55 Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers
June 30, 2024
Whether you’re looking for read-aloud material for your elementary school students or literary discussion topics for middle schoolers, short stories offer excellent learning opportunities for your students. Below, you can find 55 short stories for kids and middle schoolers. Though some of these stories (especially the fairytales and folktales for kids) may seem simple at first glance, they offer valuable lessons and provide cultural reference points. It’s important to note that some of the stories (especially those for teens) include potentially disturbing or frightening content, so be sure to read them to before assigning them to your students.
If you are looking for short stories for older students, check out our 60 Best Short Stories for High School Students.
Best Short Stories for Kids
1) “Cinderella” by Charles Perrault
Let’s start with one of the most famous fairy tales out there, which speaks to kindness and cautions against selfishness. Your students likely already know of Cinderella and her evil stepsisters, whether or not they’ve seen the classic Disney film.
2) “The Emperor’s New Clothes” by Hans Christian Anderson
This well-known story involves an emperor who is swindled into purchasing expensive clothes that are actually invisible. A number of powerful people become pressured into pretending that they can see these non-existent clothes. The story is perfect for teaching kids about peer pressure and the importance of following their instincts.
3) “Little Red Riding Hood” by Charles Perrault
The story of the girl who faces the Big Bad Wolf on her way to visit her grandmother is another timeless classic, which teaches children not to trust strangers.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
4) “The Three Little Pigs” by The Brothers Grimm
This story teaches young readers that hard work and patience (to build a brick house rather than a straw one) pay off in the end.
5) “The Velveteen Rabbit” by Margery Williams
A favorite story for kids since its publishing in 1922, “The Velveteen Rabbit” chronicles a stuffed rabbit with the desire to become real. The moral of the story is that it takes time to find one’s identity and to achieve a sense of self-worth.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
6) “The Gingerbread Man” by Jim Aylesworth
Many children are familiar with this fantastic chase story, in which a gingerbread man is chased by a number of characters. While the story doesn’t have the happiest of endings, kids can discuss how the gingerbread man could have escaped had he not been so trusting of the fox.
7) “The Elves and the Shoemaker” by The Brothers Grimm
This tale, about a poor shoemaker helped by elves, involves themes of hard work and gratefulness.
8) “Thumbelina” by Hans Christian Anderson:
Another story that speaks to kindness, Thumbelina is a heartwarming little tale in which Thumbelina finds true love by helping others.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
9) “Jack and the Beanstalk” by Joseph Jacobs
Have your students read the tale of a boy who climbs a giant stalk and comes across a town in the clouds? This story features the famous giant with the line, “fee-fi-fo-fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman,” which your students are sure to remember, and can repeat in a dramatic class reading.
10) “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” by The Brothers Grimm
A cautionary tale about those who refuse to stay true to their word, this story speaks to the importance of honesty and sticking to agreements.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
11) “The Little Mermaid” by Hans Christian Anderson
This story has been told with multiple different endings, though its original version does not exactly end with a “happily ever after.” That said, it can still be valuable to share with your young students, as it teaches about love and the risks of sacrificing one’s voice (literally and metaphorically).
12) “The Princess and the Pea” by Hans Christian Andersen
Once upon a time, there lived a princess who has such refined senses that even a tiny pea beneath her mattress would keep her awake at night. We recommend this as a humorous read for your young students.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
13) “The Snow Queen” by Hans Christian Andersen
This is one of Anderson’s longest tales, divided into seven shorter chapters (so it’s probably best to share with your students over a longer period of time). The story speaks to loyal friendship and good vs. evil.
14) “The Frog Prince” by The Brothers Grimm
“The Frog Prince” is a well-known reminder not to judge people by their appearances, since even a frog can turn into a handsome prince.
15) “Puss in Boots” by Charles Perrault
For another humorous read, share this tale of a cat who win’s a king’s trust by following the proper dress code.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
16) “Rumpelstiltskin” by The Brothers Grimm
A story about a young woman tasked with the impossible job of spinning straw into gold, “Rumpelstiltskin” comes with cautionary lessons about greed and abuse of power.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
17) “Rapunzel” by The Brothers Grimm
A story about a long-haired girl who escapes from a tower of captivity, teaches young readers about finding autonomy.
18) “The Ugly Duckling” by Hans Christian Andersen
This is an excellent tale for teaching children to be proud of who they are, and to avoid judging others based on appearances.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
19) “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” by Aesop
Perhaps the most famous of Aesop’s fables, this story teaches the importance of telling the truth, since people tend to lose trust in those who frequently lie.
20) “The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats” by The Brothers Grimm
This cautionary tale teaches kids about the consequences of trusting dishonest characters.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
21) “The Apple Dumpling” by Anonymous
In this charming story, a lady named Alice sets out to trade her plums for some apples in order to make herself an apple dumpling. While the task is more difficult than expected, she succeeds in the end, bringing joy to herself and others.
22) “Bruce and the Spider” by James Baldwin
The myth of Bruce, a king who finds inspiration from watching a spider build her web, is a timeless tale about not giving up when times get tough.
23) “The Elephant’s Child by Rudyard Kipling
This short story has the power to affirm the curiosity of your young readers, with the message that it’s okay to ask difficult questions.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
24) “Sleeping Beauty” by The Brothers Grimm
For another story about true love, have your students read this fairy tale about a princess who is cursed to sleep for one hundred years. Afterwards, you can ask them to imagine what they might find if they woke up from a long sleep in one hundred years.
