Reading stories is one of the best ways for kids to learn English naturally. Fairy tales, fables, and classic adventures help children build vocabulary, understand sentence structure, and improve comprehension—all while keeping them entertained.
At Studycat, we’ve created a collection of fun, engaging, and easy-to-read stories designed to help young learners build confidence in English. Whether it’s a timeless fairy tale, a classic fable with a life lesson, or a fun original story, each one is carefully adapted for kids learning English as a second language.
Below, you’ll find a list of 50 of the best stories for kids learning English—each with a full version you can read online. Click on any title to start exploring these wonderful tales!
50 Short stories and fairy tales for kids to learn English
Exploring these stories is a fantastic way for kids to engage with English in a natural and enjoyable way.
This collection includes a mix of well-known fairy tales, famous fables, and original short stories designed for young learners. Some are classic adventures full of imagination, while others are very simple, created specifically to introduce basic vocabulary and phrases to beginners.
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Aladdin and the magic lamp
A thrilling tale of magic and adventure, where Aladdin discovers a powerful genie and embarks on a journey filled with wishes and wonder.
Aladdin and the magic lamp -
Alice in Wonderland
Join Alice as she tumbles into a world of curious creatures, unexpected adventures, and delightful nonsense.
Alice in Wonderland -
Ali’s homework
Ali needs to finish his homework, but distractions keep getting in the way. Can he complete his assignment in time?
Ali’s homework -
At the zoo
A fun-filled visit to the zoo introduces children to different animals and their unique characteristics.
At the zoo -
Beauty and the beast
A tale of kindness, patience, and seeing beyond appearances as Beauty discovers the true heart of the Beast.
Beauty and the beast -
Bob’s bag
Bob has lost his bag! Can he find it before he’s late for school?
Bob’s bag -
Cake shop
A delicious story about baking cakes and learning about different flavors and ingredients.
Cake shop -
Cinderella and the little glass slipper
A magical story of transformation and dreams coming true, as Cinderella finds her way to the royal ball.
Cinderella and the little glass slipper -
Dinner plans
Tom and his family are deciding what to eat for dinner, learning new food-related words along the way.
Dinner plans -
Fruit salad
A colorful and tasty story that teaches kids about different fruits and how to mix them into a delicious salad.
Fruit salad -
Goldilocks and the three bears
Goldilocks stumbles upon a house in the forest and learns an important lesson about respecting others’ belongings.
Goldilocks and the three bears -
Hansel and Gretel
Two children lost in the woods find a house made of sweets, but not everything is as delightful as it seems.
Hansel and Gretel -
Hiding Bob
Bob loves playing hide and seek, but will his friends be able to find him?
Hiding Bob -
Jack and the beanstalk
Jack’s magic beans grow into a giant beanstalk, leading him to a land of adventure high in the sky.
Jack and the beanstalk -
Journey to the beach
A family’s exciting day at the beach introduces fun new vocabulary related to the sea and sand.
Journey to the beach -
Kitty’s balloons
Kitty loves balloons, but what happens when one of them floats away?
Kitty’s balloons -
Let’s go fishing
Join Tom as he learns all about different fish and how to catch them on a fishing trip.
Let’s go fishing -
Little Red Riding Hood
On her way to visit Grandma, Little Red encounters a cunning wolf. Will she outsmart him?
Little Red Riding Hood -
Peter Pan in Neverland
Fly away to Neverland with Peter Pan and his friends for an unforgettable adventure.
Peter Pan in Neverland -
Puss in boots
A clever cat uses wit and strategy to help his owner find success and happiness.
Puss in boots -
Rumpelstiltskin
A mysterious little man spins straw into gold, but at what cost?
Rumpelstiltskin -
Shadow animals
Tom and his friends learn how to make fun shadow animals with their hands.
Shadow animals -
Sleeping Beauty
A princess falls into a deep sleep, waiting for true love’s kiss to awaken her.
Sleeping Beauty -
Snow White and the seven dwarfs
Snow White finds safety with seven dwarfs after escaping the jealousy of the evil queen.
Snow White and the seven dwarfs -
The adventures of Pinocchio
Pinocchio dreams of becoming a real boy, but first, he must learn the importance of honesty, bravery, and kindness.
The adventures of Pinocchio -
The ant and the grasshopper
A classic fable about hard work and planning for the future.
The ant and the grasshopper -
The boy who cried wolf
A well-known tale that teaches kids the importance of honesty and trust.
The boy who cried wolf -
The crow and the pitcher
A clever crow finds a smart way to drink water, teaching kids about problem-solving.
The crow and the pitcher -
The emperor’s new clothes
A funny and insightful tale about vanity and the power of truth.
The emperor’s new clothes -
The fox and the crow
A clever fox tricks a crow into giving up its food, showing the power of flattery.
The fox and the crow -
The fox and the grapes
A short but meaningful fable that introduces the idea of “sour grapes.”
The fox and the grapes -
The fox and the stork
A story about fairness and treating others as you’d like to be treated.
The fox and the stork -
The frog prince
A charming fairy tale about a frog who is more than he appears to be.
The frog prince -
The gingerbread man
A fun chase story about a cookie that runs away—but can he escape for long?
The gingerbread man -
The golden touch of Midas
A king learns an important lesson about greed when everything he touches turns to gold.
The golden touch of Midas -
The goose that laid the golden egg
A fable that teaches patience and the dangers of greed.
The goose that laid the golden egg -
The lion and the mouse
A heartwarming fable about kindness and how even the smallest can help the mighty.
The lion and the mouse -
The little mermaid
A young mermaid dreams of life on land in this classic underwater adventure.
The little mermaid -
The north wind and the sun
A short story that teaches the power of gentleness over force.
The north wind and the sun -
The pied piper of Hamelin
A mysterious piper rids a town of rats—but what happens when he isn’t paid?
The pied piper of Hamelin -
The tale of Peter Rabbit
A mischievous rabbit gets into trouble in Mr. McGregor’s garden.
The tale of Peter Rabbit -
The three little pigs
Three pigs build their homes, but will they be strong enough to withstand the big bad wolf?
The three little pigs -
The tortoise and the hare
A well-known fable teaching the value of perseverance and patience.
The tortoise and the hare -
The town mouse and the country mouse
Two mice explore the differences between city life and country life.
The town mouse and the country mouse -
The ugly duckling
A heartwarming tale about embracing differences and discovering true beauty.
The ugly duckling -
The velveteen rabbit
A beloved stuffed rabbit dreams of becoming real through the love of a child.
The velveteen rabbit -
The wind in the willows
A delightful countryside adventure featuring Mole, Rat, and their animal friends.
The wind in the willows -
Tom’s birthday
It’s Tom’s birthday, and there are so many surprises in store!
Tom’s birthday -
What can Tom do?
Tom is learning new things every day—what will he discover next?
What can Tom do? -
Shopping for Bob
Bob and his friends are on a shopping trip, learning new words along the way.
Shopping for Bob
Discover more ways to make learning English fun!
Reading stories is just one of the many ways kids can build their English skills. Pairing stories with listening, speaking, and interactive games makes learning even more effective.
Studycat’s Learn English app combines stories, games, songs, and voice-powered activities to help children learn in an engaging and playful way.
Explore the stories above, and make English learning a fun adventure!