Welcome to a world of honesty, vividly illustrated through captivating narratives! This article features a unique compilation of the 14 best stories about honesty for kids available online, an essential resource for children’s learning and development. These stories, chosen from the annals of the world’s most famous fables, classic fairy tales, and lesser-known gems, underscore the fundamental importance of honesty in a way that’s fun, engaging, and memorable.

These tales are not only educational; they promise a good night of story time, too. Picture this: it’s bedtime, the day is slowly falling into the calm of night, and you’re nestled with your little one, ready for a read aloud session. Choose from our selection, some short and easy to tell, some longer, providing a mesmerizing bedtime experience for boys and girls alike.

Each story is available for free download as a PDF, making them perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary students, including those in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) and toddlers who are just embarking on their literary journey. They’re printable too, which means these stories can be brought to life beyond the digital screen, fostering a tangible connection with learning materials for your kids.

This collection doesn’t just stop at text; it’s peppered with vibrant pictures, perfect for a colorful story time experience. But there’s more: you can also find audio versions of these stories, ideal for those children who love to listen and learn or for those times when you’d like to let someone else do the reading.

This fine selection of tales, all written in easy English, is more than just a tool for sleep-inducing bedtime stories. It serves as a fundamental springboard for teaching honesty in the most captivating way. Inculcating this moral virtue at an early age is essential to shape children into individuals of integrity and character.

So prepare for a journey filled with fascinating characters, exciting plot twists, and above all, lessons in honesty. Navigate the magical world of storytelling and see your kids’ imagination blossom, all the while reinforcing the importance of truthfulness. Whether during the day or night time, this collection is sure to keep your children entertained, educated, and eager for the next story.

So get ready to download, print, read, and share the magic of these stories about honesty. Happy reading, and enjoy the adventure of learning!

