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Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of kids short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

150+ Kids Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest. Whether you plan to read them aloud or just indulge your own childlike imagination, look no further! The most magical tales live in this collection of free short stories for kids.

Kids Short Stories – Page 10 of 10

The Labyrinth

Submitted to Contest #279

I lost my heart. It didn’t vanish suddenly. If it had, it might have been easier to find- like my mind too, which I always rediscover in some drawer. But no, I lost it slowly and imperceptibly. All our hearts shine- green for hope, yellow for joy, and red for love. Long time ago, mine glowed neon red, covering my entire being. Some gazed with joy, and those with a hole where their heart should be, with envy. In fact, trying to fill other people’s voids, I lost my own heart. And it worked. In my presence, all hearts began to glow. Some people...

9 likes 4 comments 4
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A Soapy Nightmare

Submitted to Contest #279

Under a brilliant crescent moon, in a small suburban house nestled between two tall oak trees, a young puppy named Rocco stirred in his bed. Rocco was no ordinary puppy. Though barely six months old, his world was one of deep contemplation, rich imagination, and, most importantly, anxiety-ridden thoughts that often spiraled wildly out of control.Rocco, a caramel-furred ball of fluff with floppy ears and wide, expressive eyes, had recently overheard something dreadful.“Tomorrow’s bath day,” his human, a cheerful woman named Kate, had declared...

9 likes 1 comment 1
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Zoe the Zombie: Lost at the Amusement Park

Submitted to Contest #279

Zoe the Zombie loved the amusement park. The bright lights, the laughter, the smell of cotton candy—it was her favorite place to be. Today, Zoe was at the park with her family: her mom, dad, and her 7-year-old brother Zak. They were going to have the best day ever. Her parents had promised to let her go on all the fun rides, and Zoe couldn't wait. As they walked toward the first ride of the day, the big roller coaster, Zoe's arms flopped up and down as she skipped ahead, excited for the thrills and adventures of the day. She had always loved...

11 likes 2 comments 2
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Zoe the Zombie’s First Day of School

Submitted to Contest #279

Zoe the Zombie was five years old, and today was a big day—her very first day of kindergarten at Monster Elementary School. She was so excited she could hardly wait to meet all the other little monsters! But Zoe had a few worries, too. She was a zombie, after all, and wondered if the other monsters would like her. As Zoe walked to school, she felt something fall off. Oh no! It was her arm again! Zoe quickly bent down to pick it up and put it back on. She smiled nervously. I hope today goes well, even if my arms keep falling off! When Zoe arr...

19 likes 11 comments 11
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Grown-Up Problems

M P

Submitted to Contest #278

The sun was almost fully hidden behind the hills on the west side of the house. What a busy day! One of many yet to come. Jessy was trying to figure out how to manage a groceries run in the nearest future as they were running out of the basic things like bread and milk. At 15 years of age she prided herself in the fact that her mother could delegate such important tasks to her. Like right now for instance - leaving Jessy caring for her younger sister and grandma in their old grandmother’s house while she was away on one of her work trips. He...

7 likes 0 comments 0
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I Made it All Better

Submitted to Contest #278

Inside, I am squealing right now, but I gotta play it cool on the outside so taking a deep breath I survey my work. On my right, I have my mom, her younger brother, and my older brother Juno, attempting to build a human pyramid. The only trick is, my 100lb brother can’t be on the top. They’ve tried having Mom and Juno on the bottom, my uncle and Juno, and now I think they’re trying to perform a reverse pyramid. Points for creativity I guess. On my left, my grandfather, my 6-year-old female cousin Layla, my dad’s older sister, and my als...

7 likes 1 comment 1
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No apologies

Submitted to Contest #278

I walk into the bathroom to an assault on my sense of smell. I don’t need to see it to know but sure enough, the turd is there, floating in the water. I hate the smell of other people’s shit. It’s all bad, sure, but I know the nuances of mine: somehow sharp, cutting. This has a nauseating dullness to it.  “Mabel!” I call to my youngest. “Dear, you forgot to flush the toilet. Can you please come here and do it?” “It wasn’t me.” I hear her high-pitched voice behind me before I even have a chance to turn. Was she following me around again?...

