Stories for 5+ years old

These stories should be understandable for five years olds. However, we believe they can be fun at any age above that as well. The age requirements are based on vocabulary, topics, and overall story length.

The Elves That Came From a Tree

The Elves That Came From a Tree

14
 min
5
+
4.8

Do you know what might be found inside a nutshell? Old Mr Gardiner certainly wasn’t expecting little elves to hatch out of the tree nuts in his garden. They’re well-meaning and want to help him, but they turn out to be more trouble than they’re worth. Read the story to find out how this unusual tale ends!

The Golden Axe

The Golden Axe

8
 min
5
+
4.8

This Vietnamese fairy tale tells of a poor lumberjack who loses his axe in the river. He wants nothing more than to get it back. A mysterious old man offers to return his axe - but it's actually a test. And the old man isn't even an ordinary old man...

The Ballerina

The Ballerina

7
 min
5
+
4.79

Adel fell in love with ballet and longed for getting the role of Sleeping Beauty in an upcoming ballet performance. For that, she would have to do a flawless pirouette, but unfortunately, Adel couldn’t do it at all. However, that is when an unexpected helper appears...

The Cuckoo Clock

The Cuckoo Clock

9
 min
5
+
4.79

Max is very much looking forward to a trip to visit his grandparents, who live abroad. His grandfather is a famous watchmaker and he's about to show his grandson his collection of clocks, including cuckoo clocks. But Max doesn't understand why anyone would lock up a cuckoo bird for hours. What will he discover in his grandfather's workshop?

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

The Pied Piper of Hamelin

14
 min
5
+
4.79

In this German folktale, you meet a mysterious piper who comes to rid the town of Hamelin from the rats that are plaguing it. But what happens when the mayor doesn’t pay him for this service as he had agreed to do? Well, it isn’t pretty. Though, in a very unexpected way, all comes good in the end.

Maya Goes Into a Rage

Maya Goes Into a Rage

9
 min
3
+
4.79

Maya’s day has not got off to a good start. A series of unfortunate events has made her cross, and she doesn’t know what to do with all the anger she can feel bubbling up inside her. Luckily, her daddy is with her, and he knows exactly how to sort it out. Come along with Maya and find out about it for yourselves!

The Apple Pie

The Apple Pie

6
 min
5
+
4.78

Tommy is sad about something the other children said to him at school – they laughed at him because he looked different. Then his mum teaches him an important lesson while they make an apple pie together. Find out what that lesson was in this short story.

Grumposaurus

Grumposaurus

12
 min
5
+
4.78

Billy is especially grumpy today – nothing is good enough for him. Then something very odd starts to happen. Billy’s grumpiness is gradually turning him into a grumposaurus! In the story you’ll find out how Billy navigates his foul mood. And how, just before it takes over his entire existence, he learns to see the bright side of life.

A Mulish Match

A Mulish Match

12
 min
3
+
4.77

Little Wendy could do with learning some manners. She’s not very helpful at home, and when someone asks her to do something, it goes one ear in and out the other. Then, one day, she gets excited by the opportunity to ride a horse. What will happen when she finds out that the horse is just as stubborn as she is?

The Day Roamer Got Bored

The Day Roamer Got Bored

8
 min
3
+
4.77

Tomcat Roamer is having a day that is so ordinary and quiet it is rather dull. In fact, it gets so boring that Roamer starts misbehaving. Luckily, his trusty friend Scoot is nearby and gives him some tips on how to cope with his boredom.

Sandra Makes a Pact with the Sun

Sandra Makes a Pact with the Sun

10
 min
5
+
4.77

The arrival of the new school year does not please Sandra at all. She doesn’t like getting up early in the morning, and would prefer to avoid it completely. But one day, the Sun overhears her objections, and that sparks a notion: What if I stopped getting up early in the morning too? Well, this seems fair. But what happens when the Sun doesn’t wake up on time?

