Short stories for kid


Fairy Tales, Bedtime Stories and Kids Poems!

A fun storybook and memory game for Halloween nights with kids, sitting around a campfire. How many of the zombie gifts can you remember?

5 Min Stories Age 7-12 All Cats Friends Halloween Picture Books Picture Books

Leah, Emmie and Tim are going trick-or-treating... but they don't count on encountering some spooky Halloween cats!

A Prince meets a strange ghost in an inn, who asks him to do her a favour.

Charlie is terrified of falling into the PLUGHOLE... until one day, he has to go down and face his fears.

Angel is given a doll for her 12th birthday. But there is something creepy about her...

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Pig is friends with a Gorilla who loves vanilla! Learn to read the letter 'i' with this free phonics early reader!

Kasini loves to cook with her best friend, a wooden spoon.

Poor Lolo wants to relax, but there's so much he has to do!

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A simple man's life changes when he is kind to someone and given a golden goose.

When a handsome warrior loses his love, he goes to the afterlife to find her.

An enchanted elf helps a miller's daughter turn straw into gold... for a price.

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A family get ready for their first family photo with baby!

Learn your ABCs with this fun and simple alphabet book!

Tumi goes to the park for the first time- and has so much fun!

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Wise Mumma Goose uses her head to protect her babies from a wily predator!

Little Simha doesn't want to say 'please' and 'thank you'... and the other animals don't want to help him when he doesn't!

Pepper is playing with her friends - until a terrible accident stops them!

View Age 4-6

A young, plucky brother gifts a turnip to a king, and saves himself from his brother's wrath with wits!

An old woman is cruel to a sparrow - and is repaid in kind.

Henrietta wants to sleep with ALL her favourite soft toys... how will she choose which ones to cuddle up with?

View Age 7-12

Beauty turns herself over to a Beast when her father steals a Rose.

A plump pancake manages to escape being eaten by 7 children!

A friendly frog helps a queen and a princess to escape a lion witch.

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Tumi is scared of many things... but Mummy tells him there are so many people to help him.

It's a school day... and nobody in the family can find Thabo!

Jimmy's friend Bobik is having a birthday party, and Jimmy and his friends try to decide the perfect presents.

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The beloved story of an orphaned girl who learns to change her fortunes for the better.

Twins Jerry and Jacob have a BIG little problem on their hands when they find a goblin in Gran's shed!

When Alice follows a white rabbit down a hole, things get curiouser and curiouser!

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Carrot gets his friend Pepper to the big potion contest. .. but what a potion!

Pepper is offered everything she'd ever wished for by a genie. But she refuses! You'll never guess why...

Pepper and Carrot start playing with a crystal ball that isn't theirs... uh-oh!

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A child imagines all sorts of fantastical creatures who bring children to sleep!

I love sixpence, pretty little sixpence...

There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile...

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Have you ever seen an elephant trying to use the telephone...?

There was a little girl who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead...

A little boy has a funny friend in his shadow!

View Poems for Kids

One day a boy finds a mysterious note... and a TIME MACHINE!

A moving poem of history and the Australian outback.

A trio of haikus about rain, holidays and bluebells.

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5 Min Stories | Bedtime Stories

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Read the biggest collection of FREE bedtime stories, fairy tales, nursery rhymes, short stories for kids and poems for kids! More than 1000 free kids books + audio e-books online!

5 Min Stories Age 4-6 All Halloween Picture Books Scary

A fun storybook and memory game for Halloween nights with kids, sitting around a campfire. How many of the zombie gifts can you remember?

5 Min Stories Age 7-12 All Cats Friends Halloween Picture Books Picture Books

Leah, Emmie and Tim are going trick-or-treating... but they don't count on encountering some spooky Halloween cats!

5 Min Stories Age 4-6 All Animals Environment Gardens Insects Mindfulness Picture Books Picture Books

One day Mr Barry decides to throw out his old sofa, Darla. But before he knows it, a whole community of friends pops up!

5 Min Stories Age 7-12 All All Fairy Tales Animals Fairy Tales Fairy Tales Feel Good Fairy Tales Modern Fairy Tales Picture Books Picture Books

The people of Hamelin are happy. Until one day, a horde of multicoloured butterflies descend upon the town.

