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 B2AdventureA royal smugglerTwo boys embark on a perilous voyage to Batavia, seeking fortune and family ties, only to face fierce monsoons, mysterious markets, and the shadowy world of smuggling in the treach…
Level B2Children'sA new note in the Christmas CarolA tender father reflects on the joyful yet sorrowful memories stirred by Christmas carols, as his young daughter’s innocent love brings new hope and light to their home after loss.
Level B2Children'sA new graft on the family treeA young woman faces the challenge of leaving her comfortable home to start a new life with Lewis Morgan in a remote country farmhouse, balancing love, sacrifice, and the unknown fu…
Level B2AdventureA new Robinson CrusoeA young Irish sailor recounts his perilous voyage aboard a formidable ship bound for San Francisco and China, where a mysterious passenger named James Robinson Crusoe defies a brut…
Level B2AdventureA millionaire at sixteenAt sixteen, Louis Belgrave inherits a vast fortune and a magnificent steam-yacht, embarking on a daring ocean cruise to rescue his beloved mother lost at sea.
Level B2HistoricalA loyal lassAs war looms near the Niagara frontier in 1814, young Marianne Reyburn navigates danger and loyalty amidst shifting allegiances and whispered conflicts.
Level B2HistoricalA little maid of PicardyIn war-torn Picardy, a young French-American girl named Lucie balances her dual heritage while cherishing her homeland and its simple joys, like garden blooms and friendship, as sh…
Level B2Children'sA little maidIn the slums of London, young Peggy dreams beyond her harsh surroundings as she navigates life caring for her ailing aunt and the neighborhood children.
Level B2AdventureA little gipsy lassAn English stranger ventures into the wild moorlands to find a gypsy encampment, guided by the spirited and fearless young Lotty Lee.
Level B2Children'sA little childAn artist sketches a fearless little boy named Gerald by the sea, sparking a heartfelt conversation about faith, hope, and the storms of life.
Level B2Children'sA little Swiss boyIn the tranquil Swiss village of Leuk, a proud family returns to restore an old farmhouse, stirring curiosity and whispers among neighbors.
Level B2Children'sA little Protestant in RomeA young Protestant boy explores Rome with his mother, encountering its ancient ruins and meeting a mysterious Catholic stranger, sparking innocent questions about faith, belief, an…
Level B2AdventureA little Irish girlIn a bustling London school for young ladies, Norah O'Brien, the youngest pupil, dreams beyond geography lessons and school walls, longing for adventure as the Easter holidays appr…
Level B2PoetryA horse bookDiscover the lively world of horses through playful foals, clever circus ponies, and hardworking ploughhorses, each revealing unique traits from schooling and intelligence to wilfu…
Level B2RomanceA heroine of 1812Amid the bustling streets of Baltimore in 1812, young Lettice Hopkins anxiously awaits news of her uncle’s ship, threatened by British capture during wartime.
Level B2Children'sA harum-scarum schoolgirlWhen their beloved headmistress abruptly leaves for her war-torn husband's assignment abroad, the girls of Pendlemere Abbey face a new term under the strict and scheming Miss Todd.
Level B2Children'sA golden threadA determined young storyteller visits an editor to share her work and save her family’s cherished home from debt.
Level B2AdventureA gentle pioneerIn the harsh winds of a March night, a young girl prepares to leave her childhood home on a pioneering journey westward, facing separation and hardship with hope for reunion and a…
Level B2AdventureA frontier knightTorn between the steady comforts of home and the wild unknown, a young woman chooses to join her sister and a close companion on a daring journey to the Texan frontier, where adven…
Level B2FantasyA flower bookUnder the moonlight on New Year's night, fairies awaken sleeping flowers for a magical dance in a snowy wood, revealing the secret lives and meanings of blossoms like the Christmas…
Level B2Children'sA day in the country, and other storiesFour city girls, overlooked by the Fresh Air Fund, long for a day in the country to see flowers and breathe fresh air.
Level B2Children'sA day in Mary Carrow's schoolStep into a charming country school where kind teacher Mary Carrow guides her small class through spelling, reading, and curious questions about the world.
Level B2Children'sA day at Happy Hollow SchoolStep into the lively world of Happy Hollow School, where curious children and a stern teacher navigate geography, grammar, and unexpected antics in a colorful classroom full of per…
Level B2Children'sA cup of sweets, that can never cloy: or, delightful tales for good childrenA spirited girl’s insatiable curiosity leads her into secret gardens and mysterious baskets, where every hidden truth and whispered conversation beckon her deeper into adventure—an…
Level B2Children'sA crown of shame, volume 3 (of 3)On Maraquita’s wedding day, Rosa, a devoted caretaker, is forbidden to attend the grand church ceremony and must instead stay behind with the baby she loves.
