Children's
Read Children's Classics in English
3,688 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.
- 3,688
- books
Level B2AdventureThe Young Miner; Or, Tom Nelson in CaliforniaIn the rugged California goldfields, sixteen-year-old Tom Nelson faces the harsh realities of mining with determination and grit, contrasting sharply with others’ fleeting hopes of…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Ice WhalersA seventeen-year-old boy faces the challenge of helping his family recover from financial ruin, sacrificing his dreams of college to learn the ropes of business and responsibility.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Game-WardenIn a rugged wilderness, a lazy woodsman named Silas dreams of fortune amid hidden treasures and mysterious pasts—until an unexpected letter in the firewood sparks an adventure that…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Fur TradersIn the remote wilderness of the Red River Settlement, young Charley and his sister Kate face the harsh challenges of frontier life, dreaming of escape while navigating the rugged w…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Explorer; Or, Claiming His FortuneA determined sixteen-year-old boy inherits a modest sum but refuses to settle for a shoemaker's life or a harsh farm job, setting his sights on the distant promise of California’s…
Level B2MysteryThe Young Engineers on the Gulf: Or, The Dread Mystery of the Million Dollar BreakwaterTwo young engineers brave a pitch-black night on a narrow breakwater, haunted by mysterious sounds and a lurking shadow threatening their safety.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Engineers in Nevada; Or, Seeking Fortune on the Turn of a PickTwo young engineers venture into the Nevada wilderness, where youthful bravado and hard lessons about manhood and survival collide.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Engineers in Mexico; Or, Fighting the Mine SwindlersTwo young American engineers arrive in Mexico to develop a promising gold mine, but beneath the land’s golden allure lurks deception and danger as they confront cunning swindlers t…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Engineers in Colorado; Or, At Railroad Building in EarnestTwo young engineers journey into the rugged Colorado Rockies, encountering mysterious figures like the elusive "Bad Pete" as they seek the hidden railroad building camp.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Engineers in Arizona; or, Laying Tracks on the Man-killer QuicksandIn the rugged Arizona desert, young Clarence Farnsworth, a naive newcomer, crosses paths with the cunning gambler Jim Duff amid whispers of treacherous quicksand threatening a dari…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Emigrants; Madelaine Tube; the Boy and the Book; and Crystal PalaceEmbark on a thrilling voyage across the Atlantic with the Lee family as young Tom and Annie discover the wonders of the sea—from flying fish to starry skies—while learning courage,…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Continentals at TrentonFour boys navigate the perils of the American Revolution, from secret missions to key battles like Long Island and the daring crossing of the Delaware.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Continentals at MonmouthFour young Continental Army couriers navigate the challenges of war, carrying urgent messages and witnessing pivotal moments like Washington’s daring Delaware crossing and the tens…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Continentals at LexingtonFour boys find themselves at the heart of rising tensions as Boston braces under British occupation, with colonial resistance swelling toward revolution.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Continentals at Bunker HillFour boys navigate danger and duty during the siege of Boston, delivering crucial messages and witnessing the heroic stand at Bunker Hill.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Colonists: A Story of the Zulu and Boer WarsTwo brothers grow up on a Derbyshire farm amid harsh winters and changing times, learning that courage and knowledge are both needed to face challenges ahead.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Circus Rider; or, the Mystery of Robert RuddA daring fifteen-year-old bareback rider and his towering giant companion navigate the thrilling, unpredictable world of the circus, uncovering secrets and facing adventures that t…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Captives: A Narrative of the Shipwreck and Suffering of John and William DoyleyAfter a shipwreck in the Southern Ocean, two young brothers survive the massacre of their family and crew, enduring years of captivity among island savages before a chance rescue o…
Level B2Children'sThe Young Book Agent; or, Frank Hardy's Road to SuccessA determined sixteen-year-old boy steps up as his family faces hardship, learning the ropes of selling books door-to-door.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Berringtons: The Boy ExplorersTwo adventurous brothers in Queensland prepare to welcome their refined English cousins, expecting culture clashes and wild escapades as city boys face rugged colonial life, cattle…
Level B2Children'sThe Young Bank MessengerA determined sixteen-year-old boy cares for his ailing uncle on the edge of the Iowa prairie, facing hardship and responsibility as he ventures into a small village to find help.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Alaskans on the TrailThree adventurous boys set out to retrace the historic fur-trader’s trail across the rugged Rocky Mountains, guided by seasoned experts.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Alaskans on the MissouriA restless uncle sets out to lead a group of young Americans on an adventurous journey up the Missouri River, tracing the historic trail of Lewis and Clark to rediscover the spirit…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Alaskans in the RockiesThree young adventurers set out to follow the ancient fur-traders’ trail through the uncharted Rockies, seeking hidden passes, wild game, and the thrill of a wilderness journey fil…
Level B2AdventureThe Young AlaskansIn the rugged Alaskan town of Valdez, three adventurous boys dream of exploring vast wilderness and hunting mighty bears, as the arrival of a steamboat promises new supplies and ex…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Adventurer; or, Tom's Trip Across the PlainsStruggling to free his family from debt, a determined young boy sets out from his humble farm to seek fortune and a better life beyond the plains.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Acrobat of the Great North American CircusTwo boys in Smyrna eagerly await the arrival of Barlow's Great American Circus, a dazzling spectacle of daring acts and exotic wonders.
