Learn English with StoriesClassics Retold Stories
Classic literature retold in simple English. Experience famous stories from world literature adapted for language learners. These retellings preserve the essence of great works while using accessible vocabulary. A cultural education combined with language learning.
10 stories available
Peter Pan
Wendy, John, and Michael are visited by Peter Pan, a magical boy who can fly. He takes them to Neverland, an island where children never grow up. There they meet the Lost Boys and have adventures. When the evil Captain Hook captures them, Peter saves them in an exciting sword fight. Eventually, Wendy misses her parents and Peter flies the children back home. He promises to return every spring to hear Wendy's stories.
Pinocchio
Geppetto, a lonely woodcarver, creates a puppet named Pinocchio who is brought to life by a blue fairy. She tells him he can become a real boy if he is brave, honest, and kind. Instead of going to school, Pinocchio follows two tricksters to the Land of Toys, where children turn into donkeys. He escapes but is swallowed by a whale, where he finds Geppetto. After rescuing his father and caring for him selflessly, Pinocchio transforms into a real boy.
The Wizard of Oz
Dorothy and her dog Toto are swept away from Kansas by a tornado to the magical Land of Oz. To find her way home, she must follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City and meet the great Wizard. Along the way, she befriends a Scarecrow who wants a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who wants courage. Together they face the Wicked Witch of the West, only to discover that Oz is just an ordinary man and that they already possessed what they were seeking all along.
Robin Hood
Robin Hood is a legendary outlaw who lives in Sherwood Forest with his Merry Men. After the cruel Sheriff of Nottingham takes his lands, Robin steals from the rich and gives to the poor. He wins an archery contest in disguise, rescues his love Maid Marian from the castle, and is eventually pardoned by King Richard. Robin becomes a hero whose legend lives on.
The Jungle Book
Mowgli, a human baby, is found by wolves in the Indian jungle and raised as one of their own. Despite the tiger Shere Khan's desire for revenge, Mowgli grows up with his wolf family, guided by the wise bear Baloo and the protective panther Bagheera. When Shere Khan threatens to attack, Mowgli uses fire to defeat the tiger and prove himself a true member of the jungle family. As he grows older, Mowgli realizes he belongs to both the human and animal worlds.
Aladdin
Aladdin, a poor young man from Arabia, is tricked by an evil sorcerer into retrieving a magic lamp from a hidden cave. Trapped underground, Aladdin discovers the lamp contains a powerful genie who grants wishes. Using the genie's magic, Aladdin transforms into a wealthy prince and wins the heart of Princess Jasmine. When the sorcerer returns to steal the lamp, Aladdin and Jasmine work together to defeat him and live happily ever after.
Alice in Wonderland
Alice follows a White Rabbit down a rabbit hole into a magical underground world called Wonderland. She meets extraordinary characters including the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and the tyrannical Queen of Hearts. After many strange adventures with shrinking potions and growing cakes, Alice wakes up to discover it was all a dream.
A Sherlock Holmes Adventure
On a cold winter evening, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson receive a visit from Miss Emily Parker, whose wealthy father has mysteriously disappeared. Holmes examines the evidence, including muddy footprints and a torn piece of expensive cloth. His investigation leads him to suspect not only James Blackwood, a former business partner, but also Emily's own brother George. In a dramatic confrontation at Baker Street, Holmes reveals that George and Blackwood conspired together to kidnap Mr. Parker for his fortune. The police arrest the criminals and Mr. Parker is rescued from an abandoned warehouse, grateful for Holmes's brilliant detective work.
Treasure Island
Young Jim Hawkins discovers a treasure map in a dead sailor's chest and embarks on a dangerous voyage aboard the Hispaniola. He uncovers a mutiny plot led by the charming but treacherous Long John Silver. After battles, escapes, and the discovery of the hidden treasure, Jim returns home a changed boy, forever marked by his adventure on Treasure Island.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Dr. Jekyll, a respected scientist, creates a potion that transforms him into the evil Mr. Hyde. As Hyde grows stronger and the potion's ingredients run out, Jekyll loses control and faces a tragic end, revealing the duality of human nature.