Short Stories for Children

The story of The Three Little Pigs featured here has been adapted from different sources and from childhood memory. The primary sources are English Fairy Tales, retold by Flora Annie Steel (1922) with illustrations by L. Leslie Brooke from the 1904 version. This story is featured in our Favorite Fairy Tales and Children's Stories.

Jack and the Beanstalk

by Flora Annie Steel

Jack and the Beanstalk first appeared as The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean in 1734. Featured iIllustrations are by Arthur Rackham, 1918 edition of English Fairy Tales retold by Flora Annie Steel. Enjoy sharing more great stories in our Favorite Fairy Tales and Short Stories for Children.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

by Flora Annie Steel

Goldilocks and the Three Bears was originally titled The Story of the Three Bears, published in the collection English Fairytales, retold by Flora Annie Steel (1922), illustrated by Arthur Rackham. We hope you think it's not too hot, not too cold, but JUST RIGHT!

Twas The Night Before Christmas

by Flora Annie Steel

Twas the Night Before Christmas was first published in 1823 as "Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas" in the Troy Sentinel, later attributed to Clement C. Moore and renamed. Enjoy our collection of Children's Christmas Stories.

Five Little Pigs

by Joseph Martin Kronheim

The History of Five Little Pigs was published in My First Picture Book, Printed in colours by Kronheim (1875). This short story accompanies the classic toe counting and wiggling song that continues to delight young children.

The Little Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

by Joseph Martin Kronheim

The Little Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe is one of our Favorite Fairy Tales, published in My First Picture Book, Printed in colours by Kronheim (1875). You might also enjoy reading Mother Goose's nursery rhyme, There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, and L. Frank Baum's short story, The Woman Who Lived in a Shoe.

Little Bo-Peep

by Joseph Martin Kronheim

Little Bo-Peep by Kronheim is the classic short story version of the popular nursery rhyme, in which Peep gets help from a princess trapped as an owl, and some elves to recover her flock. It was published in My First Picture Book, Printed in colours by Kronheim (1875). There's an alternate version of the story by L. Frank Baum, Little Bo-Peep. You might enjoy reading the original Mother Goose's nursery rhyme, Little Bo Peep.

The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids

by The Brothers Grimm

This popular children's story is also known as The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids.

The Velveteen Rabbit

by Margery Williams

The Velveteen Rabbit starts out on Christmas morning. A young boy finds a stuffed rabbit nestled in his stocking. He loves the rabbit but forgets about him when more glamorous and expensive Christmas presents arrive. But chance will intervene twice in this magical story about childhood toys and the transformative power of love. We feature it in Christmas Stories for Children.

The Pumpkin-Glory

by William Dean Howells

The Pumpkin-Glory was published in his collection, Christmas Every Day and Other Stories Told for Children (1892). You might also enjoy Christmas Every Day for the holidays.