Children's
Read Children's Classics in English
1,334 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.
- 1,334
- books
Level C1AdventureThe Search for the Silver City: A Tale of Adventure in YucatanA young adventurer's summer plans shift when a schoolmate falls ill, leading to an unexpected invitation aboard a grand steam yacht.![Cover of The Search After Hapiness [sic]: A Tale by Charlotte Brontë](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/da8lcg5nmvfc73bids10.webp)
Level C1PhilosophyThe Search After Hapiness [sic]: A TaleA restless nobleman leaves his grand city behind to seek true happiness, confronting solitude and uncertainty.
Level C1Children'sThe School-Girls in Number 40; or, Principle Put to the TestTwo schoolgirls prepare to leave their homes for boarding school, facing the bittersweet challenges of packing, parting, and stepping into new independence.
Level C1Children'sThe School Friends; Or, Nothing NewTwo school friends from different worlds—steadfast Lance and lively Emery—navigate friendship, family duty, and social expectations at Elmerston Grammar-School, while Lance cares f…
Level C1Children'sThe School FourIn an Eastern private school, rivals unite to form a new athletic league, blending football and rowing with lessons in sportsmanship and school spirit.
Level C1AdventureThe Scalp HuntersVast prairies and untamed forests paint the backdrop for a gripping tale of survival and conflict in the American West, where hunters and Native Americans clash amid the wild, flow…
Level C1Children'sThe Sa'-Zada TalesIn a scorching city zoo, Sa'-zada the Keeper bridges the gap between caged animals by encouraging them to share stories of their wild pasts, fostering friendship and survival amid…
Level C1Children'sThe Russian Grandmother's Wonder TalesStep into the rustic world of Southern Russia, where a grandmother’s folk tales weave magic, humor, and ancient wisdom into stories of foxes, enchanted birds, and transformative ad…![Cover of The Russian Garland, Being Russian Folk Tales by Robert Reynolds [Editor] Steele](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/daer4uoe1ofc73dh8b0g.webp)
Level C1Children'sThe Russian Garland, Being Russian Folk TalesThree brothers set out on quests, but only the youngest, Lyubim Tsarevich, dares to seek his lost siblings and prove his worth as a future ruler—armed with a mysterious horse and a…
Level C1AdventureThe Rover's Secret: A Tale of the Pirate Cays and Lagoons of CubaA solitary artist's distant affection and mysterious family unhappiness shadow a boy's childhood, hinting at hidden secrets beneath their quiet London life.
Level C1FantasyThe Rose and the RingIn a whimsical kingdom where royal breakfasts spark intrigue, a charming prince and a magical ring stir up mischief, rivalry, and unexpected adventures in a tale filled with fairie…
Level C1AdventureThe Rock of the LionA young midshipman, once captured fighting against the King, now finds himself aboard a mighty English warship under Admiral Kempenfelt.
Level C1HistoricalThe Rival Heirs; being the Third and Last Chronicle of AescenduneAmid the upheaval of the Norman Conquest, two nations collide on the same soil—one ruling with opulence and pride, the other stripped of honor and land.
Level C1AdventureThe Rival Crusoes; Or, The Ship Wreck: Also A Voyage to Norway; and The Fisherman's Cottage.Two rival young men clash over a stolen miniature frigate, sparking a fierce contest of skill and pride by the lake.
Level C1AdventureThe Rifle RangersJourney to the untamed land of Anahuac, where emerald forests, towering mountains, and vast deserts hide legends of love, revenge, and adventure.
Level C1Children'sThe Rich Little Poor BoyA scrawny ten-year-old boy, dressed in oversized clothes and burdened with hard labor, navigates life under the watchful eye of his gruff foster father in a bustling tenement.
Level C1MysteryThe Red Pirogue: A Tale of Adventure in the Canadian WildsA mysterious red pirogue appears caught in the river’s net stakes, harboring an enigmatic girl with a letter of introduction — sparking young Ben O’Dell’s curiosity and drawing him…
Level C1AdventureThe Red Moccasins: A StoryIn the untamed wilderness of early Kentucky, young Sprigg Whitney grows up wild and free, raised by pioneers surrounded by dense forests and lurking dangers.
Level C1AdventureThe Red Man's Revenge: A Tale of The Red River FloodIn a remote Canadian frontier settlement, the fiery Elsie Ravenshaw and her rugged family face the challenges of wilderness life and a sudden shooting contest among the colony's be…
Level C1Children'sThe Red Fairy BookA dreamy cow-boy known as the Star Gazer sets out from his village to the castle of Beloeil, where twelve mysterious princesses wear out their shoes every night despite locked door…
Level C1Children'sThe Rebellion of MargaretIn a sprawling estate overshadowed by towering elms, young Margaret Anstruther faces the pressures of society and family expectations while yearning for freedom and adventure beyon…
Level C1Children'sThe Ravens and the Angels, with Other Stories and ParablesIn a medieval city where the grand Cathedral shelters both divine choirs and struggling poor, a widowed stone-carver’s wife and her children endure hunger and hardship while clingi…
Level C1AdventureThe Ranche on the Oxhide: A Story of Boys' and Girls' Life on the FrontierIn post-Civil War Kansas, a veteran and his family venture into the untamed frontier, facing the challenges of wilderness, hostile tribes, and the quest for a new life on the open…
Level C1AdventureThe Rambles of a RatIn a bustling London warehouse, a family of clever rats embarks on daring nightly adventures, navigating rivalries and unexpected feasts.
