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 B2PoetryThe Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. 354, October 9, 1886A jealous baron defies luxury and convention by secretly whisking his infant daughter away from her pampered nursery to a rugged life at sea.
Level C1Children'sThe Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, Issue 368, January 15, 1887A young woman raised by humble shepherds faces the quiet upheaval of family change and her growing awareness of social differences, as she navigates love, loyalty, and the longing…
Level B1Children'sThe Girl's Cabinet of Instructive and Moral StoriesJoin obedient girls and their beloved dolls at a charming party, then meet Kate, whose vanity teaches a sharp lesson, and follow gentle Lizzie and brave Eva as they navigate kindne…
Level B2AdventureThe Girl from Sunset Ranch; Or, Alone in a Great CityA young girl fiercely loyal to her late father’s Montana ranch faces the challenge of preserving their rugged home and reputation amid whispers of a dark past.
Level B2Children'sThe Girl Warriors: A Book for GirlsA young girl wrestles with her studies and the challenge of growing up in a cheerful, loving family where courage and kindness help her face life's everyday giants.
Level B2AdventureThe Girl Scouts' Vacation AdventuresDuring a spring vacation in New York, a group of Girl Scouts set out on a charitable mission that leads them into unexpected challenges and heartfelt discoveries beyond their usual…
Level B2AdventureThe Girl Scouts' Motor TripAfter a thrilling hockey victory, a group of Girl Scouts receives an unexpected invitation from a wealthy aunt to embark on a daring motor trip across the country—with a chaperone…
Level C1Children'sThe Girl Scouts' CaptainFive former Girl Scouts reunite at college, balancing friendships, leadership ambitions, and a shared desire to make a meaningful impact beyond the usual senior roles.
Level B2AdventureThe Girl Scouts' Canoe TripFive Girl Scouts embark on a canoe trip down the mysterious Silver Creek, facing thrilling challenges including a swift current, eerie local legends, and the presence of a solitary…
Level B2AdventureThe Girl Scouts on the RanchAs graduation approaches, Marjorie and her fellow Girl Scouts face the excitement of senior dances and the mystery of summer plans.
Level B2AdventureThe Girl Scouts at Sea Crest; Or, the Wig Wag RescueThree Girl Scouts arrive at the vast, unpredictable ocean for a summer by the sea, where playful waves, beach fires, and seaside mysteries await their adventurous spirits.
Level B2AdventureThe Girl Scouts at Rocky Ledge; Or, Nora's Real VacationA spirited girl named Nora arrives at a charming countryside home, eager to transform her vacation into an adventure where daydreams might just come true.
Level B2Children'sThe Girl Scouts at Miss Allen's SchoolTwo girls arrive at Miss Allen’s Boarding School, eager to join secret sororities and find friendship amid new adventures.
Level B1Children'sThe Girl Scouts at Home; or, Rosanna's Beautiful DayIn a grand Louisville home, young Rosanna lives a lonely life sheltered by her proud grandmother, forbidden from friendship and play beyond the garden walls.
Level B2MysteryThe Girl Scouts at Camp Comalong; Or, Peg of Tamarack HillsA group of spirited girls, inspired by summer camp adventures, plan their own wilderness retreat by a charming mountain lake—where friendship, fun, and unexpected mysteries await a…
Level B2AdventureThe Girl Scouts at Bellaire; Or, Maid Mary's AwakeningThree adventurous girls set off for a summer vacation in the New Jersey mountains, balancing the thrill of exploration with the charm of friendship and the challenges of packing fo…
Level B2Children'sThe Girl Scouts Rally; or, Rosanna WinsThree young Girl Scouts—Rosanna, Elise, and Helen—navigate friendship, challenges, and a heartfelt rally in a charming Louisville neighborhood, where hope and determination light t…
Level B2Children'sThe Girl Scout's Triumph; or, Rosanna's SacrificeA mysterious red-haired girl with striking jade eyes joins a lively Girl Scout troop, her quiet reserve and enigmatic presence stirring curiosity and anticipation among the cheerfu…
Level B2AdventureThe Girl Scout Pioneers; Or, Winning the First B. C.In a gritty mill town, a determined girl named Dagmar plans a bold escape, clutching her meager savings and facing the challenges of a harsh world.
Level B1MysteryThe Girl Next DoorTwo girls reunite in the city, where one reveals a secret born from loneliness and the stark contrast between country life and anonymous apartment living.
Level B2AdventureThe Girl Crusoes: A Story of the South SeasStranded in the South Seas, young Tommy faces despair until a hopeful message stirs her spirit.
Level B2AdventureThe Girl Aviators' Sky CruiseTwo siblings return to their quiet town to discover a mysterious new aeroplane factory backed by a suspicious local magnate—sparking curiosity, rivalry, and an adventurous dive int…
Level B2AdventureThe Girl Aviators' Motor ButterflyFour daring young aviators plan an exhilarating cross-country flight, turning the summer into a thrilling sky-bound adventure with their motor butterflies.
