Unity Is Strength
A complete A1-level English lesson based on the classic story The Farmer and His Sons, designed to help beginner English learners improve reading, comprehension, vocabulary, and speaking skills. This…
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Androcles and the Lion
Bring a timeless classic to life in your ESL classroom! Androcles and the Lion is a complete A2-level ESL lesson pack based on the classic tale of kindness, courage, and gratitude. Students follow th…
The Bridge and the River
The Bridge and the River is a complete A2-level ESL worksheet based on a short story about cooperation, teamwork, and solving problems together. Designed for elementary English learners, this ready-t…
The Dog and His Reflection
A Free Illustrated English Reading Worksheet Help students practise vocabulary and reading comprehension with The Dog and His Reflection, a short moral story about greed and appreciating what you alr…
The Farmer and His Lazy Sons
The Farmer and His Sons is a complete A2-level ESL lesson pack based on the classic fable about hard work. Designed for lower-intermediate English learners, this ready-to-teach resource is ideal for…
The Magic Paintbrush
Help your students fall in love with reading in English! Ma Liang and the Magic Paintbrush is a complete A1+/Lower A2 ESL lesson pack based on the beloved Chinese folktale about kindness, courage, an…
The North Wind and the Sun
Help your students learn English through a classic story! The North Wind and the Sun is a complete A2-level ESL worksheet based on Aesop's famous fable. This ready-to-use resource helps English learn…
The Three Fruit Trees
The Three Fruit Trees is a complete A2-level ESL lesson pack based on an original fable about self-worth, comparison, and appreciating our unique strengths. Through the story of three fruit trees, st…
The Travelers and the Gold Coins
The Travelers and the Gold Coins – Complete Worksheet is a comprehensive A2-level ESL lesson pack based on the classic fable about friendship, honesty, and fairness. Designed for elementary English l…
The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
A complete, ready-to-teach package built around the classic fable "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" — perfect for young learners building reading comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. What's…
The Friend Who Always Chose
A short story about a friend who never lets you choose — and what it takes to speak up. Maya's best friend Ella decides everything: the game, the seat, the poster animal, even who Maya is allowed to…
The Dancing Men
A complete A2 ESL lesson pack based on Sherlock Holmes: The Adventure of the Dancing Men. This simplified mystery story follows Sherlock Holmes as he investigates strange stick-figure messages, a sec…
The Blue Carbuncle
This ready-to-use worksheet pack accompanies the graded reader retelling of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Blue Carbuncle, adapted for A2–B1 English learners aged 11 and above. The pack includes a full stu…
The Red-Headed League
This ready-to-use worksheet pack accompanies the graded reader retelling of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Red-Headed League, adapted for A2–B1 English learners aged 11 and above. The pack includes a full…
Learning to Focus
Help your students develop better focus while improving their English. Learning to Focus is a complete A2-level ESL worksheet built around a relatable story about Maya as she struggles with distracti…
Study Smarter, Not Harder
Help your students study smarter—not harder. Study Smarter, Not Harder is a complete A2–B1 ESL lesson pack built around a relatable story about Maya, a 10-year-old student learning how memory works.…
Why We Forget What We Study
Help your students build stronger English—and stronger study habits. Why We Forget Things is a complete A2-level ESL worksheet built around a relatable story featuring Maya and her brother Kai as the…
Sinbad the Sailor: The First Voyage
Sinbad the Sailor: Episode 1 – The First Voyage Bring a classic adventure into your homeschool with this open-and-go literature study for grades 5–7. Clear student directions, structured activities,…
The Fox Without a Tail
Help learners explore Aesop’s classic fable The Fox Without a Tail through reading, vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, critical thinking, and guided writing. After losing his tail in a trap, a fox f…
The Mirror and the Window
The Mirror and the Window is a complete B1-level ESL worksheet based on an original fable about two sisters—one who sees only herself, and one who looks out at the world. Through this thought-provoki…
The Oak and the Reed
The Oak and the Reed is a complete B1-level ESL worksheet based on the classic fable about strength, flexibility, and resilience. Through engaging reading and language activities, students build read…
The Old Clock and the Smartwatch
