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 and the Shoemaker

The Elves and the Shoemaker

10
 min
3
+
4.74

In this traditional fairy tale, you will read about an extraordinary thing that happened to a poor, ordinary shoemaker. Read on to discover what magic took place in his workshop and enjoy this story of kindness, generosity and mutual help.

The Star That Fell From the Sky

The Star That Fell From the Sky

12
 min
1
+
4.73

Oaky's peaceful evening is suddenly disrupted by a falling star. It’s not just an ordinary shooting star – it’s actually landed right by Oaky’s tree! How can Oaky the elf get the star back into the sky where it belongs? Can his forest friends help him?

The Lion and the Cunning Jackal

The Lion and the Cunning Jackal

8
 min
5
+
4.73

In this African fairy tale, an old jackal gets into trouble. In the end, however, he overcomes fear and manages to trick the mighty lion.

The Rat Boy

The Rat Boy

11
 min
5
+
4.73

This is a story about a boy named Timmy, who treats everyone nastily and rudely. However, he eventually crosses the path of an elf who punishes him for his bad behavior with a magical transformation - such that neither Timmy nor his own mother recognise him.

The Little Birdie

The Little Birdie

9
 min
5
+
4.73

Envy can separate even the best of friends. The story is about two neighbors who always help each other, until envy separates them. When a beautifully singing bird nestles on an apple tree that has grown in one of their gardens, the other neighbor begins to envy him, and they start quarreling

Hercules and the Potter

Hercules and the Potter

4
 min
5
+
4.73

Before asking for help, make sure you have done all you could. One day, a potter’s wagon got stuck on the muddy road. Even though he kept whipping the horse, the wagon didn't even move from the mud. The potter lamented his bad fortune, and called to the mighty Hercules to come to help. But who eventually does help him?

Cristiano's Life Decision

Cristiano's Life Decision

9
 min
5
+
4.73

Young Cristiano’s life revolves around football. He works really hard so he can become the best player of all time. But what happens when he has to face a decision that may stop his career for good? He also finds out that life sometimes brings us surprises that we can’t change in any way. This story was written by Mel Candea. It contains true facts from the life of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Little Superhero

The Little Superhero

8
 min
5
+
4.73

Although little Mark is still only a kindergartener, he so very badly wants to be a superhero. However, he’s afraid of many things, and his elder brother makes fun of him for that. How can a superhero ever be scared of anything? But when the boys go for a day-out at the theme park, Mark learns something very important about superheroes... You too will learn what that is after reading this story!

The Music that went Missing

The Music that went Missing

13
 min
3
+
4.73

The princess is a very talented young woman, but she yearns to do the one thing that she’s terrible at — she wants to sing. However, the rest of the kingdom can’t bear to listen to it. As a result, all the music disappears from the kingdom. Later, the princess humbly realises what the problem is and sets out to solve it by bringing the music back, for all to enjoy. Isn’t music in everything around us?

Burnt Gingerbread Biscuits

Burnt Gingerbread Biscuits

11
 min
5
+
4.73

What to do with the slightly burnt gingerbread biscuits? Although they are not so tasty to eat and could be made into Christmas tree decorations, the story goes quite differently. An adventurous pre-Christmas trip awaits them, all thanks to one small mistake.

A Trip to Fantasy Land

A Trip to Fantasy Land

7
 min
3
+
4.73

This fantasy story takes children on an imaginative journey and leads them through some relaxing breathing exercises. It is ideal as a bedtime story, as it helps children to calm down at the end of the day and get ready to sleep.

A Story from the Underpass

A Story from the Underpass

7
 min
3
+
4.72

When the Orbweavers, a family of spiders, return from holidays, they find their home has been gulped down by a hoover. They decide to try and convince people to stop destroying their homes – spiders are useful to people after all! But how can they make their point if no human understands the spider language?

The Golden Pears

The Golden Pears

12
 min
5
+
4.72

In this Austrian folk tale you will hear about a tree that produced the best pears in the whole kingdom and about three brothers who wanted to take the sweet pears to the king as a gift. What happened to them and how were they rewarded for their behaviour?

Grandma’s Magic

Grandma’s Magic

8
 min
5
+
4.71

Read the story of Matt and his magical grandma. She owns neither a wand nor a wizard´s cloak. So how could she be magical? In this tale, you'll learn the importance of wonderful family relationships, and also about curiosity, learning, and dealing with emotions.

Aladdin and the Magic Lamp

Aladdin and the Magic Lamp

15
 min
5
+
4.71

Never lose your faith, even in hard times. Good will always win in the end. A world famous classic tale about a naïve boy named Aladdin. An evil wizard uses him to obtain a magic lamp. When he gets trapped in the tomb, the powerful genie who lives in the lamp helps him.

Mary and the Twelve Months

Mary and the Twelve Months

14
 min
5
+
4.71

This classic story is about good winning over evil. When her evil stepmother sends Mary out to the forest to get violets and strawberries, the twelve months will help her out with their supernatural powers.

Justine the Octopus

Justine the Octopus

8
 min
5
+
4.71

It would be to have more hands, wouldn’t it? However, Justine the octopus doesn't think so at all. She has exactly eight tentacles, but she is always so clumsy with them. She doesn't even know how to fit into the groups of other underwater friends. But then she suddenly finds out that she's really good at something else. What is it? You'll find out in this fairy tale from the sea.

High Water

High Water

9
 min
5
+
4.71

A big disaster unexpectedly strikes in the forest: a heavy rain washes away a rabbit burrow - and a family of rabbits finds itself homeless. The other animals are in shock and don't know what to do. But the quick-witted fox explains that everyone can do their bit to help the unfortunate rabbits.

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.