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Stories for 8+ years old

These stories should be understandable for eight 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.

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The Sacred Stone of Namuncura

Native American Tale

The Sacred Stone of Namuncura

9
 min
8
+
4.56

This interesting tale from South America teaches us that we have to take good care of the things we are in charge of. Deep in the Amazon rainforest there once lived a native Indian tribe. The inhabitants of the settlement by the river had been taking care of a miraculous stone for many years. They believed its great power would protect them from danger. One of the seniors decides not to take care of the stone anymore, and strange things begin to happen.

Around the World
Of Eagles and Bugs

Aesop

Of Eagles and Bugs

5
 min
8
+
4.56

Our wits can help us defeat much stronger opponents and overcome difficult obstacles. When the eagle catches the hare in its claws, the little beetle orders him to release the poor animal immediately. But the eagle just laughs, and certainly does not plan to give up its prey because of a little beetle. The beetle succeeded in swindling the eagle in the end.

Aesop's fables
How the Cheetah Got Her Marks

African Tale

How the Cheetah Got Her Marks

8
 min
8
+
4.56

This fairy tale from Africa tells of a dishonest hunter who stole the young cheetah from its mother in order to make hunting game easier. The tale shows how important it is to act honestly in life.

Around the World
Burnt Gingerbread Biscuits

Katarina Gondova

Burnt Gingerbread Biscuits

11
 min
5
+
4.56

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.

Christmas stories for kids
The Monster Bulgasari

Korean Tale

The Monster Bulgasari

10
 min
5
+
4.55

This thrilling and perhaps slightly scary story from the Asian continent tells how a monk on the run accidentally creates a prickly monster. It feeds on everything made of metal, and no one can stop it. Find out how the whole Kingdom of Korea is turned upside down, just because its king has wrongfully persecuted all of the monks.

Around the World
The Monkey and the Turtle

Philippine Tale

The Monkey and the Turtle

8
 min
8
+
4.54

Don’t expect to see the fruit of your work without putting in the effort required. A turtle and a monkey pull a banana tree out of the river. They immediately divide it into two parts. The monkey insists on getting the top, which has nice green leaves. The lower part (without leaves) is all that remains for the turtle. The turtle takes care of its part all the more, and soon it is covered in bananas and ready for harvesting - while the monkey watches as the top of the tree slowly dries up.

Around the World
Deucalion and Pyrrha

Greek Fable

Deucalion and Pyrrha

7
 min
8
+
4.54

Being cruel to others can come back to bite us. Seeing the immense cruelty of humanity, Zeus decides to send a huge flood to the ground to punish the people for their anger. Only Deucalion and Pyrrha will survive.

Stories for 8+ years old
The Evil Sons

Indian Tale

The Evil Sons

5
 min
8
+
4.54

This Indian story is about an old man who, at the end of his life, carefully divides all his property between three sons. Sadly for him, he receives no gratitude from them at all in return. Annoyed, the old man eventually comes up with a way to give his ungrateful sons the lesson they truly deserve.

Short stories
The Legend of the Milky Way

Chinese legend

The Legend of the Milky Way

8
 min
5
+
4.53

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.

Around the World
Hades and Persephone

Greek Fable

Hades and Persephone

10
 min
5
+
4.53

Could it be that a kidnapped daughter and her mother are the cause of the changing seasons? According to Greek mythology, Persephone was abducted into the realm of the dead by Hades, the god of the underworld. Due to the enormous grief felt by her mother, the crops dried up and winter came to the Earth for the first time. To prevent an eternal winter, a certain deal had to be struck with Hades …

Around the World
Rumpel Stiltskin

Katarina Gondova

Rumpel Stiltskin

8
 min
5
+
4.52

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!

Emotions and empathy
Rabbi Loew and the Golem

Jewish Tale

Rabbi Loew and the Golem

10
 min
5
+
4.52

Let this story carry you off to Renaissance Prague, a city of mystery and alchemy, where Rabbi Loew managed to do something unheard of: bring the legendary golem, a clay statue, to life.

