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 C1FantasyThe Story Without an EndA Child lives simply in a hut, delighting in morning feasts shared with whimsical creatures who reveal the wonders of nature and the joy of freedom.
Level C1Children'sThe Story Hour: A Book for the Home and the KindergartenStep into the enchanting world of storytelling where lively children and whimsical characters come alive through tales of animals, adventures, and timeless virtues, all crafted to…
Level B2AdventureThe Story GirlTwo cousins journey to their ancestral home on Prince Edward Island, where they meet the enchanting Story Girl—a vibrant cousin whose tales and adventures promise to illuminate the…
Level B2MysteryThe Store BoyYoung Ben Barclay’s routine life takes a dangerous turn when a mysterious tramp recognizes his family name and demands money during a lonely ride to Pentonville—testing Ben’s coura…
Level B2AdventureThe Stolen Aeroplane; or, How Bud Wilson Made GoodWhen the expert pilot fails to arrive with a much-anticipated aeroplane for the county fair, young Bud Wilson seizes a daring chance to prove himself by stepping into the cockpit a…
Level B2Children'sThe Stokesley SecretIn a lively household where children bicker over bread and butter and a young governess strives to keep order, a curious question about how a pig can pay rent hints at a charming m…
Level B2AdventureThe Steel Horse: The Rambles of a BicycleThree adventurous boys set out on a daring bicycle journey across the state, encountering unexpected dangers like a massive rock blocking a railroad track and unraveling local myst…
Level B2AdventureThe Steam-Shovel ManA determined young man stumbles into the bustling world of steam-shovel operators shaping the Panama Canal, where hard work, high stakes, and rugged adventure beckon beyond the fam…
Level B2Children'sThe Staying GuestIn a perfectly prim and tidy old colonial house where even the sun struggles to shine, two prim sisters maintain an impeccably ordered life—until the arrival of unexpected guests s…
Level C1RomanceThe Stars in the Pool: A Prose Poem for LoversIn a realm of enchanted forests and a gleaming castle, a young sculptor named Flame arrives to win the heart of Princess Roseheart, whose beauty mirrors the dawn itself.
Level B2RomanceThe Star of IndiaIn the sweltering heat of 1857 India, an assistant surgeon embarks on a perilous journey to Delhi, navigating political intrigue and ancient rivalries.
Level B2HistoricalThe Star of Gettysburg: A Story of Southern High TideIn the midst of the Civil War, young Southern hero Harry Kenton and his comrades navigate the trials of battle and loyalty, weaving honor, courage, and romance into the fierce conf…
Level B2Children'sThe Squire's young folkIn a quaint English countryside, siblings Nellie and Rupert navigate the arrival of a mysterious new boy, Bob, the orphaned son of a fallen soldier, just as Christmas approaches—sp…
Level A2PoetryThe Square Book of AnimalsDiscover a charming collection of animal portraits brought to life through whimsical rhymes and elegant design, featuring familiar creatures from the loyal bulldog to the graceful…
Level B2AdventureThe Sportsman's Club in the SaddleTwo adventurous brothers revel in the thrills of winter hunting, trapping, and rivalries on their sprawling southern estate, where wild game and fierce competition promise endless…
Level B2AdventureThe Sportsman's Club AfloatA daring young captain commands his yacht to chase smugglers who have captured his friend, braving the treacherous Gulf winds and a shadowy island to uncover their secrets and resc…
Level B2Children'sThe Spirit of the SchoolAt Beechcroft Academy, the arrival of Hansel Dana—a newcomer from Ohio with a football past—throws Bert Middleton’s carefully laid plans into chaos, challenging friendships and sch…
Level B2AdventureThe Speedwell Boys and Their Racing Auto; Or, A Run for the Golden CupFive daring boys spot a reckless driver struggling with his car on a dangerous road, just as a high-speed racing automobile barrels toward a sharp curve.
Level B2AdventureThe Speedwell Boys and Their Ice Racer; Or, Lost in the Great BlizzardAmid a fierce winter blizzard, two brothers racing through snowstorms rescue a mysterious, injured boy who speaks in an unknown tongue—igniting an adventurous winter tale of surviv…
Level B2Children'sThe Spectacle Man: A Story of the Missing BridgeA curious girl named Frances steps into a quirky optician’s shop, where a cheerful man with spectacles and a mysterious cat invites her into a world of peculiar objects and unexpec…
Level B2HistoricalThe Spartan TwinsIn ancient Greece, ten-year-old Spartan twins Dion and Daphne live on a farm near Athens, where their mother Lydia prepares for unexpected guests and daily life unfolds with the rh…
Level C1AdventureThe Spanish brothersIn 16th-century Spain, two noble brothers navigate the trials of a fallen family legacy amid castle walls and rainy days.
Level B2Children'sThe Spanish ChestIn the charming island setting of Jersey, young Estelle Pearce courageously opens a lodging house to support her sister and herself, inviting unexpected visitors and adventures tha…
Level B2AdventureThe South Sea WhalerSet sail on a thrilling South Sea whaling voyage with Captain Tredeagle and his children, Walter and Alice, as they navigate the dangers of the Pacific, encounter exotic wildlife,…
Level C1Children'sThe Song of the LarkIn a quiet Colorado town, a young doctor navigates the challenges of small-town life and personal duties on a snowy night, revealing the delicate balance between duty and desire un…
Level B2Children'sThe Song of Sixpence: Picture BookDelight in whimsical nursery rhymes, enchanting princess adventures, and a magical alphabet filled with treasured friends, brought to life through vivid, original illustrations tha…
Level C1PoetryThe Song of HiawathaJourney into the rich legends of the Ojibway and other North American tribes through the haunting, lyrical tales sung by the musician Nawadaha, revealing the birth and deeds of Hia…
Level B2Children'sThe Son of His MotherA childless couple, united by art and love, wrestles with a quiet longing that shadows their refined life, prompting a journey across Europe and beyond in search of solace and mean…
Level A2Children'sThe Soldier Turned FarmerA young boy dreams of being a soldier, but a terrifying encounter in a distant land changes his path forever.
Level B2AdventureThe Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army: A Story of the Great RebellionAs Fort Sumter falls, young Thomas Somers feels the urgent call to defend his country, igniting a fierce patriotism that draws him from peaceful village life into the harsh realiti…
Level B2AdventureThe SlowcoachIn a charming old house by the Thames, the Avory children—each with their own passions and dreams—navigate family life filled with adventure, history, and youthful ambition.
Level B2MysteryThe Slipper Point MysteryAt Carter's Landing, a barefooted girl named Sally befriends a glamorous newcomer on a quiet early summer afternoon, setting the stage for a mystery that ripples beneath the river'…
Level B2PoetryThe Sleeping Beauty Picture BookA princess cursed to sleep for a hundred years awakens to a world transformed, where a brave prince must navigate enchanted thorns and a silent palace to break the spell and restor…
Level C1AdventureThe Slave of the Mine; or, Jack Harkaway in 'FriscoIn the gambling dens of San Francisco, a restless Englishman wrestles with luck and fate while shadowy figures and high-stakes games pull him deeper into a thrilling adventure wher…
Level B2PoetryThe Slant BookA runaway go-cart careens down a steep hill, causing chaos and laughter as it collides with townsfolk, animals, and objects in a whirlwind adventure.
Level B2MysteryThe Sky Pilot's Great Chase; Or, Jack Ralston's Dead Stick LandingTwo daring sky detectives, disguised as millionaire sportsmen, pilot a state-of-the-art airship on a globe-spanning mission to outwit international criminals.
Level B2MysteryThe Sky Detectives; Or, How Jack Ralston Got His ManAmid a thrilling stunt-flying contest at Atlanta's busy airfield, ace pilot Jack Ralston and his loyal friend Gabe Perkiser prepare to take to the skies in pursuit of a daring skyb…
Level B2Children'sThe Skating Party and Other StoriesExperience the joys and perils of childhood through lively tales of skating parties, mischievous pranks, and adventurous games, where lessons of bravery, kindness, and caution come…
Level C1HistoricalThe Sister Years (From "Twice Told Tales")As the Old Year, weary and battle-scarred, prepares to rest, her hopeful sister—the New Year—arrives, full of promise and untested dreams.
Level B2Children'sThe Sins of Silvertip the FoxIn a lively spring filled with curious visitors and wild creatures, Nibble Rabbit navigates the mysteries of the woods, befriending a troubled Red Cow and questioning what it means…
Level B2FantasyThe Singing Mouse StoriesIn a humble room, a mysterious Singing Mouse appears only after midnight, enchanting with songs that conjure vivid worlds of beauty, friendship, and adventure beyond the ordinary.
Level B2Children'sThe Silver Lining: A Guernsey StoryOn a serene summer afternoon in Guernsey, young Frank wrestles with his conscience as he sneaks away from duty to explore the sea, discovering both the joys of freedom and the pang…
Level B2AdventureThe Silver Canyon: A Tale of the Western PlainsA determined explorer rallies a rugged crew of half-breeds and settlers to brave untamed Western plains in search of hidden gold and silver, risking danger and distrust in uncharte…
Level B2AdventureThe Silly Jelly-Fish: Told in EnglishA Dragon King’s young bride falls gravely ill, and only a live Monkey’s liver can save her.
Level C1HistoricalThe Sign of the Red Cross: A Tale of Old LondonIn a prosperous but prideful London, whispers of plague stir unease among builders and tradesmen alike, as personal ambition clashes with looming disaster and the city’s moral deca…
Level C1Children'sThe ShuttleAcross the vast Atlantic, two worlds divided by conflict and history slowly draw closer as fate weaves an intricate web of connection.
Level B1MysteryThe Shore Road mysteryFive expensive cars vanish mysteriously along Shore Road, baffling the police and locals alike.
Level B2AdventureThe Shipwreck: A Story for the YoungTwo young friends in 1858 Hongkong, an Irish boy and a Chinese foundling, share adventures around the grand cathedral and bustling harbor, eagerly awaiting the arrival of a ship be…