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'sTommy TregennisA young boy navigates the bittersweet challenges of growing up by the sea, where torn trousers and schoolyard worries collide with the comforting bonds of family.
Level B1Children'sTommy Tiptop and his baseball nineJoin Tommy Tiptop and his friends as they race to become team captains and play spirited baseball games in their favorite meadow, where friendship, competition, and fun fill their…
Level C1PoetryTommy Tatters: Uncle Toby's SeriesStep into a colorful world of whimsical tales and moral songs designed just for little children, filled with charming illustrations and delightful stories that capture childhood’s…
Level B1Children'sTommy Smith's AnimalsA cruel boy torments the woodland creatures until they gather under moonlight to plot a clever response.
Level B2RomanceTomina in retreatExhausted by the relentless pace of London society, Tomina faces a doctor's stark prescription: escape to a quiet retreat for her health.
Level B2PoetryTom, the Piper's SonA mischievous piper's son learns tunes that spark lively chaos—from dancing animals to a runaway court—turning his playful music into a whirlwind of pranks and laughter in this spi…
Level B2AdventureTom, The Bootblack; or, The Road to SuccessA determined fifteen-year-old bootblack in New York City supports himself and the ailing old man he lives with, navigating poverty with grit and hope.
Level B2Children'sTom, Dot and Talking Mouse and Other Bedtime StoriesA kind-hearted miller, broken by lost love, lives in lonely bitterness until a tiny flour-dusted mouse’s trust begins to thaw his hardened heart, hinting at the power of friendship…
Level B2AdventureTom, Dick and HarryIn the dead of night, a sudden shot and eerie disappearance ignite suspense as a boy awakens to find his friend missing, sparking a chilling mystery of sleepwalking and secrets lur…
Level B2AdventureTom, Dick and HarrietOn a frozen Hudson River in bitter January cold, a quick-witted boy offers a clever fix to a stranded girl’s broken skate strap, sparking an unexpected friendship filled with warmt…
Level B2MysteryTom the telephone boy; or, The mystery of a messageTom lands a temporary holiday job at a bustling Boston bookstore, eager to prove himself and uncover the mystery behind a puzzling message—can a boy with big dreams solve the enigm…
Level B2AdventureTom of the RaidersA determined young man arrives at a Union army camp in 1862, eager to join the fight and find his wounded cousin amid the chaos of war.
Level B2HistoricalTom and Some Other Girls: A Public School StoryWhen sudden wealth propels the Chester family into a grand country estate, they face the challenge of sending their proud daughter Rhoda to public school—where she must confront ne…![Cover of Tom and Maggie Tulliver by Anonymous [Adapter]](https://dsx1pat3ljtul.cloudfront.net/books/daer868e1ofc73dh8brg.webp)
Level B2Children'sTom and Maggie TulliverA determined father plans to send his son Tom to a proper school to secure his future, while spirited Maggie explores the dangers near their home.
Level C1AdventureTom Willoughby's Scouts: A Story of the War in German East AfricaAs World War I looms over German East Africa, young Tom Willoughby embarks on a journey to assess his late father's struggling coffee plantation, navigating complex alliances and r…
Level C1AdventureTom Tufton's TravelsAs the ailing Squire Tufton nears death, his family anxiously awaits the return of his reckless son, Tom, whose wild ways have caused worry but who holds the key to the future of G…
Level B2AdventureTom Thatcher's FortuneSixteen-year-old Tom Thatcher toils long hours in a shoe factory to support his mother and sister, all while grappling with the mystery of his missing father's fortune and the grow…
Level B1AdventureTom Taylor at West PointAt just sixteen, Tom Taylor dreams of becoming an army officer at West Point, but first he must navigate hardships, family worries, and the challenge of earning enough money to mak…
Level B1AdventureTom Swift in the Land of Wonders; Or, The Underground Search for the Idol of GoldInventor Tom Swift uncovers a thrilling tale of a solid gold idol hidden in a lost city deep in Honduras' Copan valley.
Level B2AdventureTom Swift in the City of Gold; Or, Marvelous Adventures UndergroundA thrilling letter from a rescued African missionary sets a young inventor on an extraordinary journey to uncover a hidden city of gold beneath the earth, filled with mysterious tr…
Level B2AdventureTom Swift in the Caves of Ice, or, the Wreck of the AirshipA daring young inventor takes to the skies in his speedy monoplane, coaxing his reluctant companion on a thrilling flight that promises adventure and innovation.
Level B1FantasyTom Swift in Captivity, Or, A Daring Escape By AirshipYoung inventor Tom Swift seeks thrilling adventure beyond his latest airship experiments, ready to escape captivity and confront wild beasts, daring escapes, and mysterious giants—…
Level B2Science FictionTom Swift circling the globe; or, The daring cruise of the Air MonarchAn audacious wager challenges Tom Swift to circle the globe in just twenty days, relying on his inventive genius and an array of cutting-edge machines.
Level B1Science FictionTom Swift and the Electronic HydrolungAs a Jupiter probe missile hurtles back to Earth, young inventor Tom Swift Jr.