5 Min Stories Age 0-3 All Animals Baby Books Birthdays Friends Picture Books Picture Books Rhyming Stories

Koah Koala is having his first birthday! He's about to discover how fun it is to be One!

5 Min Stories Age 7-12 All Picture Books Picture Books Reading

Veronica Peach loves crazy hats, silly voices and BOOKS! One day, she decides to ride around town on her flashy racing bike, reading stories to children...

5 Min Stories Age 4-6 All Animals Dogs Feelings and Emotions Friends Picture Books Picture Books Senses

Baxter the Puppy loses his beloved Oliver in Paris. He will have to follow his nose to find him!

5 Min Stories Age 4-6 All Animals Beach and Sea Early Readers Early Readers Friends Funny Funny Stories Picture Books Picture Books

Making friends is pretty hard for a friendly shark with a toothy smile. But he's going to try!

5 Min Stories Age 0-3 Age 4-6 All Baby Books Family Feelings and Emotions Growth Mindset Love Mindfulness Picture Books Picture Books

A story about the beauty and love your special light can bring to others, and how it spreads from one person to everyone!

5 Min Stories Age 4-6 All Animals Cats Feelings and Emotions Insects Picture Books Picture Books

Scowly Puss feels bored and blue. Luckily Antony the Ant appears, to tell him what to do!

5 Min Stories Age 4-6 All Animals Early Readers Early Readers Friends Picture Books Picture Books

Ou Ou wants to make new friends, but everyone thinks his quills are too sharp. Will he be able to overcome their rejection?

5 Min Stories Age 4-6 All Dolls Picture Books Toys

A little girl is best friends with Azizi her doll, and has lots of fun with her every day.

5 Min Stories Age 4-6 All Animals Health Picture Books Picture Books

Matko is too large to get through a gate - but works out a way, respecting and honouring her own shape.

5 Min Stories Age 4-6 All Being Sick and in Hospital Football Human Body Hygiene Picture Books Sports

Divya has the sniffles before an important football game. What happens when she goes to the game anyway?

5 Min Stories Age 7-12 All Animals Environment Picture Books Picture Books

Animals live in all sorts of homes... and we share our home with all of them.

5 Min Stories Age 4-6 All Counting Numbers Picture Books Picture Books

Kayal bounced her ball too high! You'll never guess where it bounces!

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Short stories for children. Read online with pictures.

This section of our site contains short stories Russian writers for children of all ages.
Small works are more easily perceived by young readers. The child can listen to short stories to the end with pleasure. A little later, he himself will begin to read these small masterpieces of literature.
Parents often do not have enough time to read long books. For example, before going to bed or on the road. In these cases, our selection of short stories will be very useful to you.
In addition, short stories will help the child learn to retell texts :
— Before reading the story, explain to the child the meaning of all incomprehensible words and situations;
- After reading a short story, ask questions to find out the degree of understanding of the text. If the child is not ready to retell the text in full, then you can start with a partial retelling. For example, you tell the text, and the child completes individual words or sentences.
- Then ask them to retell the text on their own. If difficulties arise, then your tips and leading questions will help to master the retelling!
- You can tell the text in turn. So you teach your child not only to talk, but also to listen carefully.

Grade 1-2

A well-known story about two friends and a kitten whose hat fell off a chest of drawers. The boys at first thought that the hat had come to life and were very frightened. But soon the secret of the hat was discovered... The story The living hat read The hat was lying on...

Dragunsky's funny and instructive story about how Denis imagined himself as an adult. The boy dreamed about how he would scold his father, mother and grandmother for misbehavior: being late, walking without a hat, talking at dinner, etc. This ...

Grade 2

A funny story about a boy who didn't want to eat semolina. Mom promised to take him to the Kremlin if he ate all the porridge. Deniska adds sugar, salt, water and even horseradish to the porridge to make it more…

Grade 1

Dragunsky's story about three guys who didn't pronounce the letter Sh. It all started when a truck with a Christmas tree drove into the courtyard of the house. Alyonka says: “Look, there are detectives hanging on the Christmas tree.” This is where it started…

1-2 grade

A story about a boy and a girl who read the fairy tale Three Little Pigs and decided to build a house out of blankets and chairs. And suddenly it seemed to the boy that a gray wolf grabbed his leg ... Read the story of the Entertainer We and ...

