Children's stories: five classic stories to read in English

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Classic stories can be a huge help when learning a language: we already know the plot, so it's easier for us to guess the meaning of words and expressions; they have a repetitive structure, which helps us memorise vocabulary more easily; they are usually written in simple and accessible language, and are sometimes accompanied by illustrations that can help us in reading. Although they may seem too childish, they can teach us a lot, especially if we combine them with an audiobook. Fancy giving them a try? Here is a list of classic stories that you can look up in English.




Cinderella
Cinderella, the story of a young girl who escapes her evil canada phone number list thanks to a fairy godmother and the love of a prince, is a little dated. But it's a great source of vocabulary related to household items , chores, and clothing , for example. If you're in the mood for something a little less classic, look for a modern take. Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted takes a deeper, more interesting approach to the story, while still being accessible to intermediate levels.



Little Red Riding Hood
Little Red Riding Hood, in addition to fear of strangers, can provide us with a good amount of vocabulary related to food , nature, animals and body parts. Throughout the story, Little Red Riding Hood repeats at least three times what she is carrying in her basket, which helps to fix the words in memory. She also describes her surroundings during the walk in the forest, and the physical appearance of the wolf and the grandmother. You will never forget how to say "what big ears you have!" You can also watch the animated film Hoodwinked! , a retelling of the classic story.



Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast has so many adaptations that you can choose from a huge variety of versions. It will be great for practicing vocabulary related to the interior of a house, food, physical descriptions, imperative verbs and expression of feelings . The most classic English version is by Andrew Lang, but if you fancy something a little more modern, try Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay, a fantasy novel set on a different planet.