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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- books
Level B2MysteryThe mystery of the missing eyebrowsA determined newspaper boy stumbles upon strange lights in an abandoned house, sparking a puzzling mystery that threatens to unravel the quiet town’s secrets.
Level B2MysteryThe mystery of the Sea-LarkIn a quaint Massachusetts fishing town, a fierce storm has claimed a missing boat, stirring old secrets and suspicions.
Level B2MysteryThe mystery of Cabin IslandWhen the Hardy boys plan a winter camping trip on a cozy cabin island, their adventure turns icy and thrilling as homemade ice-boats race across frozen Barmet Bay—where a mysteriou…
Level B2AdventureThe moving picture boys on the war frontAmid the chaos of filming a Civil War battle scene, two young cameramen navigate tense rehearsals and unruly extras while a determined producer demands authentic action for his mov…
Level B2MysteryThe moving picture boys on the coastTwo young filmmakers brave desert dangers and hostile tribes to capture rare images of Moqui Indians, but their adventure turns urgent when they must rescue rivals and uncover clue…
Level B2AdventureThe moving picture boys at PanamaTwo adventurous boys on a powerful motorcycle enjoy a peaceful vacation until a runaway horse-drawn carriage races toward a broken bridge, forcing them to act quickly to prevent di…
Level B2AdventureThe moving picture boys and the floodTwo adventurous youths trade lazy country days for the thrill of the Mississippi flood, determined to capture the drama on their moving picture cameras and witness heroism amid nat…
Level B2Children'sThe movie boys under Uncle SamAmidst fierce artillery fire, three brave young cameramen risk their lives capturing real battle footage on the front lines of World War I, determined to bring the true story of Am…
Level B2AdventureThe movie boys at Seaside ParkThree enterprising boys arrive at a bustling seaside resort with a bold plan to open a motion picture showhouse on the lively boardwalk, discovering the perfect vacant building for…
Level B2AdventureThe motion picture comrades aboard a submarineThree adventurous boys prepare to embark on a daring submarine expedition beneath the tropical seas, seeking sunken treasure and capturing extraordinary underwater motion pictures—…
Level B2AdventureThe moral piratesA boy fascinated by pirate tales is offered a thrilling alternative: a summer cruise in a specially outfitted rowboat with friends, promising adventure on the open water without th…
Level B2AdventureThe mid of the maintopAmidst a fierce storm off the coast of Africa, a daring midshipman falls overboard from a British frigate hunting slave traders, sparking a desperate search through fog and towerin…
Level B2FantasyThe marvellous land of SnergsIn a hidden bay where no outsider can sail, children live in a secret society devoted to removing the "superfluous" and giving them a new home.
Level B2AdventureThe marines have landedDive into the daring exploits of Dick Comstock, a young man whose fight for justice leads him from schoolyard battles to thrilling Marine Corps adventures around the globe.![Cover of The man elephant by Hartwell [Editor] James](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/dafi545a8p2c739ium50.webp)
Level B2Children'sThe man elephantIn a dark African forest, Parle longs to join her brothers on a hunt but is forbidden—until the witch Ramil offers a magical solution: marry her towering elephant son who can carry…
Level B2AdventureThe lure of Piper's GlenAmid the treacherous, roaring waters of Racket River, Mark Ducat reigns as the fearless "Cock of the River," mastering perilous log drives with unmatched skill and courage.
Level B2Children'sThe luck of the bean-rows, a fairy taleAn old, childless couple discovers a mysterious, wise boy in their bean field who brings magical prosperity and wonder to their humble life, transforming their land and fortunes be…
Level B2AdventureThe loss of the SwanseaTwo young brothers set sail for America on a well-armed brig, but a restless crew and a troubled captain threaten their voyage.
Level B2AdventureThe long trail: A story of African adventureTwo determined men lead a weary caravan through harsh African terrain, driven by ambition to uncover hidden riches and study untamed wildlife.
Level B2Children'sThe load of chipsA young boy, Joseph Hickie, begs for bread but is challenged to earn it by moving a heavy load of shipyard chips.
Level B2FantasyThe little elves seeking the beautiful worldFour curious elves set out from their queen’s enchanted pine palace to find the fabled beautiful world beyond their cold northern home.
Level B2HistoricalThe little book of British quadrupedsExplore the fascinating traits and stories of British quadrupeds, from the hardy Kyloe Ox of Scotland to the noble Arabian racehorse, revealing their unique roles, behaviors, and e…
Level B2Children'sThe little BarefootTwo young siblings, one barefoot and brave, wander from their village to a silent, locked house where their parents should be.
Level B2AdventureThe life story of a squirrelA young squirrel named Scud faces his first daring climbing lesson, only to find his family’s safety threatened by lurking human enemies.
