Classic Stories
Classic Stories
Welcome to our collection of the Top 53 Classic Stories for kids to read online, a treasure trove of timeless tales that have been adored by children worldwide for generations. These stories are perfect for bedtime, storytime, or any time of the day when young minds are eager to read or listen to enchanting tales. Available in easy-to-access PDF format, our library offers a wide array of free, downloadable, and printable stories for children of all ages, from toddlers to early years, preschool, kindergarten, and elementary students. Our classic stories come with beautiful illustrations, enhancing your child’s learning and educational experience.
The importance of Classic Stories cannot be overstated, as they not only spark the imagination and creativity of young children, but also often hold valuable moral lessons that help shape their character. With a diverse selection of famous fairy tales, fun and engaging short stories, as well as some longer and more complex narratives, we cater to the unique interests and abilities of both girls and boys. Our collection includes the best English stories, with pictures and audio options to enrich the reading experience and make it even more enjoyable. Whether your child prefers to read alone or enjoys listening to stories read aloud during a cozy night time session, our assortment of classic tales promises to entertain, educate, and inspire your child as they fall asleep or explore the world of literature during their early years. So, gather around, and let the timeless magic of Classic Stories sweep you and your child away into a world of wonder, adventure, and invaluable lessons.
Top 53 Classic Stories for kids to read online:
- Twelfth Night: This story is about the Duke of Illyria called Orsino who is in love with a Countess named Olivia who despises him. A beautiful young girl named Viola lands safely on the Illyrian coast after being shipwrecked. She decides to disguise herself in male clothes and work as a servant for Orsino. Viola listens to the story of Orsino’s love daily and soon realizes she has fallen in love with him. Orsino sends Viola disguised as a boy to Olivia with a message of love, but Olivia falls in love with Cesario which is Viola’s disguised self. A series of events unfold which lead to Sebastian, Viola’s twin brother, coming to Illyria and marrying Olivia. Finally, Viola reveals herself to Orsino and they end up getting married too.
- Pooh And Piglet Go Hunting And Nearly Catch A Woozle: In this story, Piglet and Winnie-the-Pooh go hunting for a Woozle, but end up following tracks that lead them to believe there are more and more animals. Eventually, they realize they’ve just been walking in circles and no Woozle exists. Christopher Robin comes to join them, and they all go home for lunch. The story is available to download as a PDF for offline reading or printing.
- Theseus and the Minotaur: The story is about Theseus, a Greek hero who defeats the Minotaur, a creature who terrorises the people of Athens. Theseus wants to rid the city of the monster and volunteers to be one of the seven young men sent every year to be sacrificed. With the help of Ariadne, the daughter of the king who holds the monster captive, Theseus manages to kill the Minotaur and escape the labyrinth. However, he forgets to change the black sails of his ship to white as he promised his father, who then throws himself off a cliff when he sees the black sails. Despite the tragedy, Theseus becomes a great king and is loved by his people.
- Alice in Wonderland: Down the rabbit hole: Alice, bored with her sister’s book, follows a white rabbit down a rabbit hole and falls deep into a strange place filled with peculiar things. Despite her size constantly changing, Alice is determined to explore and find her way home, facing bizarre characters and challenges along the way.
- Alice in Wonderland: the pool of tears: In this story, Alice suddenly grows very tall and worries about how she will take care of her feet, which now seem far away. She makes a plan to give them new shoes each Christmas. Alice tries to find her way back to the garden but ends up in a pool of her own tears. She meets a mouse but upsets it by mentioning cats and dogs. Alice and the crowd of animals swim to the shore where the mouse promises to tell her why it hates cats and dogs.
- Romeo and Juliet: The story is about the tragic love between Romeo and Juliet, two young people from rival families in Verona. At a feast hosted by the Capulet family, Romeo falls in love with Juliet, not knowing who she is. They meet again and confess their love, but their romance is cut short by their families’ feud and a series of tragic events. Ultimately, Romeo and Juliet both die, and their families reconcile.
