Short stories for kids with pictures
Free illustrated stories with an estimated reading time of five minutes or less. Read complete ten-page books in English or Hindi, at your own pace.
100 free stories · Ten pages each
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The Crow and the Pitcher
A thirsty crow discovers how small steps can solve a difficult problem.
The Tree and the Reed
A storm reveals that strength has more than one shape.
The Dog in the Manger
A sleepy dog must choose whether to share something he cannot use.
The Fox and the Mask
A curious fox looks beyond an impressive painted face.
The Jay and the Peacock
A jay tries a borrowed look and learns to be honest about it.
The Peacock and Juno
A beautiful bird discovers that every talent need not belong to one person.
The Fox and the Lion
A fox learns to replace a frightening first impression with careful understanding.
The Bat, the Birds, and the Beasts
A bat discovers that friendship needs honesty rather than convenient answers.
The Hares and the Frogs
Frightened hares discover that small creatures can feel brave and nervous together.
The Fox and the Grapes
A fox learns to name disappointment honestly.
The Fox and the Crow
A crow discovers why a compliment deserves a moment of thought.
The Fox and the Stork
Two dinner invitations reveal what a thoughtful host should notice.
The North Wind and the Sun
Two sky neighbours discover the strength of gentleness.
The Ant and the Grasshopper
An ant and a musician learn to make room for preparation and kindness.
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
Two cousins discover that a good home can mean different things.
Belling the Cat
A brilliant idea needs a safe, practical next step.
The Two Pots
Two drifting pots discover that care can mean giving space.
The Fisher and the Little Fish
A fisher listens to a promise that nobody can guarantee.
The Milkmaid and Her Pail
A lovely plan meets a small bump in the road.
The Horse and the Ass
A proud horse learns that a different job does not decide anyone’s worth.
The Dog and the Wolf
Two neighbours consider what comes with a comfortable invitation.
The Cock and the Pearl
A rooster finds something precious that is not his breakfast.
The Fox and the Goat
A goat learns to ask about the way out before following advice.
The Fox Without a Tail
A fox learns that belonging does not require everyone to look alike.
The Goose With the Golden Eggs
A farmer almost lets impatience spoil an extraordinary gift.
The Miser and His Gold
A hidden treasure raises a question about what possessions are for.
The Four Oxen and the Lion
Four oxen learn to disagree without leaving each other unsupported.
The Shepherd’s Boy
A lonely shepherd learns why trust needs truthful words.
The Ass in the Lion’s Skin
A borrowed costume cannot turn pretending into the truth.
The Belly and the Members
A child imagines a quarrel inside a body and discovers unseen teamwork.
The Bundle of Sticks
A grandfather shows three quarrelling children what togetherness can do.
The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey
A father and son learn to think before following every opinion.
The Dog and the Shadow
A dog mistakes a reflection for a second breakfast.
The Two Crabs
A little crab asks for an example before a lesson.
The Sandy Road
A lost desert caravan finds water by noticing one small green clue.
The Merchant of Seri
Two merchants make very different offers for an old family bowl.
The Ox Who Won the Forfeit
A strong ox reminds his owner that strength deserves respect.
The Quarrel of the Quails
A flock learns why their escape plan needs everyone’s cooperation.
The Measure of Rice
A surprising question exposes an unfair price in the royal market.
Grannie's Blackie
A young elephant earns a fair reward to help the woman who raised him.
Why the Owl Is Not King of the Birds
A woodland gathering asks what makes a leader worth following.
The Wise and the Foolish Merchant
A wise traveler checks a stranger’s promises before changing his plans.
The Elephant Girly-Face
An elephant discovers that the words around him can shape his choices.
The Princes and the Water-Sprite
Three brothers discover that a good heart matters more than a grand answer.
The King's White Elephant
A helpful elephant carries friendship from a riverside workshop to the palace.
The Stupid Monkeys
Eager helpers learn to ask questions before trying an unfamiliar job.
The Girl Monkey and the String of Pearls
A palace mystery is solved by observation rather than hasty blame.
The Three Fishes
A careful fish helps two friends escape a net and return to safer water.
The Penny-Wise Monkey
A monkey drops a whole handful while chasing one small loss.
The Red-Bud Tree
Four brothers see different seasons and learn that each has only part of the picture.
The Otters and the Wolf
Two friends let a quarrel give a crafty visitor the biggest share.
How the Monkey Saved His Troop
A caring leader finds a way across the branches to protect his troop.
The Hawks and Their Friends
A hawk family discovers how different friends can help during one difficult night.
The Brave Little Bowman
A skilled little archer proves that ability cannot be measured by height.
The Stolen Plow
An unlikely excuse meets an equally unlikely question before a wise judge.
Beauty and Brownie
Two young deer leaders learn that a safe route matters more than a fast one.
The Wise Goat and the Wolf
A cautious goat checks a tempting invitation and keeps herself safe.
The Lion in Bad Company
A young lion learns to judge a friend’s advice by its consequences.
The Cunning Wolf
A wolf checks an odd sight before leading his friends toward danger.
The Tricky Wolf and the Rats
A rat chief notices a changing group and uncovers a visitor’s false story.
Prince Wicked and the Grateful Animals
A kind rescuer discovers who remembers help through actions rather than grand words.
The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal
A clever jackal helps a traveler escape a tiger’s broken promise.