Top 14 Stories About Honesty

1. Pinocchio: This is the story of an old shoemaker named Gepetto who, while crafting a wooden doll named Pinnochio, discovers that the wood is alive. Pinnochio expresses a desire to go to school, and Gepetto sacrifices his coat to buy his son a reading book. However, Pinnochio gets distracted and sells the book for a puppet show ticket. After encountering various challenges, including being tricked by con men and turning into a donkey, Pinnochio is saved by a fairy. Despite his misadventures, Pinnochio learns the importance of honesty and eventually reunites with Gepetto, who was rescued from inside a shark’s stomach. In the end, the fairy turns Pinnochio into a real boy, and Gepetto and Pinnochio live happily ever after.
2. Rumpelstiltskin: This is the story of a miller’s daughter who is forced by the king to spin straw into gold. Desperate and crying, a small man appears and offers to help her in exchange for her necklace. He successfully spins the straw into gold. The king demands more and the little man returns, this time asking for the girl’s ring. Once again, he spins the straw into gold. The king then challenges the girl to spin an even larger amount of straw into gold, promising to marry her if she succeeds. The little man appears once more and strikes a deal with the girl: her firstborn child in exchange for his help. When the queen gives birth, the little man demands the baby, but she has three days to guess his name. Through cleverness and the help of a messenger, the queen discovers his name, Rumpelstiltskin, and the little man disappears forever.
3. The Emperor’s New Clothes: This is the story of an emperor who was obsessed with new clothes. Two swindlers arrived at his palace and convinced him that they could weave a special fabric that would be invisible to anyone who was stupid or dishonest. In reality, they were con artists who took the emperor’s money and pretended to weave while pocketing the funds. When the emperor and his court couldn’t see the fabric, they pretended they could to avoid appearing foolish or deceitful. The emperor paraded through the streets in his “new clothes,” and everyone applauded until a child pointed out that the emperor was actually naked. The truth spread, and the emperor chose to continue pretending rather than admit the reality.
4. The Water of Life: This is the story of an old, sick king with three sons. The sons meet an old man who tells them about the water of life that can cure their father. The two older brothers set off to find it, but their arrogance leads them to trouble. The youngest brother, kind and humble, finds the water of life with the help of a dwarf and rescues a princess from an enchanted castle. Along their journey, the youngest brother helps three kingdoms and gains a magical sword and bread. However, his jealous brothers steal the water of life and replace it with seawater, causing their father’s condition to worsen. The youngest brother is sentenced to death but is spared by a hunter. The king realizes his mistake and sends for his son, who marries the princess. The treacherous brothers flee, and the youngest brother becomes the true ruler of the kingdom.
5. The Building Of The Wall Of Asgard: This is the story of how the gods of Asgard decided to build a wall to protect their city from giants. A stranger offered to build the wall in exchange for the sun, the moon, and the hand of the love goddess Freya. The gods were initially furious but allowed the stranger to continue the construction with a tight deadline. The stranger turned out to be a giant, and his horse played a trick on him, causing him to fail to complete the wall on time. As a result, the gods refused to give him the promised payment. Although relieved, Odin felt uneasy about the manner in which the wall was built.
6. The Laughing Prince: Once upon a time, a farmer’s family lived in a kingdom ruled by a tsar with a daughter who longed for laughter and fun. When the princess demanded entertainment and threatened to lock herself away until someone could make her laugh, the tsar sought a candidate to marry her. Militza, Stefan’s sister, convinced him to try. Stefan captivated the princess with his story and made her laugh. Although he initially did not seek marriage, the princess insisted on marrying him. The tsar recognized Stefan’s worth and agreed to their union, and from then on, the castle was filled with joy and happiness.
7. The Treasure Castle: Once upon a time, a hunter encountered a dwarf trapped in a pit and freed him. Grateful, the dwarf revealed the location of a treasure in a castle but warned the hunter never to enter the tower. The hunter heeded the advice, collected the treasure, and became wealthy. However, when the wicked king learned of the hunter’s fortune, he imprisoned him until he revealed the treasure’s location. The king and his cohorts greedily gathered the treasure, but their curiosity led them into the tower. The tower flew away, carrying them to another castle where they faced judgment by a dwarf king. The chief judge, a parrot, condemned them to a lifetime of menial tasks, while the hunter, released and crowned king, enjoyed his newfound wealth. The treasure remains in the castle, a warning against greed and temptation.
8. The Four Skillful Brothers: Once upon a time, a poor man sent his four sons out into the world to learn trades. The oldest became a skilled thief, the second a stargazer with a powerful glass, the third a talented hunter with an unbeatable gun, and the youngest a master cutter with an invisible thread. After four years, they reunited and returned home, where their father tested their skills. Impressed, he praised them and soon after, news spread that the princess had been kidnapped by a dragon. The brothers set out to rescue her, using their unique talents. They succeeded, but when it came to deciding who would marry the princess, they quarreled. The king, impressed by their abilities, rewarded them with land instead, and they all lived happily ever after.
9. Why The Lamb Is Meek: Once upon a time, a little lamb frolicked happily in the pasture, believing himself to be the most wonderful lamb in the world. A toad observed him and boasted that he could pull the lamb into the sea. The lamb laughed and accepted the challenge, holding onto a rope. Unbeknownst to the lamb, the toad hopped onto a whale’s back, tied the rope around it, and called to the lamb to start pulling. The whale effortlessly dragged the lamb to the water’s edge, teaching him a lesson in humility. Later, the toad proposed a race, using his siblings to deceive the lamb. However, the lamb realized the trick and admitted defeat. Despite these experiences, the lamb’s compassionate nature led him to carry the sick toad to a party, enduring discomfort. The toad, using the lamb as a “horse,” amused the king’s daughter and the onlookers, causing the lamb to return to the pasture as a symbol of meekness.
10. Intelligence And Happiness: Once upon a time, Intelligence and Happiness encountered each other. Happiness demanded that Intelligence make way for him, but Intelligence questioned why he should do so, considering themselves equal. To settle the matter, they agreed to enter the mind of a farmer’s son named Vanek and see who could bring him a better life. Intelligence entered Vanek’s head, and he decided to become a gardener, excelling in his work and even surpassing his teacher. When the opportunity arose to marry the silent princess, Vanek used his intelligence to make her speak again and claimed her as his bride. Despite facing opposition from the king, Vanek stood his ground, and eventually, Happiness intervened to save him. In the end, it was understood that Intelligence should always make room for Happiness when they cross paths.
11. The Day Thief And The Three Birds: Once upon a time, a Day Thief found himself hungry and penniless. He rejected the suggestions of a crow to dig and a magpie to beg, deeming them beneath him. However, when a wise sparrow advised him to steal, the Day Thief saw it as a fitting profession and decided to follow her advice. Unfortunately, his attempts led to his capture and imprisonment. Reflecting on his situation while digging alongside other prisoners, he regretted not heeding the crow’s advice earlier.
12. The Man Who Stood All Night In The River: Once upon a time, a king offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to any man who could withstand standing in the river throughout a whole winter’s night. Many men attempted and perished until one man emerged alive. When questioned by the king, the man explained that he kept his focus on a distant fire. Despite the king’s skepticism, the man insisted on divine justice. Later, when the king demanded his daughter to bring him food, she cleverly used the analogy of the fire and griddle to remind her father of his broken promise. Realizing his injustice, the king ultimately honored his word and gave his daughter in marriage to the man.
13. The Magical Christmas Tree: a magical Christmas tree asked the children to share their most precious belongings in exchange for something special. A poor little girl gave a handmade toy elf, and the tree filled her house with toys. An older lady offered a picture of her lost son, and the tree reunited them. However, a dishonest young man lied about a marble, and the tree punished him by bringing the giver of the marble into his home. As Christmas arrived, the forest rejoiced, and the magical Christmas tree served as a beacon of magic and wonder, rewarding honesty and spreading joy to all.
14. The Flying Trunk: a thoughtless and impoverished boy inherits a magical suitcase that can fly. He embarks on a journey and arrives in the land of the Turks, where he discovers a prophecy about the unhappy princess. With courage, he visits the princess in her tower and enchants her with his storytelling abilities. They agree to marry, but he must impress her parents with a tale that is moral and serious for the mother and comical and laughable for the father. The son prepares diligently and captivates the royal family with his animated stories, earning the hand of the princess. A joyous celebration ensues, but upon returning to the forest, he finds his beloved suitcase destroyed by fireworks. He can never return to the princess, who waits for him eternally. The bittersweet ending reminds us of the fleeting nature of happiness and the consequences of our choices.

In conclusion, this exceptional collection of the 14 best stories about honesty offers an enticing blend of education and entertainment, perfectly crafted for our young audience. By making these stories a staple part of your kids’ reading routine, whether it’s bedtime, story time, or any other time of the day, you provide them with an enriching experience. These stories, coupled with their beautiful illustrations and engaging audio versions, are the ideal tools to emphasize the virtue of honesty in a manner that’s fun and relatable for preschoolers, kindergarteners, elementary students, and toddlers alike. So let the wonder of these tales unfold, nourishing the seeds of honesty and integrity in our children, helping them grow into responsible adults of tomorrow. Happy storytelling!