Level B2Children'sThe key to Betsy's heartAfter losing her family and home, young Betsy embarks on a daunting journey to live with distant relatives in a grand, unfamiliar house.
Level B2Children'sThe high school rivalsAt Baxter High, new student James Bronson faces teasing and rivalry as he joins the prestigious Second Form, while the arrival of star athlete Bart Montgomery sparks competition an…
Level B2HistoricalThe hidden treasureIn 1527 Bridgewater, a kind-hearted baker supports a struggling family caught between old religious traditions and new beliefs, while his children face uncertain futures shaped by…
Level B2AdventureThe hermit hunter of the wildsIn a quiet farmhouse, young Tommy Talisker drifts into a world where firewood speaks of ancient trees and seasons past, hinting at adventures waiting beyond his modest life.
Level B2Children'sThe heiress of McGregorMarion McGregor returns to her ancestral home, burdened by family hardships and a legacy tied to leased lands and old traditions.
Level B2Children'sThe heart of an orphanAn orphan girl writes heartfelt letters to her unknown mother, sharing her struggles and hopes from a crowded Christian asylum where love is scarce and the pain of separation linge…
Level B2AdventureThe happy sixSix spirited children forge a new club, The Happy Six, as they face the exciting possibility of a sea voyage from sunny California to Europe, blending adventure with friendship and…
Level B2Children'sThe happiness of HazelbrookIn the humble village of Hazelbrook, a widowed mother and her children face daily struggles with courage and faith, as young Katie learns the true meaning of duty, patience, and th…
Level B2RomanceThe handsome BrandonsAmidst the fading glory of Castle Brandon and the shadow of the fierce De Lacys of Angry, a struggling family clings to their ancestral lands and secrets.
Level B2AdventureThe golden story bookIn the tense days before Waterloo, young Jean le Grand must race against time to warn the English General of a deadly trap, facing danger, betrayal, and impossible odds on a desper…
Level B2Children'sThe golden pennies, and other storiesDiscover heartfelt tales where simple acts reveal profound lessons: from the true value of giving golden pennies to the mischievous adventures of Old Tom, the cat, whose surprising…
Level B2FantasyThe golden heart, and other fairy storiesA restless boy slips beneath the waves, guided by a mysterious fish, to explore a magical underwater world where a lonely princess is trapped on a desolate rock, guarded by a fears…
Level B2Children'sThe gold thimbleWhen Mary, a hardworking gardener’s daughter, visits the grand house of her employer, a treasured gold thimble mysteriously disappears, sparking a gentle tale of kindness, trust, a…
Level B2AdventureThe gold rock of the ChippewaIn 1775 near the Great Lakes, two American brothers face judgment from a Chippewa tribe torn between hostility and hospitality.
Level B2HistoricalThe freed boy in AlabamaIn post-Civil War Alabama, young Tom Alson wrestles with a choice between pursuing an education and accepting hard labor on a plantation.
Level B2Children'sThe fortunate calamityA family faces unexpected challenges when Aunt Elsie, long cared for by a devoted companion, must find a new home—bringing old tensions and secrets to the surface in a household al…
Level B2AdventureThe fort in the wildernessYoung hunters navigate the dangers of the Virginia wilderness amid rising tensions between settlers and Native tribes led by Chief Pontiac.
Level B2Children'sThe fireside story bookTwo young nephews, raised with opposite values—one wasteful, one thrifty—come to their uncle’s new home, where lessons of economy and foresight unfold through simple, everyday chal…
Level B2RomanceThe entertaining story of King Brondé, his Lily and his RosebudIn a shimmering palace atop a winding mountain road, the Pale Lady, Queen of King Brondé, summons a magical fairy to bestow a special blessing upon her youngest child, weaving a ta…
Level B2Children'sThe dwarf's spectacles, and other fairy talesDiscover the secret behind the rose-bush’s thorns as a gentle nightingale seeks the perfect home, only to face danger from a cunning cat lurking nearby.
Level B2RomanceThe doctor's daughterA young woman cares tenderly for her weary doctor father in a quiet country home, longing for connection and meaning amid loneliness.
Level B2RomanceThe discovery of DamarisIn quiet London, Damaris lives a sheltered life under her uncles' watchful eyes, her graceful exterior hiding fierce, slumbering passions.
Level B2AdventureThe desert homeVast and varied, the Great American Desert stretches over a million square miles of shifting sands, rugged mountains, and surprising oases, inviting daring explorers to uncover its…
Level B2Children'sThe dark nightTwins Osric and Elsie navigate childhood challenges on their way to school, where secrets and fears test their bond.