How the Raja's Son Won the Princess Labam
A prince’s acts of kindness bring unexpected helpers to a magical journey.
A Lesson for Kings
Two chariots meet where only one can pass, revealing a different kind of strength.
How Sun, Moon, and Wind Went Out to Dinner
Three sky siblings visit a feast, but only one remembers someone waiting at home.
How the Wicked Sons Were Duped
A heavy wooden box makes a family reconsider what deserves their care.
Harisarman
A man mistaken for a fortune-teller learns that lucky guesses cannot replace honesty.
The Travelling Musicians
Four ageing animals form an unlikely band and find a welcoming home together.
Hans in Luck
Hans keeps trading his heavy belongings as he makes his way home to his mother.
The Queen Bee
A kind young brother protects small creatures, whose help later wakes an enchanted castle.
The Elves and the Shoemaker
A shoemaker discovers two secret helpers and finds a thoughtful way to thank them.
The Golden Goose
A boy shares his lunch and discovers a golden goose that starts a very unusual procession.
Mother Holle
A helpful girl steps into a magical world where shaking a quilt brings snow to the earth.
The White Snake
A traveller who understands animals discovers how small acts of kindness can return as help.
The Four Clever Brothers
Four brothers learn different skills and combine them to bring a stranded princess home.
The Seven Ravens
A brave sister follows stars and searches a glass mountain to find her seven missing brothers.
The Three Languages
A boy learns the languages of dogs, birds and frogs, then uses them to solve unexpected problems.
The Frog-Prince
A frog retrieves a lost golden ball, and a princess learns to keep her promise to her guest.
Snow-White and Rose-Red
Two sisters welcome a winter bear and help a troublesome little man on three surprising outings.
The Three Little Pigs
Three pigs build different homes and discover the value of patient work when a wolf arrives.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Jack climbs an enormous beanstalk, meets a giant's family and learns to make a mistake right.
The Story of the Three Bears
An unexpected visitor tries the bears' porridge, chairs and beds, then helps repair the trouble.
Lazy Jack
Jack keeps applying yesterday's advice to today's job, until he learns to stop and ask questions.
Whittington and His Cat
A London boy lends his cat to a voyage that changes both their fortunes, and brings her safely home.
The Magpie’s Nest
Bird pupils leave Magpie's nest lesson too soon, then return to learn what they missed.
The History of Tom Thumb
A boy no bigger than a thumb finds enormous adventures in a spoon, a leaf and a royal court.
The Old Woman and Her Pig
An old woman asks a chain of neighbours for small favours to help her pig through a gate.
The Real Princess
A storm-soaked guest sleeps above hidden peas, and her hosts learn to listen to her discomfort.
The Emperor’s New Clothes
Two boastful weavers fool a vain emperor until one child's honest words end the pretence.
The Elderbush
A boy's ordinary evening opens into an imagined journey through an elder tree and a lifetime of memories.
The Bell
Two children take different forest paths to discover the mysterious bell heard beyond their town.
The Dream of Little Tuk
After helping a neighbour, sleepy Tuk dreams a colourful journey through the towns in his geography book.
Momotaro, or the Story of the Son of a Peach
A peach-born boy shares rice cakes with three animal friends and sails to recover his village's belongings.
The Adventures of Kintaro, the Golden Boy
A strong mountain boy helps his animal friends, then leaves home to learn how to help many more.
The Bamboo-Cutter and the Moon-Child
A child found in shining bamboo grows up in a loving home before a moonlit farewell.
The Story of the Old Man Who Made Withered Trees to Flower
A beloved white dog leads a kind grandfather to treasure and a surprising gift of cherry blossoms.
The Shinansha, or the South Pointing Carriage
A ruler builds a direction-showing carriage and finds another clever idea by watching a spider on a leaf.
The Magic Cask
A farmer's cask multiplies brushes and coins, until greed makes him forget the people he loves.
The Flower-Elves
Four flower spirits visit a scholar's moonlit garden and ask for help before a spring storm.
The King of the Ants
A scholar's quiet study becomes a tiny royal court, revealing an unexpected world beneath his feet.
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Help me choose a story
A few short stories to start with
The Crow and the Pebbles
A thirsty crow solves a problem one pebble at a time. Read the complete tale, then use its picture-sequencing activity to retell what changed.
The Wind and the Sunshine
Wind and Sun try different ways to persuade a traveller. Compare the illustrations and talk about why gentleness works in this story.
The Three Little Pigs
Three pigs build three houses. In this softened edition they all survive and rebuild together; the wolf leaves unharmed.
Reading these stories together
These are complete stories, not summaries. Each has ten illustrated pages and an estimated reading time of five minutes or less, calculated from the English text at 130 words per minute.
Reading aloud, talking about a picture or reading in Hindi may take longer. Pause whenever you like. For a calm evening, choose from the bedtime collection rather than assuming every short tale is quiet.
A question to start a conversation
Which picture would help you tell the story again?
Before you read
Are these stories free to read?
Yes. Every ten-page book is free in English and Hindi, without an account. Custom family films are a separate paid service.
How do I choose a story for my child?
Read the description and any parent note first. Age labels, where provided, are suggestions. Preview the story and choose according to your child’s interests and comfort.
Does every book have animation or narration?
The ten-page books have no audio narration. The original 18 books have animated illustrations in the page-turning reader; the additional 100 have still illustrations. Selected separate videos are available on YouTube.