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 Legend of the Drum

The Legend of the Drum

8
 min
3
+
4.49

An African legend explains how people discovered the first musical instrument – the drum. It fell into the middle of their village straight from the moon, along with a playful monkey. Even bold ideas, which at first glance might seem impossible, can pay off. However, it’s important to think ahead to avoid any bad falls like the monkey had in this story.

Bronwyn the Bee

Bronwyn the Bee

13
 min
5
+
4.49

Bronwyn is quite different from the other bees. She doesn’t seem to be able to do anything right, and doesn’t want to work hard to support the hive. Discover what happens when Bronwyn tries living life differently. A story about (not) fitting in, and with lots to teach you about the life of bees.

How the Tiger got its Stripes

How the Tiger got its Stripes

8
 min
5
+
4.49

The tiger noticed that the big, powerful buffalo obeyed his master, a weak and helpless farmer. It was bugging him that everyone was talking about the farmer possessing something called wisdom. He was keen to find out what ‘wisdom’ actually was, where it comes from, and how to get it. In this fairy tale, that wisdom is revealed. And you’ll see just how it is connected to the tiger obtaining its stripes.

Brave Santiago

Brave Santiago

14
 min
5
+
4.48

Ages ago, in a Colombian village, the young inhabitants decide to evict all the elderly, forcing them to find another settlement elsewhere. Only one young man objects to this idea. As a result, he joins the old folks and they establish a fine new village. But when Santiago goes back to the old village to find love, he discovers turmoil. Do the young people realise what they have done?

The Toad Who Asked for Rain

The Toad Who Asked for Rain

6
 min
5
+
4.48

The whole earth is afflicted by a huge drought and so a little toad decides to go and ask the gods for rain. The gods don’t take his visit seriously at first, but he comes up with a clever plan to attract their attention.

The Magic Rings and the Dead Sea

The Magic Rings and the Dead Sea

11
 min
5
+
4.47

Where do the two girls with the magic rings go this time? It’s a very unusual place – the Dead Sea. They learn about why it has that name, and how a sea can be below sea level. If you go with them, you’ll learn that too. Plus, you’ll get to meet a friendly camel! Are you ready?

Violet and the Snowflake

Violet and the Snowflake

6
 min
3
+
4.46

Violet cannot sit still. She's always running around, fidgeting, and even when she's sitting down, her thoughts always run through her mind. Adults only shrug their shoulders - until someone appears who can turn this apparent disadvantage into something useful...

The Impatient Peasant

The Impatient Peasant

5
 min
5
+
4.45

This is the story of a farmer who was too impatient. He didn’t like how slowly the seeds he had planted in his field were growing, he thought they were lazy. So he decided to help them so that he would bring in his harvest sooner. But all he managed to do was damage the plants and in the end his impatience meant there was no harvest at all. Patience and thoroughness always pay off.

Sirko the Faithful Dog

Sirko the Faithful Dog

8
 min
5
+
4.44

Sirko is a faithful farm dog, but he is sad because he is so old he cannot be useful on the farm any more and so the farmer drove him away. He finds an unlikely companion to help him out – a wolf. This Ukrainian tale is about the pranks the two furry friends get up to, but it also tells us about mutual help and gratitude.

The Little Straw Bull

The Little Straw Bull

12
 min
5
+
4.43

Once there was an old man and an old woman who were so poor they couldn’t even afford a single ox. So they had to figure out a way to earn some money. It started with making a little bull out of straw and resin. From there, they used lots of cunning and exercised good teamwork… And their reward was great. Let this charming Ukrainian folktale delight and inspire you.

Sir Twardowski

Sir Twardowski

7
 min
5
+
4.43

This Polish tale takes us to Krakow. There we find a nobleman whose curiosity for learning new and exciting things ends up bringing him face to face with the devil himself. The clever nobleman manages to turn the devil’s powers to good use, helping those around him. Although the devil tries to put an end to his good deeds, the nobleman’s prayers eventually free him from the devil’s clutches.

Salt & Pepper — Part 2

Salt & Pepper — Part 2

13
 min
3
+
4.43

Pepper and Salt, still intoxicated from their Italian adventure, longed to explore more distant lands. This time it involved travelling all the way to Istanbul to meet a relative of Pepper’s. They embark on a long journey that takes them to the homeland of the vivacious Turmeric. Will this be the end of their exotic adventures or will they soon be looking to explore more?

Rocketman Saves the Flowers

Rocketman Saves the Flowers

15
 min
5
+
4.42

There is a conflict on Earth that arised because of flowers. Flowers make people with allergies sneeze and wheeze and so they decide to ban them all. That gets the whole world into real trouble. There is only one person who can help them – rocketman! This story was written for you by Mel Candea.

Discovering the Emotions: Surprise

Discovering the Emotions: Surprise

9
 min
5
+
4.42

Which of the feelings will Martin find out about today? On the third floor of the apartment building, a Surprise awaits him in the form of a very resourceful neighbour — an inventor, in fact! Join him as he experiences much in the way of astonishment.

The Man Who Lived Three Thousand Years

The Man Who Lived Three Thousand Years

9
 min
5
+
4.41

This Korean folk tale tells the story of cunning Mr Tong, who was given a short life. In the end, he managed to live a hundred times longer and he hoped that thanks to his cunning he would be able to live forever. However, he had much too high an opinion of himself, and the messengers from the underworld who were looking for him managed to outwit him. A fairy tale about how no fate is unchangeable and even misfortune can be avoided.

The Animal Menagerie

The Animal Menagerie

11
 min
5
+
4.39

In this story, you will meet the Polish scientist Simona Kossak and her extraordinary animal family, who lived together in the Białowieża Forest. Simona was a biologist and an expert on animal life, and in her household there really were many of them - for example, a small crow, a wild pig and a lynx! Read the story to learn more about this extraordinary family.

Crocodile Skin

Crocodile Skin

3
 min
3
+
4.38

The African folk tale reveals why crocodiles have such a rough and scaly skin. It wasn’t always like this though. The story teaches that much pride can be harmful.

Walter the Water Sprite and Christmas

Walter the Water Sprite and Christmas

7
 min
3
+
4.37

When little Wally goes down to the pond with his father to look for a place to catch a Christmas fish, a very unusual surprise awaits them. Instead of a fish, they meet a water sprite there! The water sprite is not at all pleased that they’re thinking of catching one of his fish. Will they manage to come to an agreement?

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.