Whether you’re a teacher in need of easy and free educational resources, or you’re a parent looking to homeschool your child with appropriate and affordable literature, you’ve found the right place!
This list of public domain books, short stories, and poems for K-12 students is free to use however you wish, meaning you can download publicly available prints of these works and provide them to your students at no cost.
In addition to being able to download, distribute, and print out these literary sources, you will also be able to create new works based upon them, which could also prove useful in a classroom setting.
All books listed here are sourced from Project Gutenberg and similar verified repositories and are believed to be in the public domain in the United States. Please consult local copyright laws before reuse, especially if you are living outside of the United States.
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Join the NewsletterKindergarten Reading List (Ages 4–6)
| Title | Author | Type | Link | Quick Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Tale of Peter Rabbit | Beatrix Potter | Short Story | Download | Mischievous rabbit sneaks into Mr. McGregor’s garden. Great intro to sequencing events. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Mother Goose Rhymes | Traditional | Poetry | Download | Classic nursery rhymes for phonemic awareness and memory skills. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Aesop’s Fables | Aesop | Fables | Download | Simple moral stories perfect for classroom discussion (e.g., The Lion and the Mouse). |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Owl and the Pussycat | Edward Lear | Poem | Download | Whimsical rhymes that help with early literacy rhythm recognition. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Ugly Duckling | Hans Christian Andersen | Short Story | Download | A sweet story about self-acceptance and growth. Ideal for read-aloud sessions. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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Grade 1 Reading List (Ages 6–7)
| Title | Author | Type | Link | Quick Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Velveteen Rabbit | Margery Williams | Short Story | Download | A timeless story about love making things real. Ideal for early comprehension activities. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Story of the Three Little Pigs | Traditional/Folk Tale | Story | Download | Classic tale emphasizing hard work and perseverance. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Story of Little Red Riding Hood | Traditional/Folk Tale | Story | Download | Familiar story ideal for discussing plot structure and stranger danger in a light way. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Wynken, Blynken, and Nod | Eugene Field | Poem | Download | A dreamy, imaginative poem perfect for early language arts integration. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Frog Prince | Grimm Brothers | Folk Tale | Download | Intro to fairy tales with a simple moral — keeping promises. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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Grade 2 Reading List (Ages 7–8)
| Title | Author | Type | Link | Quick Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (selected chapters) | Lewis Carroll | Novel/Excerpt | Download | Fun and strange adventure great for imagination and vocabulary building (use selected easier chapters). |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (selected chapters) | Mark Twain | Novel/Excerpt | Download | Mischief, friendship, and adventure — fun for early discussion on character traits. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Tale of Benjamin Bunny | Beatrix Potter | Short Story | Download | Sequel to Peter Rabbit; good for story comparison skills. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| A Child’s Garden of Verses | Robert Louis Stevenson | Poetry Collection | Download | Sweet, reflective poems perfect for memorization and recitation. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Andersen’s Fairy Tales (easy selections) | Hans Christian Andersen | Fairy Tales | Download | Timeless tales like The Princess and the Pea adapted for simple early readers. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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Grade 3 Reading List (Ages 8–9)
| Title | Author | Type | Link | Quick Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rip Van Winkle | Washington Irving | Short Story | Download | A whimsical tale of a man who sleeps for 20 years — perfect for introducing American folklore. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | L. Frank Baum | Novel | Download | Classic fantasy adventure about courage, friendship, and home. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Black Beauty | Anna Sewell | Novel | Download | The life story of a horse, teaching empathy and kindness towards animals. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Heidi (abridged or selected chapters) | Johanna Spyri | Novel | Download | Wholesome story of a young girl’s life in the Swiss Alps — themes of kindness and resilience. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Grimm’s Fairy Tales (easy selections) | Grimm Brothers | Fairy Tales | Download | Famous fairy tales with moral lessons — good for story structure activities. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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Grade 4 Reading List (Ages 9–10)
| Title | Author | Type | Link | Quick Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Legend of Sleepy Hollow | Washington Irving | Short Story | Download | A spooky American classic perfect for fall reading and literary devices like mood and setting. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Little Women (abridged or excerpts) | Louisa May Alcott | Novel | Download | Heartfelt story of four sisters growing up — great for character development discussions. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm | Kate Douglas Wiggin | Novel | Download | Charming and optimistic tale of a spirited girl adapting to new surroundings. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Blue Fairy Book | Andrew Lang | Fairy Tale Collection | Download | Classic fairy tales from around the world, curated for intelligent young readers. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Just So Stories | Rudyard Kipling | Short Story Collection | Download | Creative animal origin stories with strong narrative voice and vocabulary development potential. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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Grade 5 Reading List (Ages 10–11)