Grade 4

An instructive story about shame, about not taking other people's things, about the fact that a misdemeanor will be punished. Read the story about Lyola and Minka, who ate candy from the New Year tree and opened presents… Christmas tree read…

An instructive story about the blacksmith's son Vasya. The boy was very fond of riding a cart drawn by his father's horse. The blacksmith did not approve of this. Once Vasya took a cart and went to the forest. A branch got into the wheel and started whipping the boy…

Grade 2

A story about a boy named Bobka, who had wonderful khaki pants. Climbing over the fence, the boy tore his pants, and his mother got angry and did not sew them up. Bobka decided to put the patch himself... The story Patch to read U...

One day Deniska and Mishka played hockey and were late for the lessons. They came up with a good reason, but never agreed. As a result, the deceit came out. A fire in an outbuilding or a feat in the ice read We…

Pyotr Terentyev, going to war, received from his son a beetle, which he found in the garden, as a gift. Peter put him in a box, fed him and let him fly. The beetle went through the whole war with the soldier. Adventures of a rhinoceros beetle…

This story is about a four-year-old boy, Petya. Mom took great care of him, fed him with a spoon and dressed him. One morning, mother put Petya on his feet from the bed, and he fell. Mom was terribly scared and even called ...

A funny story about how two friends dreamed of driving a car. Once a car drove into the yard and the boys began to find out what brand it was. And then Mishka sat on the bumper and offered to ride it... Story...

Dragunsky's humorous story about two friends, Denisk and Pavel, who met on the last day of summer. The boys ate watermelon and talked about how they spent their holidays. And then Pavel began to brag that he had been studying English all summer. Deniske…

4 class

A story about two brothers who came with their mother to Moscow to visit their aunt. When the adults left home, the boys also decided to see the city and ride the subway. Yes, but the brothers are underground...

A story about Mishenka, to whom his mother promised a lollipop for his good behavior. While mom was not at home, the boy climbed into the sideboard, found a lollipop in the sugar bowl and began to suck it. Having eaten all the candy, he decided to put the sugar bowl on…

A story about Lyola and Minka, who were visited by their grandmother. Grandma brought cakes. But Lele wanted something else and she asked her grandmother about it. The grandmother was angry with the girl, depriving her of a gift - new coins. They are all…

“Four Wishes” tells about the delights of all seasons. The boy Mitya did not want winter to end, then he really liked spring, then summer ... And all because every season is beautiful in its own way! Four wishes to read Mitya...

Grade 1

A short story about how dad taught Mitya to be neat. The boy quickly planed the stick and it turned out not very smoothly. Papa said that the knife was in a hurry and he had to be taught patience. A hasty knife to read Mitya planed a stick, planed ...

A story about a boy, Alik, who was very afraid of policemen. Once Alik got lost, a policeman approached him, but the boy started to run. Then he was caught, but he still did not want to talk to the law enforcement officer... The story of the policeman read More...

Grade 2

The story is about a girl Tanya, who herself grew currants from cuttings. To do this, she had to work hard: pull out the mugs, dig up the sod, plant cuttings and take care of them. But the work was not in vain. Already next year…

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  • The tale of how Sileyma's nose was torn off

    Ingush fairy tale

    One rider decided to give his horse to the first person who asked him. He met the young man and gave him the horse. The horse turned out to be a talking horse and helped the young man in everything ... "The Tale of How Sileima's Nose Was Torn Off" ...

  • The tale of Prince Tepsarko and the widow's son Zhosarko

    Ingush fairy tale

    A long time ago, two young men - Prince Tepsarko and the widow's son Zhosarko - courted a girl. The girl decided to test them, to check who is more valiant. - I will become the wife of a courageous and brave man . .. "The Tale of Prince Tepsarko and ...

  • The tale of how seven friends wooed the prince's daughter

    Ingush fairy tale

    The tale of a fifteen-year-old boy , son of a widow. Mother and son lived in poverty. One day they went to the river to wash half a sack of wheat. The wheat was washed and left to dry. The son fell asleep and he had a dream ... "The tale of how seven ...

  • The tale of how they defeated the black Nogai

    Ingush tale

    A tale about a boy who was the only one left alive after the attack of the black Nogai on their village. The boy was raised by an old wizard who takes the form of any animal. When the boy grew up, the old man sent him to free his land from the evil black Nogai. “Fairy tale…

  • Geese in the polynya

    Astafiev V.P.