Around the World
The Three Slackers

Austrian Tale

The Three Slackers

10
 min
5
+
4.5

These three brothers, who by now were grown men, only knew how to be lazy and idle. They avoided any notion of work, yet they longed for wealth and happiness. In order to survive in the easiest possible way, they decided to look for a treasure chest. But can such slackers manage to find one? And if so, will it be filled with the treasures they were expecting?

Around the World
The Three Sillies

English Tale

The Three Sillies

12
 min
8
+
4.5

This funny story is about human silliness. A traveller, who is busy roaming the world, meets many simple minded people. After visiting a farm, he is sure he can’t possibly see anything more silly. However, his next adventures prove him wrong.

Folk stories
Broad, Long and Sharpsight

Karel Erben

Broad, Long and Sharpsight

15
 min
8
+
4.5

When we join forces, we can overcome difficult obstacles. An adventurous story about how a young man chooses to win the heart of a princess. Three brave helpers, who he meets on the way to the castle, help him to overcome the obstacles and difficult tasks that stand in his way.

Folk stories
Dynamite and TNT Have a Disagreement

Mel Candea

Dynamite and TNT Have a Disagreement

6
 min
8
+
4.5

TNT and dynamite argue over who is better at blowing things up. They're both convinced they're better than the other. The roadworks tools step in to help decide - who do you think they chose?

Science stories
How Granny Maryann Forgot About Workplace Safety

Brano Jobus

How Granny Maryann Forgot About Workplace Safety

7
 min
8
+
4.5

Granny Maryann is cleaning the glass recycling factory, like she does every day, but this time her order is disturbed by the disruptive spider Servus and his web. In the heat of the moment, Maryann forgets about safety at work. It would have ended tragically - if it hadn't been for the unexpected help of Servus.

Nature stories
Philemon and Baucis

Greek Fable

Philemon and Baucis

9
 min
8
+
4.47

This is an ancient Greek story of generosity, a beautiful relationship and lifelong love between spouses Philemon and Baucis. For their kindness and service to the Greek gods, they wanted nothing more than to die at the same time so they wouldn't have to be without each other. Their story teaches us about the value of lifelong true love, and about peacefully accepting that all life has an end.

Around the World
Bedtime stories
Short stories
Folk stories
Human body
Wellbeing
Emotions & empathy
Nature stories
Science stories
Around the World
Animal stories
Aesop's fables
For toddlers
For 3+ years old
For 5+ years old
For 8+ years old
Christmas stories

Questions about

Stories for 8+ years old

How can I encourage my 8-year-old to read more often?

To encourage your 8-year-old to read more often, consider the following strategies:

  • select books that match their interests and reading level. At Readmio, you can find a range of genres and series that might captivate their attention.
  • set aside dedicated time for reading each day, such as before bedtime or after school. Consistency helps build a reading habit.
  • discuss the stories, ask questions, and make predictions about what will happen next. This interaction makes reading more engaging and fun.
  • utilize Readmio’s interactive features and audio versions to make reading more dynamic and enjoyable.

How often should my child be reading at home?

For optimal literacy development, aim for your child to read at home daily. About 20-30 minutes of reading time each day is ideal. This regular practice helps build reading skills, vocabulary, and comprehension. Incorporating a mix of independent reading, shared reading, and listening to stories can make this time enjoyable and effective.

Can Readmio help my child improve their reading comprehension?

Yes, Readmio can help improve your child’s reading comprehension through several features. First of all, our stories are enriched by music and sounds that engage children and encourage active participation. All Readmio include questions after reading and interactive quizzes that help children think critically about the text and discuss what they have read.A wide range of stories with different themes and genres helps expand vocabulary and comprehension skills by exposing children to varied contexts and language.

Is it still important to read aloud to 8 year old children?

Yes, reading aloud to 8-year-olds remains important for many reasons. Hearing fluent reading helps children understand proper pronunciation, intonation, and pacing.Even at this age children are exposed to new words and phrases that they might not encounter in their own reading. Moreover, reading aloud together fosters a love of books and strengthens the parent-child bond. At this age children are already capable and willing to discuss the story, which enhances comprehension and critical thinking.Reading aloud complements their independent reading and supports their overall literacy development.