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 B2AdventureShoulder to shoulderAmid the stirring Highland clans and the shadow of Napoleon’s rise, a young soldier’s journey unfolds through battles, betrayals, and daring escapes—where loyalty and courage are t…
Level B2Children'sShort stories and selections for use in the secondary schoolsDiscover a curated collection of captivating stories and selections designed to inspire young readers, offering adventures, reflections, and timeless tales that awaken curiosity an…
Level B2Children'sShifting For Himself; or, Gilbert Greyson's FortunesA determined boy faces sudden poverty just as he prepares for college, forcing him to leave his dreams behind and embrace hard work.
Level B2Children'sShells and pebbles: A story for childrenAn eight-year-old boy from inland England discovers the wonders of the sea during a winter visit to the coast, exploring beaches, marine birds, and ships while learning about the o…
Level B2AdventureShelled by an Unseen FoeThree young cadets wrestle with duty, family, and war as one plans a daring return to England amid global conflict, while another faces a personal crisis that could change everythi…
Level B2Children'sSheer Off: A TaleIn a village stirred by the christening of the school-master’s first child, tensions simmer as envy and old grievances clash.
Level B2Children'sShawn of SkarrowA spirited boy named Shawn spends his days fishing and causing mischief until a kind woman offers to support his dream of becoming a doctor.
Level B2HistoricalShaggycoat: The Biography of a BeaverFollow the life of a beaver whose industrious nature shapes forests and meadows, intertwining with Native American traditions and the relentless expansion of the fur trade that fue…
Level B2MysteryShadow, the Mysterious DetectiveOn a stormy night, a mysterious murder shocks the city, drawing Detective Howard into a dark investigation where danger lurks and secrets threaten to unravel.
Level B2Children'sSeven Xmas EvesTwo ragged, starving children, Nick and Nan, cling to each other for survival in a grim London attic, their mysterious pasts unfolding through the eyes of a kind washerwoman who wa…
Level B2FantasySeven Little People and their FriendsSeven Little People embark on enchanting adventures beneath the sea and beyond, guided by mysterious wishes granted on their birthdays.
Level B2AdventureSeven Frozen SailorsA determined captain and a secretive doctor assemble a rugged crew for a daring Arctic expedition, disguised as a sealing voyage.
Level B2AdventureSettlers and Scouts: A Tale of the African HighlandsA father and son embark on a daring journey to the untamed highlands of British East Africa, seeking new beginnings amid wild landscapes, exotic wildlife, and the challenges of pio…
Level B2AdventureSeth Jones; or, The Captives of the FrontierIn the untamed wilderness of early America, a rugged woodman’s peaceful life is interrupted by the arrival of a mysterious stranger from New Hampshire.
Level B2MysterySergeant Silk, the Prairie ScoutA skilled scout and a young gentleman cross the vast Canadian prairie, where a mysterious stranger accused of a crime seeks the help of a North-West Mounted Police sergeant to clea…
Level B2Children'sSerbian Fairy TalesA boy born of a bear and a woman sets out from his cave, wielding a mighty club, to explore a world filled with strange challenges and fierce rivals—including a formidable suitor n…
Level B2HistoricalSentimental Tommy: The Story of His BoyhoodIn a gritty London stairwell, young Tommy navigates childhood with a vivid imagination and a guarded spirit shaped by loss and hardship.
Level B2Children'sSelf-Denial; or, Alice Wood, and Her Missionary SocietyIn a charming village school, Alice Wood inspires her classmates to form a Missionary Society, sacrificing small pleasures to raise funds for spreading the Bible and aiding distant…
Level B2AdventureSeek and Find; or, The Adventures of a Smart BoyA sharp-witted boy named Ernest Thornton embarks on a thrilling adventure after rescuing a frightened young girl who leaps into a lake, sparking a mysterious and daring quest along…
Level B2AdventureSecrets of the AndesTwo friends survive a harrowing car accident deep in the wilderness and face a desperate trek to safety through the rugged Andes.
Level B2MysteryScott Burton on the RangeAn eager newcomer to the rugged West encounters a seasoned old rancher whose tales of fierce rivalries and vast mountain ranges reveal a land shaped by courage, conflict, and the r…
Level B2Children'sScott Burton in the Blue RidgeAssigned to manage timber sales in the mysterious Blue Ridge Mountains, Scott Burton faces a new challenge far from his familiar southwestern terrain.
Level B2MysteryScott Burton and the Timber ThievesA determined forest patrolman arrives in Florida to track down elusive timber thieves plundering the Okalatchee woods, armed with little more than a vague letter and his own grit.
Level B2HistoricalSchoolgirl rivalsAn Australian girl ventures into the unfamiliar world of an English boarding school, where spirited classmates and fierce competitions test her courage and resolve.
