Children's
Read Children's Classics in English
659 children's books at CEFR A2 to C2 — learn English by reading the stories worth reading. Select any word for an instant translation, listen to the narration read the page aloud, and save the vocabulary you meet. Pick your level and start with a free sample.
What are the best children's classics to read in English as a learner?
The best children's classics for English learners are the well-known titles you can read in the original — start with Æsop's fables in words of one syllable, Æsop's Fables: A Version for Young Readers and Æsop's Fables, Embellished with One Hundred and Eleven Emblematical Devices.. Each one is labelled with a CEFR level, any word you do not know is one selection away from a translation, and the narration reads the page aloud while it highlights the words.
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Level B1AdventureThe Outdoor Girls in Florida; Or, Wintering in the Sunny SouthFour close friends face unexpected news that threatens to cloud their winter retreat in sunny Florida, testing their courage and friendship as they navigate surprises and challenge…
Level B1MysteryThe Outdoor Girls Around the Campfire; or, The Old Maid of the MountainsFour adventurous girls seize the chance to spend summer camping in a rustic lakeside shack, promising friendship, excitement, and mysteries under the stars at Rainbow Lake.
Level B1AdventureThe Outdoor Chums in the Forest; Or, Laying the Ghost of Oak RidgeFour adventurous boys from the Rod, Gun and Camera Club set out to uncover the truth behind the ghostly legends of Oak Ridge, daring to challenge fears and rival bullies in a thril…
Level B1Children'sThe Old Oak TreeAn ancient oak tree in a gentleman’s park shelters a lively community of animals, each with their own stories and songs.
Level B1FantasyThe Nursery "Alice"A curious little girl named Alice follows a hurried White Rabbit down a mysterious rabbit hole, plunging into a fantastical dream filled with locked doors, tiny keys, and enchantin…
Level B1AdventureThe Nine Lives of A Cat: A Tale of WonderFollow the extraordinary adventures of Kitty, a cat who narrowly escapes death time and again, using her nine lives to outwit danger from hanging ropes to drowning attempts.
Level B1AdventureThe Newsboy Partners; Or, Who Was Dick Box?Amid the bustling streets of New York, newsboy Jimmy Small hustles papers and navigates city life with sharp wit, while a curious stranger from Vermont arrives, sparking a mystery…
Level B1FantasyThe Necklace of Princess Fiorimonde, and Other StoriesA beautiful but wicked princess secretly wields dark magic learned from a hidden witch, using a magical necklace to transform suitors into beads to avoid marriage.
Level B1PoetryThe National Nursery Book: With 120 illustrationsStep into a world of timeless nursery tales where Little Red Riding-Hood ventures through the forest to visit her grandmother, encountering a cunning wolf along the way.
Level B1MysteryThe Mystery of the Secret BandAs Christmas vacation begins with sledding and school fun, Mary Louise’s detective instincts are sparked when her father, a police detective, calls for a secret consultation—hintin…
Level B1MysteryThe Mystery of the FiresWhen a peaceful summer at Shady Nook is threatened by mysterious fires, young detective Mary Louise Gay and her friends must unravel secrets hidden among the friendly mountain bung…
Level B1MysteryThe Mystery of Carlitos: Mexican Mystery Stories #2Amid the breathtaking Mexican mountains, a weary family settles into a quaint adobe home, only to discover that beneath its rustic charm lies a mysterious secret waiting to be unra…
Level B1MysteryThe Mystery at Putnam Hall: The School Chums' Strange DiscoveryAt Putnam Hall Military Academy, tensions rise as rival cadets clash on the first day back, sparking a mystery that threatens the entire school.
Level B1MysteryThe Mystery at Dark CedarsWhen a mysterious black kitten is found near the eerie, secluded Dark Cedars estate, two curious girls uncover secrets behind the gloomy house, its reclusive inhabitants, and the g…
Level B1MysteryThe Mystery Crash: Sky Scout Series, #1Teen pilots Bob, Al, and Curt discover a mysteriously hidden airplane in a remote cornfield, complete with a puzzling note saying "Everything O.
Level B1Children'sThe Moving Picture Girls; Or, First Appearances in Photo DramasTwo sisters navigate life’s challenges with hope and joy as their father lands a long-awaited theater engagement, promising new adventures and the magic of the stage amid broken va…
Level B1AdventureThe Motor Boys; or, Chums Through Thick and ThinThree inseparable friends race their bicycles through the countryside of Cresville, facing thrilling competitions and mysterious robberies.
Level B1MysteryThe Motor Boys on the Wing; Or, Seeking the Airship TreasureThree daring boys in a speeding touring car challenge a stubborn hay wagon driver while racing down a narrow bridge, setting the stage for a thrilling quest to uncover a mysterious…
Level B1AdventureThe Motor Boys on the Border; Or, Sixty Nuggets of GoldThree friends' automobile adventure takes a sudden turn when a mysterious discovery of gold nuggets near their hometown sparks a dangerous chase, involving hidden treasures, elusiv…
Level B1AdventureThe Motor Boys on the Atlantic; or, The Mystery of the LighthouseThree adventurous friends spend their summer vacation on the Atlantic coast, navigating sailboats and uncovering the mystery surrounding a lighthouse.
Level B1MysteryThe Motor Boys on Thunder Mountain; Or, The Treasure Chest of Blue RockThree adventurous friends receive a mysterious letter hinting at a gold mine on Thunder Mountain, sparking a thrilling journey filled with friendship, daring plans, and the lure of…
Level B1AdventureThe Motor Boys in Strange Waters; or, Lost in a Floating ForestTwo adventurous boys celebrate the start of summer vacation, eager to leave behind schoolwork and set off on thrilling journeys in their motorboat.
