Stories First Readers

Readers for language learners

OUR READERS

Stories First Readers can be freely printed and shared for non-commercial use.  Please contact us to report any errors or concerns, or to learn how to contribute. Our collection is growing, so check back soon.

Begin by printing the cover and the Printer Spread separately. Be sure to set the printer to “double-sided” and to “flip on the short-edge.”  You can also print odd pages, flip manually and print even pages.  Then, align the cover and inside pages, clip in place, and staple to make a 5.5 x 8.5 booklet. Check out the tutorial above for help binding books.

Stories First Readers are shared by an all-volunteer editing and writing staff of language educators who believe in the Power of Reading. To find out how you can help, contact us

READER DATABASE

Urashima Tarō

Urashima Tarō, una fábula de Japón 
A fisherman visits a magical world where time seems to fly by. 

AGES: Upper elementary and up
LENGTH: 2,695 words, 23 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Fernández Huerta–83.3; Gutiérrez-50.5

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Urashima Tarō

Urashima Tarō, a story from Japan  
A fisherman visits a magical world where time seems to fly by. 

AGES: Upper elementary and up
LENGTH: 2,769 words, 23 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Flesch-Kincaid- grade 1.6; Gunning-Fog- 3.5 |  
(0-2000) Highest Frequency Words: 91.7%

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader Vi

 

Les Fables d'Ésope

Les fables d’Ésope, a collection of fables
A tortoise and hare race; a little mouse helps a big lion; a boy cries wolf; and other traditional stories by Aesop.

AGES: All
LENGTH: 1,824 words, 23 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Scolarius (Flesch-Kincaid)-44

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

 

Aesop's Fables

Aesop’s Fables, a collection of traditional tales
A tortoise and hare race; a little mouse helps a big lion; a boy cries wolf; and other traditional stories by Aesop.

AGES: All
LENGTH: 1,850 words, 29 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Flesch-Kincaid- grade 2.5; Gunning-Fog- 5.1 |  
(0-2000) Highest Frequency Words: 97.7%

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

 

The Gingerbread Man

The Gingerbread Man,  a traditional story
A gingerbread man comes to life and runs away from many who want to eat him. 

AGES: All
LENGTH: 707 words, 15 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Flesch-Kincaid- grade 2.2; Gunning-Fog- 5.8  
(0-2000) Highest Frequency Words: 99.3%

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Las fábulas de Esopo

Las fábulas de Esopo, a collection of Aesop tales
A tortoise and hare race; a little mouse helps a big lion; a boy cries wolf; and other traditional stories by Aesop.

AGES: ALL  
LENGTH: 2,210 words, 23 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Fernández Huerta–87.91; Gutiérrez-52.88

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Outropistache

 Outropistache, a traditional story
An elf helps a woman spin straw into gold, but he demands her baby as payment.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 1,223 words, 17 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: 

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Maria and Marjorie

Maria and Marjorie, based on a true story
Sisters from Oklahoma and members of the Osage Nation work hard and support each other as they become two of America’s greatest ballerinas.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 1,461 words, 17 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level- 3.2; Gunning-Fog- 5.3

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Maria y Marjorie

Maria y Marjorie, based on a true story
Sisters from Oklahoma and members of the Osage Nation work hard and support each other as they become two of America’s greatest ballerinas.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 1,252 words, 17 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Fernández Huerta–79.56; Gutiérrez-46.81

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood, a traditional story
A little girl meets a wolf on her way to Grandmother’s house.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 1,289 words, 17 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated 
READABILITY: Flesch-Kincaid grade level 2.4 ; Gunning-Fog-4.6

Download:   Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Caperucita Roja

Caperucita Roja, a traditional story
A girl meets a wolf on the way to Grandmother’s house.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 1,223 words, 17 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Fernández Huerta–85.19; Gutiérrez-52.62

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Rotkäppchen

Rotkäppchen, a traditional story
A girl meets a wolf on the way to Grandmother’s house.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 581 words, 10 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated

Download:   Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Jesse Owens

Jesse Owens, a true story
An African American running legend and his journey to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. 