25) “Paul Bunyan, An American Folk Tale” by William B. Laughead
Paul Bunyan is a well-known character in American folklore, and you can share his stories with your students to teach them about “tall tales,” in other words, stories about larger-than-life characters.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
26) “The Little Engine that Could” by Watty Piper
Your students may have heard the motto, “I think I can I think I can…” This short story is the source of this repeated phrase, and it comes from another American folktale, popularized when it was published in 1930. It teaches lessons of optimism and hard work.
27) “King Midas and the Golden Touch” by Anonymous
This Greek and Roman myth cautions children (and people of all ages) against greed.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
28) “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” by The Brothers Grimm
“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” Probably your students have heard this quote. Teach them about the dangers of envy by discussing this well-known tale.
Best Short Stories for Middle Schoolers
29) “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell
This story is perfect for more mature student readers, as its plotline can be disturbing. It can lead students to think about the tension between reason and instinct, as well as the impacts of war.
30) “The Landlady” by Roald Dahl
This short story teaches higher-level readers that appearances can be deceiving, since the true nature of the landlady gradually becomes revealed as she takes advantage of the youthful protagonist’s good nature.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
31) “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury
A dystopian science fiction story, “All Summer in a Day” teaches about the harms of bullying, as well as the consequences of living in a controlled environment removed from joy and connection.
32) “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
Jackson’s famous short story warns of the disturbing effects of conforming to a group mentality around outdated traditions.
Read our Summary & Analysis here.
33) “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe
In this work by Poe, the narrator addresses the reader directly to confess the murder of an old man. This literary structure can be interesting to discuss with your students, as well as the tale’s themes of madness and love vs. hate.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
34) “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry
A favorite for sharing with students around the holiday season, this story involves themes of love, value, and generosity.
35) “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs
Though the family in this story seems content, they face their downfall after wishing for more than they need. “The Monkey’s Paw” advises readers to be careful what they wish for.
36) “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury
Discuss themes of consumerism and technology as your high school students read this short story.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
37) “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin
This well-known story features the happy city of Omelas and the great cost of preserving its happiness. Sharing the piece with your students can lead to productive discussions about false images of beauty, painful rites of passage, and the risks of moral compromise.
38) “Araby” by James Joyce:
Speaking to infatuation and the desire for escape, this story speaks to many teenage readers.
39) “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan
Amy Tan’s short story speaks to the complexity of a mother-daughter relationship, another experience that many high school students can relate to. Themes explored include obedience, individuality, cultural identity, and assimilation.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
40) “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl
For a story with dark humor (and murder), share this Roald Dahl piece with your teenage students. “Lamb to the Slaughter” can be a jumping off point for discussions on morality, impulsiveness, and being surprised by one’s own strength.
41) “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber
This story, which goes from ordinary to extraordinary, features themes of escapism, masculinity, and authority.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
42) “A Sound of Thunder” by Ray Bradbury
If you could travel back in time, how would you change the future? Assign this story to your students in order to discuss the consequences of human action through this story set in 2055.
43) “Rules of the Game” by Amy Tan
This is another excellent Amy Tan piece, told through the game of chess. It’s perfect for sharing with your students as an example of extended metaphor.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
44) “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst
A heartbreaking story about brothers, “The Scarlet Ibis” is an excellent read that involves themes of pride, love, inevitable death, and the complexity of sibling relationships.
45) “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor
As a southern gothic short story, “A Good Man…” blends dark humor, religious symbolism, and manipulation, and it’s based on superficial religious attitudes prevalent in American southern society at the time.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
46) “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros
Discuss themes of power, social pressure, unfair treatment, and coming of age with your teenage students through this short story.
47) “The Test” by Theodore Thomas
By describing a dramatic car crash simulation, this short story contrasts perceptions vs. knowledge of reality.
48) “Lob’s Girl” by Joan Aiken
Do you know any dog-loving teenage readers? Share with them this story about an inseparable bond between a girl and a dog.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
49) “The Janitor in Space” by Amber Sparks
This creative short story grapples with themes of good and evil through the lens of a space station janitor with a criminal past. “The janitor knows that being good is not the same as being clean,” reads one of the lines.
50) “Ruthless” by William de Mille
In a tension-filled thriller, a man sets up a trap for a suspected thief at his summer home. Your teenage students will likely enjoy this revenge tale with unexpected twists and turns.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
51) “Standard Loneliness Package” by Charles Yu
Charles Yu writes this story from the perspective of someone who works at a call center to assume the pain of callers.
52) “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Stetson
This darkly psychological tale describes the deterioration of a woman’s mind due to a restrictive marriage. It’s a great one to share for discussions on patriarchal histories and outward appearances that do not necessarily reflect reality.
Read our Summary and Analysis here.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
53) “The Schoolmistress” by Anton Chekhov
Introduce your teenage readers to Chekhov with this short story about a ruminating schoolteacher in a Russian village.
54) “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allan Poe
Much like “The Tell-Tale Heart,” this story is told from the perspective of a narrator who experiences a complex tension between love and hate, ego and alter-ego.
Best Short Stories for Kids and Middle Schoolers (Continued)
55) “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
After a woman loses her husband, she feels a mixture of grief and possibility. Through this story, students can examine themes of individual freedom, the confines of marriage, and the passing of time.
Read our Summary and Analysis here.
Short Stories for Kids/Short Stories for Middle Schoolers – Final thoughts
We hope that from this list you found some short stories to share with your young and teenage students. For more teaching resources, check out the following articles:
