Short Stories For Kids In English (With Pictures)

This blog is a collection of engaging short stories for kids, including fairy tales, funny fables, moral stories, and ghost stories. It features both classic and original tales that entertain while teaching valuable life lessons. Perfect for bedtime or storytime, these stories spark imagination and curiosity in young readers.

Stories have a magical way of capturing a child’s imagination, teaching valuable life lessons, and creating memories that last a lifetime. Whether it's classic fairy tales, funny fables, or thrilling ghost stories, each story opens the door to a world of adventure and learning. In this collection, you’ll find a mix of timeless classics like Little Red Riding Hood and The Fox and the Crow, alongside original tales filled with humor, mystery, and important morals. These stories are perfect for bedtime, storytime, or just a fun read-aloud session with kids. So, get ready to embark on a delightful storytelling journey!

Short Stories for Kids in English

1. Little Red Riding Hood

Once upon a time, in a small village near the forest, lived a cheerful little girl called Red Riding Hood. One day, her mother packed a basket of goodies and sent her to visit her sick grandmother. “Stay on the path and don’t talk to strangers,” her mother warned.

As she walked through the woods, she met a sly wolf who asked, “Where are you going, little girl?” Innocently, Red Riding Hood told him about her grandmother’s house. The wolf hurried ahead, tricked the grandmother, and disguised himself in her bed. When Red Riding Hood arrived, she noticed something strange.

“Grandmother, what big eyes you have!”
“All the better to see you with, my dear.”
“Grandmother, what big ears you have!”
“All the better to hear you with, my dear.”
“Grandmother, what big teeth you have!”
“All the better to EAT YOU with!” growled the wolf, leaping toward her.

Just then, a brave woodcutter rushed in and scared the wolf away. Red Riding Hood and her grandmother hugged each other, safe at last. She learned to always be careful and never talk to strangers.

Moral: Always be cautious and never trust strangers.

2. The Elves and the Shoemaker

Once upon a time, a poor shoemaker and his wife lived in a small town. They had only enough leather to make one last pair of shoes. The shoemaker carefully cut the leather and left it on his worktable before going to bed.

The next morning, he was surprised to find a beautifully crafted pair of shoes on his table. He sold them at a good price and bought more leather. The next night, the same thing happened—someone had made perfect shoes! This continued for many nights, and soon, the shoemaker became successful.

One night, he and his wife hid behind a curtain to see who was helping them. To their amazement, two tiny elves were stitching shoes with great skill. They realized that the elves had no proper clothes, so the shoemaker’s wife sewed tiny outfits for them. The next night, the elves found the clothes and danced with joy before disappearing forever.

Even though they never returned, the shoemaker and his wife continued to prosper, knowing that kindness brings unexpected blessings.

Moral: Helping others selflessly brings unexpected rewards.

3. The Brave Squirrel and the Storm

In a big green forest, lived a small but brave squirrel named Chikki. She loved climbing trees and collecting nuts. One day, the birds and animals heard that a terrible storm was coming. Everyone panicked, but Chikki stayed calm.

She quickly ran to the birds and helped them secure their nests. She told the rabbits to dig deeper burrows and advised the deer to move to a safer area. The storm arrived with strong winds and heavy rain, but because of Chikki’s efforts, no animal was harmed.

When the storm passed, the animals gathered around and thanked Chikki. “You are small, but you have the biggest heart!” they said.

Moral: Courage and kindness can make a big difference.

4. The Lost Deer and the Magic Stream

Bindu, a young deer, loved exploring the forest. One day, she wandered too far and got lost. The trees looked unfamiliar, and she felt scared. As she walked, she found a sparkling stream with clear water.

“Why are you sad, little one?” the stream asked.
“I can’t find my way home,” Bindu replied.

The stream whispered, “Close your eyes and listen to your heart. Trust yourself.”

Bindu took a deep breath, listened carefully, and remembered the path she had taken. Step by step, she found her way back to her family. She realized that believing in herself had helped her find the way.

Moral: Believe in yourself, and you will find the right path.

5. The Last Firefly’s Glow

In a quiet meadow, a group of fireflies loved lighting up the night. But one summer, their glow began to fade. Only one firefly, Lumo, still had his bright light.

