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.
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Level B2AdventureJack Harkaway in New York; or, The Adventures of the Travelers' ClubAn idle young man in London receives a mysterious letter from a beautiful American heiress, pulling him into a tangled web of rivalry, secret warnings, and the danger of duels.
Level B2AdventureJack Harkaway and His Son's Escape from the Brigands of GreeceA grand ball in Greece draws the unsuspecting Mr.
Level B2AdventureJack Hardy: A Story of English Smugglers in the Days of NapoleonAmidst the rugged English coast during the Napoleonic Wars, young midshipman Jack Hardy faces the dull task of hunting smugglers while uncovering family ties and local secrets.
Level B2Children'sJack HallThirteen-year-old Jack Hall turns a bright February morning into a playful battlefield of snowballs, outsmarting neighborhood rivals and stirring up snow-covered mischief near Bost…
Level B2MysteryJack Archer: A Tale of the CrimeaA young schoolboy’s dull routine is shattered when a sudden summons from home hints at an urgent family matter, thrusting him toward an unexpected destiny beyond Latin verses and s…
Level B2Children'sJ. ColeA small but determined boy named J.
Level B2FantasyIt's Your Fairy Tale, You KnowA boy enchanted by fairy tales escapes his dull schoolwork and modern world, longing for the magic of knights and wishes.
Level B2Children'sIs There a Santa Claus?A young boy’s question about Santa Claus leads to a heartfelt journey through holiday cheer, kindness, and the true spirit of giving, from the White House to the streets of New Yor…
Level B2Children'sIrma in Italy: A Travel StoryA sixteen-year-old girl sets off on an exciting journey through Italy, balancing the thrill of travel with the challenge of keeping up her studies.
Level B2AdventureInto Mexico with General Scott: When attached to the Fourth United States Infantry, Division of Major-General William J. Worth, Corps of the famous Major-General Winfield Scott, known as Old Fuss and Feathers, campaign of 1847, lad Jerry Cameron marched and fought beside Second Lieutenant U. S. Grant all the way from Cera Cruz to the City of Mexico, where six thousand American soldiers planted the Stars and Stripes in the midst of one hundred and fifty thousand amazed peopleFollow young Jerry Cameron as he marches and fights alongside Second Lieutenant U.
Level B2Children'sIncidents of childhoodA lazy fisherman's son spends his days idly by the sea, dreaming of luck and adventure.
Level B2AdventureIn the volcano's mouth; or, A boy against an armyA grieving father and his spirited son, Madcap Max, embark from England to Egypt, confronting loss and adventure aboard a grand steamer.
Level B2AdventureIn the great white landIn the heart of the Arctic's endless winter, a determined captain battles frozen isolation and snow-blindness aboard the barque Walrus as the first fragile rays of spring promise a…
Level B2MysteryIn the camp of the Black RiderTwo friends, Ted and Buck, balance summer work and football dreams while planning an adventurous camping trip.
Level B2AdventureIn the Yellow SeaRejected from the navy due to a supposed eyesight defect, a determined young man grapples with disappointment while harboring dreams of adventure on the seas between China and Japa…
Level B2AdventureIn the Wilds of AfricaA voyage along Africa’s coast turns perilous as a young supercargo faces deadly fever, treacherous seas, and unreliable crew aboard the brig Osprey, all while trading for precious…
Level B2AdventureIn the Reign of Terror: The Adventures of a Westminster BoyA sturdy English boy is sent to revolutionary France, where liberty fights chaos and danger lurks at every turn.
Level B2AdventureIn the Musgrave RangesTwo boys journey into the heart of Central Australia, encountering fierce storms and rugged desert men as they embark on a thrilling adventure through the wild Musgrave Ranges.
Level B2Children'sIn the Morning Glow: Short StoriesStep into a sunlit world where a child's adventures unfold alongside a gentle grandfather’s stories, naps, and laughter in a garden alive with bees, butterflies, and timeless famil…
Level B2AdventureIn the Mahdi's GraspIn Victorian London, a dedicated servant and a scholarly doctor navigate the peculiarities of high society and mysterious tales from distant lands, including a soldier’s long-burie…
Level B2AdventureIn the Heart of the Rockies: A Story of Adventure in ColoradoA sixteen-year-old boy, burdened by family loss and limited prospects, contemplates leaving home to seek adventure and support his sisters struggling to keep their family together…
Level B2AdventureIn the Hands of the Cave-DwellersA young American sailor deserts his brutal ship in 1832 San Diego, only to find himself entangled in local dangers and alliances after rescuing a Mexican nobleman from a midnight a…
Level B2Children'sIn the Forest; Or, Pictures of Life and Scenery in the Woods of Canada: A TaleA curious young girl befriends a timid flying squirrel while discovering the wonders of Canadian wildlife, forests, and Indigenous culture.
Level B2AdventureIn the Days of Washington: A Story of the American RevolutionAmid the shadowed streets of occupied Philadelphia, a young student is summoned on a secret night mission that could change the fate of the American Revolution.
