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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.

2390+ 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 3 of 160

The Starling and Reginald

Submitted to Contest #298

Reginald admired the oak tree’s orange leaves and then he bit into the bark. The beaver had been searching for a tree, so that he could make a lodge. His family had been killed by a fur trapper a few weeks ago, and Reginald was worried about not having a home for the upcoming winter. The oak tree rested on the grassy bank by the stream. In the summer, the grass was scattered with dandelions, which reminded Reginald of the stars. In the autumn, the oak tree turned orange, and it reminded Reginald of the sun. The beaver got to work cutting the...

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Not A Peep

Submitted to Contest #299

Mother had said “not another peep,” and she meant it. Avery scowled at Ava who still had his Nintendo Switch in her cootie-filled hands. If she insisted on playing with his toys without his permission, he would have to do the same. He marched over to the toy box and searched for her lilac-fairy Barbie to use in his re-enactment of a Berlin air assault. He got the idea from watching the History Channel last night with Dad. He quit rifling through the toy box when his right hand gripped tightly around some long rubbery legs. The Barbie...

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Saved by Whales - World Voyages of the Ship Destiny's Dreams

Submitted to Contest #298

The ocean closed over Estrella's head. Under the water large shapes heard the splash. Their voices sang long "OOOooos" and made rapid clicks.A 49 foot long whale glided under the waves. Her baby whale calf floated next to her. More whales gathered in the undersea world.Then water bubbled around the teen-age girl. Something nudged her back up into the air. Then she could breathe.The thing moved against her legs. It felt slippery. She was not alone."Was it alive?"“What could it be?”"Would it hurt her?"Estrella choked on sea water, with her hea...

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First Time for Everything

Submitted to Contest #298

First time for Everything by Amanda Stogsdill The woods are nearly silent. A soft light rain begins to fall. This isn't so bad, I smile. I'm gazing at two squirrels chasing one another up a tree. Examining a hollow log, I se ants crawling around inside. Fascinated, I squat on the soft ground and watch, enjoying the quiet. Glancing up, I realize I can't find the others. I yell for Jessica, Lannah, anyone, as loudly as I can; I hear only the sounds of the woods. Not wishing to become drenched, I start back along the path — or so I think. With ...

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Roses and Stars

Submitted to Contest #298

Day 62-No sign of Aurelia. I’m losing hope now. I don’t think she’s coming back. I wrapped her favourite shawl around my arm. Carefully, I traced my fingers around the intricately woven roses. If it had a scent of her, it would have been gone by now. Sometimes I can pick up a scent. Barely a trace on the wind. And for that one moment she’s here. And she’s smiling that beautiful smile of hers. I guess you never realise the importance of something until you’ve lost it.Day 63-Words tower over my head like monsters, and each one drowning me. ‘De...

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Silly and Lily

Submitted to Contest #298

Chapter one The sun slowly rises on the horizon above a lush forest. Colorful birds begin singing as they hop from tree to tree in search of food. One of them lands on a green leaf high above. It is Lily, the most beautiful leaf in all the forest. She stands tall and wide, glistening with dew left by the morning fog. The bird sticks its tongue into one of Lily’s veins and quenches its thirst. It then dives down, causing her to sway gracefully, a swaying that resembles the regal wave of a queen.The giggling sun peeks at Lily from behind a clo...

14 likes 4 comments 4
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Evergreen Something

Submitted to Contest #298

The mall is busiest on Thursdays. People bustle in and out in all different directions, creating a blur of color and shopping bags as they walk through. The entrances to various stores are blocked off and tourists rub their heads in confusion as to how they are expected to push through the madness.I smile gently at the frazzled expressions, grateful for the muscle memory I possess within my feet that know the precise short cuts to journey to Dillard’s retailer. The tiled floor clicks beneath my boots, and I sigh at the sound. The sound comes...

13 likes 4 comments 4
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What Time Is It?

Submitted to Contest #297

Because he wanted to dust quickly every morning, Hampton Cleves’ room furniture had only a black clock radio marring the tall dresser opposite his bed. Boy and man in the two decades Hampton lived with his mother in the house on Twill Lane; he wiped every surface each morning before marching downstairs to breakfast. It was the same meal over which he dawdled each day of his formative years. Hampton hated leaving the house, not fearing the world outside but preferring what he accomplished inside its rooms.As a teenager and in early manhood,...