- King Lear: King Lear is a play about an old king who wishes to divide his kingdom among his three daughters but asks them how much they love him first. The two eldest daughters make grandiose speeches about their love for him while the youngest, Cordelia, simply says she loves him according to her duty. The king is disappointed and banishes her, sparking a tragic chain of events involving battles, treachery, and betrayal among the family members. In the end, the king realizes the true worth of his loving and loyal daughter Cordelia, but only after it is too late.
- Dr. Dolittle Escapes from the Pirates: Doctor Dolittle’s ship encounters the Barbary pirates who follow other ships and cause them to shipwreck. The animals onboard Dr. Dolittle’s ship sense danger as a red sail approaches. Jip, the dog, smells trouble and barks, waking up to see the pirates’ ship. The ship races towards them and they realize they won’t outrun them with sails alone. The swallows help by pulling the ship with the strings, and the ship hurries ahead, leaving the pirates behind.
- The Tempest: The story follows the life of Prospero, the Duke of Milan, who was betrayed by his own brother, Antonio, and left stranded at sea with his young daughter, Miranda. They land on an enchanted island where Prospero uses his knowledge of magic to tame the spirits and seek revenge on those who wronged him. Through his magic, Prospero helps his daughter find true love, forgives his enemies, and eventually regains his title as Duke of Milan.
- Dr. Dolittle and the Ape Bridge: In the story, Queen Ermintrude’s husband becomes angry and sends his army to capture Doctor Dolittle, who escapes into the jungle with his animals. With the help of Chee-Chee, a monkey who knows the jungle well, they travel to the Land of the Apes while being chased by the king’s men. Eventually, they come to a cliff, and the apes quickly make a bridge by holding onto each other. They cross the bridge safely, but the king’s men are too late to catch them. Chee-Chee tells Doctor Dolittle that he is the first to see the famous “Ape Bridge,” and the doctor is pleased. The story is available to download as an ebook in PDF format.
- As you please: The story is about a wicked duke who banished his own niece, Rosalind, and also a young man named Orlando who was kept from his inheritance by his brother. Rosalind and her cousin disguised themselves and went to live in the Forest of Arden, where Orlando also ended up. The two fell in love and Orlando carved Rosalind’s name all around. Orlando risked his life to save his wicked brother from a lioness, and from that moment they were beloved brothers. They all lived happily ever after, with both couples getting married and the wicked uncle giving the duchy back to his rightful brother.
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The story is about Hermia and Lysander who wish to marry, but Hermia’s father wants her to marry Demetrius. A cruel law in Athens forces girls to marry whom their father chooses, or face death. Lysander advises Hermia to run away to his aunt’s place, but she confides in her friend, Helena. Helena betrays their secret to Demetrius, hoping to regain his love. In the forest, Oberon and Titania, the King and Queen of the fairies, quarrel over an Indian boy, and Oberon orders Puck to use a magical flower that will make the victim fall in love with the first creature they see upon waking. Puck mistakenly puts the juice in Lysander’s eyes, and he falls in love with Helena instead of Hermia. Demetrius chases after Helena as well, leading to chaos, but eventually, Puck uses the flower to restore order.
- Robinson Crusoe: Friday Rescued from the Man-eaters: The protagonist of the story is alone on an island when he spots canoes and worries that they could be hostile, so he prepares himself for the worst until he sees that they are only a group of men cooking food. He then witnesses two of them being killed by their own people and a third escaping towards him. Although initially afraid, the protagonist decides to help the man and saves him from being killed. The two men bury the dead and return to the cave where the protagonist makes clothes for the man and sets up a tent for him. They develop a close bond and the protagonist starts teaching him language and other useful skills.
