Stories First Readers

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%

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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

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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%

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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%

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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

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 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: 

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 

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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

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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%

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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

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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

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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​

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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 

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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

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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


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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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​

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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​​

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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​

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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​​

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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​

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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

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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

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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

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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% ​

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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

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