English simple stories for kids
Bedtime Stories | Free 5 Min Bedtime Stories for Kids Online Bedtime Stories
The Classic fairytale of Cinderella: a young girl, mistreated by her step-mother and step-sisters, who finds out that dreams really can come true.
The Classic Fairytale Story of Snow White with a Modern Twist: Who is the “fair”est of them all? Snow White of course!
A Bedtime Story of Honesty, Courage and Truth. If Pinocchio is to become a Real boy he needs to learn how to be honest, brave and true.
A Grimm’s Brother Tale: A miller tells a tale that his daughter can turn straw into gold. A strange little man is willing to help…for a price. Guess his name and he will be gone…but what is his name?
Goldilocks and the Three Bears ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids. Goldilocks finds the three bears cottage in the woods. Should she make herself comfortable?
Hansel and Gretel Bedtime Stories for Kids. When Hansel and Gretel go in search of food, they find a gingerbread house. But who is inside?
A Story of Friendship, Love and Courage. Rapunzel’s Story ~ A Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale. An evil witch has trapped Rapunzel in a tower. Can her long hair or love save her?
A Story of Courage, Justice and Self-Awareness. Merlin the Magician places a magic sword in a stone…whomever can pull it out is the rightful king.
A Bedtime Story of Acceptance and Self-Awareness. A Mama Duck is proud when her six ducklings hatch from their eggs. But one duckling does not look like the others? Is he truly an Ugly Duckling?
The classic Brother’s Grimm fairytale that sparked the Disney adaptation.
A Story of Courage, Learning and Love. The Classic fairy tale: The Little Mermaid falls in love with a prince on shore and she makes a deal with the Sea Witch to become human. But without her voice, how can the prince fall in love with her?
This Classic Folktale is adapted from the original story of “Aladdin” from The Arabian Nights. Aladdin, the Genie and the Magic Lamp work to impress the princess who wishes to be a commoner.
A Story of Courage, Kindness to Animals and Learning. The Classic Tale of a male deer, Bambi, his mother and his adventures learning in the woods.
A Story of Charity, Compassion and Justice, from England. Robin Hood takes part in an archery contest thrown by the Sheriff of Nottingham. Will he realize its a trap before it is too late? One of the many Tales of Robin Hood.
This is the Legend Tale of Maui the Demi-God from Moana. It is part of our Classic Bedtime Stories for Kids Collection. It has been adapted from the Tales of Maui as well as Disney’s version of Moana.
A Bedtime Story in Simple English for Kids. A toy rabbit learns that through a child’s love it can become real.
The Classic Tale of the Snow Queen: Gerda and Kai struggle to fight the Snow Queen and find the balance between Good and Evil.
The Classic Fairy Tale of Sleeping Beauty. Princess Aurora has been cursed by Maleficent. When she pricks herself on a spinning wheel on her 16th birthday, she is put into a deep sleep for 100 years.
Who can save her?
Bedtime Story for Kids: The Gift of the Magi, A Christmas Story. Della and Jim wish to give each other the perfect Christmas present, but how will they come up with the money?
A Bedtime Story of Friendship, Courage and Acceptance. . The story tells of the time Pocahontas saved the life of settler John Smith from her father, Powhatan.
A Cinderella Story ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids
The Classic fairytale of Cinderella: a young girl, mistreated by her step-mother and step-sisters, who finds out that dreams really can come true.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Story ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids
The Classic Fairytale Story of Snow White with a Modern Twist: Who is the “fair”est of them all? Snow White of course!
Pinocchio Story ~ Fairy Tale Bedtime Stories in English for Kids
A Bedtime Story of Honesty, Courage and Truth. If Pinocchio is to become a Real boy he needs to learn how to be honest, brave and true.
Beauty and the Beast Classic Tale ~ Fairy Tale Stories for Kids
The classic fairy tale of a beautiful woman and the monstrous beast.
Rumpelstiltskin ~ A Fairy Tale Bedtime Story for Kids
A Grimm’s Brother Tale: A miller tells a tale that his daughter can turn straw into gold. A strange little man is willing to help…for a price. Guess his name and he will be gone…but what is his name?
Goldilocks and the Three Bears ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids
Goldilocks and the Three Bears ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids. Goldilocks finds the three bears cottage in the woods. Should she make herself comfortable?