The other fireflies felt sad. “Without our light, we are nothing,” they whispered.

Lumo said, “Let me share my glow with you.” He guided them through the night, helping them find food and shelter. Slowly, their glow returned. Together, they lit up the entire meadow again.

That night, Lumo realized that when you share your light, the whole world shines brighter.

Moral: Helping others shine makes everyone stronger.

6. The Frog Who Wanted Wings

Jumpo, the little frog, lived by a beautiful pond. He loved watching birds soar in the sky and wished he had wings too. Every day, he tried to jump higher, hoping he would fly.

One day, he saw a butterfly struggling in the water. Jumpo quickly used his strong legs to hop over and rescue it. The butterfly fluttered its wings and said, “You may not fly like me, but your jumps make you special!”

Jumpo smiled, realizing that he was unique in his own way. From that day, he no longer wished for wings but instead enjoyed being the best jumper in the pond.

Moral: Appreciate your own strengths instead of wishing for what others have.

Short Funny Stories for Kids in English

1. The Fox and the Crow (Aesop’s Fable)

One day, a crow found a delicious piece of cheese and perched on a tree to enjoy it. A hungry fox saw this and thought, That cheese must be mine!

“Oh, beautiful Crow,” the fox said, “your feathers are so shiny! I bet your voice is just as sweet. Won’t you sing for me?”

The flattered crow opened her beak to sing—and the cheese fell straight into the fox’s mouth!

The crow sat there, beak open in shock, while the fox happily ran away with his cheesy snack.

Moral: Beware of flattery; it may cost you something valuable.

2. The Golden Goose

A poor farmer found a goose that laid a golden egg every day. Delighted, he sold the eggs and became rich. But soon, greed took over.

"If one golden egg a day makes me rich, imagine how rich I’d be if I took all the gold at once!" he thought.

So, he cut open the goose—only to find nothing inside! No gold, no more eggs, just a very bad decision. He sighed, realizing that his greed had left him with nothing but a regular, very annoyed-looking goose.

Moral: Greed can lead to losing everything.

3. The Clever Boy Story

A king announced, “Whoever answers my riddle will get a bag of gold.” Many people tried but failed.

Then, a little boy stepped forward. The king asked, "What can you hold in your left hand but never in your right?"

The boy smiled and said, "Your right hand!"

The king burst into laughter. "That’s correct! Here’s your gold!"

As the boy walked away, he whispered, “Now I just need to figure out how to carry all this with my tiny hands.”

Moral: Quick thinking can lead to great rewards.

4. The Cake That Never Stopped Growing

Mia loved baking, but she always forgot something. One day, she added too much yeast to her cake batter.

As the cake baked, it started growing… and growing… AND GROWING!

It burst out of the oven, pushed the kitchen door open, and rolled into the street! People ran in surprise as Mia chased after her never-ending cake.

Finally, she tripped over a rolling cherry and landed with a THUD! The cake stopped growing, and the entire town had the biggest cake party ever.

Moral: Mistakes can sometimes lead to sweet surprises!

5. The Day the Sun Overslept

One morning, the Sun forgot to wake up. The sky stayed dark, and everyone was confused. The birds refused to sing, the school bell didn’t ring, and breakfast tasted weird without sunlight.

The Moon yawned, poked the Sun, and said, “Wake up, sleepyhead!”

The Sun groaned, “Five more minutes…”

But the world couldn't wait! Finally, the Moon tickled the Sun, making it burst into laughter—and the golden rays spread across the sky.

“Next time, set an alarm!” the Moon joked.

Moral: Even the brightest ones need a little help waking up!

6. The Silly Ghost and the Talking Mirror

A little ghost named Boo wanted to scare someone. He crept into an old house and found a big mirror.

"BOOOO!" he screamed at his reflection.

"BOOOO!" the reflection screamed back.

Boo jumped back. “Hey! Stop copying me!”

"Hey! Stop copying me!" the reflection repeated.

Frustrated, Boo said, “You're the worst ghost ever!”

“You’re the worst ghost ever!”

