Free online Storybook resources list
Access to a diverse collection of children’s storybooks can be limited in some regions, especially books in local languages or a child’s mother tongue. To address this, we’ve compiled a selection of storybooks available online for free.
Our selection includes books with easy and short stories, books with few words and wordless books. These are ideal for telling stories in any language—preferably in the child’s mother tongue—and tailoring the storybook’s language to meet the child’s communication needs.
We hope these resources will inspire both parents and teachers.
Wordless storybooks
Book dash is committed to its mission of giving children all over the world access to great books. They offer a fantastic collection of wordless, printable books that are freely available on their website.
©Book dash
Mikhulu Trust offers a great selection of wordless digital picture books that are freely available on their website. These books are perfect for digital storytelling in the classroom.
©Mikhulu Trust
Irku’s First Day Of School
This book follows through all the activities of a day at school and Irku’s excitement at the new experiences.
©Freekidsbooks
I Can Dress Myself
is an amusing short wordless book about a child getting herself dressed while Mum is sleeping.
©Freekidsbooks
Bow Meow Wow
A fun and action packed wordless picture book. We see cat and dog chasing each other while ending up covered in paint, but the result might not be better than expected. Learn about mixing the colors red and yellow and about a new painting.
©Freekidsbooks
Stories in Arabic, video’s and wordless books
Ahlan Simsim is the Arabic version of Sesame Street. Ahlan Simsim offers an excellent website packed with beautiful, free downloadable resources. The site features storybooks for young children that cover important themes such as emotions, play, and imagination. Some books are wordless, while others contain Arabic text. The website provides suggestions on how to read these books interactively to children. Moreover, there are great educational videos addressing emotions and everyday situations, making them an ideal resource for storytelling.
English storybooks: few words, easy to use for non-English speakers
Kentalis is an organization that specializes in care and education for individuals with hearing or communication difficulties. They offer several free downloadable stories, illustrated with real-life pictures or pictograms. These are sensory stories, designed to be read to children while engaging all their senses. The story text is in English, but it’s easy for non-English readers to use. The stories are very easy to understand just from the pictures alone, allowing anyone to tell the story in their own words and in their own language.
The Good Fox
A fable about a fox who is hungry. He wants to help others but needs money to buy some food.
©Freekidsbooks
Malar’s Big House
Malar is building a big house using cups, but will she manage to keep her house standing? What can you build?
©Freekidsbooks
I Want to be a Baker
is about a young child wanting to become a baker, and through the trials of learning, experiencing the feelings of giving up. But persevering and receiving help he eventually achieves his goals.
©Freekidsbooks
I Want to be …
A book for young children inspiring thoughts as to what they want to be when they grow up and encouraging a love of reading.
©Freekidsbooks
Catch the cat
The Cat has stolen a sock and then ran off, but is there a reason why she stole the sock? About hiding, catching, making a bed for babies
©Freekidsbooks
Brave Bora
goes to the doctor with her toy Monkey Jojo and her Baba to get a scary injection. Find out if she can overcome her fears and how.
©Freekidsbooks
The fox who wants to learn to fly
About a fox with big dreams.
©Freekidsbooks
Sani and Suri
Sani loves her cat Suri. One day Suri is missing. Sani searches high and low, far and wide. She finds many cats: large, small, long, black, dirty, clean … but will she find Suri?
©Freekidsbooks
Two Mice
a little brown mouse encounters a computer mouse and challenges his new friend to find out what can a real mouse do. When the cat arrives the computer mouse thinks of a smart solution.
©Freekidsbooks
The Bee and the Elephant
A little bee has lost his home and asks an elephant to help him find it.
©Freekidsbooks
A Special Nest
A bird is trying to build her nest for the winter, but every time she finishes she is disturbed. Until one day she finds a very inventive solution to her problem.
©Freekidsbooks
My Brother and Me
In My Brother and Me children can fill in the missing word in this short book about two brothers and what they do each day.
©Freekidsbooks
Friends
Simo has four friends and they each like to do different things. What do you like to do?
©Freekidsbooks
Laundry day
A day in the village doing laundry is fun for everyone. This short story is full of images to keep young children entertain while learning new words.
©Freekidsbooks
My Best Friend
We see how imagination and dreams can make something feel real. A young girl plays with her mirror image, but the image doesn’t talk back, until she falls asleep.
©Freekidsbooks
Tall or Short
A little boy compares himself to members of his family and indicates whether they are taller or shorter.
©Freekidsbooks
Teju’s shadow
Teju’s Mama helps him get over his fear of the dark and fear of his shadow. A cute story for young children who are afraid.
©Freekidsbooks
A Very Busy Day
In A Very Busy Day a little girl goes to the shops with her Mama, they visit a great many places, groceries, shoes, and more. The text also explores opposites as descriptors.
©Freekidsbooks
Mali’s friend
A short tale of how a shy boy gains and have a friend. Mali doesn’t enjoy playing with the other children, but when Lesedi persists to ask him to play he gives in and finds it is fun, they become friends. A tale of overcoming shyness.
©Freekidsbooks
A Beautiful Day
is a picture book for young readers about a fun family day out. It’s a beautiful day for a picnic, and everyone wants to join in the fun.
©Freekidsbooks
Race Driver Callum Makes a Car
It tells us a story of a driver who makes his own car.
©Freekidsbooks
French storybooks: : few words, easy to use for non-French speakers
Je Sais Fabriquer Plein de Choses!
It tells the story of a boy who can make things, he can draw, create a plane and boat out of paper, he can do a lot of things that his little sister cannot do. Book in French.
©Freekidsbooks