narrative without being distracting.
Ambient/Atmospheric: Music that creates a specific mood without being overpowering is excellent for setting the scene. Look for ambient or "soundscape" tracks on streaming services.
Relaxing Instrumentals: Calm, positive, and relaxing instrumental music can be ideal, especially for bedtime stories.
Upbeat/Happy: For fun, energetic, or silly stories, consider happy, playful tunes, but keep the lyrics minimal or instrumental to avoid distraction.

By story theme
Fairy tales and nature stories: Choose music with a fantasy atmosphere, like orchestral pieces or natural sounds such as gentle rain or a flowing stream.
Science fiction or adventure stories: Use ambient tracks that evoke outer space or use sounds of jungles or forests for adventure stories.
Bedtime stories: Opt for very soft and calming music, like gentle piano or lullabies.

Where to find music
Music streaming services: Use platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube and search for playlists like "Children's Bedtime Stories," "Relaxing Instrumentals," or "Music for Reading".
Royalty-free music sites: Websites like Pixabay and Chosic offer a vast library of free children's music to download.
YouTube: Search for specific terms like "children story background music" or "calming music for kids" to find many user-curated playlists.