Look at the pictures
Before reading, talk about the pictures together. Guessing what happens makes kids want to read on — and they pick up words faster.
English Stories for Kids
English Stories for Kids
These 67 English stories are picked for young learners: short, gentle, and full of pictures. Every story has audio so kids can listen along, simple A0–A2 language, and tap-to-translate words for help — perfect for reading together at home or in class.
67stories67narrated with audio~2min average read
How to read English stories with kids
Reading together is the best part. Keep it playful and let the pictures do a lot of the work.
Listen and point
Play the audio and point to each word as it is spoken. Hearing and seeing words together builds reading and pronunciation at once.
Tap tricky words
Tap any word a child does not know for the meaning. No need to look up everything — understanding the story is what matters.
Read it again
Kids love repetition. Re-reading a favorite story builds confidence and locks in vocabulary without it feeling like study.
Short English stories kids will love
Simple, colorful, and fun
Music & Arts
The Empty Seat
A story about a ghost at a music concert.
A00 min0 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Culture & Travel
The Midnight Bus to Notting Hill
A man takes a red bus to his hotel in Notting Hill.
A00 min0 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Daily Life
The Milk Bottle With No Lid
A story about a woman and her cat with a milk bottle.
A00 min0 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Mystery & Crime
The Secret Garden
A story about a man who finds a silver key in a park and discovers a hidden garden.
A00 min0 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Food & Cuisine
The Secret Ingredient in the Cornish Pasty
A story about a secret recipe from a grandmother.
A00 min0 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Sports
The Knight in the London Marathon
A story about a brave knight in a big race in London.
A10 min0 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
History
The Last Window Tapped by the Knocker-up
A man who wakes up workers in 1890s London prepares to retire as new technology replaces his job.
A20 min0 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Daily Life
The Photograph in the Charity Shop Coat
A young woman buys a warm coat from a charity shop and discovers an old photograph hidden in the pocket, beginning a quiet search to return the precious memory to its owner.
A20 min0 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Relationships & Drama
A Book for You
A story about two friends and a book.
A01 min100 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Nature & Adventure
The Cat and Me
A story about a cat and water.
A01 min104 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Myths & Legends
The Mermaid's Chair in the Old Church
A young girl discovers a mysterious and magical chair in an old church featuring a mermaid.
A01 min123 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Mystery & Crime
The Flower of the Second War
A young student goes on a mysterious quest to Kew Gardens using an old key given to him by his grandmother.
A11 min106 wordsAudio4 key wordsQuiz
Mystery & Suspense
The Ticket Under Platform Seven
Leo finds a strange note on an old train ticket and begins to investigate.
A11 min136 wordsAudio4 key wordsQuiz
Relationships & Drama
The Note Under the Wrong Door
An elderly woman living alone discovers a friendly note from a new neighbor.
A11 min139 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Culture & Travel
The Only Passenger at the Smallest Station in Wales
Liam wants to catch a train at a very small request station in Wales.
A11 min116 wordsAudio4 key wordsQuiz
History
The Candle Left in the Window the Night the Men Came Home
A mother waits for her soldier son to return from the war and finds a way to light his path.
A11 min131 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Daily Life
The Wrong Name on the Birthday Cake
A girl named Maya fixes a mistake on her father's birthday cake just in time for the party.
A11 min136 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Music & Arts
The Last Ticket for the Glastonbury Mud
A young man named Sam finds a lost ticket at a music festival and makes a kind choice.
A11 min137 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Myths & Legends
The Black Dog That Follows the Old Roman Road
A man learns the truth about a mysterious black dog with glowing eyes while walking home on a dark road.
A11 min147 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Daily Life
My Red Ball
A story about a child and a red ball.
A01 min104 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Food & Cuisine
Water for Mother
A child gives water to Mother.
A01 min92 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Mystery & Crime
The Red Scarf Left on the Paddington Bench
A station worker finds an elegant red scarf on a quiet bench late at night, and a small silver tag holds the only clue to its owner.