- The Winter’s Tale: The story is about King Leontes, who suspects his wife of loving his childhood friend and orders his servant to poison him. The loyal servant warns the friend and they flee, leaving the queen to be imprisoned. The queen gives birth to a daughter while in prison but the baby is sent away to a remote place. Years later, the daughter is found by a shepherd and falls in love with a prince. The king, who turns out to be the girl’s father, forbids their marriage but later welcomes them and recognizes his daughter. The story ends with a statue of the queen coming to life, revealing herself as the queen who forgives her husband and they reunite happily ever after.
- Dr. Dolittle is finally back home: After traveling with the Pushmi-Pullyu in a gypsy wagon and performing in circuses, Dr. Dolittle and his animal friends return to Puddleby-on-the-Marsh where they live happily in the doctor’s house with a big garden. He pays off debts, buys new ships, a rubber doll, and mingles with animals. During winter, they sit near a warm fire, and the doctor reads to them from his books. Although they miss the doctor in Africa, Polynesia and the monkeys think he will come back, while the crocodile commands them to sleep. The story ends with free download links for offline reading or printing purposes.
- Dr. Dolittle in the Fishing Village: In this story, Dr. Dolittle rescues a man who was left stranded on a rocky island by a pirate. Jip the dog uses his intelligence to locate the man and the doctor provides him with medical care. The man reveals that he survived on nothing but snuff for four days. Dr. Dolittle and his animal companions then sail to a nearby fishing village where they are welcomed with great hospitality. The doctor is eventually gifted a watch and Jip is given a gold collar declaring him the “smartest dog in the world”. The story ends with the doctor and his animals leaving the village on their ship with red sails.
- Dr. Dolittle and the Rock: This story is about Dr. Dolittle and his animal friends who search for a man lost at sea. Jip, the dog, uses his sense of smell to find the man’s trail and leads the ship to a big rock. They discover a cave and finally find the man, who was fast asleep with a box of snuff tobacco. The man is hungry, so they take him back to the ship. The story highlights the importance of having a dog with a sharp sense of smell and shows how animals can work together to help humans in times of need.
- Dr. Dolittle and Jip the Dog: In this story, Dr. Dolittle and his animal friends try to find a missing fisherman, who is the uncle of a young boy they met. The eagles searched everywhere but could not find him, so Jip the dog offered to locate him using his sense of smell. Jip detected a scent of snuff on a gold ring and handkerchief belonging to the uncle, indicating that he was somewhere near Devon and Wales. The doctor was impressed and recorded the remarkable feat in his book.
- Dr. Dolittle and the Blabbermouths of the Ocean: A doctor and his animal friends discover a little boy crying alone in a room onboard a pirate ship. The boy’s uncle, a fisherman, has been taken captive and is feared dead. The doctor enlists the help of friendly porpoises to search for the missing man and learns that his boat sank, but he is likely alive. The boy is overjoyed to hear the news, and the animals celebrate with a procession and tea.
- Dr. Dolittle and Too-Too the Owl hear something: In this story, the doctor and his animal friends are exploring a pirate’s ship and searching for a locked door’s key, suspected to contain the pirates’ treasure within. As they continue to search, an owl named Too-Too claims to hear someone within the door, and they put their ears to the lock to listen. They determine that someone is inside, crying, and the doctor decides to chop a hole in the door to investigate.
- Dr. Dolittle and the Barbary Dragon: In this story, the Doctor and his animal friends try to escape from pirates, but are surrounded and the pirates demand gold. However, the ship is sinking and the pirates are afraid of sharks in the water. The Doctor strikes a deal with the sharks to let the pirates go in exchange for the pirates giving up their lives of piracy and becoming birdseed farmers. The pirates agree and swim to land, while the Doctor and his friends continue their adventure.
- Dr. Dolittle receives a warning from the rats: In the story, Doctor Dolittle and his animal friends are on a ship, trying to find water, when they meet a rat who warns them that the ship will sink in less than two days. The animals leave the ship and find a beautiful island, where they rest and search for water. Later, they hear that pirates have boarded their ship and stolen their possessions. The animals sneak onto the pirates’ abandoned ship and escape, taking the new ship as their own.