Boo ran away screaming, never realizing he was talking to himself the whole time!

Moral: Sometimes, the things that scare us are just our own imagination.

10 Lines Short Stories with Moral 

1. The Broken Kite

Ravi loved flying his bright red kite. Every evening, he ran to the open fields, letting it dance in the sky. One windy afternoon, a strong gust snapped the string, and his beloved kite flew away. He searched everywhere but couldn’t find it. Disheartened, he sat under a tree, staring at the empty sky.

Instead of giving up, he decided to make a new kite. This time, he used a stronger string and built it with even more care. When he flew it the next day, it soared higher than ever. A week later, he found his old kite stuck in a tree, torn and useless. He smiled, realizing that sometimes, losing something only leads to something better.

Moral: Failure is just a step toward success.

2. The Talking Candle

In a dark, abandoned house, a small candle sat on a dusty shelf. “I am too small to make a difference,” it sighed, watching the darkness consume the room. One night, a traveler entered the house, searching for light. He spotted the candle, lit it, and placed it on the table.

As the flame flickered to life, the once-dark room glowed warmly. The candle was amazed—suddenly, everything looked brighter. “Even the smallest light can chase away the deepest darkness,” it realized, burning proudly. The traveler smiled, grateful for the little candle’s glow.

Moral: Small efforts can make a big impact.

3. The Honest Painter

A famous painter was invited to the royal palace to paint the king’s portrait. The king had a deep scar on his cheek from a battle long ago. Wanting to please him, the painter created a flawless portrait, hiding the scar.

When the king saw the painting, he frowned. “This does not represent me. I earned this scar with courage. Paint me as I am.”

The painter, understanding his mistake, made a new portrait, showing the king’s scar with pride. The king smiled at the honesty in the artwork and rewarded the painter. From then on, the painter never altered the truth in his work.

Moral: Honesty is always respected.

4. The Elephant’s Shadow

On a scorching summer afternoon, a tired elephant found a shady tree and rested beneath it. A thirsty rabbit hopped over and asked, “May I rest in the shade too?”

The elephant laughed. “I am big; this shade is mine alone.”

Just then, dark clouds gathered, and the sky rumbled. A heavy storm broke out, and the elephant was drenched. He tried to find shelter but had nowhere to go. The rabbit, now safe in a burrow, called out, “Even shadows should be shared, my friend.”

The elephant realized his mistake and promised to be kinder to others.

Moral: Kindness always comes back to you.

5. The Magic Jar

A poor farmer found an old clay jar in his field. When he picked it up, he accidentally dropped a single grain of rice inside. To his surprise, the jar filled up with rice! Excited, he placed a gold coin inside, and the jar doubled it. Day by day, he used the jar wisely and became wealthy.

His greedy neighbor, seeing his success, thought, If I jump inside, I’ll become two of me! He leaped into the jar, but instead of doubling, he disappeared forever!

The farmer sighed, “Greed is never the answer.” He locked the jar away, using his wealth wisely for the rest of his life.

Moral: Greed leads to foolish mistakes.

Short Ghost Stories for Kids in English

1. The Ghost in the Attic

In an old house, a curious ghost lived quietly in the attic. Every night, it would softly hum lullabies that echoed through the halls. One evening, young Mia heard the gentle tune and climbed up to see who was there. Instead of fear, she felt calm as the ghost waved hello with a friendly smile. They spent the night talking about the old days of the house and sharing funny stories. The ghost showed Mia hidden treasures and secret rooms. When morning came, Mia promised to visit again, knowing the ghost was kind and gentle. The house, once spooky, became a place of warm memories and friendship.

Moral: Sometimes, things that seem scary can turn out to be friendly and kind.

2. The Vanishing Footsteps

Every night, Timmy heard soft footsteps in his hallway, only to find no one there. At first, he was frightened, thinking it was a ghost. One night, he followed the sound and discovered that the footsteps vanished near a dusty, old mirror. In the reflection, he saw a small, playful ghost giggling. The ghost danced across the floor and then disappeared with a twinkle. Timmy realized the ghost was not harmful but simply loved playing hide and seek. From that night on, he greeted the ghost with a smile instead of fear.