    A story about how a goose and her goslings got into a polynya on the Yenisei. The hero of the story and his friends saved the geese from death, they risked themselves. "Geese in the polynya" read Freezing on the Yenisei comes gradually. First…

  • Smell of hay

    Astafiev V.P.

    Two boys, cousins, are eager to help their grandfather and uncle bring hay from distant mowing. However, they are not taken with them, the road is hard, the work is difficult. But in the evening, when the hay is already in the yard, the guys are eager and ...

  • Autumn sorrows and joys

    Autumn is a hot time. It is necessary to collect and prepare the entire crop. A story about how a large amount of cabbage is salted for the winter in one of the Siberian villages. It is in some way a mystical and interesting ritual and process….

  • Photo where I am not present

    Astafiev V.P.

    A story about true friendship, sincere love for the native land and shows what a real teacher should be like. It is important to remember those who were with you as a child. These people can be an important part of your life. And together…

  • Russian women

    Nekrasov N.A.

    Contents: ♦ I. Princess Trubetskaya ♦ Part one ♦ Part two ♦ Princess M.N. Volkonskaya ♦ Chapter I ♦ Chapter II ♦ Chapter III ♦ Chapter IV…

  • Tam Glen

    Burns R.

    Oh, aunt, I ask for advice! With such a young man, I don’t have to be afraid of the fate of change. I’ll be glad of poverty, If only I would be with me ...

  • Lines about war and love I give my blood In that life-creating battle, What we call love. I glorify the triumph of the world, Contentment and prosperity. It is more pleasant to create one Than to destroy a dozen!

  • What's a girl to do

    Burns R.

    What's a girl to do? What shall I do, little girl? How shall I, little girl, live with my hubby? He is grouchy and sick, always dissatisfied. There is coldness in his chest, ice in his hands. He groans, ...

  • has analogues in the tales of many other peoples. Our site presents a version of a folk tale in the processing of A.N. Tolstoy. "Kolobok" read Once upon a time there was an old man with an old woman. Here ...

  • 2 - Three little pigs

    Mikhalkov S.

    A fairy tale about three little pigs who built houses for themselves. One brother built a house out of straw, another out of twigs and twigs, and a third out of bricks. "Three Little Pigs" read Once upon a time there were three little pigs in the world. Three brothers. All…

  • 3 - Little Red Riding Hood

    Charles Perrault

    A short story about a trusting girl and a cunning gray wolf. Disobeying her mother, the girl turns off the road and talks to a stranger - a gray wolf ... "Little Red Riding Hood" read Once upon a time there was a little girl. Her mother loved her without memory, and her grandmother ...

  • 4 - Turnip

    Russian folk tale

    Turnip is a famous fairy tale for the little ones with a lot of repetitions. The child quickly remembers the sequence of presentation and a simple plot. "Turnip" read Grandfather planted a turnip and says: - Grow a turnip, sweet, sweet! Grow big, big! A turnip has grown, sweet and big, big….

  • 5 - Bremen town musicians

    Entin Yu.S. and Livanov V.B.

    The story of the animals and the young Troubadour who went to the city of Bremen to become street musicians. In the city they stopped in front of the royal castle. The king and princess came out onto the balcony of the palace, the townspeople ran to the square and it began ...

  • 6 - Wolf and seven kids

    Russian folk tale

    The tale tells about an evil wolf who changed his voice, made his way into the goat's house and ate the little kids. But the mother goat will be able to save her children and get rid of the wolf. "The Wolf and the Seven Kids" read Once upon a time there was a goat with kids ....

  • 7 - Flower of seven flowers

    Kataev V.P.

    A fairy tale about a girl Zhenya, who was presented with a magic seven-flower flower. It had seven petals and could grant any seven wishes. Zhenya spent the first six wishes, but did not receive any pleasure and only made her last wish ...

  • 8 - The Snow Queen

    Hans Christian Andersen

    The Snow Queen is one of Hans Christian Andersen's most famous fairy tales about love that can overcome any trial and melt even an icy heart! "The Snow Queen" read Table of contents: ♦   The first story, which tells about ...

  • 9 - The Tale of Tsar Saltan

    Pushkin A.S.

    The tale of Tsar Saltan, of his son, the glorious and mighty hero Prince Gvidon Saltanovich, and of the beautiful Swan Princess was created on the basis of the folk tale "Wonderful Sons". Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin enriched the folk work with new plot twists, ...

  • 10 - Three Bears

    Russian folk tale

    Three Bears is a fairy tale about a girl who got lost in the forest and ended up in a house of bears. There she behaved very rudely: without permission, she ate from every cup, sat on every chair, lay down in every bed, ...

  • 11 - Geese-Swans

    the swan geese carried the boy away and the little sister went to look for him. The stove, apple tree and river helped the girl save her brother. Read the fairy tale in the processing of A.N. Tolstoy. "Geese-swans" read There lived a man and a woman. At…

  • 12 - The Frog Princess

    Russian folk tale

    The Frog Princess is a Russian folk tale where the main character, Ivan Tsarevich, married a frog by the will of fate. Ivan had no idea that his wife was Vasilisa the Wise, turned by Koshchei into a frog. Ivan hurried, burned the frog's skin and had to ...

  • 13 - The Wizard of the Emerald City

    "The Wizard of the Emerald City" - a fairy tale by Alexander Volkov written at 1939 based on the fairy tale by the American writer Frank Baum "The Wise Man of Oz" with some changes. In 1959, a new edition of the book was published, significantly revised ...

  • 14 - The Fox and the Crane

    Russian folk tale

    The Fox and the Crane is a fairy tale about friendship between a cunning fox and a clever crane. The crane could not eat the semolina porridge, which the Fox smeared on a plate. He invited her to his place and treated her to a delicious okroshka, which he put ...

  • 15 - Masha and the Bear

    Russian folk tale

    Masha and the Bear is a fairy tale about a girl who got lost in the forest and ended up in a bear's hut. The bear did not let Mashenka go home, however, the girl came up with a way to return to her grandparents. Masha and…

  • 16 - Winnie the Pooh and all-all-all

    Alan Milne

    A cheerful and beloved fairy tale about Winnie the Pooh does not obey the laws of the fairy-tale genre. The tale is devoid of negative characters, the struggle between good and evil forces. The main characters of the tale are the toys of the boy Christopher, with whom funny situations happen in a magical ...

  • 17 - The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish

    Pushkin A.S.

    The tale of a poor fisherman who caught a golden fish in his net. The old man took pity on the fish, released it into the sea. For this, the fish promised to fulfill his every desire. The old man did not ask for anything, but when he returned home, he told about…

  • 18 - Hen Ryaba

    Russian folk tale

    Hen Ryaba is the first fairy tale-parable that mothers read to their babies. Children quickly grasp a simple plot and remember it by heart. Hen Ryaba read Once upon a time there was a grandfather and a woman. And they had a Ryaba Hen. The chicken laid an egg, yes ...

  • 19 - The Little Mermaid

    Hans Christian Andersen

    A touching story about the strong love of the Little Mermaid for the prince. The little mermaid is ready to give up everything that is dear to her for the sake of the human soul and the love of the prince ... The fairy tale formed the basis of the plots of many films, cartoons and musicals. The Little Mermaid read In the open…

  • 20 - Thumbelina

    Hans Christian Andersen

    The fairy tale about Thumbelina is loved by children all over the world. A tiny girl born from a flower goes through many trials on the way to her happiness. Fate rewards Thumbelina for her kind heart. The swallow she rescued earlier endures...

  • 21 - Puss in Boots

    Charles Perrault

    The tale of an unusual cat that was inherited by a younger brother from a miller's father. The young man was not very happy at first with his share of the inheritance, but the cunning and smart cat made him the richest man and son-in-law of the king ... The cat in ...

  • 22 - Sleeping Beauty

    Charles Perrault celebration in honor of his birth. The old fairy predicted the girl's death from a spindle prick, but the good fairy was able to commute the sentence. The girl did not die, but fell asleep on ...

  • 23 - Ax porridge

    Russian folk tale

    Ax porridge is a short fairy tale about a witty soldier. The greedy old woman did not want to feed the soldier, but he outwitted her and got porridge with butter ... Read porridge from an ax The old soldier went on a visit. Tired of…

  • 24 - The Ugly Duckling

    Hans Christian Andersen

    A fairy tale about the miraculous transformation of an ugly duckling into a beautiful swan. The duckling was born unlike his brothers, the inhabitants of the poultry yard disliked him for his dissimilarity to the others. The duckling had to leave the house and go through many trials before he…

  • 25 - The Princess and the Pea

    Hans Christian Andersen

    A short story about how a prince wants to marry a real princess. One day, a girl knocked on the gate, who was soaked to the skin, but assured that she was a real princess. They let her in for the night, and the old queen arranged for her to be checked ......

