Stories for 5+ years old

These stories should be understandable for five 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.

The Three Coins

The Three Coins

10
 min
5
+
4.74

A folk tale about wisdom and modesty from Pavol Dobšinský’s collection. The king meets a simple farmer who has been working hard every day for many years, and only gets paid three coins at the end of the day. When he explains how he can manage with so little money, the king is more than surprised.

The Lion and the Hare

The Lion and the Hare

8
 min
5
+
4.56

If someone is stronger, it does not mean they can blame others unjustly. The lion accused the turtle of sniffing off all the aroma from the meat he had roasted. This is why it wasn’t tasty. He even went so far as to ask the sultan to recognise the crime and punish the turtle. Fortunately, the cunning hare helps her out in the end.

The Rooster, the Cat, and the Club

The Rooster, the Cat, and the Club

11
 min
5
+
4.76

Patience pays off, and waiting for the right opportunity will bring results in the end. This is a story about three brothers who get a really modest inheritance from their father: a cat, a rooster, and a club. However, thanks to being smart, all three manage to make their fortunes using only the seemingly ordinary and almost useless things.

The Three-Blossomed Rose

The Three-Blossomed Rose

17
 min
5
+
4.86

The story, adapted from Pavol Dobšinský’s collection, tells us that love is not about beauty but about being kind and human.

The Mouse Bride

The Mouse Bride

16
 min
5
+
4.84

A story in which everything turns for the better thanks to the patience and faith of the main character. When the king decides to hand over the kingdom to one of his three sons, he sends them to find skillful brides. However, the youngest son marries a little gray mouse, so he worries about how she will handle his father's tasks, which he has prepared for the brides-to-be.

The Oak and the Fern

The Oak and the Fern

6
 min
5
+
4.73

Sometimes it’s better to back off than to resist at all costs. A strong and beautiful oak couldn’t imagine anything that could beat it. This was what it liked to boast about to all the other trees and grasses. But when a storm comes, it learns that sometimes it’s better and wiser to retreat.

The Glass Hill

The Glass Hill

13
 min
5
+
4.8

A story which shows us that greed and longing for wealth do not lead to a happy life. A Slovak folk tale about two different brothers. The elder is evil and greedy. He has money in abundance, but he will not help out the younger, poorer brother, who is brave and good, even in the most difficult moments.

The Swan and the Crow

The Swan and the Crow

5
 min
5
+
4.67

If we want to be happy, it is important to accept who we are. The crow greatly admires the majestic swans swimming on the lake. One day she decides that she too would like to become a beautiful swan. But she almost loses her life by trying to imitate the swans.

The Story of Wood

The Story of Wood

4
 min
5
+
4.26

Laziness never pays off. A legend tells us that a long time ago, people didn’t have to drag the wood from the mountains. It just simply came by itself to the right place. But one day a woman wanted to make her way home easier, and got onto the wood so that it carried her. However, it didn’t move. From that time on, people have had to work hard to take wood home from the mountains.

The Singing Flute

The Singing Flute

9
 min
5
+
4.34

Modesty and kindness can help us achieve a lot. Three brothers set out to search for a healing flower for their father. Only the youngest one has any success, but when he meets his brothers on his way, he realises that together they will stop at nothing to get the flower.

An Egg Goes on a Trip

An Egg Goes on a Trip

10
 min
5
+
4.52

Together you can do much more. This traditional folk tale tells us of an egg’s adventure. On its way, the egg finds animal friends and together they defeat scary bandits.

The Mouse and the Bull

The Mouse and the Bull

5
 min
5
+
4.5

Size and strength don’t decide everything. One small cheeky mouse bites the big bull right in the nose and causes him immense pain. The furious bull wants revenge on her immediately. But despite his huge strength, he doesn’t manage to harm the little mouse.

Wise Matthew and the Fools

Wise Matthew and the Fools

11
 min
5
+
4.43

A witty tale based on a work by Pavol Dobšinský about human foolishness. One day, wise young Matthew sets out in search of a bride. But as he wanders across the world, he chances upon only mad and foolish people. With his wisdom, he will eventually find his bride, but also a good deal of money.

The Magic Mill

The Magic Mill

13
 min
5
+
4.62

Greed never pays off. There were two brothers. One was rich, but also evil and greedy. Although the second was kind-hearted, he was as poor as a rat. However, one day he gets lucky. But the greedy brother can’t stand it.

The Golden Craft

The Golden Craft

8
 min
5
+
4.82

An old folk tale, the lessons of which are valid to this day. While the royal family is sailing, a strong wind rises and their ship sails far away to an unknown land. There no one knows who they are. To survive, they have to learn how to herd sheep. The king quickly realises: if he had mastered a craft, they wouldn’t have ended up this way.

The Horned Servant

The Horned Servant

13
 min
5
+
4.67

A story from a collection of fairy tales compiled by the famous storyteller Pavol Dobšinský. This is a story about a devil who steals the last piece of bread from a woodcutter. When Lucifer finds it out, he punishes the devil, making him serve the woodcutter the whole year.

John’s Fable

John’s Fable

5
 min
5
+
4.4

This is a story from a collection of Slovak folk tales. The resourceful servant John wins a chest of coins from his master. His master, being bored, had offered it to anyone who could make up a story so unbelievable that they wouldn’t even believe themselves as they spoke. Everyone who tried had left without success. John, his servant, is the last one to give it a try.

A Long Name

A Long Name

8
 min
5
+
4.52

Simpler solutions can be much more effective. An old Chinese superstition says that the longer a name, the longer lived and happier a person will be.

Questions about

Stories for 5+ years old

What types of stories are suitable for 5-year-olds?

For 5-year-olds, Readmio offers stories that are engaging, imaginative, and appropriate for their developmental stage. Suitable stories include tales of exciting journeys and discoveries that spark curiosity and imagination, but also stories featuring animals. Kids at this age tend to like stories that highlight the importance of making friends, working and playing together.

What are some signs that my child is ready for more complex stories?

Recognizing when your child is ready for more complex stories involves observing their developmental milestones and interests. Usually your child can already listen to and engage  with longer stories or follow a narrative without losing interest. If your child is using a more advanced vocabulary and can understand and use new words, they might be prepared for stories that introduce new and more challenging language. Once your child shows interest in a wider range of topics or asks questions about various subjects, they may benefit from stories that explore new and more sophisticated concepts. At Readmio, you can find a variety of stories that cater to different levels of complexity. If you notice these signs, exploring stories from Category for 5-year olds.

What themes are commonly explored in stories for 5-year-olds on Readmio?

On Readmio, stories for 5-year-olds commonly explore themes such as:

  • Friendship and Kindness: Stories that focus on building relationships, being considerate, and helping others.
  • Imagination and Creativity: Tales that encourage imaginative play and creative thinking.
  • Problem-Solving and Resilience: Stories that present simple challenges and how characters overcome them with determination and cleverness.

How long are usually the stories in this category?

Stories for 5-year-olds on Readmio are typically around 10 to 15 minutes long. This duration is ideal for maintaining the attention span of young children, providing enough time for a complete narrative without being overwhelming. The length allows for engaging stories that fit well into bedtime routines or short reading sessions throughout the day.

Mio tip: install the Readmio