Hansel and Gretel ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids
Hansel and Gretel Bedtime Stories for Kids. When Hansel and Gretel go in search of food, they find a gingerbread house. But who is inside?
Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm ~ Bedtime Stories
A Story of Friendship, Love and Courage. Rapunzel’s Story ~ A Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale.
An evil witch has trapped Rapunzel in a tower. Can her long hair or love save her?
The Sword in the Stone: a King Arthur Legend of the Sword Story
A Story of Courage, Justice and Self-Awareness. Merlin the Magician places a magic sword in a stone…whomever can pull it out is the rightful king.
The Ugly Duckling Story ~ Fairy Tale Story for Kids in English
A Bedtime Story of Acceptance and Self-Awareness. A Mama Duck is proud when her six ducklings hatch from their eggs. But one duckling does not look like the others? Is he truly an Ugly Duckling?
The Frog Prince: The Story of the Princess and the Frog ~ Bedtime Stories
The classic Brother’s Grimm fairytale that sparked the Disney adaptation.
The Little Mermaid Story ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids in English
A Story of Courage, Learning and Love. The Classic fairy tale: The Little Mermaid falls in love with a prince on shore and she makes a deal with the Sea Witch to become human.
But without her voice, how can the prince fall in love with her?
Aladdin and the Magic Lamp from The Arabian Nights ~ Bedtime Stories
This Classic Folktale is adapted from the original story of “Aladdin” from The Arabian Nights. Aladdin, the Genie and the Magic Lamp work to impress the princess who wishes to be a commoner.
Bambi Story: A Life in the Woods ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids in English
A Story of Courage, Kindness to Animals and Learning. The Classic Tale of a male deer, Bambi, his mother and his adventures learning in the woods.
Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow Story ~ Legend Stories for Kids
A Story of Charity, Compassion and Justice, from England. Robin Hood takes part in an archery contest thrown by the Sheriff of Nottingham. Will he realize its a trap before it is too late? One of the many Tales of Robin Hood.
Maui from Moana: Tales of the Demi-God ~ Legend Stories for Kids
This is the Legend Tale of Maui the Demi-God from Moana.
It is part of our Classic Bedtime Stories for Kids Collection. It has been adapted from the Tales of Maui as well as Disney’s version of Moana.
The Velveteen Rabbit Story ~ Bedtime English Story for Kids
A Bedtime Story in Simple English for Kids. A toy rabbit learns that through a child’s love it can become real.
The Snow Queen Fairy Tale Story ~Bedtime Story for Kids
The Classic Tale of the Snow Queen: Gerda and Kai struggle to fight the Snow Queen and find the balance between Good and Evil.
Sleeping Beauty Fairy Tale Story ~ Bedtime Stories for Kids
The Classic Fairy Tale of Sleeping Beauty. Princess Aurora has been cursed by Maleficent. When she pricks herself on a spinning wheel on her 16th birthday, she is put into a deep sleep for 100 years. Who can save her?
The Gift of the Magi Story ~ A Holiday Story for Kids
Bedtime Story for Kids: The Gift of the Magi, A Christmas Story. Della and Jim wish to give each other the perfect Christmas present, but how will they come up with the money?
Pocahontas and John Smith Story ~ Folktales Stories for Kids
A Bedtime Story of Friendship, Courage and Acceptance.
. The story tells of the time Pocahontas saved the life of settler John Smith from her father, Powhatan.
The Emperor’s New Clothes Story ~ Bedtime Stories
A Bedtime Story in Simple English for Kids. The Emperor is fooled into believing he is wearing magic clothes which can’t be “seen”.
Mulan Story ~ Tale of Hua Mulan Bedtime Stories | English Story for Kids
A Bedtime Story in Simple English for Kids. Based on the “Ballad of Mulan” and Disney’s Mulan, this is a legend tale about a girl who goes in disguise as a boy and joins the army in her brother’s place.
Short Stories for Kids ~ Folk tales, Fairy Tales, Riddles, Legends, Poems
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More From Stories to Grow By
You will find a story you love. Did you know that Stories to Grow By also provides a collection of World Tales? Folktales, fairytales, fables, and more! Whether you are looking for a story from your own country or culture, or a want to learn about a new one! We have you covered.
Check out our special collection of world tales by clicking HERE.
We are strive to provide more. If you would like to see additional stories, content, and materials, or maybe even have some of your own you would like to share - drop us a line! Contact us directly by clicking HERE.