- Dr. Dolittle: Medicine and Magic: In this story, the doctor and his animal friends are imprisoned and need to find a way to escape. The parrot, Polynesia, secretly flies to the prison and tells the doctor that Prince Bumpo, who desires to be a golden prince, is coming to visit him that night. The doctor decides to mix a bunch of medicines to try and turn the prince’s face completely gold. The plan works, but the doctor worries that the medicine may not last long. They all escape the prison and are guided home by millions of swallows. Those left behind are sad to see them go.
- Dr. Dolittle and the Prince: In this story, Dr. Dolittle and his animal friends get lost in the woods while searching for a way home and accidentally wander into the king’s palace garden, resulting in their capture and imprisonment. However, with the help of Polynesia the parrot, Prince Bumpo is convinced that Dr. Dolittle can turn him into a golden prince, leading to a plan for their escape.
- Dr. Dolittle and the Unique Animal: The story is about the Pushing Pullyu animal, the only two-headed creature in the world, which was very rare and difficult to catch. Many people tried to find and capture it, but no one ever succeeded until some monkeys discovered one in a jungle in Africa. They convinced the animal to go with Dr. Dolittle to be exhibited in the land of humans, to help the doctor pay for a new boat. After some persuasion, the Pushing Pullyu agreed to go with them. When they got back to the doctor’s hut, he was unsure about taking the animal overseas, but eventually agreed. The story ends with the doctor and his animal friends leaving the jungle, leaving behind memories of their visit.
- Dr. Dolittle at the Ape Council: In this story, the apes are sad that Dr. Dolittle is leaving, and they try to convince him to stay by offering him a new home and a bigger bed. However, Chee-Chee explains that humans need money to live and that Dr. Dolittle has to go back to pay his debts. The apes decide to give him a rare animal, the Pushing Pullyu, as a present to show their gratitude for everything he has done for them.
- Dr. Dolittle and the Leader of the Lions: In this story, Doctor Dolittle is busy treating sick monkeys and separating healthy ones. With help from Chee-Chee and his cousin, he builds a grass hut and gives the healthy monkeys a shot to prevent the disease from spreading. He then builds a big house and places all the sick monkeys there. However, he struggles to find enough help from other animals to nurse the sick monkeys. The Leader of the Lions initially refuses to help due to his pride, but eventually changes his mind after his own cub falls ill. With the help of various animals, they eventually nurse all the monkeys back to health.
- Dr. Dolittle meets the King: The story is about Doctor Dolittle and his animals being locked up in a stone dungeon by the King of Jolliginki, who refuses to let them travel through his land. The parrot Polynesia escapes and tricks the King into opening the dungeon door by pretending to be the doctor himself, threatening to make everyone sick if they are not released. Doctor Dolittle and his animals escape, leaving the King furious and Polynesia hailed as a hero.
- The Gift of Athena: In this mythological tale, the gods Poseidon and Athena compete for the right to name a great new city, Erechtheus. Zeus decides that the city will be named after the god or goddess who provides the best gift for its people. Poseidon creates a magnificent horse, but Athena’s olive tree, which represents peace, health, and abundance, wins the competition. The city is consequently named Athens, and Athena vows to make it a beacon of freedom and prosperity. The story ends by suggesting that Athens will be remembered as a symbol of the power and wisdom of the gods.
- Robinson Crusoe: Building the Boat: The protagonist has accepted his fate on a deserted island and has focused on making a life there. He lives in a tent and has built a turf wall around it for protection against rain. He has started storing his goods in a cave and has made a chair, a table, and shelves for his tools. He keeps a diary and thinks about escaping to the mainland. He works on building a large boat, but all attempts to get it into the water fail. Despite missing human contact, he has an abundance of resources and realizes that all the good things in life are only as good as we can use them. Downloads for the story are also available.