The Unusual Racer

The Unusual Racer

6
 min
5
+
4.76

Only the best kid-racers can take part in this race, and Lucy is among them. From the start, we can tell that Lucy is not an ordinary racer, but we don’t know what makes her exceptional until later in the story. The message here is that regardless of who we are, we can achieve our dreams.

The Proud Cherry Tree

The Proud Cherry Tree

7
 min
5
+
4.76

The cherry tree boasts a lot about her fine flowers, which are also admired by the other inhabitants of the garden. She wouldn’t trade-in her pretty blossoms for anything in the world — they are as white and delicate as snow! But then she has a chat with a Chrysoperla insect and suddenly realises that there are more important things in life than pride.

Abi and the Pudding

Abi and the Pudding

10
 min
5
+
4.76

Abi loves food – so much that some of the boys at her school make fun of her for it. Luckily, Abi’s mum gives her some good advice and as she finds out more about healthy eating, Abi also develops a totally new and rather useful hobby. Find out how successful Abi is at turning the boys’ mockery to her advantage in this story.

Noah’s Ark

Noah’s Ark

10
 min
5
+
4.76

In this version of a well-known Bible story, you and your children can find out about how Noah came to build his legendary ark and how he managed to save his own family and all the animals on the planet from a huge disaster.

Discovering the Emotions: Fear

Discovering the Emotions: Fear

12
 min
5
+
4.76

Martin continues his search for these things called feelings. Where do emotions actually live and what do they look like? While last time he came across Anger, he is now going to visit another of his neighbours, and in the process he encounters Fear.

The King Who Never Smiled

The King Who Never Smiled

10
 min
5
+
4.75

A mighty and rich king seems to have everything in the world, but he is not satisfied. Nothing can pull him out of his eternal gloom. So he has all sorts of entertainers and artists called to the castle to cheer him up. However, only one person reminds him that true happiness lies in ordinary things.

The Tortoise and The Hare

The Tortoise and The Hare

5
 min
5
+
4.75

The hare was always showing-off, mocking the tortoise for being so slow and boasting about his running speed. Fed up with all the ridicule, the tortoise suggests holding a race. The hare finds this a completely comical idea and laughs his head off. But of course he cannot resist the opportunity to humiliate her, so a race is promptly organised. Let’s find out how they get on.

Questions about

Stories for 5+ years old

What types of stories are suitable for 5-year-olds?

For 5-year-olds, Readmio offers stories that are engaging, imaginative, and appropriate for their developmental stage. Suitable stories include tales of exciting journeys and discoveries that spark curiosity and imagination, but also stories featuring animals. Kids at this age tend to like stories that highlight the importance of making friends, working and playing together.

What are some signs that my child is ready for more complex stories?

Recognizing when your child is ready for more complex stories involves observing their developmental milestones and interests. Usually your child can already listen to and engage  with longer stories or follow a narrative without losing interest. If your child is using a more advanced vocabulary and can understand and use new words, they might be prepared for stories that introduce new and more challenging language. Once your child shows interest in a wider range of topics or asks questions about various subjects, they may benefit from stories that explore new and more sophisticated concepts. At Readmio, you can find a variety of stories that cater to different levels of complexity. If you notice these signs, exploring stories from Category for 5-year olds.

What themes are commonly explored in stories for 5-year-olds on Readmio?

On Readmio, stories for 5-year-olds commonly explore themes such as:

  • Friendship and Kindness: Stories that focus on building relationships, being considerate, and helping others.
  • Imagination and Creativity: Tales that encourage imaginative play and creative thinking.
  • Problem-Solving and Resilience: Stories that present simple challenges and how characters overcome them with determination and cleverness.

How long are usually the stories in this category?

Stories for 5-year-olds on Readmio are typically around 10 to 15 minutes long. This duration is ideal for maintaining the attention span of young children, providing enough time for a complete narrative without being overwhelming. The length allows for engaging stories that fit well into bedtime routines or short reading sessions throughout the day.