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
- books
Level B2Children's"No place like home"In a lonely, crumbling hut by the woods, Ishmael grows up surrounded by nature's quiet wonders, under the care of his devoted mother Ruth, whose faith and resilience shape their hu…
Level C1Children's"Light Ho, Sir!"A hardened sailor, shaped by brutal streets and cruel ships, encounters a life-changing force that challenges his dark past and ignites a profound spiritual awakening.
Level C1Children's"Jesus Says So": Or, a Memorial of Little Sarah G--Amidst poverty and hardship in 19th-century London, young Sarah finds unwavering faith and comfort in the promise of Jesus, embracing hope and love even as illness confines her to…
Level B2Children's"It's all real true"In cold, rain-soaked London, young Molly struggles to care for her ailing father while navigating the harsh realities of poverty and hope.
Level B2Adventure"Forward, March": A Tale of the Spanish-American WarIn the tense days before the Spanish-American War, Ridge Norris—a gentle, cultured man torn between luxury and duty—faces family conflicts and political intrigue, while the call to…
Level B2Children's"Carrots:" Just a Little BoyIn a modest household bustling with six children, the youngest, Carrots, stands out not for remarkable deeds but for his fiery curls and independent spirit.
Level C1Adventure"Captains Courageous": A Story of the Grand BanksA spoiled young boy aboard a grand ocean liner faces the gritty reality of the North Atlantic fog and the tough fishing fleet of the Grand Banks, where adventure and harsh lessons…
Level B2Adventure"Boy" the Wandering Dog: Adventures of a Fox-TerrierA wandering fox-terrier arrives in bustling New York City, seeking friendship and survival amid wary street dogs and shadowed alleys.
Level C1Historical"All's not Gold that Glitters;" or, The Young CalifornianIn a quiet New England village, news of California’s gold rush sparks dreams of fortune and adventure, but the young hopeful soon learns that wealth and trust are harder to find th…
Level C1Adventure!Tention: A Story of Boy-Life during the Peninsular WarAmidst the rugged Pyrenees during the Peninsular War, a young rifleman and his comrades navigate deadly skirmishes as they retreat from pursuing French forces, testing loyalty and…
Level A2PoetryA Child's Garden of VersesStevenson's beloved collection of short, musical poems about childhood — swings, shadows, ships, and bedtime.
Level B2AdventureAdventures of Huckleberry FinnThe classic adventure novel by Mark Twain.
Level B1FantasyAlice's Adventures in WonderlandDown the rabbit-hole into a logic-bending world of riddles and talking creatures.
Level A2Children'sAndersen's Fairy TalesEighteen timeless tales including The Emperor's New Clothes, The Snow Queen, and The Little Match Girl.
Level B1Children'sAnne of Green GablesThe classic historical novel by L.
Level A2Children'sEnglish Fairy TalesClassic English folk tales collected by Joseph Jacobs — Jack and the Beanstalk, Tom Tit Tot, The Three Little Pigs and more.
Level A2Children'sFifty Famous Stories RetoldFifty short, famous stories from history and legend — King Alfred and the cakes, the sword of Damocles, and more — retold in plain English for young and new readers.
Level A2Children'sGrimms' Fairy TalesSixty-two beloved folk tales — from Hansel and Gretel to Rumpelstiltskin — retold in simple English.
Level B1Children'sJust So StoriesKipling's playful pourquoi tales explaining how the whale got his throat, how the leopard got his spots, and more.
Level B1Children'sLittle Women; Or, Meg, Jo, Beth, and AmyThe classic childrens novel by Louisa May Alcott.![Cover of Peter Pan : $b [Peter and Wendy] by J. M. (James Matthew) Barrie](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/book-peter-pan-b-peter-and-wendy-cover.jpg)
Level B1Children'sPeter Pan : $b [Peter and Wendy]The classic adventure novel by J.
Level B2AdventureThe Adventures of Tom SawyerMischief, caves and buried treasure along the Mississippi River.
Level A2Children'sThe Aesop for ChildrenMore than a hundred of Aesop's fables retold for children, each a few sentences long and ending in a clear moral.
Level B1Children'sThe Blue Fairy BookAndrew Lang's celebrated anthology gathering favourite fairy tales from around the world — Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and many more.
Level B2HistoricalThe Prince and the PauperThe classic historical novel by Mark Twain.
Children'sThe Tale of Peter RabbitPeter Rabbit disobeys his mother and sneaks into Mr.
Level B1FantasyThe Wonderful Wizard of OzThe classic adventure novel by L.
Level B2AdventureTreasure IslandThe classic adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Level A2Children'sThe Adventures of Reddy FoxSly Reddy Fox learns some hard lessons in the Green Meadows and the Green Forest, with Granny Fox, Bowser the Hound, and Peter Rabbit — gentle, repetitive animal stories for early…
Level A2Children'sThe Adventures of Buster BearBig Buster Bear comes to the Green Forest and stirs up the Smiling Pool — gentle, repetitive animal tales for early readers.
Level A2Children'sThe Adventures of Danny Meadow MouseLittle Danny Meadow Mouse outwits foxes and hawks with his wits and his tunnels — simple, kindly animal stories for early readers.
Children'sThe Tale of Benjamin BunnyBenjamin Bunny and his cousin Peter slip into Mr.
Children'sThe Tale of Jemima Puddle-DuckJemima Puddle-Duck looks for a quiet place to lay her eggs and meets a sly gentleman — a gentle, simple tale for the earliest readers.
Children'sThe Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-WinkleLittle Lucie meets Mrs.
Children'sThe Tale of Squirrel NutkinCheeky Squirrel Nutkin teases old Owl Brown once too often — a playful, simple tale for the earliest readers.
Children'sThe Tale of Tom KittenTom Kitten and his sisters get thoroughly grubby before their mother's tea party — a gentle, simple tale for the earliest readers.
Children'sThe Tale of the Flopsy BunniesThe sleepy Flopsy Bunnies nibble too much lettuce and land in trouble with Mr.
Level B1Children'sA Little PrincessWealthy, imaginative Sara Crewe is left penniless at her London boarding school and made a servant — yet keeps her kindness and courage against all odds.
Level B1Children'sHeidiOrphaned Heidi is sent to live with her gruff grandfather on a Swiss mountain, and her sunny spirit warms everyone she meets — a heart-warming Alpine classic.
Level B1Children'sThe Secret GardenSour, lonely Mary Lennox is sent to a great Yorkshire house and discovers a locked, hidden garden — and brings it, and herself, and a sickly boy, back to life.
Level B1Children'sThe Wind in the WillowsMole, Rat, Badger, and the boastful Mr.