Children's
Read Children's Classics in English
6,041 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.
- 6,041
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Level B2AdventureA Hero of Liége: A Story of the Great WarAs Europe teeters on the brink of war, Kenneth Amory navigates the tense atmosphere of a family business divided by loyalty and suspicion.
Level C1AdventureA Gunner Aboard the "Yankee": From the Diary of Number Five of the After Port Gun (Russell Doubleday): The Yarn of the Cruise and Fights of the Naval Reserves in the Spanish-American WarExperience the gripping journey of the New York Naval Reserves aboard the auxiliary cruiser "Yankee" as they transition from civilians to sailors, facing the challenges and camarad…
Level B2Children'sA Great Emergency and Other TalesFour siblings, led by resourceful Rupert, turn a sleepy life lively with lessons on courage and quick thinking from an old leather-bound manual, preparing for any emergency—from fi…
Level C1Children'sA Grandmother's RecollectionsA spirited teenager braces for the arrival of her formidable grandmother, expecting strict discipline but finding herself caught in playful chaos and unexpected warmth.
Level C1Children'sA Girl of the PeopleIn the gritty streets of Liverpool, Bet, a spirited newspaper girl, wrestles with family strife and harsh realities, determined to prove her independence while clinging to the smal…
Level B2Children'sA Girl of the LimberlostElnora Comstock escapes a harsh home life and sets out on a determined journey to high school, facing judgment and hardship as she seeks knowledge and a better future beyond the Li…
Level C1HistoricalA Girl of the CommuneIn a respected English town, a prominent solicitor's family faces tensions as his eldest daughter returns from Girton College with radical ideas about women's roles, challenging th…
Level B2Children'sA Girl of To-dayTwo siblings reunite after months apart, stepping into the gentle rhythms of village life where friendship, family ties, and youthful adventures await.
Level B2AdventureA Girl of High AdventureA spirited girl of Irish and French heritage lives under the stern care of her aunt and adoring uncle, dreaming of her family's faded glory while defying expectations with fearless…
Level B2Children'sA Girl in Ten ThousandA young woman determined to break free from her modest life embraces the challenge of becoming a nurse, seeking independence and a new purpose despite her family's worries.
Level B2Children'sA Girl in Spring-TimeOn the eve of midsummer holidays, a group of schoolgirls share lively tales of picnics, seaside adventures, and haunted farmhouses, inviting readers into a charming world of youthf…
Level B2Children'sA Garland for GirlsSix young Boston girls form the Mayflower Club, gathering weekly to read, sew, and grapple with the challenges of helping others less fortunate.
Level B2RomanceA Frog He Would A-Wooing GoA determined frog sets out on a whimsical wooing adventure, joined by a rat and a mouse, but their merry-making is soon interrupted by unexpected dangers in this lively animal fabl…
Level B2HistoricalA Fortunate TermIn a bleak, snowy northern town, delicate Mavis battles bronchitis while dreaming of the warm, blooming gardens of Durracombe.
PoetryA Flower Wedding: Described by Two WallflowersStep into a whimsical celebration where flowers come alive to join in a vibrant wedding, unfolding through the eyes of two shy observers.
Level B2Children'sA Flock of Girls and BoysIn a lively New England town, spirited Tilly Morris clashes with Boston's aristocratic Pelhams while discovering unexpected friendships and challenging social snobbery alongside Wi…
Level B2AdventureA Flight with the Swallows; Or, Little Dorothy's DreamA lonely girl escapes her quiet life when a friendly swallow invites her on a magical flight to the sunny South, promising adventure beyond her garden walls and the chance to disco…
Level C1Children'sA Flat Iron for a Farthing; or, Some Passages in the Life of an only SonAn only son recounts tender memories of his brief time with his baby sister and the loving care of a gentle nurse, capturing childhood’s bittersweet moments and the small wonders o…
Level B2AdventureA Final Reckoning: A Tale of Bush Life in AustraliaA spirited boy faces false accusations in a tough village school, while dangers lurk beyond the classroom in the wild Australian bush.
Level C1FantasyA Double StoryIn a land where uncertainty reigns and golden rain falls, two baby girls are born worlds apart—one a royal princess taught to believe she is Somebody, the other a humble shepherd’s…
Level C1Children'sA Dog with a Bad NameAt a rundown school known for its neglect and low standards, a new young headmaster arrives determined to shake things up—imposing strict rules and making football compulsory—spark…
Level B2Children'sA Dog of Flanders, The Nürnberg Stove, and Other StoriesIn a humble Flemish village, orphaned boy Nello and his loyal dog Patrasche share an unbreakable bond as they navigate poverty and hardship together, finding comfort in their simpl…
Level B2Children'sA Dog of FlandersOrphaned and impoverished, young Nello and his loyal dog Patrasche forge an unbreakable bond as they face hardship in a humble village near Antwerp.