Level B2RomanceScandalIn a dazzling New York summer, Beatrix Vanderdyke, society's brightest debutante, defies expectations by secretly consorting with Sutherland York, a charming yet controversial port…
Level B2Children'sScamp and I: A Story of City By-WaysIn bustling 1875 London, a quick-witted ragged boy named Dick leads his sister Flo on a daring adventure through the city's dazzling shops and lively streets, dreaming of riches an…
Level B2AdventureSaved from the Sea; Or, The Loss of the Viper, and her Crew's Saharan AdventuresAfter surviving a shipwreck off the African coast, a young linguist embarks on a perilous journey through the Sahara, guided by his passion for languages and the unexpected friends…
Level B2AdventureSaved by the LifeboatAmid a fierce November storm, a newly arrived lifeboat faces its ultimate test as a brig is stranded on treacherous sands, prompting brave sailors and townsfolk to confront nature’…
Level B2Children'sSaved by loveIn the shadowed streets of London, two young girls—one an orphaned dreamer, the other a street-smart survivor—forge an unlikely friendship as they navigate loss, hardship, and the…
Level B2AdventureSaved at seaBorn during a fierce storm on a remote island lighthouse, young Alick Fergusson grows up amidst the wild sea and rugged isolation, dreaming of one day taking over his grandfather’s…
Level B2Children'sSasha the serf, and other stories of Russian lifeIn a Russian village under the rule of a distant baron, young Sasha the serf wrestles with questions of ownership, freedom, and the wild forest that surrounds him—where even a bear…
Level B2Children'sSarah's School FriendIn a grand Yorkshire mansion, spirited Sarah challenges her family’s traditional views and clashes with her mother and brother over respect, education, and the roles of women—spark…
Level B2Children'sSara, a Princess: The Story of a Noble GirlIn a humble fishing village, young Sara balances household duties and her thirst for learning, determined to honor her late mother's wish for an education despite the hardships her…
Level B2Children'sSara Crewe; Or, What Happened at Miss Minchin's Boarding SchoolAt Miss Minchin's Select Seminary, Sara Crewe arrives wealthy and cherished, but when her fortune vanishes and her father dies, she faces harsh realities and cold cruelty, revealin…
Level B2AdventureSappers and Miners: The Flood beneath the SeaWhen a retired colonel dismisses tales of a rich old tin mine on his Cornish estate, his adventurous son Gwyn dreams of uncovering its ancient secrets.
Level B2Children'sSamantha on Children's RightsA spirited boy named Jack navigates the challenges of childhood under the watchful eyes of his family, exploring the delicate balance between discipline and love.
Level B2HistoricalSam's Chance, and How He Improved ItAt fifteen, Sam Barker drifts through the streets of New York until a chance good deed offers him a job as an errand boy—if only he can find the means to dress the part and leave h…
Level B2AdventureSam Steele's Adventures on Land and SeaA young boy in a coastal village faces a devastating loss when a sailor brings news of his father's shipwreck and presumed death.
Level B2AdventureSam Steele's Adventures in PanamaA young navigator is tasked with a daring mission: to sail a battered, barely seaworthy ship loaded with valuable steel around the treacherous Horn to San Pedro.
Level B2Children'sSalome's burdenIn a small Cornish fishing village, fourteen-year-old Salome, a brave and caring girl with a limp, struggles to keep her family together as her father's drinking threatens their pe…
Level B2AdventureSail Ho! A Boy at SeaA young boy eagerly sets out to sea aboard the Burgh Castle, facing the thrills and dangers of life on a merchant ship.
Level B2MysteryRuth Fielding on the St. Lawrence; Or, The Queer Old Man of the Thousand IslandsAt a vibrant wedding filled with flags and military honors, a spirited young woman finds herself drawn into the mysteries surrounding a quirky old man of the Thousand Islands, unve…
Level B2MysteryRuth Fielding of the Red Mill; Or, Jasper Parloe's SecretA determined young girl leaves her old home for the mysterious Red Mill, where secrets and new friendships await in the quiet town of Cheslow.
Level B2AdventureRuth Fielding in the Red Cross; Or, Doing Her Best for Uncle SamAs young men rush to training camps during wartime, Ruth Fielding packs supplies for the Red Cross while grappling with fears for her friend’s twin brother and the uncertain toll o…
Level B2AdventureRuth Fielding at the War Front; or, The Hunt for the Lost SoldierAmid the distant thunder of war and the roar of planes, a determined Red Cross worker navigates the tense front lines, driven by hope and duty.
Level B2MysteryRuth Fielding at Snow Camp; Or, Lost in the BackwoodsWhen Ruth and her friends head to a remote winter camp deep in the backwoods, a thrilling adventure unfolds amid icy rivers, mysterious signs, and the looming presence of a fierce…
Level B2AdventureRuth Fielding at Silver Ranch; Or, Schoolgirls Among the CowboysA spirited schoolgirl arrives at Silver Ranch, where East meets West in a clash of cowboys, automobiles, and new ideas.
Level B2AdventureRuth Fielding at Lighthouse Point; or, Nita, the Girl CastawayAt Briarwood Hall, new member Helen Cameron is initiated into the secretive Sweetbriars, a sisterhood bound by sincerity and friendship.