  • 26 - Bean seed

    Russian folk tale

    The cockerel and the bean seed - a Russian folk tale about a rooster who was always in a hurry when pecking the seeds. The hen warned him all the time and asked him to peck more slowly. One day he choked on a bean seed and fell down. But the chicken ...

  • 27 - Sister Alyonushka and brother Ivanushka

    a Russian folk tale -there was an old man and an old woman, they had . ..

  • 28 - Fear has big eyes

    Russian folk tale

    Fear has big eyes - a short fairy tale about the fact that fear can see what was not really ... ( from the collection of M.M. Serova) Fear has big eyes to read Once upon a time there was an old grandmother, a laughing granddaughter, a chicken-klokhtushka and a mouse-leaf. Each…

  • 29 - Sivka Burka

    Russian folk tale

    Sivka-Burka is a fairy tale about the adventures of Ivan the Fool and his gallant horse. Sivka Burka read The old man had three sons: two smart ones, and the third Ivanushka the Fool; day and night the fool is lying on the stove. The old man sowed wheat, and it grew ... good cat ... Baba Yaga read Once upon a time there was a husband and wife, and they had a daughter. The wife fell ill and died. Grieved, grieved ...

  • 31 - Teremok

    Russian folk audio tale

    Listen to the Russian folk tale "Teremok" online on the Mishkina Books website!

  • 32 - Crocodile Gena and his friends

    Uspensky E. N.

    The tale of the lonely crocodile Gena. Coming home from work from the zoo, he was left alone and bored. Crocodile Gena decided to make friends with someone. He wrote an ad that he was looking for friends, hung them around the city and ...

  • 33 - Twelve months

    Samuil Marshak

    Do you know how many months there are in a year? - Twelve. And what are their names? — January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. As soon as one month ends, another immediately begins. And…

  • 34 - The tale of the priest and his worker Balda

    Pushkin A.S.

    The tale of the stingy priest and resourceful worker Balda. Somehow Balda was hired for the service for three clicks on the forehead of the priest. When the time of reckoning was approaching, the priest decided to give Balda an impossible task in order to get rid of him. But Balda…

  • 35 - Little Humpbacked Horse

    Ershov P.

    An old man lived in a village and had three sons. They grew wheat and sold it in the market. But then someone got into the habit of trampling wheat in the field at night ... Table of contents: ♦ Part one. It begins…

  • 36 - Alice in Wonderland

    Carroll L.

    A fascinating story about a girl Alice who met a talking White Rabbit and ended up in amazing worlds where she met very unusual characters… Chapter 1. Down Alice's rabbit hole tired of sitting with my sister doing nothing on the shore ...

  • 37 - The Little Prince

    Antoine de Saint-Exupery

    A fairy tale about how a pilot, who remained a child at heart, met the Little Prince in the desert, who arrived from another planet. Dedication I ask the children to forgive me for dedicating this book to an adult. I'll justify it: this one...

The best short stories for children

Children should read only the best stories! We have selected some instructive stories from children's writers for you.

A short story with a lot of meaning is much easier for a child to master than a long story with multiple themes. Start reading with simple sketches and move on to more serious books. (Vasily Sukhomlinsky)

Contents of the material

  • Ingratitude
  • Why say "thank you"?
  • Lastochka
  • Evgeny Permyak

      - Eat, Matveyka, honey. If you want, eat honey with rolls with a spoon, if you want - rolls with honey.
      Matvey ate honey with rolls, then rolls with honey. I ate so much that it became difficult to breathe. He wiped his sweat, sighed and asked:
      - Please tell me, grandfather, what kind of honey is it - linden or buckwheat?
      – And what? - Grandfather Andrei was surprised. - I treated you with buckwheat honey, granddaughters.
      - Linden honey is still tastier, - said Matvey and yawned: after a plentiful meal, he felt sleepy.
      Pain squeezed grandfather Andrey's heart. He was silent. And the grandson kept asking:
      – Is the flour for rolls made from spring or winter wheat? Grandfather Andrei turned pale. His heart clenched with unbearable pain.
      It became hard to breathe. He closed his eyes and groaned.