Level B2Children'sA crown of shame, volume 2 (of 3)After her father’s sudden death, Liz faces heartbreak and betrayal as a mysterious baby disrupts her life, severing ties with the man she loved.
Level B2Children'sA child shall lead themIn a London suburb, the Drinkrow family struggles under the weight of a miserly patriarch's public house, where two very different sons face clashing paths — one steady and studiou…
Level B2Children'sA borrowed sisterWhen Lois welcomes Jessie to live with her for the year, the joys and challenges of sharing a home with a "borrowed sister" unfold, deepening friendships and stirring unexpected fe…
Level B2Children'sA Young MutineerIn a quiet village, spirited Judy navigates childhood rivalries, strict governesses, and the alluring mystery of the new cricket-clad stranger, Jasper Quentyns.
Level B2AdventureA Young Inventor's Pluck; or, The Mystery of the Willington LegacyAn inventive young man faces hardship when the factory closes, money runs out, and he's wrongly accused of arson, but his cleverness and a mysterious family legacy set him on a dar…
Level B2AdventureA Young Hero; Or, Fighting to WinWhen a fierce rivalry threatens to erupt into a full-blown fight among schoolboys, one determined lad steps in to restore peace, setting the stage for a tale of courage, friendship…
Level B2AdventureA Young HeroAmid rising tensions and looming war, young Phil dreams of becoming a soldier like his father but struggles with lessons and fears for his family's safety.
Level B2AdventureA Year in a Yawl: A True Tale of the Adventures of Four Boys in a Thirty-foot YawlFour adventurous boys plan an ambitious voyage in a handcrafted thirty-foot yawl, eager to explore rivers, lakes, and tropical seas.
Level B2Children'sA World of Girls: The Story of a SchoolA young girl bids a tearful farewell to her beloved family and familiar home as she embarks on a daunting new chapter at a strict boarding school, facing the challenges of separati…
Level B2Children'sA Winter Nosegay: Being Tales for Children at ChristmastideAn old scholar summons the Spirit of Darkness, gaining three wishes at a perilous price—his first-born child.
Level B2HistoricalA Warwickshire Lad: The Story of the Boyhood of William ShakespeareA young William Shakespeare faces eerie village superstitions and childhood fears in the dusk of Warwickshire, where witches' spells and ghostly shadows blur the line between imagi…
Level B2AdventureA Waif of the MountainsSnow buries a rugged mining settlement in the Sierras, where a diverse band of miners clash over a name for their new town amid blizzards and wild mountain dangers.
Level B2AdventureA Voyage with Captain DynamiteThree adventurous boys take the helm of their sturdy sloop, facing sudden squalls off Martha’s Vineyard.
Level B2AdventureA Voyage round the World: A book for boysA young boy’s dream of adventure ignites when a seasoned sea captain visits his family, sharing tales of exotic lands and daring voyages that stir his heart to leave home and explo…
Level B2HistoricalA Virginia cavalierIn 1746 Virginia’s peaceful countryside, a young George Washington sharpens his woodsman skills, embodying strength and honor amid the natural beauty and emerging tensions of colon…
Level B2AdventureA Viking of the Sky: A Story of a Boy Who Gained Success in AeronauticsA determined boy dreams of soaring the skies even as he struggles to keep his rickety old truck running to support his family.
Level B2HistoricalA Victorious UnionAmid the stirring years of the Civil War, a patriotic naval hero fights not for glory but to preserve the Union and the ideals it stands for, embodying courage and unselfish devoti…
Level B2Children'sA Very Naughty GirlOn New Year’s Day at Wynford Castle, sixteen-year-old Audrey resents her family’s open-house tradition that welcomes hundreds of local visitors, sparking tension with her governess…
Level B2AdventureA United States Midshipman in the South SeasAmidst fierce rivalries on a remote South Sea island, American midshipmen navigate political intrigue and native customs as they witness a high chief’s dramatic return from exile,…
Level B2AdventureA United States Midshipman in the PhilippinesTwo young U.
Level B2AdventureA United States Midshipman in JapanTwo young U.
Level B2AdventureA United States Midshipman in ChinaTwo young U.
Level B2AdventureA United States Midshipman AfloatTwo newly minted naval officers step aboard a mighty battleship, eager to prove themselves amid the intense drills and unrelenting discipline of life at sea.