Level B2Children'sA Dixie School GirlIn a peaceful Southern valley where community life revolves around the Four Corners store, the rhythms of country living unfold amid changing seasons and close-knit friendships.
Level B2AdventureA District Messenger Boy, and A Necktie PartyA twelve-year-old messenger boy finds himself stranded on a steamer bound for Providence, unexpectedly joined by a frightened child who has been kidnapped.
Level B1PoetryA Defective Santa ClausWhen Pa must leave on Christmas Eve, Uncle Sidney steps in with stories, popcorn, and warm hearthside magic, promising a visit from Santa Claus himself—sparking hope and wonder in…
Level B1Children'sA Dear Little Girl's Thanksgiving HolidaysA young girl eagerly prepares for a cherished old-fashioned Thanksgiving at her grandparents' village home, where family gatherings, country life, and childhood adventures promise…
Level B1AdventureA Dear Little Girl's Summer HolidaysTwo friends receive an exciting invitation to spend summer holidays with Jennie, sparking dreams of adventure and fun despite the summer heat.
Level B2Children'sA Dear Little Girl at SchoolEdna navigates the joys and challenges of school life, family, and friendship during a season of change, all while sharing playful moments with her whimsical Cousin Ben.
Level B2Children'sA Dear Little GirlAn eight-year-old girl faces the bittersweet adventure of leaving home to live with her Aunt Elizabeth in the city, where new friends, bustling shops, and unexpected challenges awa…
Level B1AdventureA Day at the County FairThree friends embark on a thrilling motor ride through vibrant autumn landscapes, led by the mysterious Uncle Billy, promising a day filled with adventure and an exciting surprise…
Level B2HistoricalA Daughter of the UnionIn the midst of the Civil War, a determined group of young girls led by Jeanne Vance channel their patriotism into making socks and handkerchiefs, then hatch a plan to hold a fair,…
Level B1Children'sA Daughter of the RichIn a cozy home warmed by molasses tea and family laughter, children prepare heartfelt valentines and cherish simple joys.
Level C1MysteryA Daughter of the ForestAmidst an ominous storm and eerie silence, a young girl named Margot vanishes after setting out alone in her canoe, sparking desperate search and dread in a remote forest cabin whe…
Level B2AdventureA Dash from Diamond CityIn the rugged diamond fields of Kimberley, three young men balance the quiet tension of office work with the looming threat of conflict, as one prepares to trade his pen for a rifl…
Level B2AdventureA Cousin's Conspiracy; Or, A Boy's Struggle for an InheritanceA determined sixteen-year-old boy cares for his dying uncle on the Iowa prairie, facing hardship and mysterious threats as he fights to secure an inheritance that could change his…
Level B1Children'sA Collection of Beatrix Potter StoriesFour adventurous rabbits venture beyond their cozy home, defying warnings to explore a forbidden garden where danger and mischief await.
Level C1HistoricalA Clerk of Oxford, and His Adventures in the Barons' WarA grieving youth, orphaned and penniless, sets out from his quiet monastery life to face the harsh world beyond, seeking his place amid the turmoil of the Barons' War.
Level B2RomanceA City Schoolgirl and Her FriendsA determined young woman faces harsh realities when she and her sister must leave their home and survive on a meager income.
PoetryA Christmas snowflake: a rhyme for childrenDelight in a whimsical rhyme that captures the magic of a Christmas snowflake’s journey to find Santa and meet the reindeer, sparking the wonder of the holiday season for children.
Level C1Children'sA Christmas PosyTwo sisters face a lonely Christmas Eve in a Paris apartment, their hearts heavy with the loss of their beloved grandmother.
Level B2PoetryA Christmas Hamper: A Volume of Pictures and Stories for Little FolksChildren’s holiday adventures unfold with mysteries and heartwarming surprises—from a lost uncle’s return after ten years on an island to daring seaside escapades and lively tales…
Level B2Children'sA Christmas Greeting: A Series of StoriesIn a street of new, neat houses stands an ancient, crumbling home that only a curious boy admires.
Level B2Children'sA Christmas Child: A Sketch of a Boy-LifeBorn on Christmas Day, baby Ted's fragile beginning unfolds in a seaside home where his delicate health challenges his young mother’s hopes.
Level B2Children'sA Christmas Carol; Or, The Miser's Warning!: (Adapted from Charles Dickens' Celebrated Work.)A cold-hearted miser dismisses the joy of Christmas, valuing money over kindness, until mysterious visitors and ghostly warnings challenge his bitter outlook and reveal the true sp…
Level B2Children'sA Christmas Carol in Prose; Being a Ghost Story of ChristmasIn a cold, foggy London, the miserly Scrooge shuns warmth and kindness, obsessed with profit and isolation.
Level C1Children'sA Christmas CarolA miserly businessman, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his late partner Marley and three spirits who offer him a chance at redemption.
Level B2Children'sA China cup, and other stories for childrenA lump of clay endures a harsh journey from earth to factory, transforming through trials into a delicate china cup.