Level B2Children'sIn the Days of Giants: A Book of Norse TalesJourney into a world where fiery realms clash with icy giants, and gods forge earth and sky from a colossal giant’s body.
Level B2AdventureIn the Days of Chivalry: A Tale of the Times of the Black PrinceIn the autumnal forests of Gascony, twin brothers born of noble blood but raised humbly dream of reclaiming their birthright amid brewing conflict between England and France.
Level B2FantasyIn the Court of King ArthurIn a realm of legendary knights and chivalry, a young page named Allan faces danger when an arrogant knight demands a perilous message be delivered.
Level B2FantasyIn the Closed RoomIn a sweltering city flat near the thunderous Elevated Railroad, young Judith, a delicate and mysterious child, finds solace in her imagination and a distant aunt’s haunting legacy…
Level B2AdventureIn search of fortune: A tale of the old land and the newOn the eve of his tenth birthday, young Archie dreams of adventure and manhood while his family faces the challenges of life between the old world and the new.
Level B2AdventureIn a new worldTwo American boys forge a new life in Australia’s wild frontiers, facing shipwrecks, treachery, and the thrill of gold mining as they seek fortune and adventure far from home.
Level B2AdventureIn Times of Peril: A Tale of IndiaAmid the tranquil British cantonments of 1857 India, young Ned and Dick Warrener navigate the challenges of colonial life just as unrest begins to stir.
Level B2HistoricalIn The Boyhood of Lincoln: A Tale of the Tunker Schoolmaster and the Times of Black HawkIn the rugged Illinois frontier, a dedicated Tunker schoolmaster shapes young Abraham Lincoln’s character amid pioneer hardships, Indian tales, and the trials of early American set…
Level B2AdventureIn Texas with Davy CrockettTwo young men aboard a steamboat on the Mississippi sense danger as suspicious figures watch their every move, hinting at a secret mission linked to the brewing conflict in Texas.
Level B2Children'sIn Sunny Spain with Pilarica and RafaelA young girl’s embroidery struggles lead her into the enchanting gardens of a faded Moorish palace, where riddles, music, and family tales bring the magic of sunny Spain to life in…
Level B2FantasyIn Story-landA kind-hearted, plain little girl named Beta finds purpose in bringing joy to her village through simple acts of kindness, while a wise but lame giant watches over them all from hi…
Level B2AdventureIn Search of the Okapi: A Story of Adventure in Central AfricaTwo friends embark on a daring expedition into Central Africa's vast, uncharted forest—one chasing the mysterious okapi, the other seeking his missing father's hidden journal and t…
Level B2HistoricalIn Search of a SonIn the serene French countryside, a man receives a mysterious telegram that promises the return of an old friend, sparking hope and anticipation in his quiet château.
Level B2AdventureIn Search of TreasureA bright young man torn between academic success and a thirst for adventure discovers a mysterious chest belonging to his late sailor uncle, sparking a quest that could unveil secr…
Level B2AdventureIn School and Out; or, The Conquest of Richard Grant.Richard Grant, a boy with a troubled past and a noble heart, navigates dangerous scrapes both in school and on the Hudson River.
Level B2AdventureIn Savage Africa: Or, The adventures of Frank Baldwin from the Gold Coast to Zanzibar.A young boy's school days end abruptly when he receives a thrilling invitation to join his father's ship, embarking on a voyage from the Gold Coast to Zanzibar.
Level B2AdventureIn Paths of Peril: A Boy's Adventures in Nova ScotiaA resilient boy and his devoted aunt escape war-torn France to begin anew in wild Nova Scotia, where adventure and new alliances await amid untamed lands and indigenous tribes.
Level B2AdventureIn New Granada; Or, Heroes and PatriotsAmidst the lush landscapes of New Granada, a naval surgeon and his young ward face capture and peril after a hunting expedition turns deadly, sparking a daring struggle for freedom…
Level B2AdventureIn Honour's Cause: A Tale of the Days of George the FirstTwo young courtiers navigate the stiff, formal life of the royal palace amid whispers of loyalty and power in the days of George the First, craving freedom beyond the heavy Dutch e…
Level B2Children'sIn HomespunIn a quiet English village, a spirited young girl takes on the task of caring for her cantankerous Aunt Maria, whose sprained ankle sets the stage for family secrets, rivalries, an…
Level B2AdventureIn Greek Waters: A Story of the Grecian War of IndependenceA young scholar, captivated by his Greek heritage and fueled by a passion for his ancestral land, embarks on a journey into the turbulent early years of the Greek War of Independen…
Level B2AdventureIn Far Bolivia: A Story of a Strange Wild LandDeep in the uncharted wilderness of Bolivia, explorers face mysterious tribes and untamed landscapes beyond civilization’s reach.
Level B2FantasyIn Camp With A Tin SoldierA curious boy hears the distant beat of soldiers' drums and discovers his favorite picture—a quiet country lane—beginning to come alive with mysterious movement.
Level B2Children'sIn Blue Creek CañonIn a smoky mountain town, a lively group of children race across a frozen pond, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their mysterious cousin Charlie MacGregor, whose presence promises t…