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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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How Li-li Celebrated the Spring Festival

Hana Do

How Li-li Celebrated the Spring Festival

11
 min
5
+
4.44

It’s nearly time for the Lunar New Year celebrations, also known as the Spring Festival. For many people in the world, including the little girl in this story, these are the most important celebrations of the year. But it looks like Li-li isn’t going to be spending the Spring Festival with her wonderful grandparents this year. Li-li is sad about that, but an unexpected encounter with a magical creature changes everything… Read the story to find out more about Li-li’s adventure and about Lunar New Year traditions.

Stories for 5+ years old
The Woodcutter and the Deer

Korean Tale

The Woodcutter and the Deer

14
 min
5
+
4.42

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.

Around the World
Sirko the Faithful Dog

Ukrainian Tale

Sirko the Faithful Dog

8
 min
5
+
4.41

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.

Animal stories
Sir Twardowski

Polish tale

Sir Twardowski

7
 min
5
+
4.4

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.

Around the World
The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep

Hans Christian Andersen

The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep

11
 min
5
+
4.4

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?

Stories for 5+ years old
The Fern Flower

Polish tale

The Fern Flower

16
 min
8
+
4.39

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.

Around the World
The Toad Who Asked for Rain

Vietnamese Tale

The Toad Who Asked for Rain

6
 min
5
+
4.39

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.

Around the World
The Halloween Pumpkin

Lucia Koudelkova Jesenska

The Halloween Pumpkin

10
 min
5
+
4.38

Sisters Laura and Emma are enjoying a stay at home without their parents, like big girls do. But their joy turns to horror when they hear strange noises. And then a... real ghost appears outside the window? Or was it? Read this thrilling autumn tale about fear.

Emotions and empathy
The Legend of the Dombra

Kazakh Legend

The Legend of the Dombra

5
 min
8
+
4.35

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.

Around the World
The Man Who Lived Three Thousand Years

Korean Tale

The Man Who Lived Three Thousand Years

9
 min
5
+
4.32

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.

Around the World
The Impatient Peasant

Vietnamese Tale

The Impatient Peasant

5
 min
5
+
4.29

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.

Around the World
The Crystal Heart

Vietnamese Tale

The Crystal Heart

10
 min
8
+
4.26

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.

Around the World
Saint Nick, the Demon, and the Angel

Tereza Sebesta

Saint Nick, the Demon, and the Angel

8
 min
3
+
4.18

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…

Christmas stories for kids
The Borrowed Cauldron

Turkish Tale

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.

Short stories
The Animal Menagerie

Mel Candea

The Animal Menagerie

11
 min
5
+
4.16

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.

Nature stories
Sir Humphrey and His Trusty Steed

Czech tale

Sir Humphrey and His Trusty Steed

8
 min
8
+
4.14

This well-known Czech legend connected with the fortress at Vyšehrad in Prague tells the story of the pitiless ruler Kengrave and bold Sir Humphrey, who dared revolt against his cruelty. What part does his trusty horse Slicker play in their tale? Read the story to find out.

Around the World
Ivan and the Greedy Innkeepers

Ukrainian Tale

Ivan and the Greedy Innkeepers

12
 min
8
+
3.63

The star of this traditional Ukrainian fairy tale is a clever man called Ivan. The people of his village didn’t like the local innkeepers because they encouraged people to drink too much alcohol. So Ivan decided to teach them a lesson! In this story, you’ll discover how things ended up for those greedy innkeepers.

Around the World
Shake, My Satchel!

Samuel Czambel

Shake, My Satchel!

13
 min
5
+
4.92

Greed never pays off. The wind blows all the seed the poor farmer planted so that he loses crops. So the farmer decides to find the wind and ask for his seeds back. However, the wind gives him an unusual gift.

Folk stories
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.