      Why say "thank you"?

      Two people were walking along the forest road - a grandfather and a boy. It was hot, they wanted to drink.
      Travelers approached the stream. Cool water gurgled softly. They leaned over and got drunk.
      - Thank you, stream, - said the grandfather. The boy laughed.
      - Why did you say "thank you" to the stream? he asked his grandfather. - After all, the stream is not alive, will not hear your words, will not understand your gratitude.
      - That's right. If the wolf got drunk, he would not say “thank you”. And we are not wolves, we are people. Do you know why a person says "thank you"?
      Think, who needs this word?
      The boy thought. He had plenty of time. The way was long…

      Swallow

      The mother swallow taught her chick to fly. The chick was very small. He clumsily and helplessly waved his weak wings. Unable to stay in the air, the chick fell to the ground and was badly hurt. He lay motionless and squealed plaintively. The mother swallow was very alarmed. She circled over the chick, screaming loudly and did not know how to help him.
      The little girl picked up the chick and put it in a wooden box. And she put the box with the chick on the tree.
      The swallow took care of her chick. She brought him food daily, fed him.
      The chick began to recover quickly and was already chirping merrily and cheerfully waving his strengthened wings.
      An old red cat wanted to eat a baby bird. He quietly crept up, climbed a tree and was already at the very box. But at this time the swallow flew off the branch and began to fly boldly in front of the very nose of the cat. The cat rushed after her, but the swallow deftly dodged, and the cat missed and slammed to the ground with all his might.
      Soon the chick completely recovered and the swallow with joyful chirping took him to his native nest under the neighboring roof.


      Evgeny Permyak

      How Misha wanted to outsmart his mother

      Misha's mother came home after work and threw up her hands:
      — How did you, Mishenka, manage to break off the wheel of a bicycle?
      - Mom, it broke off by itself.
      — And why is your shirt torn, Mishenka?
      - She, Mommy, burst herself.
      - Where did your other shoe go? Where did you lose it?
      - He, mother, got lost somewhere.
      Then Misha's mother said:
      — How bad they all are! They, the scoundrels, need to teach a lesson!
      — And how? Misha asked.
      "Very simple," Mom replied. - If they have learned to break themselves, tear themselves apart and get lost on their own, let them learn to repair themselves, to sew themselves up, to be themselves. And you and I, Misha, will sit at home and wait until they do all this.
      Misha sat down by a broken bicycle, in a torn shirt, without a shoe, and thought hard. Apparently, this boy had something to think about.

      Short story "Ah!"

      Nadia couldn't do anything. Grandmother Nadya dressed, put on shoes, washed, combed her hair.
      Mom gave Nadya water from a cup, fed her from a spoon, put her to bed, lulled her to sleep.
      Nadia heard about kindergarten. It's fun for friends to play there. They dance. They sing. They listen to stories. Good for kids in kindergarten. And Nadenka would have been fine there, but they didn't take her there. Not accepted!
      Ah!
      Nadia cried. Mom cried. Grandma cried.
      - Why didn't you accept Nadya in kindergarten?
      And in kindergarten they say:
      - How can we accept her when she can't do anything.
      Ah!
      Grandmother realized it, mother realized it. And Nadia caught on. Nadia began to dress herself, put on her own shoes, wash herself, eat, drink, comb her hair, and go to bed.
      When they found out about this in kindergarten, they came for Nadia themselves. They came and took her to the kindergarten, dressed, shod, washed, combed.
      Ah!