Help your students improve their English through a meaningful and engaging story. The Old Clock and the Smartwatch is a complete B1-level ESL worksheet that explores the contrast between traditional…
The Stone Cutter
Bridge ESL language development and ELA academic thinking in one complete lesson. The Stone Cutter is a comprehensive B1-level ESL lesson pack based on the classic Japanese folktale. Written as a gra…
The Teacher and the Empty Cup
The Teacher and the Empty Cup is a complete B1-level ESL worksheet based on a thought-provoking short story about cooperation, humility, and learning with an open mind. Designed for intermediate Engl…
A Scandal in Bohemia
Help intermediate English learners improve reading, listening, vocabulary, critical thinking, and writing skills with this complete Sherlock Holmes lesson pack based on A Scandal in Bohemia by Sir Ar…
Silver Blaze
Bring one of Sherlock Holmes's greatest mysteries into your classroom with this B1-level ESL & ELA resource based on The Adventure of Silver Blaze. When the famous racehorse Silver Blaze disappears j…
The Copper Beeches
Bring one of Sherlock Holmes's most intriguing mysteries into your classroom with this B1-level ESL & ELA resource based on The Adventure of the Copper Beeches. When Violet Hunter accepts a highly pa…
The Engineer's Thumb
A complete B1-level Sherlock Holmes lesson pack based on The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb by Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted for English learners. Students follow Victor Hatherley, a young hydraulic…
The Musgrave Ritual
One of Sherlock Holmes's earliest and most fascinating mysteries comes to life in this B1-level ESL & ELA resource based on The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. When Regina…
The Norwood Builder
Bring one of Sherlock Holmes's most ingenious mysteries into your classroom with this B1–B2 ESL & ELA full lesson based on The Adventure of the Norwood Builder. When young lawyer John McFarlane burst…
The Six Napoleons
Bring one of Sherlock Holmes's most famous mysteries into your classroom with this B1-level ESL & ELA resource based on The Adventure of the Six Napoleons. Why is someone breaking plaster busts of Na…
The Speckled Band
This ready-to-use worksheet pack accompanies the graded reader retelling of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Speckled Band, adapted for B1 English learners aged 10 and above. The pack includes a full student…
Building Better Habits
Help your students build better habits while improving their English. Building Better Habits is a complete B1-level ESL worksheet built around a relatable story about Maya as she learns how habits ar…
How the Brain Learns from Mistakes
Help Students Discover Why Mistakes Help the Brain Learn In this Think & Speak worksheet, Maya feels upset after getting a test question wrong again. She believes mistakes only prove she's bad at som…
How to Practice the Right Way
Help Students Learn How Real Improvement Happens In this Think & Speak worksheet, Maya feels frustrated because her piano playing is not improving. She practices every day, but she keeps avoiding the…
Overcoming Procrastination
Help your students overcome procrastination while improving their English. Overcoming Procrastination is a complete B1-level ESL worksheet built around a relatable story about Kai as he struggles to…
Too Much Screen Time
Help your students think, speak, and communicate confidently in English with this engaging real-life lesson. My Screen Problem is a complete B1-level ESL lesson pack built around a relatable story ab…
Why We Dream
This worksheet pack is based on the Think & Speak nonfiction lesson Why We Dream, part of the How Humans Work series. Through a story-based informational passage with Maya and Kai, students learn why…
About these graded readers
What is a graded reader?
A graded reader is a story written or adapted at a controlled level of difficulty, so learners can read for meaning without being stopped by every new word. The collection includes classic Aesop and Jataka fables, Sherlock Holmes mysteries retold for learners, original school stories, and short informational passages.
Choosing a level: A1, A2 or B1
A1 suits beginners who are reading their first short texts. A2 suits elementary learners who can follow a simple story with some support. B1 suits intermediate learners ready for longer stories and more varied vocabulary. Use the level filters above, and if you are unsure, start one level lower so the first reading feels successful.
What is included
Each reader comes as a complete lesson pack: the story, vocabulary, comprehension questions, grammar practice, and speaking or writing tasks. Every resource is a digital download (PDF or ZIP) that you can print or share on screen.
How to use them
The packs work for whole-class reading, small groups, one-to-one tutoring and independent study. Because each story is short, they also suit extensive reading: let learners read for enjoyment first, then use the activities to check understanding and build vocabulary.