Level B2Children'sThe Yale CupAt a bustling college dorm, the Peck twins face the challenges of exams, moving out, and uncertain futures, while friendships and rivalries simmer beneath the surface.
Level B2AdventureThe X Bar X boys on the ranchTwo adventurous boys race against time to bring their prized horse, General, to meet their father’s train at the X Bar X ranch, facing dusty trails and old rivalries along the way.
Level B2AdventureThe X Bar X boys on Whirlpool RiverTwo brothers from the X Bar X Ranch stumble upon fresh bear tracks in the wild forest and decide to follow them, facing the thrilling dangers of the hunt with only their wits and s…
Level B2AdventureThe X Bar X boys in Thunder CanyonTwo brothers navigating treacherous mountain trails on horseback stumble upon mysterious thunderous noises, testing their courage and wits as they race home before darkness—and dan…
Level B2AdventureThe X Bar X boys at the round-upTwo brothers brace for a challenging roundup as mysterious newcomers pry into their cattle business, raising suspicions just when every fence break and every move counts on their r…
Level B2AdventureThe X Bar X boys at Nugget CampTeenagers Roy and Teddy Manley face wild adventures on the Western plains, chasing runaway ponies and proving their mettle at Nugget Camp.
Level B2Children'sThe Wyndham GirlsThree young girls—each with distinct charm and temperament—navigate the luxuries and expectations of their privileged lives, selecting gowns for a grand summer event while revealin…
Level B2AdventureThe Wrecking MasterCaught in a treacherous harbor on a dark night, Captain Jim Wetherly and his nephew Dan navigate their oceangoing tug through danger, confronting mysterious small boats and perilou…
Level B2AdventureThe Wreckers of Sable IslandA spirited fifteen-year-old boy defies his grandfather’s fears to journey from peaceful Warwickshire to wild Nova Scotia in 1799, eager to join his father and embrace adventure acr…
Level B2AdventureThe Wreck of the Red Bird: A Story of the Carolina CoastThree boys arrive at a quiet South Carolina coastal town, drawn by a family summons amid fears of yellow fever.
Level B2AdventureThe WreckA sunny day’s errand to fetch sugar leads Ollie and her friends on a charming walk through fields, geese, and a seaside tea party, where childhood adventures and unexpected discove…
Level B2AdventureThe Wouldbegoods: Being the Further Adventures of the Treasure SeekersThe Bastable children navigate the challenges of growing up in a grand new home, craving adventure and meaning beyond their comfortable lives.
Level B2Children'sThe Worst Boy in TownA mischievous boy known as the "worst in town" plans a secret fishing trip to prove his good heart, despite school and strict fathers standing in his way.
Level B2AdventureThe World of IceSet sail with John Buzzby, an unflinching sea veteran, as he embarks on a perilous whaling voyage through icy polar seas filled with fierce battles, wild creatures, and the thrilli…
Level B2PoetryThe World Turned Upside Down: Or, No News, and Strange NewsExplore a whimsical collection of curious and topsy-turvy poems where animals and humans swap roles and the strange becomes ordinary, challenging your sense of reality with playful…
Level B2PoetryThe World Turned Upside DownIn a whimsical world where coats talk back and hares wield guns, everyday objects and creatures challenge their roles with humor and mischief, turning ordinary life into a topsy-tu…
Level B2PoetryThe Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 14Step into a world of childhood wonder with poems that capture summer nights, seaside adventures, and dreams of distant lands.
Level B2AdventureThe WoodrangerIn a tense borderland where rival settlers clash, nineteen-year-old Norman McNiel, a skilled hunter from Scotland, listens to the urgent baying of a hound that signals an unfolding…
Level B2Children'sThe Woodcutter's DogIn a wolf-infested forest during a harsh winter, a woodcutter’s loyal dog bravely protects his children from danger, risking everything to keep their family safe.
Level B2HistoricalThe Woodcutter of GutechLost in the dark, tangled Black Forest, a determined traveller encounters a woodcutter and his son, sparking a journey of guidance, faith, and the quest for spiritual nourishment a…
Level B2Children'sThe Woodcraft Girls in the CityFive city girls, part of the Woodcraft Band, navigate the challenge of bringing their beloved outdoor camp spirit into urban life, devising creative ways to keep their adventures—a…