- The Shipwreck of Robinson Crusoe: The protagonist tells of his life in Brazil, where he learns the language and builds relationships with other planters and merchants. He goes on trading trips to the Guinea coast, where he buys goods for sale in Brazil. Upon his return, some merchants invite him to manage their trading venture to Guinea. He accepts, makes arrangements for his plantation in his absence, and sets sail with them. However, they encounter violent storms, lose many crew members, and eventually, the ship is wrecked on an unknown island. The protagonist is the only survivor, left without food, water, or clothes, and begins to contemplate his fate on the desolate island.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Cyclone: The story is about Dorothy, who lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry in a small house on the great Kansas prairies. An oncoming cyclone scares them all and Dorothy takes refuge in a small cyclone cellar with her aunt. However, the house is lifted up by the cyclone and taken miles away. After hours of being rocked by the winds, Dorothy eventually falls asleep.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Council with the Munchkins: A girl named Dorothy is awoken by a sudden shock and finds herself in a land of marvelous beauty after a cyclone set her house down there. She meets strange people including the Witch of the North, who thanks her for killing the Wicked Witch of the East. Dorothy wants to go back to Kansas but is told it’s impossible. However, the Witch of the North gives her a kiss and instructions to follow the yellow brick road to the City of Emeralds ruled by the Great Wizard Oz, who may be able to help her. Before leaving, Dorothy is gifted the silver shoes that belonged to the Wicked Witch of the East. The story contains magic, witches, and talking animals.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: How Dorothy Saved the Scarecrow: In this story, Dorothy is alone and hungry, so she cuts some bread and gathers fruit to make breakfast. She fills a pail with water from the brook, and puts on a clean gingham dress. Dorothy sets out for the Emerald City with Toto, stopping at a Munchkin’s home for a night of rest. On the way, she meets a Scarecrow and invites him to join her on the journey to ask for help from the Great Oz. They continue on the yellow brick path, and the Scarecrow offers to carry Dorothy’s basket. He confesses that the only thing he is afraid of is a lit match.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Road through the Forest: In this excerpt from “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy, Toto, and the Scarecrow continue their journey to the Emerald City. They encounter rough terrain, an increasingly dismal countryside, and finally a forest at nightfall. The Scarecrow tells Dorothy about his creation and how he longs for brains. They eventually find a cottage to sleep in for the night. Downloads for the ebook version of the story are provided.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Rescue of the Tin Woodman: Dorothy and the Scarecrow search for water and encounter a man made entirely of tin who has been rusted in place for over a year. They oil his joints and he asks to join their quest to see the Great Oz and ask for a heart. The Scarecrow would like a brain instead and Dorothy is just hoping to get back to Kansas. As they continue on their journey, they encounter obstacles and struggle with limited food supplies.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Cowardly Lion: In this excerpt, Dorothy and her companions are walking through a dark and dangerous forest on their way to the Emerald City. They are soon confronted by a cowardly lion who tries to attack them but is quickly put in his place by Dorothy. The group continues on their journey, lamenting their own shortcomings, with the Tin Woodman feeling sorry for accidentally killing a beetle and the lion feeling ashamed of his own cowardice. They all hope that the Wizard of Oz will grant them the qualities they desire, and the group begins to bond as they travel together. The excerpt ends with the Tin Woodman accidentally rusting his jaw shut and being unable to speak until the Scarecrow uses Dorothy’s oil can to free him.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Journey to the Great Oz: In the story, the group finds themselves camping in the forest without food in the middle of the night. The Lion offers to hunt for them, but the Tin Woodman doesn’t want him to harm the deer. Instead, the Lion goes on his own and finds his own food. The Scarecrow picks nuts, and they all get a good night’s sleep. The next day, they encounter a ditch too big to cross and a tree, which the Tin Woodman cleverly cuts down to create a bridge, and they make it across to the other side safely. They later come across a river and build a raft to cross it. Dorothy dreams of going back home.