Level C1Children'sThe Rainbow, After the Thunder-StormCaught in a sudden thunderstorm far from home, Julia and her mother seek shelter while learning about nature’s power and mercy.
Level C1Children'sThe Railway Man and His ChildrenAmidst whispers and social scandal, a lady from a good family surprises everyone by marrying an engineer deemed beneath her class, sparking gossip and intrigue about love, status,…
Level C1FantasyThe Queen of the Pirate IsleA spirited nine-year-old imagines herself Queen of a pirate isle during a nursery adventure turned wild sea voyage, commanding her loyal but mischievous pirate crew through imagina…
Level C1FantasyThe Queen Who Flew: A Fairy TaleA young queen, isolated in her garden during a turbulent revolution, dreams of flying and freedom as she confides in a mysterious bat who knows the secret to flight—if only she dar…
Level C1HistoricalThe Queen Bee, and Other Nature StoriesIn a bustling hive, the queen bee commands her workers through the rhythms of nature’s seasons, guiding them as they gather honey, build intricate cells, and nurture new life in a…
Level C1PoetryThe Quadrupeds' Pic-NicStep into a whimsical world where animals gather for a lively picnic, sharing songs and stories that reveal charming tales and gentle morals through playful verse and imagination.
Level C1HistoricalThe Puritan TwinsIn 1638 New England, spirited twins Nancy and Daniel navigate the challenges of pioneer life beneath their stern Puritan mother's watchful eye, exploring fields, rivers, and the ev…
Level C1RomanceThe Prose Marmion: A Tale of the Scottish BorderAmid the rugged Scottish Borders, Norham Castle stands as a fortress of honor and intrigue, where warriors and minstrels gather under fading daylight to welcome Lord Marmion, setti…
Level C1Children'sThe Professional AuntAunthood becomes a calling as one woman embraces the quirky, demanding role of the "professional aunt," mastering the art of perfect gifts, navigating toddler etiquette, and balanc…
Level C1Children'sThe Prisoners of HartlingA young doctor from a modest background receives an unexpected invitation to visit his wealthy, distant relatives at the grand estate of Hartling, stirring thoughts of class, purpo…
Level C1AdventureThe Prairie ChiefAmidst the vast North American prairies, Whitewing, a thoughtful and courageous Red Indian, challenges tribal norms with his unique beliefs and gentle nature.
Level C1Children'sThe Practical Joke; Or, The Christmas Story of Uncle NedOn a magical Christmas night, mischievous Uncle Ned recounts a thrilling skating adventure where a playful prank on a frozen pond nearly turns dangerous.
Level C1AdventureThe Powder MonkeyA weary orphan boy meets a gruff but kind-hearted seaman who offers shelter and food, sparking an adventurous bond on the edge of the sea.
Level C1RomanceThe Potter and the Clay: A Romance of TodayA spirited young girl defies expectations and hides away her burdens as she navigates childhood’s contradictions, friendship, and the quiet struggles beneath a tempestuous surface…
Level C1PoetryThe Posy Ring: A Book of Verse for ChildrenDelight in a charming collection of poems that celebrate the playful wonders of childhood, nature, and imagination, carefully selected to inspire and enchant young readers througho…
Level C1FantasyThe Poor Little Rich GirlA young girl, desperate to prove she has grown up, confronts the bittersweet reality of her unchanged height on her seventh birthday while navigating the confines of her privileged…
Level C1PoetryThe Placid Pug, and Other RhymesA placid pug leads a dull, uneventful life in the park, unaware of the fierce struggles beyond his world.
Level C1MysteryThe Pit Town Coronet: A Family Mystery, Volume 3 (of 3)Seventeen years after a sudden health crisis, Reginald Haggard and his family settle into Walls End Castle under the watchful eye of Lord Pit Town, navigating aristocratic duties,…
Level C1MysteryThe Pit Town Coronet: A Family Mystery, Volume 2 (of 3)In a secluded Swiss villa overlooking a mysteriously blue lake, Georgie Haggard leads a quiet life shadowed by distant letters from her husband in Mexico—until a hidden family secr…
Level C1AdventureThe Pirate of the Mediterranean: A Tale of the SeaAmidst the fortified harbors and bustling streets of Valetta, Malta, a tale unfolds of naval intrigue, diverse cultures, and the enduring struggle to protect this Mediterranean str…
Level C1AdventureThe Pirate Slaver: A Story of the West African CoastA swift British brig sets sail along the West African coast in 1840, hunting elusive slave ships hidden in the treacherous Congo River.
Level C1AdventureThe Pirate Island: A Story of the South PacificA fierce November gale batters the coast as townsfolk anxiously watch for shipwrecks, while young Bob, a lone survivor of a tragic maritime disaster, keeps vigilant lookout—driven…
Level C1AdventureThe Pirate City: An Algerine TaleA spirited Sicilian youth dreams of a sailor’s life, but family duty and expectations pull him toward the Church.
Level C1AdventureThe PioneersIn the wild Canadian wilderness, a rugged pioneer and his son confront the challenges of uncharted lands, driven by a restless spirit to explore and discover the unknown.