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Brown Bondye

Submitted to Contest #297

Our story takes place over a single, three-minute period of time...I. The Watcher (Soul Veil’s Guard).In Lunvéra, shrine of shadowed waters,Where forest folds to mirrored gleam,And air hums low with ancient whispers,I stand, Brown Bondye, Soul Veil’s guard.Beyond these groves, thrones lie broken,Winds wail through a world undone,But here my watch holds, fierce and firm,As dawn cracks wide the sky’s embrace..Yet nearby lurks the Caged Ravager,A beast of brindle, storm and spite,Muscle thick, jaws drippin’ dread,My cursed foe from nights untol...

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The Good That Happens To Others

Submitted to Contest #298

Sam had always felt invisible. He wasn’t the smartest in class nor the most athletic. He wasn’t the life of the party, nor the quiet, mysterious type people admired. He was just… there. Every day, he walked the same route to school, passing by the same bakery where the old woman, Mrs. Reyes, struggled to carry flour sacks inside. He walked by and stopped to help, lifting the heavy bags over his shoulder as she patted his arms in thanks. “Such a kind boy,” she always said, her warm eyes crinkling with gratitude.At school, he was neither pop...

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The Wind Reader's Gifts - World Voyages of the Destiny's Dreams

Submitted to Contest #297

Anya spoke to the sea and sky. "Sister Dawn, I hear your whisper and I see you getting closer. Will you bring us wind today?""We have been here a long time in these hot days, with the ship' sails waiting for the wind. We are desperate."Anya was the Storyteller of the Blue Lantern, on the wooden sailing ship called Destiny's Dreams, voyaging over the seas in the 1800s.She was born deep in the wilderness, a child of the South American jungles and mountains. There ancient stories passed down by word of mouth carried wisdom and history for her p...

24 likes 21 comments 21
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The Little Girl with 12 Fingers & 12 Toes

Submitted to Contest #297

The young girl eventually turned 13. She was now a little older but still a ravishing beauty—with her long, curly black hair, skin as white as snow, and eyes as green as emeralds. Everything about her was just remarkable and flawless, except for her 12 fingers and 12 toes. Despite this anomaly, she was now a lot more confident in herself than she had ever been. She had made many new friends along the way over the years… But once in a while, she was often reminded of her abnormality when others made fun of her. And in one particular instance...

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Petie Pest and Bailey on Zoo Island.

Submitted to Contest #297

Petie Pest and Bailey’s Zoo Island Hi, I'm Bailey. I live on an island. It's called Zoo Island! Daddy is the Head Zookeeper. He says all kinds of animals live on Zoo Island, including lions, camels, tigers, goats, bears, seals, walruses, and reptiles. Reptiles lay eggs and have scaly skin. Lizards are reptiles. Do you know any other reptiles? My best friend in the Zoo is Petie, the little Pig. And Petie is always asking, "What time is it?" Especially if he is about to try something funny or copy the other animals. Some pe...

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The school run

Submitted to Contest #297

The Twilight Zone It was a bright and cold autumn day, schools had recently opened after a long summer holiday in the UK. As home time approached, the area outside the school was calm with only a few parents steaming in slowly to collect their children. I arrived with my head in the ‘twilight zone’ . A term I often used and my daughters never quite understood the meaning.I had been working night shifts in a health care facility and manged to catch some few hours of sleep before picking up my daughters from school. The twilight zone meant w...

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Through The Cupboard

Submitted to Contest #295

At night, I used to look at my dark green, costume cupboard at the end of my bed and imagine it was like the cupboard from Narnia. Sometimes I would even climb inside and knock on the wooden planks just in case. I especially used to do this at quarter to four every Thursday, fifteen minutes before I had to leave for violin practice. I was 5 at the time and had just attended my first classical concert and I had apparently turned to my parents during the concert and said ‘I want to play the violin.’ I imagine they looked at each other with pri...

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RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

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