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.
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Level C1Children'sThe Junior Classics, Volume 1: Fairy and wonder talesA carefully curated collection of timeless fairy and wonder tales invites young readers to explore enchanting stories that inspire imagination, moral growth, and a lifelong love of…
Level C1AdventureThe Jungle Fugitives: A Tale of Life and Adventure in India: Including also Many Stories of American Adventure, Enterprise and DaringAmid the rising flames of the 1857 Indian uprising, an American doctor and his daughter navigate a land on the brink of chaos, where loyalty, love, and survival intertwine against…
Level B2AdventureThe Jungle BookIn the heart of the jungle, a wolf pack faces the threat of the fierce tiger Shere Khan, whose hunger for man disrupts the delicate balance of the wild.
Level A2AdventureThe Jungle BabyA golden-haired baby named Bab-ba lives peacefully with his devoted Ayah and playful pets on the edge of a sprawling jungle—until a cunning snake named Hoodo lures him into the wil…
Level C1PoetryThe Jumblies, and Other Nonsense VersesDive into a whimsical world where curious creatures embark on fanciful adventures, from sailing seas to dancing with animals, all brought to life by playful verses and charming ill…
Level B2Children'sThe Joyous Story of TotoA lively boy named Toto lives with his blind grandmother in a charming cottage by the woods, where everyday adventures and warm-hearted moments unfold amid gingerbread baking, knit…
Level B2Children'sThe Jolliest Term on Record: A Story of School LifeTwo schoolgirls sense a secret stirring at home as their father prepares for a sudden trip abroad, leading to unexpected plans that send them back to boarding school for a term of…
Level B2Children'sThe Jolliest School of AllA spirited girl dreads returning to school until an unexpected family move to Italy promises adventure, new challenges, and a chance to attend a boarding school abroad.
Level A2PoetryThe Jingle BookWhimsical poems and playful jingles bring to life a world where kittens sprout wings, kings flounder at sea, and old hens discover their literary flair—inviting readers into a char…
Level B2Children'sThe Jimmyjohns, and other storiesTwin brothers Jimmy and Johnny Plummer, known as the Jimmyjohns, embark on imaginative adventures from their quaint cottage, turning everyday moments into playful quests filled wit…
Level C1AdventureThe Jester's Sword: How Aldebaran, the King's Son Wore the Sheathed Sword of ConquestDestined to wield the legendary Sword of Conquest, Aldebaran embarks on a daring quest to prove his valor and fulfill a vow made to the maiden Vesta.
Level B2Children'sThe Jay Bird Who Went TameWhen a jay bird with a hurt wing is rescued by a boy, an unlikely friendship begins amid kitchen adventures and forest dangers, as clever animals team up to outwit a sly rat threat…
Level B1Children'sThe Japanese TwinsIn a sunny garden on the Happy Islands of Japan, five-year-old twins Taro and Take share joyful days filled with family warmth and playful adventures.
Level B2Children'sThe Jade Story Book; Stories from the OrientStep into a magical Oriental garden where a mysterious Nightingale’s enchanting song captivates all—except the emperor, who has yet to hear the bird that travelers praise as the ki…
Level B2AdventureThe Island of Gold: A Sailor's YarnA resilient boy named Ransey Tansey cares for his little sister and their loyal dog in a humble countryside cottage, where simple routines mask the hardships they've faced.
Level C1AdventureThe Island QueenStranded in a tiny boat on the vast Southern Ocean, a young man battles exhaustion and despair while caring for his sister and brother, clinging to hope amid starvation and loss.
Level B2AdventureThe Island House: A Tale for the Young FolksWhen a sudden flood isolates a house and traps the children inside, resourceful young Alfie sets out on a daring rescue using nothing but a washing tub.
Level C1AdventureThe Island HomeA trading voyage to the East Indian archipelago takes an unexpected turn when a group of young men land on a beautiful but wild Pacific island, where nature’s bounty masks dangers…
Level B2MysteryThe Island CampAs the Lennox cousins arrive for their holiday at the old family estate, the Vaughan children prepare to camp on the mysterious island in the garden’s river.
Level B2FantasyThe Iron Star — And What It Saw on Its Journey Through the Ages: From Myth to HistoryJourney through a primeval world where fire is a precious treasure and ancient fears roam the forest.
Level C1Children'sThe Iron HorseAmid the relentless roar and tremors of a railway embankment, young Gertie’s lively world unfolds beside her father, a dedicated engine-driver navigating the iron horse that thunde…
Level B1AdventureThe Iron Boys on the Ore Boats; or, Roughing It on the Great LakesTwo young men leave their mining boss roles to work as seamen on the Great Lakes, tasked with uncovering ways to improve ore shipment efficiency aboard the sturdy but old ship, the…
Level B2AdventureThe Iron Boys in the Steel Mills; or, Beginning Anew in the Cinder PitsIn the relentless heat of the steel mills, a young accident department worker races against time and obstructive Iron and Steel Police to reach a disaster site, revealing the harsh…
Level B2AdventureThe Iron Boys in the Mines; or, Starting at the Bottom of the ShaftA determined sixteen-year-old boy fights through obstacles and hostile reception to secure a job in the dangerous coal mines, proving strength and resolve beyond his years.