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Deadly Poppy Field: The group of travelers in the story has successfully crossed a dark forest and is now on their way to the Emerald City. However, they are swept away by the current of a river and face danger of being trapped in the land of the Wicked Witch of the West. A Stork helps them rescue their friend, the Scarecrow, who was left behind on a pole in the river. They continue their journey through a field of poppies, which causes Dorothy and Toto to fall asleep. The group carries them to a safer place to wake up, leaving the Lion behind who was also affected by the poppy’s scent.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Queen of the Field Mice: The Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Dorothy are on their way to the road of yellow brick when they are approached by a great yellow Wildcat chasing a little grey field mouse. The Tin Woodman quickly takes out his axe and cuts off the Wildcat’s head, saving the field mouse. The Queen of the Field Mice, thankful for the Woodman’s assistance, commands her mice to use their strings to pull the Lion out of the poppy bed. The Queen promises to come to their aid again if needed before finally leaving. Dorothy and her friends wait for the Lion to awaken, while the Scarecrow brings her some fruit to eat.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Guardian of the Gate: In this story, Dorothy and her friends journey towards the Emerald City to see the Great Oz. On their way, they pass through the Land of Oz where they encounter a field of deadly flowers and are rescued by field mice. As they approach the Emerald City, they are greeted by people dressed in emerald green clothing and guarded by the Guardian of the Gates. They must all wear spectacles to avoid being blinded by the city’s bright emerald glow. The Guardian of the Gates leads them to the palace to meet with the Great Oz.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Rescue: Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, and the Winkies free the Tin Woodman and repair him with the help of Winkie tinsmiths. They also find the Scarecrow’s clothes, which the Tin Woodman retrieves by chopping down a tall tree. They spend a few happy days at the Yellow Castle before deciding to head to the Emerald City to claim what they were promised. The Winkies give them parting gifts, and Dorothy finds the Golden Cap, putting it on her head without knowing its power. The travelers set off, cheered on by the Winkies.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Winged Monkeys: In this story, Dorothy and her companions are lost and have no idea how to get back to the Emerald City. They are then visited by the Queen of the Mice who reminds Dorothy of the Golden Cap that she possesses, which has a charm to summon the mischievous Winged Monkeys. Dorothy uses the charm to summon the monkeys who take her and her companions to the Emerald City. On the way, the Monkey King tells the story of how the monkeys became enslaved to whoever possessed the Golden Cap.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Magical Art of the Great Humbug: In this story, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Lion visit Oz to receive what they have always wanted: a brain, a heart, and courage, respectively. Oz gives the Scarecrow a new brain made of bran and mixed with pins and needles, to hold all of his new knowledge, and the Tin Woodman a silk and sawdust heart. Oz gives the Cowardly Lion a potion that represents courage, and the Lion drinks it eagerly. Afterward, Oz expresses his concern about his own abilities and wonders how he can help Dorothy get back to Kansas.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: How the Balloon was launched: Dorothy is sad as she waits for Oz’s reply, while her friends share their happy experiences. On the fourth day, Oz invites Dorothy to his throne room where he tells her he has found a way to get her back home to Kansas. Since he cannot create a cyclone to carry her away like last time, he decides to make a balloon. Dorothy assists Oz in making a green silk balloon, and they attach a basket to it. On the day of their departure, the people of the Emerald City gather to watch. As Dorothy goes to get her dog, Toto, the balloon suddenly lifts off without her. She watches as it disappears into the sky, carrying Oz with it. Though her friends try to comfort her, the loss of Oz saddens them all.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Away to the South: In this story, Dorothy and her companions mourn the loss of their home in Oz and the departure of the Wizard in a hot air balloon. They consider their options for returning home and decide to seek help from Glinda, the Good Witch of the South. The group sets off on a dangerous journey through the wilderness, accompanied by the Lion, Tin Woodman, and Scarecrow, who are all grateful to Dorothy for helping them in the past.