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.

The Little Straw Bull

The Little Straw Bull

12
 min
5
+
4.48

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.

Jim and the Dragon

Jim and the Dragon

8
 min
5
+
4.47

In this story, you will discover how life changes in one small town when a terrible dragon takes up residence in a nearby cave. What will the dragon do and who will be brave enough to challenge it?

Mio and the Astronomical Clock

Mio and the Astronomical Clock

8
 min
5
+
4.46

Mio and his classmates are off on a school trip to a historic palace where there is a very special clock. But that isn't the only fascinating thing they find – they also enjoy listening to all the different languages the other visitors are speaking. Why don't you join them and find out which languages they hear!

The Legend of the Dombra

The Legend of the Dombra

5
 min
8
+
4.46

Have you ever heard of the dombra, a musical instrument from the Far East? In this Kazakh legend, you will learn about the magical sounds of the dombra and its association with the famous Genghis Khan.

The Magic Rings and Death Valley

The Magic Rings and Death Valley

12
 min
5
+
4.43

Ellie and Annie are inseparable sisters. When they choose sparkly new rings at the fair, they have no idea that the rings hold a mysterious power. Where will the rings take them that night? To a place with an ominous name that is actually rather beautiful. Embark on a journey around the world with these girls to visit all sorts of unique places in this geographical story series.

The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep

The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep

11
 min
5
+
4.43

In this story by Hans Christian Andersen you will read about two porcelain figurines—a shepherdess and a chimney sweep—who love one another. But a third figurine, an old man from China, gets in the way of their happiness and so they decide to run away. Where will their big adventure into the outside world take them?

Sirko the Faithful Dog

Sirko the Faithful Dog

8
 min
5
+
4.43

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.

Sir Twardowski

Sir Twardowski

7
 min
5
+
4.42

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.

The Fern Flower

The Fern Flower

16
 min
8
+
4.41

In this Polish tale you will read about curious young Johnny, who sets out to find a magical fern flower that will make his dreams come true. The fern flower only blooms one night a year, but that doesn’t stop Johnny. He’s forbidden from sharing the tempting reward with anyone, and his obsession with wealth overtakes him - leading to a tragic end.

The Toad Who Asked for Rain

The Toad Who Asked for Rain

6
 min
5
+
4.38

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.

Seed Town

Seed Town

12
 min
5
+
4.36

Seed Town is a place where the inhabitants desire nothing more than to nestle into the ground and grow up. But they cannot achieve this on their own. When a schoolgirl called Anna visits Seed Town, she makes friends with the little seeds and eventually figures out a way to help them. Can she manage to achieve it? This story imparts a thing or two about plants and Nature.

The Impatient Peasant

The Impatient Peasant

5
 min
5
+
4.33

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.

The Woodcutter and the Deer

The Woodcutter and the Deer

14
 min
5
+
4.32

In this beautiful Korean folk tale, a poor woodcutter saves a young deer in the forest. As a thank you, he receives valuable advice on how to find joy. But will this advice be enough to bring him lasting happiness? Although the woodcutter has good intentions, he fails to follow the deer’s advice fully, and it ends up doing him more harm than good.

The Animal Menagerie

The Animal Menagerie

11
 min
5
+
4.32

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.

The Man Who Lived Three Thousand Years

The Man Who Lived Three Thousand Years

9
 min
5
+
4.3

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 Crystal Heart

The Crystal Heart

10
 min
8
+
4.25

Mi Nuong falls in love with a song that she hears one day from outside her window. She thinks it must have been a young gentleman singing it just for her. But this fantasy and her superficiality end up causing a lot of suffering – both to others and to herself.

The Borrowed Cauldron

The Borrowed Cauldron

4
 min
8
+
4.17

Meet Nasreddin Hodja, the legendary medieval Turkish sage and trickster, about whom many stories and anecdotes still circulate today in Turkey as well as in Central and Southern Asia. You’ll find there is always a grain of wisdom hidden in these short, humorous tales.

Saint Nick, the Demon, and the Angel

Saint Nick, the Demon, and the Angel

8
 min
3
+
4.15

Saint Nick is busy preparing for the festive occasion. As usual, he has his angel and his demon lined up to accompany him on his visits to all the houses on the eve of Saint Nicholas Day. But this year is a little different because a new demon has been chosen — a spirited female called Asmodea. She is really excited about it, but also very anxious about how it will go…

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.