Children's
Read Children's Classics in English
3,385 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 Those Dale Girls, Those Brewster Children and Thistle and Rose: A Story for Girls. 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.
- 3,385
- books
Level B2AdventureThe boy nihilistA young American heir embarks on a global journey, unknowingly stepping into a secret world of revolution and intrigue.
Level B2AdventureThe book of friendly giantsA lonely herdboy named Ivan hears mysterious cries in the forest and ventures into the darkness, where he encounters the gentle giants who defy fearsome legends with their kind hea…
Level B2Children'sThe bonfireIn a village where whispers and jeers shadow him, a lonely old man faces the mischief and misunderstanding of local children, all while hiding a painful secret from his past.
Level B2AdventureThe blind lion of the CongoA world-traveling explorer returns home with tales of daring adventures across deserts and slave gangs, igniting a young scholar's dream of thrilling escapades in the Congo.
Level B2Children'sThe black ship: with other allegories and parablesTwo inseparable siblings, Hope and May, live by the sea on a mysterious island ringed by towering mountains.
Level B2Children'sThe beautiful garment, and other storiesA determined twelve-year-old girl devotes herself to charity, schoolwork, and self-improvement, navigating family expectations and village life with a strong will and a heart for h…
Level B2Children'sThe battle of lifeIn a humble village, John Carey dreams of starting a business with a lively partner, but his mother warns him that true success requires more than money—it demands a blessing roote…
Level B2Children'sThe baseball boys of LakeportA spirited group of boys in Lakeport forms a baseball team, dreaming of rivalries, grandstands, and uniforms as they prepare for thrilling contests on the diamond.
Level B2Children'sThe barbarous babesFour imaginative siblings invent playful tortures and daring adventures, balancing childhood mischief with tender moments in a quiet English countryside.
Level B2Children'sThe alley cat's kittenA scruffy alley cat struggles to care for her kittens through biting cold and hunger, finding unexpected kindness in a family’s backyard just before Christmas.
Level B2Children'sThe adopted sonA young girl eagerly awaits the arrival of her new brother, adopted from a troubled past, as her community grapples with the surprising choice of a man who once caused ruin.
Level B2FantasyThe Zankiwank and The Bletherwitch: An Original Fantastic Fairy ExtravaganzaTwo children awaken at an empty Charing Cross Station to find themselves invited on a magical midnight train to Fable Land, where curious creatures like the kaleidoscopic Zankiwank…
Level B2Children'sThe Youngest Sister: A Tale of ManitobaWhen a man’s boat is trapped on deadly rocks and no rescue seems possible, the youngest sister must summon unexpected courage to brave the stormy sea and save a life in peril.
Level B2Children'sThe Youngest Girl in the SchoolIn a lively London schoolroom, mischievous siblings scramble to prepare for a visit from their formidable Auntie Anna, whose arrival promises change and challenges for the boistero…
Level B2Children'sThe Youngest Girl in the Fifth: A School StoryA talented but unprepared girl is suddenly promoted to the challenging Fifth Form, where she must master tougher subjects with the help of dedicated teachers.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Woodsman; Or, Life in the Forests of CanadaA young boy in a growing Canadian village dreams of following his father's footsteps into the forest.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Wild-FowlersFour adventurous friends spend a crisp October by the Chesapeake Bay, eager to hunt the famed canvas-back ducks while navigating the challenges posed by poachers wielding massive d…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Voyageurs: Boy Hunters in the NorthEmbark on a thrilling journey through the vast, untamed fur countries of North America, where wild landscapes, scarce settlements, and elusive creatures challenge two young adventu…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Vigilantes: A Story of California Life in the FiftiesWhen a quick-thinking young rigger warns a train of a burning bridge, he earns a free ride and a chance to start fresh in Boston, navigating the bustling world of 1850s labor and o…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Treasure Hunter; Or, Fred Stanley's Trip to AlaskaA determined young boy leaves school to help his injured father and struggling family by seeking work at a promising new mining settlement in Alaska.
Level B2AdventureThe Young TrawlerAmid the rugged life of Yarmouth fishermen, a spirited boy boldly embraces the sea and its harsh demands, while his family confronts the trials that shape men and boys alike.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Trailers: A Story of Early KentuckyA strong-willed fifteen-year-old leads his family and neighbors into the wild, untamed forests of early Kentucky, where adventure, danger, and the secrets of the wilderness await u…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Trail Hunters: Or, the Wild Riders of the Plains. The Veritable Adventures of Hal Hyde and Ned Brown, on Their Journey Across the Great Plains of the South-WestTwo young adventurers, Hal and Ned, embark on a perilous journey across the Great Plains, facing wild mustangs, Comanche attacks, and treacherous landscapes, while encountering Nat…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Supercargo: A Story of the Merchant MarineAmidst the cold Brooklyn docks, a determined young supercargo faces the harsh world of the merchant marine, navigating danger from rough seas and tough encounters onshore.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Ship-Builders of Elm IslandA young boy wrestles with the question of his future, finding unexpected purpose and strength as he learns the demanding trade of ship-building under the guidance of a trusted blac…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Sharpshooter at AntietamTwo young Union sharpshooters navigate camp life and foraging during the tense days leading to the pivotal Battle of Antietam, encountering the diverse and complex world of the Civ…
Level B2AdventureThe Young Scout: The Story of a West Point LieutenantA determined young scholar stands up to a feared school bully, defending his disabled friend with courage and quick wit.
Level B2Children'sThe Young SalesmanA determined boy crosses the Atlantic alone after his father's death, armed only with a small sum and the hope of finding distant relatives in New York.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Ranchers; Or, Fighting the SiouxA young hunter returns to his South Dakota ranch amid growing unrest among the Sioux, facing the looming threat of attack as tensions rise in the turbulent frontier.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Railroaders: Tales of Adventure and IngenuityA young boy stumbles upon a dangerous plot by disgruntled railroad workers to sabotage a train and must use his wits and courage to prevent disaster.
Level B2Children'sThe Young PitcherA shy freshman struggles to find his place amid the harsh traditions and social tests of university life, battling loneliness and self-doubt while yearning for acceptance and frien…
Level B2Children'sThe Young O'Briens: Being an Account of Their Sojourn in LondonA family's journey through a stormy London night unfolds with tender humor and quiet tension as they face an uncertain year apart.
Level B2AdventureThe Young Musician; Or, Fighting His WayLeft penniless after his father's death, young Philip Gray faces the harsh prospect of the poorhouse but vows to fight his way up through hard work and his talent for music.
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.