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 Little Gold Miners of the Sierras and Other StoriesOrphaned and determined, three young siblings navigate the rugged Sierra foothills, panning for gold and chasing freedom amidst dust, wild animals, and the harsh realities of front…
Level B2FantasyThe Little Glass Man, and Other StoriesStep into a magical world where the Fairy Queen publishes enchanting tales gathered from across Europe, and meet Gogul Mogul, a devoted fairy eager to share the mysterious story of…
Level B2Children'sThe Little Girl Who Was Taught by ExperienceLeft without her mother’s guidance, little Lucy grows vain and stubborn, mistaking beauty for worth and indulging selfish desires—until a wise aunt offers a chance for Lucy to lear…
Level B2AdventureThe Little Girl Lost: A Tale for Little GirlsA lively English girl grows up in a bustling British compound in Peking, navigating friendships across cultures and languages while exploring a world very different from England.
Level B2Children'sThe Little GentlemanIn a struggling working-class neighborhood, spirited Melina Berryman defies her harsh grandmother and neighborhood taunts while navigating school, illness, and unexpected friendshi…
Level B2Children'sThe Little Fig-tree StoriesIn a garden where blossoming trees debate their fate, four young fig trees struggle with their mysterious lack of flowers, longing to understand their nature and earn their place i…
Level B2HistoricalThe Little Duke: Richard the FearlessIn 943 Normandy, young Richard, heir to Duke William, grows up under the care of loyal vassals in the rugged Castle of Bayeux, where ancient customs and fierce loyalties shape his…
Level B2Children'sThe Little Colonel's House PartyIn a picturesque Kentucky valley, an eleven-year-old girl known as the Little Colonel prepares for a summer filled with friendship, family pride, and the charm of old Southern trad…
Level B2Children'sThe Little Colonel's HolidaysIn a grand Southern mansion, the spirited Little Colonel hosts a vibrant house party filled with friends, adventures, and summer delights.
Level B2HistoricalThe Little ColonelA spirited young girl and her lively terrier arrive at a grand Kentucky estate, stirring curiosity in the stern old colonel who guards its grounds.
Level B2AdventureThe Little ClownAn eight-year-old boy with no memory of his family faces an uncertain Christmas holiday when his school suddenly closes and no one comes to meet him.
Level B2Children'sThe Little Brown Hen Hears the Song of the Nightingale & The Golden HarvestA barnyard insists on all birds speaking one language, but the little brown hen discovers the true wisdom of listening to the nightingale’s beautiful song instead, teaching lessons…
Level B2AdventureThe Lion of Saint Mark: A Story of Venice in the Fourteenth CenturyIn 14th-century Venice, a young English boy navigates a city of shimmering canals and shadowy councils, caught between the proud republic’s fierce independence and the looming thre…
Level B2AdventureThe Lily and the Cross: A Tale of AcadiaCaught in a fog aboard a modest schooner bound for Louisbourg, a young captain, a mysterious French priest, and a spirited youth embark on a voyage steeped in secrets and adventure…
Level B2AdventureThe LighthouseTwo fishermen brave the treacherous Bell Rock, a notorious hazard lurking beneath the waves, as a fierce storm has just passed, leaving wreckage and danger in its wake.
Level B2Children'sThe Light Princess and Other Fairy StoriesA princess is born without gravity, floating through life both literally and figuratively, thanks to a spiteful aunt's curse.
Level B2FantasyThe Light PrincessA princess cursed to float weightlessly, unable to touch the ground or feel gravity’s pull, challenges the royal family’s hopes and fears as they seek to break her strange enchantm…
Level B2AdventureThe Light Keepers: A Story of the United States Light-house ServiceAmidst fog and crashing waves, veteran lighthouse keepers confront a mysterious boat approaching their isolated station, testing their courage and camaraderie in the wild sea.
Level B2AdventureThe Life of a ShipA young fisher boy dreams of sailing beyond the horizon and gets his first glimpse of a mighty ship under construction.
Level B2Children'sThe Life of Robert Louis Stevenson for Boys and GirlsDiscover the daring adventures behind the construction of Scotland's most dangerous lighthouses, where engineers face wild seas and rugged wilderness to build beacons that save cou…
Level B2AdventureThe Life and Adventures of Santa ClausIn the enchanted Forest of Burzee, a curious wood-nymph named Necile yearns for a life beyond the serene woods.
Level B2AdventureThe Life and Adventures of Poor PussFollow the daring escapades of Poor Puss, a mischievous farm cat who braves traps, dogs, and boys’ cruelty while mastering the art of hunting and navigating the challenges of both…
Level B2AdventureThe Liberty Boys Running the Blockade; or, Getting Out of New YorkIn occupied New York, young patriots known as the Liberty Boys navigate British spies and secret signals, turning the tables on their enemies as they plan a daring escape.
Level B2Children'sThe Leader of the Lower School: A Tale of School LifeOn a gloomy afternoon at a girls' boarding school, the arrival of a mysterious, confident new girl named Gipsy stirs curiosity and promises to shake up the quiet routine.