Level B2FantasyTom Swift and his talking picturesA young inventor races to perfect his groundbreaking "talking pictures" machine, transmitting moving images alongside sound—but the blurry results threaten to derail his revolution…
Level B1AdventureTom Swift and his house on wheelsA young inventor boldly rejects a lucrative contract to follow his own path, while mysterious new technology and powerful allies hint at thrilling adventures ahead.
Level B2AdventureTom Swift and his great oil gusherInventive young aviator Tom Swift takes to the skies in his beloved Hummingbird, only to spot a nearby plane in distress—setting off a daring adventure where innovation and courage…
Level B1FantasyTom Swift and his flying boat;A teenage inventor sets out to create a revolutionary flying boat capable of traversing air, land, and sea, aiming to outpace rivals and unlock the mysteries of remote regions like…
Level B2MysteryTom Swift and his chest of secretsA young inventor’s peaceful workday turns chaotic when his loyal but clumsy giant protector delivers a mysterious, heavily locked chest filled with secrets—sparking mischief, rival…
Level B1AdventureTom Swift and his big dirigibleA daring inventor is challenged to build the largest, fastest all-metal dirigible ever, capable of carrying fifty passengers on a ten-thousand-mile journey—can he meet the impossib…
Level B2FantasyTom Swift and his airline expressAn ambitious young inventor guards his thriving aircraft plant against mysterious intruders while nurturing a secret, daring plan that could change everything.
Level B2FantasyTom Swift and The Visitor from Planet XWhen a powerful earthquake devastates their laboratory, young inventor Tom Swift and his friend Bud race against time to save their mentor and uncover the mysterious force behind t…
Level B2AdventureTom Swift and His Wizard Camera; Or, Thrilling Adventures While Taking Moving PicturesA young inventor guards his secret creations when a mysterious, hurried visitor arrives with urgent business, sparking intrigue and adventure amid incredible machines and daring in…
Level B2AdventureTom Swift and His Wireless Message; Or, The Castaways of Earthquake IslandA young inventor’s routine is interrupted by a dusty, chaotic arrival—a mule-drawn wagon carrying a mysterious telegram that promises to launch Tom Swift into a thrilling adventure…
Level B2FantasyTom Swift and His War Tank; Or, Doing His Bit for Uncle SamA young inventor wrestles with a secret mission that feels like his duty to "do his bit" as he prepares for a daring flight to witness aviator contests, while mysterious plans and…
Level B2AdventureTom Swift and His Undersea Search; Or, the Treasure on the Floor of the AtlanticA young inventor and his friend uncover astonishing news of untold millions in sunken treasure beneath the ocean, setting the stage for a daring undersea adventure to claim riches…
Level B2Science FictionTom Swift and His Submarine Boat; Or, Under the Ocean for Sunken TreasureAn inventive young man returns from a daring airship flight to join his father in perfecting a groundbreaking submarine, aiming to explore the ocean depths and uncover hidden treas…
Level B2AdventureTom Swift and His Sky Racer; Or, The Quickest Flight on RecordA young inventor is challenged to build a revolutionary, high-speed monoplane to compete for a thrilling ten-thousand-dollar prize at a prestigious aviation meet, pushing the bound…
Level B2FantasyTom Swift and His Photo Telephone or the Picture That Saved a FortuneA young inventor defies skepticism to create a photo telephone that transmits images alongside sound, challenging the limits of science and technology.
Level B2AdventureTom Swift and His Motor-Cycle; Or, Fun and Adventures on the RoadA daring young inventor faces off against a reckless speedster on the road, sparking a rivalry that leads to thrilling mechanical adventures and record-breaking challenges.
Level B2AdventureTom Swift and His Motor-Boat; Or, The Rivals of Lake CarlopaA young inventor eyes a damaged motor-boat up for auction, hoping to revive it and make a splash on Lake Carlopa.
Level B2AdventureTom Swift and His Great Searchlight; or, on the border for Uncle SamA young inventor perfects a groundbreaking noiseless airship motor while facing threats from an old rival who might sabotage his secrets.
Level B2FantasyTom Swift and His Giant TelescopeA young inventor reveals a mysterious new crystal that bends light in astonishing ways, sparking dreams of exploring distant planets with his giant telescope.
Level B2AdventureTom Swift and His Giant Cannon; Or, The Longest Shots on RecordA young inventor tests his latest creation—a giant cannon—while an old prospector seeks funding for a daring expedition to find a lost opal mine near Panama.
Level B2FantasyTom Swift and His Electric Runabout; Or, The Speediest Car on the RoadA young inventor sets out to build the fastest electric car ever, aiming to win a prestigious prize and outpace his rival in a thrilling race of speed and ingenuity.
Level B2AdventureTom Swift and His Electric Rifle; Or, Daring Adventures in Elephant LandA young inventor perfects his electric rifle and prepares for daring tests, while navigating rivalries, family challenges, and the promise of thrilling adventures in exotic Elephan…
Level B2FantasyTom Swift and His Electric Locomotive; Or, Two Miles a Minute on the RailsA young inventor faces fierce corporate rivalry as he tackles the challenge of creating an unprecedented electric locomotive capable of two miles a minute, racing against time and…
Level B2FantasyTom Swift and His Big Tunnel; Or, The Hidden City of the AndesWhen a mysterious stranger arrives with an urgent message, young inventor Tom Swift must protect his groundbreaking inventions and uncover hidden secrets, aided by his loyal giant…