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Attacked by the Fighting Trees: In this excerpt, Dorothy and her friends say goodbye to the Emerald City and begin their journey home through a forest. They soon discover that the trees are fighting against them and blocking their path. The Tin Woodman helps them cross the first row of trees by chopping off their branches. They then encounter a wall made of white china and must find a way to climb over it. The Tin Woodman offers to make a ladder for them.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Dainty China Country: In this story, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Lion, and Toto pass through a land of living china people and animals. They accidentally break a cow’s leg and a church, realizing how delicate everything is. The china girl Princess tells Dorothy that the china people prefer to live in their country as they can talk and move around freely, unlike when they are on mantels. The travelers cross another china wall, where the Lion smashes another church, and they realize that being made of straw is not so bad, as it is better than being as fragile as china.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Lion becomes the King of the Beasts: A group of travelers endure a difficult journey through a wild and treacherous forest until they come across an assembly of animals in great distress. They learn of a monster (a huge spider) that is devouring all the animals in the forest, and the Lion decides to fight it. He easily defeats the spider and thus gains the admiration and loyalty of the animals as their new king. The Lion agrees to rule over them after Dorothy safely returns home. Downloads (PDF) of the story are provided for offline reading or printing.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Country of the Quadlings: In this story, the Scarecrow, Dorothy, the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, and Toto meet a man with no arms guarding a hill. The man has a long neck, and his head shoots forward like a cannonball, knocking the Scarecrow and the Lion down the hill. They try to fight back but fail. The group summons the Winged Monkeys to carry them over the hill to the country of the Quadlings. There, they meet good-natured Quadlings, walk through fields of grain, and cross pretty bridges until they finally reach the Castle of Glinda, the Good Witch.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Glinda the Good Witch grants Dorothy’s Wish: In this story, Dorothy and her friends meet the Good Witch Glinda, who offers to help Dorothy return to Kansas. Glinda asks for the Golden Cap in exchange, which Dorothy willingly gives. Glinda then commands the Winged Monkeys to grant the wishes of Dorothy’s friends, sending them to rule over their respective kingdoms. Finally, Glinda reveals that Dorothy’s Silver Shoes have the power to take her anywhere in the world in three steps. Dorothy says goodbye to her friends and commands the shoes to take her back to Kansas, where she is reunited with her family and farm.
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: Home Again: In this story, Dorothy returns home from the Land of Oz with her dog Toto, surprising her aunt who is outside watering the cabbages. Aunt Em is overjoyed to see Dorothy and asks where she came from. Dorothy explains that she came from the Land of Oz and expresses her happiness to be back home. The story includes a link to download the ebook.
- The Gift of the Magi: This is a summary of a short story about a young couple on a tight budget, Della and Jim, who each make a big sacrifice to buy each other Christmas gifts. Della sells her long hair which Jim loves to buy him a chain for his treasured pocket watch, while Jim sells his watch to buy fancy combs for Della’s hair. When they exchange gifts, they realize what they’ve done and Jim suggests they save the gifts for a while. The story ends with the narrator suggesting that Della and Jim are the wisest gift-givers because they sacrificed their greatest treasures for each other.
In conclusion, the Top 53 Classic Stories for kids offers a diverse and enriching collection of timeless tales, designed to captivate young readers and foster a lifelong love for literature. These stories not only provide hours of entertainment but also instill valuable lessons and morals that children can carry with them throughout their lives. By reading these classics, children can expand their imaginations, improve their language skills, and gain a deeper understanding of different cultures and time periods. Encouraging children to explore these classic tales online is an excellent way to nurture their curiosity, creativity, and intellectual growth, setting the foundation for a bright and inquisitive future.