Stay Up to DateJoin our blog by clicking HERE.
Teaching Resources from Stories to Grow By
In addition to our bedtime stories, we also offer a multitude teaching resources! This includes over 100 free bedtime stories, fairy tales, folk tales, readers theater play scripts, and performance notes!
You will find the bedtime stories and the materials you need for your classroom with Stories to Grow By.
European Stories | Bedtime Stories, Folktales, and Fairytales
European Bedtime Stories, Folktales, and Fairytales
Europe is a continent which is also recognised as part of Eurasia, located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere of the world.
Stories to Grow By provides the Internet's best collection of Kid-Tested and Kid-Approved European Stories, European Bedtime Stories, European Folktales, and European Fairy Tales. Stories from several European countries including Russia, Spain, Italy, England, Greece, and much more! Our European stories are multicultural, non-denominational and feature themes of human ethics.
Explore our collection of European Stories by country:
Stories from Greece, Italy & Spain:
Greece is a country in southeastern Europe with thousands of islands throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas. It is often called the cradle of Western civilization. Italy, a European country with a long Mediterranean coastline, has left a powerful mark on Western culture and cuisine. Its capital, Rome, is home to the Vatican. Spain, a country on Europe’s Iberian Peninsula, includes 17 autonomous regions with diverse geography and cultures.
Stories from Ireland, Scotland & Wales:
The Republic of Ireland occupies most of the island of Ireland, off the coast of England and Wales. Its capital is Dublin. Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Wales is a country in southwest Great Britain known for its rugged coastline, mountainous national parks, distinctive Welsh language and Celtic culture.
Stories from Iceland, Norway & Sweden:
Iceland, a Nordic island nation, is defined by its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields. Norway is a Scandinavian country encompassing mountains, glaciers and deep coastal fjords. Oslo is the capital. Sweden is a Scandinavian nation with thousands of coastal islands and inland lakes, along with vast forests and mountains.
Stories from Belgium, France & Germany:
Belgium, a country in Western Europe, is known for medieval towns, Renaissance architecture and as headquarters of the European Union. Germany is a Western European country with a landscape of forests, rivers, mountain ranges and North Sea beaches. Berlin is its capital. France, in Western Europe, encompasses medieval cities, villages and Mediterranean beaches. Paris is its capital.
Stories from Denmark, Finland, & Sweden:
Denmark is a Scandinavian country comprised of numerous islands. Copenhagen is its capital. Finland is a Northern European nation bordering Sweden, Norway and Russia. Its capital is Helsinki. Sweden is a Scandinavian nation with thousands of coastal islands and lakes, along with vast forests and mountains.
Stories from England:
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north.
Read our entire collection of Stories from England by clicking HERE!
Stories from Russia:
Russia is a country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world
Read our entire collection of Russian Stories by clicking HERE!
Not Finding the World Tale You Are Looking For?
We are always striving to provide more stories from all around the world. If you would like to see additional stories, content, and materials, or maybe even have some of your own you would like to share - drop us a line! You can contact us directly by clicking HERE.
Stay Up to DateJoin our blog by clicking HERE.
Teaching Resources from Stories to Grow By
In addition to our World Tales, Stories to Grow By also offers a multitude of other stories and even teaching resources! We provide over 100 free bedtime stories, fairy tales, folk tales, readers theater play scripts, and performance notes!
You are bound to find the stories and materials you need with Stories to Grow By.
Stories in English for children and short stories for reading
Toddlers enjoy learning about the world around them, absorbing everything that happens in it. Take advantage of this sincere curiosity and add English to your baby's environment by reading stories in English for children with him. Short English fairy tales will give the child the opportunity to get acquainted with the sound of the language, learn new words and phrases, learn to read and understand English. In today's material you will find easy and interesting children's stories in English with a translation of the text into Russian, as well as useful recommendations for conducting such classes.
Contents
- Learning English from fairy tales and stories
- Fairy tales and stories in English for children
- The Goose that laid the Golden Eggs
- The crocodile (Crocodile) The
boy cry “Wolf!” (The boy who shouted “Wolves!”)
Learning English from fairy tales and stories
Before you involve your child in reading in English, you need to carefully plan your lesson and select suitable materials.
Children who are just starting to get acquainted with a foreign language are advised to take adapted literature in English for children. These fairy tales are reworked and simplified to a minimum: the text is written in short sentences, with frequently repeated words and bright auxiliary pictures.
