Short Stories for Kids to Read Online
Every story on Online Books for Children is short, and this page is the best place to start. The 12 stories below take three to six minutes to read, have a picture at the top, and are written for children of about 3 to 8, to read with a grown-up or, for older kids, alone.
Looking for something specific? The stories are also grouped into collections:
Short stories by theme
Courage
Sir Pip and the Silver Helmet, a mouse who finds a thimble and feels like a knight; The Paper Boat's Mission; and Caleb the Rainbow Chameleon, who can't find his own color.
Kindness and empathy
Maria Clara and the Broken Doll and Skye's Unique Song, about a bird with a very different voice.
Family
Leo and the Grandparents' Treasure Hunt, Daisy's Magic Bread (baking with Grandma) and Ruby and Oliver: The Secret Journey of the Dream Balloons, the longest story here at about six minutes.
Creativity
Luna's Colorful Mess, a cat who jumps into the paint, and Daisy the Hen, who lays colorful eggs.
How short is short?
Here it means roughly 400 to 800 words: three to six minutes read aloud. That is about as long as most four-year-olds will sit still, and about as much as a seven-year-old will read alone before wanting to talk about it.