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.

How Winter Began

How Winter Began

5
 min
3
+
4.47

Have you ever thought about when exactly winter begins? The raven is impatiently waiting for the first snowflake, and an old top hat is waiting for the black bird in the bushes. What does the raven need it for? You’ll find it out in this magical winter fairy tale.

The Mouse and the Bull

The Mouse and the Bull

5
 min
5
+
4.46

Size and strength don’t decide everything. One small cheeky mouse bites the big bull right in the nose and causes him immense pain. The furious bull wants revenge on her immediately. But despite his huge strength, he doesn’t manage to harm the little mouse.

The Legend of the Milky Way

The Legend of the Milky Way

8
 min
5
+
4.46

This old Chinese legend tells the story of two lovers – the beautiful heavenly weaver, daughter of the Emperor of the Heavens, and a cowherd from the world of humans. Unfortunately, their love makes them forget about all their duties, and so they end up separated forever by the Milky Way.

The Singing Flute

The Singing Flute

9
 min
5
+
4.45

Modesty and kindness can help us achieve a lot. Three brothers set out to search for a healing flower for their father. Only the youngest one has any success, but when he meets his brothers on his way, he realises that together they will stop at nothing to get the flower.

The Monkey and the Drum

The Monkey and the Drum

11
 min
5
+
4.45

When a clumsy monkey gets a thorn in its tail, it has no choice but to rely on human help. However, it very quickly abuses this help and shows its greed. In this way the monkey gets a lot of things from people in exchange.

Rumpel Stiltskin

Rumpel Stiltskin

8
 min
5
+
4.45

Children at school laugh at Rumpel because of his name - he sounds just like a famous fairy tale. But Rumpel decides to make the best of this disadvantage and let the children know their teasing doesn't bother him. In the end, it turns out that his ability to guess every name comes in really handy!

The Bees and the Beekeeper

The Bees and the Beekeeper

5
 min
5
+
4.44

Some things are not what they look like. When a thief breaks into the hives where the bees live, the beekeeper immediately starts to repair them. But just as the bees return from their meadows they see the beekeeper standing among the ruins of their houses. At first glance, it seems to them that they have caught the culprit of this devastation in the act!

The Eight Suns

The Eight Suns

6
 min
5
+
4.44

This traditional story from Laos is about the eight suns that once burned the earth with their strong beams - every day! Only thanks to a clever archer and a rooster did the world manage to strike a balance. With its environmental theme, this old legend is also relevant nowadays.

How the Egg Didn’t Go on a Trip

How the Egg Didn’t Go on a Trip

8
 min
3
+
4.44

There is an egg in the fridge that likes to listen to fairy tales about adventures. But why should adventures only take place in fairy tales? The egg in this story decides it would like to do something exciting as well. One day, it ventures out of the fridge and into the world...

Little Blue

Little Blue

4
 min
5
+
4.43

What does it mean to feel blue, and what can we do if a feeling of sadness suddenly comes over us? This short story about a child’s temporary bout of the blues, shows us a way to interpret this and even overcome it.

Why Ducks Sleep the Way They Do

Why Ducks Sleep the Way They Do

7
 min
3
+
4.43

Ducks have a curious way of sleeping — they stand on one leg. However, according to this Vietnamese fairy tale, there’s a good reason for that. It’s said to have started with four particular ducks who, long ago, were born with only one leg. This predicament greatly displeased them, so they decided to complain to the heavens about it... Which resulted in a funny turn of events!

The Hare and the Hyena

The Hare and the Hyena

4
 min
5
+
4.42

The tale reveals why hyenas have back stripes on their backs, and teaches that real friends should be honest with each other.

The Land of the Eagles

The Land of the Eagles

5
 min
5
+
4.4

Albania is a country they sometimes call the land of eagles. There is a legend that explains its name. When a brave hunter saved a young eagle from danger, he laid the foundations of an inseparable friendship between man and eagle.

The Horned Servant

The Horned Servant

13
 min
5
+
4.39

A story from a collection of fairy tales compiled by the famous storyteller Pavol Dobšinský. This is a story about a devil who steals the last piece of bread from a woodcutter. When Lucifer finds it out, he punishes the devil, making him serve the woodcutter the whole year.

An Egg Goes on a Trip

An Egg Goes on a Trip

10
 min
5
+
4.38

Together you can do much more. This traditional folk tale tells us of an egg’s adventure. On its way, the egg finds animal friends and together they defeat scary bandits.

A Long Name

A Long Name

8
 min
5
+
4.38

Simpler solutions can be much more effective. An old Chinese superstition says that the longer a name, the longer lived and happier a person will be.

The Swan and the Crow

The Swan and the Crow

5
 min
5
+
4.37

If we want to be happy, it is important to accept who we are. The crow greatly admires the majestic swans swimming on the lake. One day she decides that she too would like to become a beautiful swan. But she almost loses her life by trying to imitate the swans.

The Girl with the Almond Eyes

The Girl with the Almond Eyes

5
 min
3
+
4.37

Little Meg has a new classmate who looks different from the other children. Meg is curious why the girl has such strange eyes. However, her father has an explanation. Meg learns why all eyes are beautiful, even if they might be different.

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.