Level B1AdventureThe Motor Boys Overland; Or, A Long Trip for Fun and FortuneThree adventurous boys set out on a thrilling overland journey in their new touring car, guided by an old miner with a secret to a lost gold mine.
Level B1MysteryThe Motor Boys Over the Rockies; Or, A Mystery of the AirThree adventurous friends debate where to take their airship vacation, sparking plans for an exciting Western trip over the Rockies.
Level B1AdventureThe Motor Boys Over the Ocean; Or, A Marvelous Rescue in Mid-AirThree friends pilot their airship, the Comet, to rescue a millionaire and his crew stranded over the ocean in a hurricane after an aviation carnival mishap, facing thrilling danger…
Level B1MysteryThe Motor Boys After a Fortune; or, The Hut on Snake IslandThree adventurous boys set out to find a rumored radium treasure on a mysterious island in the Grand Canyon, facing strange "ghosts," danger, and a rival who has stolen their motor…
Level B1MysteryThe Motor Boys Afloat; or, The Stirring Cruise of the DartawayThree adventurous boys celebrate the arrival of their new motor boat, the Dartaway, eager to embark on thrilling cruises and face challenges from rivals and unexpected dangers.
Level B1MysteryThe Mercer Boys' Mystery CaseCadets Don and Jim Mercer, with their friend Terry, embark on a quest to recover a missing school trophy that has baffled Woodcrest Military Academy for years.
Level B1MysteryThe Mercer Boys' Cruise in the LassieTwo resourceful brothers prepare their newly outfitted sloop, the Lassie, for an adventurous summer cruise along the Maine coast, but when unexpected company appears, their journey…
Level B1MysteryThe Mercer Boys at WoodcrestAt Woodcrest Military Academy, three friends find their curiosity piqued by the mysterious disappearance of their unseen headmaster and the secrets of an old, empty hall.
Level B1Children'sThe Mean-WellsIn a lively household, siblings argue over the fairness of rewards for losing teeth, sparking a charming tale of childhood adventures, sibling rivalry, and the small but meaningful…
Level B1AdventureThe Meadow-Brook Girls on the Tennis Courts; Or, Winning Out in the Big TournamentA group of spirited girls camp in a charred hillside, seeking excitement amid the smoky ruins and mysterious surroundings.
Level B1MysteryThe Meadow-Brook Girls by the Sea; Or, The Loss of The Lonesome BarA spirited group of young girls sets off on a mysterious summer adventure, guided only by their guardian and a cryptic route, as rain and unexpected twists accompany their journey…
Level B1Children'sThe Lost KittyWhen Fred finds a lost Maltese kitty and cares for her, he faces the challenge of returning her through muddy roads—only to be met with cold thanks.
Level B1HistoricalThe Lost ArmyTwo boys from Iowa, barely sixteen, answer the call to enlist as the Civil War erupts, joining the Northern fight to preserve the Union.
Level B1Children'sThe Little Nightcap LettersAunt Fanny welcomes a sweet little girl named Kitty, whose joyful hugs and loving words bring warmth and laughter, as they share stories and kindness with a lively group of childre…
Level B1FantasyThe Little Match ManIn rainy Takoshima, a lonely man crafts a tiny matchstick figure that suddenly springs to life, revealing himself as a mystical Haji—a forest spirit trapped in a match, longing for…
Level B1Children'sThe Little Indian WeaverIn a Navajo village, young Bah dreams of crafting a doll from a corn ear while learning the art of weaving from her mother.
Level B1AdventureThe Little Gingerbread ManA mischievous gingerbread man springs to life and dashes away from the kitchen, sparking a chaotic chase through the garden involving a sleepy cat, a startled dog, and a determined…
Level B1AdventureThe Lakewood boys on the Lazy STwo adventurous brothers race against a fierce storm on their electric boat, facing sudden danger on the lake.
Level B1AdventureThe Lakewood boys in the frozen NorthStranded after their shipwreck in the icy North, the Lakewood boys face fierce blizzards, wild timber wolves, and unexpected allies as they struggle to survive and make their way b…
Level B1AdventureThe Lakewood boys in the South Sea islandsTwo adventurous boys are unexpectedly invited by their uncle to join a daring voyage to the mysterious South Sea Islands, promising thrilling encounters and the unknown.
Level B1Children'sThe King's Daughter and Other Stories for GirlsA young girl dreams of being a princess, but her mother reveals the harsh realities faced by royalty through the true story of Marie Antoinette’s daughter, imprisoned during the Fr…
Level B1Children'sThe Japanese TwinsIn a sunny garden on the Happy Islands of Japan, five-year-old twins Taro and Take share joyful days filled with family warmth and playful adventures.
Level B1AdventureThe Iron Boys on the Ore Boats; or, Roughing It on the Great LakesTwo young men leave their mining boss roles to work as seamen on the Great Lakes, tasked with uncovering ways to improve ore shipment efficiency aboard the sturdy but old ship, the…
Level B1FantasyThe House With Sixty Closets: A Christmas Story for Young Folks and Old ChildrenIn a grand house built with sixty closets to store countless gifts, a generous judge and his wife prepare to host a Christmas filled with unexpected wonders.
Level B1PoetryThe House That Jack Built: One of R. Caldecott's Picture BooksDive into a rhythmic chain of characters and events, each linked to the house that Jack built, weaving a playful and memorable tale through repetitive, charming verse.
Level B1PoetryThe House That Jack Built, a Game of Forfeits: To Which is Added, the Entertaining Fable of "The Magpie"Follow the whimsical chain of events in a cumulative rhyme where each character builds upon the last, culminating in the quirky tale of a crafty magpie teaching—and outsmarting—oth…