A11 min133 wordsAudio4 key wordsQuiz
Mystery & Suspense
The Light That Came On in the Locked Cottage at Dungeness
A woman and her neighbor investigate a mysterious yellow light in an empty cottage by the dark beach.
A11 min148 wordsAudio5 key wordsQuiz
Sports
The Trophy Left in the Changing Room After the Final
A young player named Maya learns that she is still a valuable part of her winning team, even when she is injured.
A11 min145 wordsAudio6 key wordsQuiz
Kids stories by level
English StoriesA0 — English for kids
View all →The Empty Seat
A story about a ghost at a music concert.
The Midnight Bus to Notting Hill
A man takes a red bus to his hotel in Notting Hill.
The Milk Bottle With No Lid
A story about a woman and her cat with a milk bottle.
The Secret Garden
A story about a man who finds a silver key in a park and discovers a hidden garden.
The Secret Ingredient in the Cornish Pasty
A story about a secret recipe from a grandmother.
Water for Mother
A child gives water to Mother.
A Book for You
A story about two friends and a book.
The Cat and Me
A story about a cat and water.
A1 — English for kids
View all →The Knight in the London Marathon
A story about a brave knight in a big race in London.
The Flower of the Second War
A young student goes on a mysterious quest to Kew Gardens using an old key given to him by his grandmother.
The Only Passenger at the Smallest Station in Wales
Liam wants to catch a train at a very small request station in Wales.
The Candle Left in the Window the Night the Men Came Home
A mother waits for her soldier son to return from the war and finds a way to light his path.
The Red Scarf Left on the Paddington Bench
A station worker finds an elegant red scarf on a quiet bench late at night, and a small silver tag holds the only clue to its owner.
The Envelope Sealed Inside the Cornerstone of the Old School
In 1923, a young girl leaves a message inside a school building that is rediscovered eighty years later.
The Wren Boy Who Knocked on the Wrong Door
A young boy in Ireland celebrates a holiday by singing for coins and has a meaningful encounter.
The Ticket Under Platform Seven
Leo finds a strange note on an old train ticket and begins to investigate.
A2 — English for kids
View all →The Last Window Tapped by the Knocker-up
A man who wakes up workers in 1890s London prepares to retire as new technology replaces his job.
The Photograph in the Charity Shop Coat
A young woman buys a warm coat from a charity shop and discovers an old photograph hidden in the pocket, beginning a quiet search to return the precious memory to its owner.
The Library Book Returned After Forty Years
A librarian receives an unexpectedly late library book and discovers the touching reason behind its delay.
The Understudy Who Refused to Go On Stage
Clara, a nervous understudy, must overcome her stage fright when the lead singer falls ill on the season's biggest night.
The Name Inside the Ring
A young woman discovers a mysterious secret while waiting for her mother's surgery to finish.
The Best Man's Toast That Stopped in the Middle
A best man at a wedding pauses during his speech as he remembers his old feelings for the bride.
The Runner Who Stopped at the Finish Line
An inspiring true story about a race where sportsmanship and respect became more important than winning.
The Canal Boat That Never Reached Birmingham
A man learns the secrets of the canal and his father's past while delivering an old boat.
Make English a daily habit on the app
The Inklingo app turns stories into a fun, personalized path — save words, earn progress, and unlock new stories — great for kids who want to keep going.
English stories for kids FAQ
Are these English stories good for children?
Yes. They are short A0–A2 stories with simple language, friendly pictures, and audio narration — chosen to be easy and enjoyable for young learners and beginners of any age.
Are the kids stories free?
Start reading without an account. Guest translations are limited to 12 taps per day. A free account saves your progress and includes 5 completed stories; further access requires Pro.
Can my child learn English from stories?
Absolutely. Hearing and reading simple stories is how children learn any language — they absorb vocabulary and grammar in context. Pictures and audio make it stick for young learners.
What age are these stories for?
The simple language and pictures suit early readers and anyone learning their first English. Read together with younger kids; older kids can read and listen on their own.