Moral: Sometimes, what seems mysterious may be a friendly surprise.

3. The Friendly Shadow

In a quiet town, a little ghost named Shadow loved to mimic the movements of children at play. One rainy afternoon, Emma noticed her shadow acting on its own near the playground. It danced and twirled, as if inviting her to join in a fun game. Emma laughed and played along with the ghostly shadow. Soon, other children joined, and the park filled with joyful giggles. The mysterious shadow turned out to be a kind spirit looking for friends. Every day thereafter, Emma and her friends looked forward to playing with the friendly shadow.

Moral: Friendship can be found in the most unexpected places.

4. The Laughing Ghost

Late one evening, the residents of Maple Street heard a strange, contagious laughter echoing down the lane. Curious, they followed the sound to an old, abandoned barn. Inside, they discovered a cheerful ghost laughing heartily at a silly joke. The ghost loved making others smile and giggle by sharing funny stories from the past. Children gathered around, enjoying his humorous antics, and even the adults couldn’t help but laugh. The ghost’s laughter soon became a welcome sound in the neighborhood.

Moral: Joy and laughter can brighten even the spookiest places.

5. The Invisible Trickster

In a small village, children whispered about an invisible ghost who loved playing tricks. Every day, toys would mysteriously change places and funny notes would appear on doors. At first, the children were startled, but soon they discovered the tricks were harmless and playful. One brave child, Sam, left a thank-you note for the invisible trickster, inviting it to join their games. From then on, the ghost’s tricks became a part of their daily fun, making everyone laugh and enjoy the surprises.

Moral: A little mischief can lead to unexpected fun and friendship.

6. The Spooky Train Ride

On a chilly autumn night, a group of friends boarded an old train rumored to be haunted. As the train chugged along, they noticed soft giggles and gentle whispers in the empty compartments. Suddenly, a friendly ghost conductor appeared, guiding them with a warm smile. He told them amusing stories about the train’s past adventures and introduced them to other playful spirits. The friends enjoyed a magical ride filled with laughter and wonder instead of fear. When the train arrived at its station, they waved goodbye to their ghostly friends.

Moral: Embrace the unexpected, for sometimes, it brings delightful adventures.

Popular English Story Books for Kids

Reading plays a crucial role in a child’s development, enhancing their imagination, language skills, and emotional understanding. Here are ten must-read English storybooks that kids will love:

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle
   A classic picture book that introduces young readers to numbers, days of the week, and the life cycle of a butterfly through colorful illustrations.

2. Goodnight Moon – Margaret Wise Brown
   A soothing bedtime story with rhythmic text and gentle illustrations, perfect for helping little ones wind down.

3. The Gruffalo – Julia Donaldson
   A delightful rhyming story about a clever mouse who outsmarts his predators by inventing a terrifying creature—the Gruffalo.

4. The Cat in the Hat – Dr. Seuss
   A fun and engaging story about a mischievous cat who brings excitement to a rainy day, teaching kids about rhyme and rhythm.

5. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
   A magical tale of adventure, imagination, and life lessons set inside a mysterious chocolate factory.

6. Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White
   A heartwarming story of friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a wise spider, Charlotte, who tries to save him from being slaughtered.

7. Matilda – Roald Dahl
   A story of a brilliant young girl with telekinetic powers who overcomes adversity with courage, intelligence, and kindness.

8. The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
   A timeless novel about a lonely girl who discovers a hidden garden, leading to a journey of healing and friendship.

9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – J.K. Rowling
   The first book in the Harry Potter series introduces young readers to a world of magic, adventure, and friendship at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

10. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief – Rick Riordan
    A thrilling adventure blending Greek mythology with modern-day storytelling, following a young boy who discovers he is the son of Poseidon.

Stories shape the way children see the world, helping them understand emotions, kindness, bravery, and creativity. Whether it’s a funny tale that brings laughter, a ghost story that sparks curiosity, or a moral story that teaches an important lesson, each story leaves a lasting impression. We hope this collection brings joy, inspiration, and meaningful moments to young readers. Keep reading, keep imagining, and let the world of stories continue to spark wonder in little hearts!