Curated from publishers and educational organizations
As a reading specialist, I am frequently asked by parents and teachers for free online books and read-alouds that children can access immediately—especially when visiting the library isn’t possible or practical.
This page brings together a curated collection of free online books and read-aloud resources that are available directly from publishers, educational organizations, and literacy nonprofits. These resources allow children to listen to stories, read independently, or follow along with text at home or in the classroom.
Families and educators use these resources to:
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Support reading at home without purchasing books
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Provide access to stories during remote or hybrid learning
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Build listening comprehension through read-alouds
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Offer independent reading practice across a range of levels
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Supplement classroom instruction with trusted, kid-friendly content
About This Curated Collection
All links on this page lead to freely available online books or narrated read-alouds. Some resources organize books by
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Grade level or age
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Guided Reading or Lexile level
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Topic or genre
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Language (including multilingual options)
Here is a conversion chart:
Not all books are leveled. If a child is learning to read, decodable texts are recommended instead. This page is best suited for listening comprehension, shared reading, and independent reading practice.
This is a curated list, not a paid or sponsored recommendation.
Help Keep This Page Accurate
Online resources occasionally move or change.
If you notice a broken or outdated link, please email me so I can update the page:
Suggestions for additional free online books or read-aloud resources are also welcome. Thank you for helping keep this collection useful and current for families and educators.
Table of Contents
Online Books for Kids to Read:
Multilingual & Inclusive Digital Libraries
StoryWeaver
StoryWeaver offers a large collection of free online books in multiple languages, making it especially useful for multilingual learners and English learners. Users can filter books based on emergent reader levels, difficulty, and language, and numerous titles feature illustrations that enhance comprehension. People widely use this site for shared reading, independent reading, and home literacy access.
Unite for Literacy
Unite provides short, high-interest digital books with narration in multiple home languages. Books use simple text paired with strong visuals, making them accessible for young readers and English learners. New titles and languages are added regularly, supporting early literacy and language development.
Leveled & Guided Reading Book Libraries
Loving to Read
Loving to Read offers free leveled books organized by Guided Reading levels (A–K). These texts are commonly used for early reading practice, small-group instruction, and independent reading. The clear leveling system makes it easy for parents and teachers to select appropriate books.
Oxford Owl
Oxford Owl provides free online books categorized by age group, with many titles designed for young and developing readers. A free account is required. This UK-based site is popular for home reading practice and supports a gradual progression in reading difficulty.
Wilbooks
Wilbooks offers free online books leveled by Guided Reading levels A–M. Once a book is selected, readers can enlarge the text for easier viewing. These books are frequently used for fluency practice, rereading, and supplemental reading instruction.
Reading IQ
Reading IQ organizes books by Guided Reading levels (A–Z) and Lexile levels, making it useful for targeted reading practice. A free teacher or parent account is required. Many books include read-aloud options, allowing students to listen first and then reread independently to build fluency and accuracy.
Leveled Reading Passages
These curated passages support readers at varying skill levels, helping educators, families, and students find “just-right” reading materials. Passages are leveled to provide the right challenge, build confidence, and foster comprehension.
Comprehension & Curriculum-Aligned Reading Passages
ReadWorks
ReadWorks provides free fiction and nonfiction passages designed to improve reading comprehension. Texts are organized by grade level and include Lexile levels, along with instructional supports and question sets. This site is widely used in classrooms and for home learning.
Reading Street (Online Stories)
Reading Street online stories offer challenging first-grade and early elementary texts aligned to a structured reading program. These passages are best suited for stronger readers or teacher-guided instruction and can be useful for comprehension and vocabulary development.
Read-Aloud & Listening-Comprehension Resources
Lit2Go
Lit2Go offers free stories and passages with optional audio narration. Readability levels are based on Flesch-Kincaid grade levels, which roughly correspond to U.S. grade levels. This site is useful for listening comprehension, fluency modeling, and exposure to classic texts across genres.
Storynory
Storynory provides free audio stories read aloud, including fairy tales, myths, and original stories. Books are not leveled, making this site best suited for listening comprehension, enjoyment, and vocabulary exposure rather than independent decoding practice.
MagicBlox!
MagicBlox! offers a wide range of free online books by age level, including digital access to Highlights magazine issues. Families seeking engaging, screen-based reading options often utilize the site, which supports both independent reading and read-along experiences.
Read-Alouds for Kids (Curated Resources)
Online read-alouds are a powerful way to build listening comprehension, vocabulary, and background knowledge. As a reading specialist, I often recommend that families and teachers turn on closed captioning or have children follow along in their own copy of the book.
This allows students to connect spoken language to print, reinforcing word recognition, phrasing, and comprehension.
The following sites offer free online read-alouds that are commonly used at home and in classrooms.
Storytime with Ryan and Craig
Storytime with Ryan and Craig features engaging video read-alouds of popular children’s books. Titles can be searched by author or book name, making it easy to pair the read-aloud with a physical or library copy of the text. Closed captioning can be enabled to support print awareness and comprehension.
American Literature – Short Stories for Children
This site offers classic short stories that are typically read aloud by adults to children. These selections are especially effective for developing listening comprehension, vocabulary, and story structure awareness, even when the text itself is above a child’s independent reading level.
Brightly Storytime
Brightly Storytime provides recorded read-alouds organized by age group. Families are encouraged to borrow the book from the library or use a home copy and follow along during the narration. This supports shared reading and helps children learn what fluent reading sounds like.
Day by Day, New York
Day by Day, New York offers a daily calendar of read-alouds, often tied to seasonal themes or special dates. This site is ideal for building daily reading routines and exposing children to a wide variety of texts throughout the year.
Storyline Online
Storyline Online features children’s books read aloud by actors and actresses, bringing expressive and fluent reading to life. Closed captioning can be enabled, and the site works well for whole-class listening, family read-aloud time, or enrichment activities.
Just Books Read Aloud
Just Books Read Aloud allows users to search by level, title, author, length, or language, including options beyond English. This makes it a flexible resource for families and educators looking to match read-alouds to a child’s interests or language needs.
Reading is Fundamental Literacy Central
Choose a grade level and book, then watch and listen as it’s read aloud. I always recommend following along in your own text.
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This page was last updated on January 2, 2026.