AGES: All 
LENGTH: 2,095 words, 21 pages 
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated 
READABILITY: Scolarius-41 

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Los músicos de Bremen

Los músicos de Bremen, a traditional story
Animals are abandoned, so they go out on the road looking to become musicians in the big city, Bremen. 

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 2,361 words, 26 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Fernández Huerta–86.79; Gutiérrez-51.15

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

The Little Prince

The Little Prince,  a story by Etienne de Saint-Exupery
A little prince lives on his planet with only one friend, his rose. When the little prince leaves and has adventures, he misses his rose. 

AGES: All
LENGTH: 1,557 words, 23 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Flesch-Kincaid- grade 2.5; Gunning-Fog- 5.1 |  
(0-2000) Highest Frequency Words: 97.7%

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

 

Alicia en el país de las maravillas

Alicia en el país de las maravillas, a story by Lewis Carroll
A little girl, Alice, runs after a White Rabbit. She runs into many strange creatures in a magical world. 

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 2,361 words, 29 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Fernández Huerta–80.38; Gutiérrez-49.92

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten

Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten, a traditional story
Animals are abandoned, so they go out on the road looking to become musicians in the big city, Bremen.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 881 words, 21 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated

Download:   Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Maid Maleen

Maid Maleen, a traditional story
A girl refuses to give up the man she loves, so she is locked in a tower.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 1,801 words, 16 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: moderately illustrated
READABILITY: Flesch-Kincaid- grade 3.4; Gunning Fog- 5.9​

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Le Petit Chaperon Rouge

Le Petit Chaperon Rouge, a traditional story
A girl meets a wolf on the way to Grandmother’s house.

AGES: All
LENGTH: 1,181 words, 17 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Scolarius (Flesch-Kincaid)-40 

Download:  Cover —  Printer Spread — Reader View

Jesse Owens

Jesse Owens, a true story
An African American running legend and his journey to the 1936 Berlin Olympics. 

AGES: All
LENGTH: 1,824 words, 23 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Flesch-Kincaid-2.1; Gunning-Fogg-na

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Le bonhomme de pain d'épice

Le Bonhomme de Pain d’épice, a traditional story
A gingerbread cookie comes to life and runs away from many who want to eat him.


AGES: All
LENGTH: 827 words, 15 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Scolarius (Flesch-Kincaid)-46


Download:  cover printer spreadreader view

Cendrillon

Cendrillon, a traditional story
A poor girl must work for a family who does not love her, until she goes to the royal ball.

AGES: All
LENGTH: 1,824 words, 23 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Scolarius (Flesch-Kincaid)-44

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Conte de Noel

Conte de Noël, a story by Charles Dickens
Scrooge only cares about money so three spirits take him to see his future.

AGES: All
LENGTH: 2,617 words, 27 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Scolarius (Flesch-Kincaid)-39

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Dorothée

Dorothée, a story by L. Frank Baum
A tornado takes a little girl to a new land called Oz. She wants to go home, but she needs the help of the Wizard of Oz.

AGES: All
LENGTH: 1,945 words, 30 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Scolarius (Flesch-Kincaid)-41

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Heidi

Heidi, a story by Johanna Spyri
A little girl is sent to the mountains to live with Grandfather. She soon learns to love her new family and friends.

AGES: All
LENGTH: 1,366 words, 19 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Scolarius (Flesch-Kincaid)-40

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Le Petit Prince

Le Petit Prince, a story by Etienne de Saint-Exupery
A little prince lives on his planet with only one friend, his rose. When the little prince leaves and has adventures, he misses his rose. 

AGES: All
LENGTH: 1,604 words, 24 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Scolarius (Flesch-Kincaid)-40

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Ramona

Ramona, a story by Helen Hunt Jackson
Native American girl is adopted by a rich family from Spain, but she later encounters racism and discovers the hardships of her biological family and their community. 

AGES: Upper elementary and older
LENGTH: 2,955 words, 28 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Scolarius (Flesch-Kincaid)-42

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Alice aux pays des merveilles

Alice aux pays des merveilles​, a story by Lewis Carroll
A little girl, Alice, runs after a White Rabbit. She runs into many strange creatures in a magical world. 