Level B2AdventureThe Girl Aviators on Golden WingsYoung aviators Peggy, Roy, Jess, and Jimsy embark on a daring desert journey to operate an innovative aeroplane line across the Nevada alkali, facing rugged terrain, mysterious thr…
Level B1MysteryThe Girl Aviators and the Phantom AirshipA daring sister and brother team chase a thrilling prize for innovative aviators, building a remarkable yellow monoplane in hopes of conquering the skies—and outsmarting mysterious…
Level B1Children'sThe Gingerbread Boy and Joyful Jingle Play StoriesWhen Polly bakes gingerbread cookies, a magical boy-shaped cookie comes to life, leading to playful adventures filled with jingles, friendship, and a cozy kitchen picnic.
Level B2AdventureThe Gilpins and their Fortunes: A Story of Early Days in AustraliaTwo brothers leave their English farming home to seek fortune and build a new life in bustling, young Sydney, Australia.
Level C1AdventureThe Giant of the North: Pokings Round the PoleIn the frozen Arctic, a remarkable Eskimo named Chingatok, known as the howler in childhood, grows into a towering, thoughtful giant whose strength and wisdom inspire awe and envy…
Level A2Children'sThe Giant Hands; or, the Reward of IndustryA determined boy sets out from his humble home to find work and ease his mother's burdens, only to encounter mysterious giant hands that promise to aid his industrious spirit.
Level B2MysteryThe Ghost of Mystery AirportHigh above a foggy swamp, teen pilot Garry and his nervous friend Chick join a daring test pilot on a ghost hunt to uncover the truth behind eerie apparitions haunting Mystery Airp…
Level C1Children'sThe Gentleman Cadet: His Career and Adventures at the Royal Military Academy WoolwichA young boy endures a strict and often harsh upbringing under his stern Aunt Emma before embarking on the challenging and regimented life of a Woolwich Cadet, revealing the trials…
Level B2HistoricalThe Gayton Scholarship: A School StoryRivalry ignites among schoolboys competing for the prestigious Gayton Scholarship, with spirited races, unexpected mishaps, and the watchful eye of an important inspector setting t…
Level C1AdventureThe Gaunt Gray Wolf: A Tale of Adventure With Ungava BobA determined college freshman embarks on a solo summer adventure in the rugged wilderness of Labrador, where the historic fur trading post and untamed forests promise thrilling enc…
Level C1MysteryThe Garret and the Garden; Or, Low Life High UpIn a gritty London alley, a weathered seaman and a sharp street-smart boy forge an unlikely alliance amid the city's lowly courts.
Level B1Children'sThe Gap in the FenceIn a sunny English garden, a family learns that a mysterious foreign gentleman is moving into the long-empty Haver Grange, threatening their secret hideaway through the gap in the…
Level B2MysteryThe G-man's son at Porpoise IslandTwo adventurous boys set sail for the mysterious Porpoise Island, only to be shadowed by a suspiciously fast, gray speedboat.
Level B2AdventureThe Fur-Seal's Tooth: A Story of Alaskan AdventureA spirited young athlete from New England, burdened by a careless streak, finds himself penniless and adrift in a foreign land.
Level B2AdventureThe Fugitives: The Tyrant Queen of MadagascarThree fugitives race through Madagascar's perilous wilderness, pursued by deadly foes and forced to navigate treacherous cliffs and shattered paths.
Level C1AdventureThe Frontier Fort: Or, Stirring Times in the North West Territory of British AmericaA spirited party journeys across the vast, flower-strewn prairies of the North-West Territory, navigating untamed landscapes and uncertain futures while aspiring to transform wilde…
Level B2AdventureThe Frontier Boys in the Sierras; Or, The Lost MineBraving fierce seas aboard the sturdy Sea Eagle, the Frontier Boys set sail from Hawaii toward California, eager to explore the wild Sierra Nevadas and uncover the secrets of a los…
Level B2AdventureThe Frontier Boys in the Grand Canyon; Or, A Search for TreasureThree daring boys race across the rugged Southwest, navigating wild ponies and hostile Apache territory in a thrilling quest for hidden treasure near the Grand Canyon.
Level B2Children'sThe Frog Who Would A Wooing GoA young frog defies his cautious mother's warnings to woo a charming mouse, only to face dangers lurking beyond his safe pond.
Level B2Children'sThe Frog Prince and Other StoriesA princess loses her golden ball in a mysterious fountain, only to be aided by an unlikely companion—a talking frog who demands friendship and promises magic in return.
Level C1PoetryThe Frithiof SagaIn a rugged Norse kingdom, Frithiof, a fearless young warrior, grows up alongside King Bele’s daughter, Ingeborg, forging a bond that defies royal expectations and sets the stage f…
Level C1Children'sThe Friends; or, The Triumph of Innocence over False Charges: A Tale, Founded on FactsIn a peaceful Kent village, two boys forge a deep friendship under the care of a devoted family who teaches them kindness, charity, and faith.
Level B2Children'sThe Friendly Five: A StoryAt the Coventry Institute, a distinguished visitor introduces his young, motherless granddaughter, Elfie, to the school’s girls, hoping they will embrace her as their own sister du…
Level B2HistoricalThe French TwinsIn war-torn Rheims, a devoted mother cleans her beloved cathedral while her twin children prepare for Confirmation, embodying the courage and hope of a family striving to protect t…
Level B2AdventureThe Free Rangers: A Story of the Early Days Along the MississippiIn the vast, untamed wilderness along the Mississippi, a skilled young woodsman known as Shif’less Sol embraces the wild, ready to protect his land and people amidst nature’s grand…