11 likes 1 comment 1
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Goldilocks and the Wolf

Submitted to Contest #277

The wolf liked chasing this particular boy. He helped the three little pigs, didn’t he? He helped them rebuild that house of straw and that house of sticks every single time. Otherwise, the wolf might have had more chance of piglet for lunch—or maybe several lunches if it was the really plump juicy pig—long before now.Close enough that he knew the boy could smell his hot breath, he enjoyed inhaling the tempting aroma of fear as he chased, even if experience told him that he wasn’t likely to be able to bite that ankle or that leg or anyt...

7 likes 1 comment 1
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A wicked deed

Submitted to Contest #277

Lydia stood apart from the other acolytes, as usual, during Morning Prayer. That day, she had tied her dress with a belt to give it a more delicate appearance, which earned her occasional disapproving glances from Elvera, though the abbess said nothing. Instead, the mother superior continued recounting yet another legend about Solara, the Goddess of Life and patron of all servants of the Monastery of Saint Heliopolis. But Lydia only half-listened, already knowing these stories by heart.Despite the Harvest Season coming to an end, the weather...

8 likes 2 comments 2
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The big bad wolf

Submitted to Contest #277

It is the end of November and the darkest time of the year in the Northern part of Sweden. The snow has fallen, and the trees are dressed in their white coats for the long winter. People are getting ready to celebrate Christmas and the village is alight with a pageant of pretty lights. There is a scent of gingerbread and mulled wine in the air, where people gather at the market to buy those little trinkets that end up as a gift under the tree. Towns people have been busy handcrafting wooden toys, knitting jumpers and hats, making candles and...

8 likes 1 comment 1
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The Sparrow's Friend

Submitted to Contest #277

"Come, Gather around all my friends." Called out the little brown and gray bird. "Listen to my tale of woe in honor of my lost friend." All sorts of birds flocked to where the sparrow sat on the bird bath. Robins with their bright red breasts stopped pulling up worms from the ground. Blue and gray jays perched on the high wires above the bird bath. Brown and red cardinals strolled through the crowd of birds pecking at the grass. A noisy woodpecker paused its grub-hunting tapping. Chickadees behind their masks joined with all the other flock...

9 likes 3 comments 3
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Letter of resignation

Submitted to Contest #277

A Letter of ResignationTo His Royal Highness, King Cole. Let me begin my correspondence by congratulating you on the recent marriage of your son, Prince Charming, to the very amiable Princess Cinderella; I am so very glad that the assistance of every officer in our council in the inspection of the feet of every young woman in the council, proved to in the end be worthwhile. With no one to enforce the law, the crime rate for that day was perhaps the highest recorded in the last five years, but all that is no matter, as long as the young coup...

16 likes 9 comments 9
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Tears For A Lost Love

Submitted to Contest #277

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, right at the tippy top of the Misty Mountains, there lived a big bad ogre in a castle guarded by gargoyles and topped off with turrets, towers and all that scary stuff that ogres usually have on their castles. ’Orrible Oswald, as he was known, was so-named as he happened to be a most ’orrible ogre who was just about as ’orrible as ’orrible could be. In fact, he was so ’orrible that none of the other ogres would have anything at all to do with him and he had to live alone. Well, not completely a...

58 likes 57 comments 57
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Haunted backpack

Submitted to Contest #276

In a small, secluded school on the edge of a misty village, a young boy named Michael was known for carrying around an old, battered backpack that seemed to be held together by hope and a few frayed threads. Inherited from his older brother, the backpack had seen far better days. The zipper dangled uselessly, one pocket was permanently jammed, and the fabric bore signs of countless journeys—yet Michael brought it with him every day, tucking his precious few books and crumpled notes inside as best he could. His family couldn’t afford a new on...

6 likes 1 comment 1
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The Witches Next Door

Submitted to Contest #275

“Okay, when I say ‘go,’ I need both of you to follow me!” Betta hissed, her black tail swishing suspiciously as she sat on the window ledge of the screened porch.  “Where are we going?” Frankie asked, wide, slightly crossed blue eyes staring up at Betta. “We can’t go anywhere besides the porch. Mommy has to open the door first,” Winston growled without lifting his head.  “Winston, for the last time, she’s not your mommy. She’s your owner. You're a bulldog, she’s a human. And we can go somewhere. Look. I made a hole in this corner. ...

5 likes 2 comments 2
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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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