Level B2AdventureThe Iron Boys as Foremen; or, Heading the Diamond Drill ShiftTrapped in a runaway mining cage hurtling through the depths, three men cling to survival amid chaos and danger.
Level C1Children'sThe Irish Fairy BookStep into a mystical Ireland where ancient hills hide fairies with powers to bless or curse, weaving a rich tapestry of myth, magic, and timeless folklore that shapes the lives of…
Level B2Children'sThe Inglises; Or, How the Way OpenedAmidst a fierce storm, the Inglis family awaits the return of the Reverend from his long journey to remote villages, where he ministers to those who might never hear the Gospel oth…
Level C2PoetryThe Infant's Delight: PoetryDiscover gentle poems that celebrate nature, childhood, and divine care, weaving simple joys and spiritual reflections into verses filled with wonder and faith.
Level C1HistoricalThe Indian queenAmid the fiery council-fires of the Iroquois, Mahaska—a half-white queen with fierce intellect and ambition—seeks to unite her people and assert her power by waging war against a r…
Level C1Children'sThe Independence Day Horror at KillsburyOn Independence Day in Killsbury, young Laurens Angelo Cornwallis’s birthday coincides with a town steeped in patriotic fervor—and a looming danger beneath the festive celebrations…
Level B2AdventureThe Inca EmeraldA mysterious professor arrives with a tantalizing claim about the legendary Inca emerald lost in a sacred lake, sparking a high-stakes quest filled with rare gems, ancient legends,…
Level A2PoetryThe Illustrated Alphabet of BirdsExplore the vibrant world of birds from A to Z through charming verses that bring each feathered creature to life, from the Arctic auk to the lively yellow bird, blending nature’s…
Level B2Children'sThe Ice-Maiden: and Other Tales.In the majestic Swiss mountains, bold young Rudy lives a life of adventure and solitude, guided by the wisdom of his grandfather and the cunning of a clever cat who teaches him to…
Level B2AdventureThe Ice QueenThree young siblings, left to fend for themselves after their parents’ deaths, navigate hardship and hope in a small town.
Level C1PoetryThe Hunting of the Snark: An Agony in Eight FitsEmbark on a whimsical voyage with a curious crew led by the meticulous Bellman, as they hunt the elusive and mysterious Snark in a world where nonsense and logic entwine in poetic…
Level C1AdventureThe Hunters of the HillsIn the wilderness of colonial New York, two boys and a rugged hunter navigate a vast lake, caught in the fierce struggle between French and English forces and the powerful Iroquois…
Level B2HistoricalThe Hunter Cats of ConnorloaA lonely gentleman, weakened by illness, settles in sunny California after years of wandering the world in search of health.
Level B2MysteryThe Hunniwell boys and the platinum mysteryTwo adventurous brothers, skilled pilots and fishermen, are drawn into a secret mission by a government agent, promising a summer far from ordinary.
Level C1FantasyThe Huge Hunter; Or, The Steam Man of the PrairiesOn the vast prairie, two men encounter a colossal steam-powered mechanical giant controlled by a daring driver and a bright-eyed boy.
Level B2FantasyThe House of Arden: A Story for ChildrenTwo children, Edred and Elfrida Arden, live in a once-grand but now crumbling family estate by the sea, struggling with the hardships of lost fortune and unwelcome lodgers.
Level B2Children'sThe House in TownIn a warm household filled with lively siblings, young Norton and Matilda navigate changes and new responsibilities, discovering courage and family bonds as they face unexpected ne…
Level B1FantasyThe House With Sixty Closets: A Christmas Story for Young Folks and Old ChildrenIn a grand house built with sixty closets to store countless gifts, a generous judge and his wife prepare to host a Christmas filled with unexpected wonders.
Level B1PoetryThe House That Jack Built: One of R. Caldecott's Picture BooksDive into a rhythmic chain of characters and events, each linked to the house that Jack built, weaving a playful and memorable tale through repetitive, charming verse.
Level B1PoetryThe House That Jack Built, a Game of Forfeits: To Which is Added, the Entertaining Fable of "The Magpie"Follow the whimsical chain of events in a cumulative rhyme where each character builds upon the last, culminating in the quirky tale of a crafty magpie teaching—and outsmarting—oth…
Level B2Children'sThe House That GrewTwo thoughtful siblings grapple with a family crisis when their father loses a great deal of money, threatening their comfortable life.
Level B2AdventureThe House Boat Boys; Or, Drifting Down to the Sunny SouthTwo boys on the banks of the Ohio River face uncertain futures until a letter from a seafaring uncle offers a thrilling escape aboard a tramp steamer bound for New Orleans and adve…
Level C1AdventureThe Hot SwampSet sail with Captain Arkal and Prince Bladud as they embark on a daring Mediterranean voyage in ancient times, navigating treacherous seas, fierce warriors, and the mysteries of o…
Level B2AdventureThe Hosts of the AirTrapped in the grim reality of World War I trenches, a young soldier wrestles with the brutal landscape and the memory of a distant love, while the thunder of artillery and the sha…