Do not forget that a fairy tale for children in English must have a translation. Both you and your baby will feel more confident knowing that you can always check the correct meaning of the words.
To attract fidgets to read or listen to fairy tales, use game methods and your unlimited imagination. The main thing is to constantly interact with the child and not let him get bored. Look through beautiful pictures with your baby and play "questions and answers" ( who / what is it?), read the characters' lines in different voices, memorize new vocabulary together and try to build small dialogues.
It is not necessary to study children's stories and stories in English only in text format. Combine all possible methods of learning a language: listen to audio versions of fairy tales recorded by native speakers, or get distracted by watching colorful and dynamic videos with the text of a fairy tale.
Having mastered all the above tips, let's move on to putting them into practice. The following are short stories in English with a parallel Russian translation.
Fairy tales and stories in English for children
The Goose that laid the Golden Eggs
Once upon a time, a man and his wife had the good fortune to have a goose. It was not an ordinary goose. This goose laid a golden egg every day. |
One day husband and wife was lucky to buy goose. This was no ordinary goose. This goose laid golden eggs every day.
| It was a great luck! But the man and his wife soon began to think they were not getting rich fast enough. |
Good luck smiled at them! But soon the husband and wife began to think that in this way they would not become prosperous rich for a long time.
| They imagined that if the bird must be able to lay golden eggs, its insides must be made of gold. And they thought that if they could get all that precious metal at once, they would get mighty rich very soon. |
They imagined that since a bird lays golden eggs, then, for sure, it is all golden inside.
And they decided that you can immediately get all the precious metal and get rich instantly.
| So the man and his wife decided to kill the bird. However, upon cutting the goose open, they were shocked to find that its innards were like that of any other goose! |
So the husband and wife decided to kill the bird. However, when butchering the goose, they were greatly surprised: from the inside, it was exactly the same as all birds like it!
The crocodile
| There was once a baby crocodile. He had a beautiful shiny tail. All the other crocodiles were jealous of him. |
Once upon a time there was a little crocodile in the world.
He had a very beautiful and shiny ponytail. The other crocodiles were terribly jealous of his beauty.
| One day the little baby crocodile counted all his beautiful shiny scales and there were a thousand. A lot more than he thought. |
Once a baby crocodile counted all his shiny scales, and there were a thousand of them. There were more of them than he had thought before.
| He counted all the other crocodiles and there were twenty. He decided that he had many scales and could spare forty from his tummy. |
He counted other crocodiles. There were 20 in total. He decided that he had too many scales, and perhaps he could share 40 scales from his tummy.
| Even three weeks later there weren't any. |
The crocodile made a wish before going to bed so that 40 scales would fall on the pillow.
But this did not happen. They did not fall out even after three weeks.
| Then one day a magic crocodile granted him a wish. He wished for forty of his scales to be on his pillow. |
And then one fine day the crocodile wizard gave the kid one wish. He again wished for 40 scales to be on his pillow.
| He woke up. There were forty beautiful shiny scales on his pillow! He gave all twenty crocodiles, two scales each. From then on everybody was kind to the little baby crocodile. |
The crocodile woke up, and lo and behold! There were 40 shiny scales on the pillow. He distributed them to 20 crocodiles: each 2 scales. Since then, everyone has become friends with a kind baby crocodile.
The boy who cried “Wolf!” (The boy who shouted "Wolves!")
Once upon a time there lived a little boy. He lived in the village, and looked after sheep. But he was not a good boy because he often told lies. |
Once there was a little boy in the world. He lived in the village and watched the sheep. But he was not a very good boy because he often lied.
| He had a joke which he often played on the people. The boy ran down and cried out very loudly: Wolf! wolf! Help me anyone! There is a wolf!” |
He had a joke that he often played with people. The boy ran downstairs and shouted very loudly: Wolf! Wolf! Someone help me ! The wolf is here!
| The neighbors ran very fast to him because they wanted to save his life. But when they came the boy laughed at them. He was playing the same trick again and again. |
Neighbors quickly ran to him because they wanted to save the boy's life. But when they came, the tomboy laughed at them.
