Stories For 4th Graders

This collection includes a wide variety of stories that will engage 4th graders through simple plots and moral lessons. These stories are designed to captivate young readers, while helping them explore themes of kindness, honesty, and personal growth.

Fairy Tales and Magic

Stories about magical creatures and enchanted lands are popular among young readers. These tales often feature transformations, hidden identities, and the triumph of good over evil.

• Cinderella: Cinderella, mistreated by her stepfamily, gets magical help to attend royal balls and wins the heart of a prince. The prince searches for her after she loses a shoe, and they marry, living happily ever after.
• Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp: Aladdin finds a magic lamp that grants him wishes, which helps him marry a princess. After the lamp is stolen, Aladdin outsmarts the thief and restores his life.
• Rumpelstiltskin: A miller’s daughter spins straw into gold with the help of a strange little man. She later outwits him by discovering his name, causing him to disappear.
• The Tinderbox: A soldier gains wealth and power by using a magical tinderbox to summon three powerful dogs. After a series of events, he wins the heart of a princess and becomes king.

Moral Lessons

Many of the stories in this collection emphasize important lessons such as the value of kindness, humility, and hard work. These stories help 4th graders think critically about behavior and choices.

• The Little Match Girl: A poor girl lights matches to warm herself, seeing visions of her late grandmother. After lighting her last match, she dies and ascends to heaven.
• King Trushbeard: A princess who mocked all her suitors is forced by her father to marry a beggar. After learning humility, she discovers that the beggar is a king, and they marry happily.
• The Loveliest Rose in the World: A queen near death seeks the most beautiful rose to save her life. A young mother realizes that the true rose is the joy found in her child’s laughter.
• The Thorny Road of Honour: This story discusses the struggles and sacrifices of people like Socrates and Ferdowsi, who faced hardships while pursuing honor. Their legacies were recognized only after their deaths.

Clever Characters and Trickery

Trickery, cleverness, and quick thinking often help characters overcome obstacles or outsmart their enemies in these stories.

• The Tinderbox: A soldier uses his wit and a magical tinderbox to become wealthy and defeat the king and queen.
• Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves: Ali Baba discovers the secret to a cave filled with treasure, which leads to both success and danger. With the help of a clever maid, Ali Baba defeats the thieves and keeps the treasure safe.
• Little Claus and Big Claus: Little Claus tricks Big Claus after he kills Little Claus’s horse and tries to drown him. Little Claus eventually escapes and wins against Big Claus’s trickery.
• The Travelling Companion: Johannes befriends a magical companion who helps him win the heart of a princess. The companion reveals that he was once saved by Johannes and helps him marry the princess.

Transformation and Redemption

Several stories revolve around characters who are transformed or face difficult challenges, only to redeem themselves or reveal their true nature.

• Prince Darling: Prince Cheri is transformed into various animals after failing to follow the advice of a magical ring. He is eventually redeemed when he saves his true love, Zelie, and returns to his human form.
• Brother and Sister: A brother and sister escape a wicked stepmother who curses the brother. After being transformed into a deer, the brother and sister are reunited and live happily after the stepmother’s evil plan is thwarted.
• The Three Princes and the Princess Nouronnihar: Three princes seek the most special item to win the hand of Princess Nouronnihar. They face challenges to prove their worth, with the middle son ultimately winning her heart.

Animals and Nature

In many of these stories, animals play crucial roles in helping or hindering the human characters. These tales show the interaction between humans and the natural world.

• The Goose and the Golden Egg: A man’s goose lays a golden egg every day, but his greed leads him to kill the goose, only to find that he can no longer get the golden eggs.
• The Ant and the Dove: An ant is saved by a dove, and later, the ant saves the dove from harm, showing the importance of kindness and helping others.
• The Wolf, the Kid, and the Goat: A wolf tricks a kid into letting him in, but the kid refuses when he asks for proof, showing the value of being cautious and not trusting others easily.

Friendship and Loyalty

Friendship is a recurring theme in these stories, where loyalty and cooperation help characters succeed.

• The Six Servants: A prince gathers six loyal servants who help him face difficult challenges and win the heart of a princess.
• The Rat and the Elephant: A rat feels small compared to an elephant in a grand procession, but when the royal cat spots him, the rat’s pride is shattered, highlighting the importance of true worth over appearances.
• The Dog, the Cock, and the Fox: A dog and a cock outsmart a fox together after it tries to trick them, showing the strength of teamwork and trust.

These stories offer various themes that will encourage 4th graders to reflect on their own actions, values, and relationships. Whether dealing with magic, lessons in character, or clever resolutions to problems, each story brings a unique perspective that is both entertaining and educational.