Level B2MysteryThe Launch Boys' Cruise in the DeerfootA courageous youth preparing for West Point finds his routine walk home through dark pine woods disrupted by mysterious figures and a shadowy follower, stirring fears that somethin…
Level B2MysteryThe Launch Boys' Adventures in Northern WatersTwo adventurous boys are drawn into a thrilling chase against post office robbers along the Maine coast, using their speedy motorboat to outwit criminals in a high-stakes game of c…
Level B2AdventureThe Last of the Peterkins: With Others of Their KinThe Peterkin family embarks on a series of humorous and chaotic adventures far from home, as Elizabeth Eliza struggles to capture their misadventures in a paper for her club—amid s…
Level B2AdventureThe Last of the Flatboats: A Story of the Mississippi and Its Interesting Family of RiversA group of determined boys embark on a thrilling adventure along the Mississippi, battling river challenges and uncovering mysterious creatures beneath the water’s surface.
Level B2AdventureThe Last of the Chiefs: A Story of the Great Sioux WarTwo brothers journey across the harsh, sun-scorched plains toward California, battling exhaustion, rough company, and relentless heat in hopes that the mountains will bring healing…
Level B2Children'sThe Last Penny and Other StoriesA struggling shoemaker’s love is tested as his sickly daughter wastes away, while his indulgence in small comforts drains the family's scarce resources.
Level B2AdventureThe Last Cruise of the Spitfire; or, Luke Foster's Strange VoyageA boy orphaned and mistreated by his guardian escapes a harsh life to embark on his first sea voyage aboard the Spitfire, where harsh realities clash with his dreams of adventure o…
Level B2AdventureThe Land of the Kangaroo: Adventures of Two Youths in a Journey through the Great Island ContinentTwo adventurous youths embark on a thrilling journey through the vast and mysterious Australian continent, encountering its unique landscapes, bustling cities, and untamed wilderne…
Level B2FantasyThe Land of the Blue FlowerIn a land once ruled by cruelty, a newborn king is hidden away in a mountain castle by a wise guardian who teaches him to understand the harmony between nature and power.
Level B2FantasyThe Land of OzIn the mysterious Land of Oz, a spirited boy named Tip lives under the watchful eye of the enigmatic sorceress Mombi.
Level B2AdventureThe Land of MysteryFour explorers navigate the mysterious upper Xingu River, encountering strange tribes and deadly dangers as they venture deeper into the hidden wilderness of Matto Grosso.
Level B2AdventureThe Land of Fire: A Tale of AdventureA thrilling adventure unfolds as a daring captain recounts his courageous exploits from battlefields to wild frontiers, drawing readers into a world of bravery, peril, and the call…
Level B2AdventureThe Lance of Kanana: A Story of ArabiaIn a fierce Bedouin tribe where valor is measured by the sword, Kanana stands apart—refusing to fight and branded a coward.
Level B2Children'sThe LamplighterA lonely, neglected girl finds small moments of warmth watching the lamplighter bring light to her dark, harsh world.
Level B2AdventureThe Lady of the Forest: A Story for GirlsTwo curious girls explore the mysterious forest surrounding their ancient family estate, where legends of a hidden Lady of the Forest stir their imaginations and hint at secrets wa…
Level B2AdventureThe Knights of the White Shield: Up-the-Ladder Club Series, Round One PlayIn a cozy barn chamber overlooking the Missigatchee River, a group of spirited boys form the Knights of the White Shield, embarking on adventures filled with friendship, secret mee…
Level B2AdventureThe Knights of the Round Table: Stories of King Arthur and the Holy GrailJourney to the heart of ancient England where legends breathe life into Glastonbury Tor, and discover the tales of King Arthur, his noble knights, and the quest for the Holy Grail…
Level B2Children'sThe Kitchen Cat, and other TalesIn a gloomy London nursery, lonely Ruth longs for a friend beyond her unresponsive dolls and distant father.
Level B2Children'sThe Kitchen Cat and Other StoriesIn a gloomy London nursery, lonely Ruth longs for a friend to share her days with, as toys and distant parents fail to fill the silence.
Level B2AdventureThe King's SonsFour Saxon princes grow strong under the watchful eyes of their king and fierce protector, learning swordplay and preparing for the looming threat of Norse invaders.
Level B2HistoricalThe King's Cup-BearerAmid the fragrant gardens and sparkling rivers of ancient Shushan, a Jewish foreigner rises to power in the Persian king’s magnificent palace.
Level B2Children'sThe King of Root Valley: and his curious daughterIn a hidden valley live tiny Rootmen, whose curious princess longs to explore the giant world beyond.
Level B2FantasyThe King of Gee-WhizIn a city far from the sea, twins Zuzu and Lulu Pickle are born with startling green and blue hair, the result of their father's mysterious experiments.
Level B2HistoricalThe Kiltartan History BookJourney through ancient Ireland’s rich tales of legendary tribes, master craftsmen, and cunning women who shape fate with wit and wisdom in a land where love and invention define s…