      Nikolai Nosov

      Steps

      Once Petya was returning from kindergarten. That day he learned to count to ten. He reached his house, and his younger sister Valya was already waiting at the gate.
      - I already know how to count! Petya boasted. - I learned in kindergarten. Look how I now count all the steps on the stairs.
      They began to climb the stairs, and Petya counted the steps loudly:
      - One, two, three, four, five ...
      - Well, why did you stop? Valya asks.
      - Wait, I forgot which step is next. I will remember now.
      - Well, remember, - says Valya.
      They stood on the stairs, they stood. Petya says:
      - No, I can't remember that. Well, let's start over.
      They went down the stairs. They started going up again.
      - One, - says Petya, - two, three, four, five. .. And he stopped again.
      - Forgot again? Valya asks.
      - I forgot! How is it! I just remembered and suddenly forgot! Well, let's try again.
      They went down the stairs again, and Petya started over:
      - One, two, three, four, five...
      - Maybe twenty-five? Valya asks.
      - No! You just stop thinking! You see, I forgot because of you! Will have to start over again.
      - I don't want to at first! Valya says. - What it is? Up, then down, then up, then down! My legs already hurt.
      - If you don't want to, don't, - answered Petya. “I won’t go any further until I remember.”
      Valya went home and said to her mother:
      - Mom, there is Petya counting steps on the stairs: one, two, three, four, five, but then he doesn’t remember.
      - And then six, - said my mother.
      Valya ran back to the stairs, and Petya kept counting the steps:
      - One, two, three, four, five...
      - Six! Valya whispers. - Six! Six!
      - Six! Petya was delighted and went on. - Seven eight nine ten.
      It's good that the stairs ended, otherwise he would never have reached the house, because he only learned to count to ten.

      Hill

      The guys built a snow hill in the yard. They poured water on her and went home. The cat didn't work. He was sitting at home, looking out the window. When the guys left, Kotka put on his skates and went up the hill. Teal skates in the snow, but can't get up. What to do? Kotka took the box of sand and sprinkled it on the hill. The guys came running. How to ride now? The guys were offended by Kotka and forced him to cover the sand with snow. Kotka untied his skates and began to cover the hill with snow, and the guys poured water over it again. Kotka also made steps.


      Nina Pavlova

      The little mouse got lost

      The mother gave the forest mouse a wheel made of a dandelion stem and said:
      — Come on, play, ride near the house.
      - Beep-beep-beep! the mouse shouted. - I will play, I will ride!
      And rolled the wheel down the path downhill. I rolled it, rolled it, and played so much that I did not notice how I found myself in a strange place. Last year's linden nuts were lying on the ground, and above, behind the carved leaves, a completely foreign place! The mouse is quiet. Then, so that it would not be so scary, he put his wheel on the ground, and he sat in the middle. Sitting and thinking:
      "Mom said: "Ride near the house." And where is now near the house?
      But then he saw that the grass trembled in one place and a frog jumped out.
      - Beep-beep-beep! the mouse shouted. - Tell me, frog, where is near the house, where is my mother?
      Luckily, the frog knew just that and answered:
      — Run all straight and straight under these flowers. Meet the newt. He has just crawled out from under the stone, lies and breathes, is about to crawl into the pond. From the newt, turn left and run along the path all straight and straight. You will meet a white butterfly. She sits on a blade of grass and waits for someone. From the white butterfly, turn left again and then shout to your mother, she will hear.
      - Thank you! - said the mouse.
      Picked up his wheel and rolled it between the stems, under the bowls of white and yellow anemone flowers. But the wheel soon became stubborn: it would hit one stalk, then another, then it would get stuck, then it would fall. And the mouse did not back down, pushed him, pulled him, and finally rolled out onto the path.
      Then he remembered the newt. After all, the newt never met! And he did not meet because he had already managed to crawl into the pond while the little mouse was fiddling with his wheel. So the mouse did not know where he needed to turn left.
      And again he rolled his wheel at random. Rolled up to the tall grass. And again, grief: the wheel got tangled in it - and neither back nor forward!
      Barely managed to get him out. And then only the mouse remembered the white butterfly. After all, she never met.
      And the white butterfly sat, sat on a blade of grass and flew away. So the little mouse did not know where he needed to turn left again.
      Luckily, the mouse met a bee. She flew to the flowers of red currant.
      - Beep-beep-beep! the mouse shouted. - Tell me, bee, where is near the house, where is my mother?
      And the bee just knew this and answered:
      — Run downhill now. You will see - in the lowland something turns yellow. It's as if the tables are covered with patterned tablecloths, and on them are yellow cups. This is a spleen, such a flower. From the spleen go uphill. You will see flowers radiant like the sun and next to them - on long legs - fluffy white balls. This is a coltsfoot flower. Turn right from him and then shout to your mother, she will hear.
      - Thank you! - said the little mouse...
      Where to run now? And it was already getting dark, and no one could be seen around! The mouse sat down under a leaf and cried. And he cried so loudly that his mother heard him and came running. How happy he was for her! And she even more: she didn’t even hope that her son was alive.


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