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 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.

Why Bread Turned Into Stone

Why Bread Turned Into Stone

7
 min
5
+
4.79

This Polish fairy tale recounts the story of a poor person and a miser who learned the error of his ways. It shows how greed can be repaid with kindness, and that by sharing what we have, we stand to gain even more.

The DIY Cat

The DIY Cat

7
 min
3
+
4.78

Princess Bobbie always had everything she wanted, and yet it was never enough. She demanded new toys and new kinds of entertainment all the time. Her latest whim was to have a kitten to play with. Thanks to an unexpected visitor and his offer of an extraordinary type of cat, Bobbie finally learns to humble herself, and she even becomes generous. Read the story to find out more about this surprising transformation.

The Cuckoo Clock

The Cuckoo Clock

9
 min
5
+
4.78

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?

Noah’s Ark

Noah’s Ark

10
 min
5
+
4.78

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.

The Story of Moses

The Story of Moses

9
 min
5
+
4.77

Learn about Moses and how he managed to free the Jewish people from Egypt despite adversity and hostility from the pharaoh.

Modesty as Big as the Moon

Modesty as Big as the Moon

8
 min
5
+
4.77

Based on real events, this story begins with Neil Armstrong as a child. Young Neil is fascinated by flying. With great determination, he continually pursues this interest, until he eventually becomes the first man on the moon. When he steps onto the moon’s surface and speaks those famous words, the app plays the actual recording from the NASA Apollo 11 mission in 1969. [NASA archives: One Small Step]

Maya Goes Into a Rage

Maya Goes Into a Rage

9
 min
3
+
4.77

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!

Kuartam the Toad

Kuartam the Toad

6
 min
5
+
4.77

A story based on an Ecuadorian folktale about a toad with an extraordinary power. Anyone who mocked him for his ugly appearance was harshly punished, since Kuartam could turn into a jaguar before your very eyes and gobble you up. None of the local tribespeople had ever seen him, but they sometimes heard an ear-splitting roar coming from the jungle. One night, a young hunter decides to find out whether there is any truth to the legend...

Christmas Delight

Christmas Delight

7
 min
5
+
4.77

While decorating the Christmas tree, George comes across an ornament he doesn’t recognise. Compared to the other baubles in the box, it looks odd. It’s old and shabby and rather ugly. So why does his mum find it so special and take such good care of it? Find out why this rocking horse, which is much-much older than George’s mum, is so very precious.

The Creative Princess

The Creative Princess

12
 min
5
+
4.76

Camilla is a princess who likes climbing trees, riding horses, and writing poems. Her parents and her older sisters think she is a wild, crazy child. Luckily, her teacher understands her interests and helps her develop her musical talent. Soon, Camilla will show her family what she’s good at.

Salt & Pepper — Part 5

Salt & Pepper — Part 5

8
 min
3
+
4.76

It was time for Pepper and Salt to return home from another distant world — but this time it was by plane rather than ship. However, a plane journey is also an adventure, especially when our heroes experience strong turbulence for the first time in their lives. How do they handle it? And will they finally return safely to the Horák’s apartment?

The Tortoise and The Hare

The Tortoise and The Hare

5
 min
5
+
4.76

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.

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.

Mio in Science Class: About Birds

Mio in Science Class: About Birds

7
 min
5
+
4.76

Mio, our favourite little elephant, likes school a lot. This time, he and his classmates are looking forward to science class, where today they will be learning about birds and listening to birdsong. What new facts and sounds will Mio and the children learn?

Dino Maximiliano the Dinosaur – Part 1

Dino Maximiliano the Dinosaur – Part 1

15
 min
5
+
4.76

Meet a new hero – Dino Maximiliano the Bicyclosaurus, aka Max. This small, fidgety dinosaur is the best friend of a boy named Micah. The dinosaur’s dream is to one day have his very own bicycle. Being a clever, creative person, Micah decides to design a bicycle for Max and arrange to have it built. See how the plan gets underway in the first part of this episodic story.

Dino Maximiliano the Dinosaur – Part 2

Dino Maximiliano the Dinosaur – Part 2

13
 min
5
+
4.76

In this second part of the Dino Maximiliano story, Max’s dream of a new bike starts to become reality. Together with the little dinosaur and his inventor-friend Micah, you will learn what it takes to construct a bicycle, while also finding out that cycling isn’t actually that simple.

The Tree Knight

The Tree Knight

12
 min
5
+
4.75

A story about how an old woman’s love and care for the natural world frees a knight, who has been turned into a tree, from his curse. This tale emphasizes the need for respect and empathy towards both people and nature.

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.