AGES: Upper elementary and older
LENGTH: 2,901 words, 29 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Scolarius (Flesch-Kincaid)-38

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Hansel et Gretel

Hansel et Gretel​, a traditional story 
Two children are abandoned in the forest. They are very hungry until they see a house made out of candy. But they soon find the candy is a trap.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 2,333 words, 20 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Scolarius (Flesch-Kincaid)-45

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Ali Baba et les 40 voleurs

Ali Baba et les 40 voleurs​, a traditional story   
A poor man finds a magical cave filled with treasure, but the treasure belongs to terrible bandits. His servant helps protect Ali Baba when the bandits come looking for their treasure.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 2,838 words, 27 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Scolarius (Flesch-Kincaid)-40

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

La Belle aux bois dormant

La Belle au bois dormant​, a traditional story   
A witch puts a curse on a princess: she will fall asleep for all eternity. But true love wakes up the sleeping beauty.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 1,696 words, 23 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Scolarius (Flesch-Kincaid)-42

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Les Musiciens de Breme

Les Musiciens de Brême, a traditional story   
Animals are abandoned, so they go out on the road looking to become musicians in the big city, Bremen.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 2,060 words, 26 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Scolarius (Flesch-Kincaid)-37

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Cenicienta

Cenicienta, a traditional story   
A poor girl must work for her step-mother and step-sisters. She is unhappy, until she goes to the ball.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 1,492 words, 20 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Fernandez Huerta-78.04; Gutierrez-47.28​

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

La Bella Durmiente

La Bella Durmiente​​, a traditional tale
A witch puts a curse on a princess: she will fall asleep for all eternity. But true love wakes up the sleeping beauty.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 2,414 words, 23 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Fernández Huerta-82.21; Gutierrez-48.75​​

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

El Principito

El Principito​, a story by Etienne de Saint-Exupery 
A little prince lives on his planet with only one friend, his rose. When the little prince leaves and has adventures, he misses his rose.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 1,372 words, 22 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Fernández Huerta-80.91; Gutiérrez-49.59​

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

El hombre de jengibre

El hombre de jengibre​, a traditional tale
A cookie is shaped like a little man, but it comes to life and runs away.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 649 words, 15 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Fernández Huerta-89.32; Gutiérrez-51.76​​

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol​, a story by Charles Dickens
Scrooge only cares about money so three spirits take him to see Christmas past, present, and future.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 2,414 words, 27 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Flesch-Kincaid- grade 2.1; Gunning Fog- 4.7​

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel, a traditional story
Two children are abandoned in the forest. They are very hungry until they see a house made out of candy. But they soon find the candy is a trap.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 2,096 words, 19 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Flesch-Kincaid- grade 2.6; Gunning Fog-4.8

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland, a story by Lewis Carroll
A little girl, Alice, runs after a White Rabbit. She runs into many strange creatures in a magical world.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 2,446 words, 29 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Flesch-Kincaid- grade 2.0; Gunning Fog- 4.6

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty, a traditional story
A witch puts a curse on a princess: she will fall asleep for all eternity. But true love wakes up the sleeping beauty.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 1,771 words, 23 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Flesch-Kincaid- grade 3.2; Gunning Fog- 5.6

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

Cinderella

Cinderella, a traditional story
A poor girl must work for her step-mother and step-sisters. She is unhappy, until she goes to the royal ball.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 1,796 words, 23 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Flesch-Kincaid- grade 4.3; Gunning Fog- 6
(0-2000) Highest Frequency Words: 95.8% ​

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

The Musicians of Bremen

The Musicians of Bremen, a traditional story
Animals are abandoned, so they go out on the road looking to become musicians in the big city, Bremen.

AGES: ALL
LENGTH: 2,137 words, 26 pages
ILLUSTRATIONS: heavily illustrated
READABILITY: Flesch-Kincaid- grade 2.7; Gunning Fog-5.2

Download: Cover —  Printer Spread  Reader View

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President / Founder

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