He did this trick over and over again.
| Once upon a time there was a wonderful warm day. The boy was sleeping at the tree. Suddenly he heard a strange sound. The boy woke up and saw a big dark animal. It was a wolf. |
One day it was wonderful warm day. The boy was sleeping under a tree . Suddenly he heard strange sound. The boy woke up and saw a large gray animal. It was a wolf.
| Now the boy is really alarmed. Aaaaa! – he cried. – Pray, anybody, do come and help me! Please! The wolf is running after me! |
Now the boy was really worried.
“Aaah!” he shouts. “I beg you, someone come and help me! Please! Wolf is chasing after with me!”
But nobody came to save the boy this time. Because there is no believing a liar, even when he speaks the truth. When the boy didn't return home at night the people went to look for him. But they never found the boy. |
But this time no one came to save the boy. Because no one will believe a liar, even if he suddenly decides to tell the truth. When the boy did not return home at night, people went to look for him. But they never managed to find the boy.
We hope that you found these stories and fairy tales in English useful for children. Good luck and see you soon!
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Short stories with morals in English for children
Here are three short stories in English that are useful for both adults and children to read.
These stories are very instructive, at the end of each of them a moral is stated. For those who still find it difficult to translate even such simple texts, a translation is presented. Most likely, you have already heard similar fairy tales in Russian, so it will be easier for you to understand their meaning.
Content
The Ant and the Grasshopper
In a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great effort an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling away?" "I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same." "Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; "We have got plenty of food at the present."
But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing, every day, corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer.
Then the Grasshopper knew..
MORAL : Work today and you can reap the benefits tomorrow.
Ant and a grasshopper
On a sunny day, a grasshopper jumped, chirped and sang to his heart's content on the field. An ant passed by, dragging a corncob with great effort to his home.
"Why don't you come up to me and have a chat," said the grasshopper, "instead of straining like that?" “I help to stock up for the winter,” said the ant, “I advise you to do the same.” “Why worry about winter? - said the grasshopper, - We have a lot of food at the moment.
But the ant did his job and continued his hard work. When winter came, the grasshopper literally starved to see how the ants distribute corn and grain every day from their stores, which they collected in the summer.
Then the grasshopper understood...
Moral : Work today and you can reap the benefits tomorrow.
The Lion and the Mouse
Once when a Lion was asleep, a little Mouse began running up and down upon him.
This soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him and opened his big jaws to swallow him.
Pardon, O King! cried the little Mouse, “Forgive me this time. I shall never repeat it and I shall never forget your kindness. And who knows, but I may be able to do you a good turn one of these days?”
The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his paw and let him go.
Sometime later a few hunters captured the King and tied him to a tree while they went in search of a wagon to carry him on.
Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by, and seeing the sad plight in which the Lion was, ran up to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King of the Beasts. "Was I not right?" said the little Mouse, very happy to help the Lion.
MORAL : Little friends may prove great friends.
Lion and mouse
Once, when the lion fell asleep, a little mouse started running over him.
Soon he woke the lion, who caught him with his huge paw and opened his jaw to swallow him.
“Excuse me, O king! sobbed the little mouse, “Forgive me this time. This will never happen again and I will never forget your kindness. And who knows, maybe one day I can also do something good for you.”
The lion was so amused at the idea that the little mouse could help him in some way that he raised his paw and let him go.
A few days later, the hunters caught the king and tied him to a tree while looking for a wagon to place him in.
Just then it happened that a little mouse ran past, he saw the predicament in which the lion was, ran up to him and quickly gnawed through the ropes that tied the king of beasts. "Wasn't I right?" - said the mouse, joyful because he helped the lion.
Moral : Little friends can be great friends.
The Goose that laid the Golden Eggs
Once upon a time, a man and his wife had the good fortune to have a goose which laid a golden egg every day.
Lucky though they were, they soon began to think they were not getting rich fast enough.
They imagined that if the bird must be able to lay golden eggs, its insides must be made of gold. And they thought that if they could get all that precious metal at once, they would get mighty rich very soon. So the man and his wife decided to kill the bird.
However, upon cutting the goose open, they were shocked to find that its innards were like that of any other goose!
MORAL : Think before you act.
The Goose That Laid Golden Eggs
One day a man and his wife were lucky enough to have a goose that laid a golden egg every day. Despite such great luck, they soon began to think that this way they would not get rich fast enough.
They imagined that if a bird could lay golden eggs, then its insides must also be made of gold. And they thought that if they could get all this precious metal at once, then very soon they would become extremely rich.
