Short Stories in English for Beginners – Free PDF

Are you looking for engaging and easy-to-read ESL short stories in English? These beginner-level stories are designed to help English learners build vocabulary, improve reading skills, and understand everyday conversations.

Each story includes simple vocabulary and short sentences, perfect for ESL learners. Plus, you can download a free PDF to read anytime!

Start reading now and improve your English naturally!

SHORT STORIES in ENGLISH

Story 1: Day 1 in the USA

Jake is from Mexico. He moves to the USA with his family. Today is his first day in his new home. He wakes up early. He eats breakfast with his mother, father, and little sister, Lily. He feels excited but also nervous.

“Jake, be brave,” his father says. “You will make new friends.”

Jake walks to school. The school is big. Many children run and play. A teacher smiles at him.

“Hello! What is your name?” she asks.

“My name is Jake,” he says.

“Welcome, Jake! My name is Ms. Johnson. Come with me.”

She takes Jake to the classroom. Many students are there. A boy with curly hair smiles.

“Hi! I am Noah. Where are you from?”

“I am from Mexico,” Jake says.

“Wow! Mexico is far away!” says Noah. “Welcome!”

During lunch, Jake sits with Noah and some other students. A girl named Emma asks, “What food do you like?”

“I like tacos,” Jake says.

“That sounds tasty! Maybe we can try it one day!” Noah says.

After lunch, Jake has math class. He listens carefully. The teacher writes on the board. Jake takes notes. Sometimes, he does not understand. He feels shy to ask. Ms. Johnson notices.

“Jake, do you need help?” she asks.

Jake nods. Ms. Johnson explains again. Now, Jake understands.

After school, Jake walks home. He sees his neighbor, Mr. Smith, watering his plants.

“Hello! You must be Jake!” Mr. Smith says. “Welcome to the neighborhood.”

“Thank you,” Jake says.

“My son, Alex, is your age. Maybe you can play together.”

Jake smiles. He feels happy. He knows this is a new start. He is ready for his new life in the USA.

Story 2: Summer Vacation in the USA

Emma and her family travel to Florida for summer vacation. Her grandparents live in Miami. When they arrive, her grandfather hugs her.

“Welcome, Emma!” he says.

“Thank you, Grandpa! I am happy to be here!”

The next day, they visit the beach. The sand is warm under Emma’s feet. She builds a sandcastle with her brother, Jack.

“Look, Mom! It is a big castle!” Emma says.

“Great job!” her mother says.

Emma and Jack run into the water. The waves are big. Jack laughs and splashes Emma.

After swimming, they buy ice cream. Emma chooses chocolate. Jack gets vanilla.

“This is the best ice cream ever!” Jack says.

Later, they visit a theme park. Emma rides a roller coaster. She feels scared at first but then excited.

“That was so fun!” she says.

At night, they eat seafood at a restaurant. Emma tries shrimp for the first time.

“It is delicious!” she says.

The next day, they go on a boat tour. The water is clear, and Emma sees dolphins jumping in the ocean.

“Look, Dad! Dolphins!” she shouts.

“They are beautiful,” her father says.

They also visit a zoo. Emma feeds a giraffe. Its tongue is long and rough.

“That tickles!” Emma laughs.

On the last night, they watch fireworks on the beach. Emma holds her mother’s hand.

“This was the best vacation ever,” she says. “Next year, I want to come again!”

Story 3: A New Baby Brother

James’s mother is in the hospital. His father tells him, “You will have a baby brother today!”

James is happy but nervous. “Will he like me?” he asks.

“Of course!” says his father.

They go to the hospital. James sees his baby brother. He is small and sleeps a lot. His mother smiles. “This is Henry. Do you want to hold him?”

James carefully holds Henry. “Hello, little brother,” he says softly.

At home, the baby cries. “Why does he cry so much?” James asks.

“Babies cry when they are hungry or sleepy,” his mother says.

James helps by bringing diapers and singing to Henry. He loves his new brother.

As days pass, Henry grows. He smiles at James. One day, Henry grabs James’s finger.

“Look! He knows me now!” James says.

James helps with small tasks. He picks out baby clothes and reads stories to Henry. Sometimes, Henry wakes up at night, and James hears him cry.

“Mom, can I help?” James asks.

“You are a great big brother,” his mother says. “You can rock him gently.”

James holds Henry and sings a soft song. Henry stops crying and falls asleep.

One day, Henry starts crawling. He follows James around the house. James laughs. “He wants to play with me!”

James promises to take care of Henry always. “I can’t wait until he grows up. We will play soccer and ride bikes together.”

Story 4: The Boy, the Lamb, and the Sad Genie

Luke finds a small white lamb in the forest. The lamb looks lost. “Are you alone?” Luke asks.

Suddenly, a blue cloud appears. A genie comes out! He looks sad.

“What is wrong?” Luke asks.

“I give wishes, but people are never happy,” the genie says. “They ask for gold, power, or fame. But later, they feel empty.”

Luke thinks. “What do you want, Genie?”

The genie is surprised. “No one asked me that before.”

Luke smiles. “Let’s find out. What makes you happy?”

The genie touches the lamb. “I like animals.”

“Then, let’s help lost animals!” Luke says.

They go on a journey. They find a lost puppy in the village. Luke and the genie bring the puppy to a little girl who has no pet.

“Thank you!” the girl says. “I always wanted a dog.”

The genie smiles a little. “That felt nice.”

They travel to a town where a farmer’s horse is sick. The genie uses magic to heal it.

“You saved my horse! Thank you!” the farmer says.

The genie’s smile grows bigger.

Day after day, Luke and the genie help more animals. One evening, Luke sees the genie laughing as he plays with kittens.

“You look happy now,” Luke says.

“I think I found my wish,” the genie says. “I want to help others. That makes me happy.”

From that day, the genie stops granting selfish wishes. Instead, he travels with Luke, helping animals and people. And for the first time in a long time, he is truly happy.

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