| Title | Author | Type | Link | Quick Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anne of Green Gables | L. M. Montgomery | Novel | Download | Imaginative orphan Anne finds a home and changes lives. Beautiful prose, rich character study. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Secret Garden | Frances Hodgson Burnett | Novel | Download | Mystery and friendship unfold in a locked garden — great for inference and theme analysis. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| King Arthur and His Knights | Maude Radford Warren | Myth & Legend | Download | Exciting tales of chivalry and honor from Arthurian legend, suitable for strong young readers. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Five Children and It | E. Nesbit | Novel | Download | Funny magical realism about wish-granting and consequences. Great for reading groups. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Swiss Family Robinson | Johann David Wyss | Adventure Novel | Download | Family survival tale full of resourcefulness, perfect for project-based learning or journaling prompts. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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Grade 6 Reading List (Ages 11–12)
| Title | Author | Type | Link | Quick Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treasure Island | Robert Louis Stevenson | Adventure Novel | Download | Swashbuckling tale of pirates, buried treasure, and coming of age. A classic boys’ adventure story that holds up. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Call of the Wild | Jack London | Novel | Download | The journey of a dog rediscovering his wild instincts — raw and poetic exploration of survival. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Prince and the Pauper | Mark Twain | Novel | Download | Identity-swapping adventure and social satire — great for comparing perspectives. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Jungle Book | Rudyard Kipling | Short Story Collection | Download | Tales of Mowgli and animal companions — good for theme and symbolism work. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Wind in the Willows | Kenneth Grahame | Novel | Download | Gentle and witty animal stories, best suited to advanced younger readers or early middle schoolers. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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Grade 7 Reading List (Ages 12–13)
| Title | Author | Type | Link | Quick Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journey to the Center of the Earth | Jules Verne | Sci-Fi Adventure | Download | A professor and nephew explore a prehistoric world beneath the Earth. Ideal for discussion of genre and imagination. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | Arthur Conan Doyle | Mystery Short Stories | Download | Classic detective tales that build reasoning, logic, and inference skills. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court | Mark Twain | Satirical Novel | Download | Time-travel satire with sharp wit and commentary on culture, ideal for critical thinking discussions. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Story of My Life | Helen Keller | Autobiography | Download | Powerful and inspiring true story of overcoming obstacles, great for empathy-building and personal narrative study. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Eight Cousins | Louisa May Alcott | Novel | Download | Coming-of-age tale about identity and family, written with warmth and depth. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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Grade 8 Reading List (Ages 13–14)
| Title | Author | Type | Link | Quick Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dracula | Bram Stoker | Gothic Novel | Download | A suspenseful tale of vampires and fear. A great intro to horror and genre discussion for mature middle schoolers. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Time Machine | H.G. Wells | Sci-Fi Novel | Download | One of the earliest time travel stories — perfect for exploring cause/effect and speculative fiction. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Black Cat | Edgar Allan Poe | Short Story | Download | A chilling short story perfect for teaching tone, foreshadowing, and psychological suspense. Great for students who enjoy horror and mystery. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Scarlet Letter (selected chapters) | Nathaniel Hawthorne | Historical Fiction | Download | Advanced readers can explore themes of shame, morality, and society in excerpts of this classic novel. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Last of the Mohicans | James Fenimore Cooper | Adventure Novel | Download | Historical action set during the French and Indian War. Ideal for history-literature connections. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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Grade 9 Reading List (Ages 14–15)
| Title | Author | Type | Link | Quick Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romeo and Juliet | William Shakespeare | Drama/Play | Download | The iconic tragedy of young love and fate. Great for close reading, theme exploration, and dramatic interpretation. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Odyssey (translated by Samuel Butler) | Homer | Epic Poem | Download | Epic journey of Odysseus returning home. Important for mythology, hero’s journey, and cultural literacy studies. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | Robert Louis Stevenson | Novella | Download | A thrilling exploration of duality and human nature — perfect for discussion about good vs. evil. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Poems by Emily Dickinson | Emily Dickinson | Poetry | Download | Short, introspective poems that delve into themes like nature, death, and the human soul. Excellent for poetry units. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Red Badge of Courage | Stephen Crane | War Novel | Download | Psychological realism about a young Civil War soldier facing fear and courage. Great for historical and character analysis. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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Grade 10 Reading List (Ages 15–16)
| Title | Author | Type | Link | Quick Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frankenstein | Mary Shelley | Gothic Novel | Download | Groundbreaking science fiction and gothic horror story — perfect for theme analysis around humanity, responsibility, and ambition. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Macbeth | William Shakespeare | Drama/Play | Download | A tragedy of ambition, fate, and downfall — excellent for symbolism and thematic essays. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Jane Eyre | Charlotte Brontë | Novel | Download | A coming-of-age novel with strong feminist themes, identity exploration, and Gothic elements. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Importance of Being Earnest | Oscar Wilde | Comedy/Play | Download | Sharp and witty social satire perfect for exploring irony, humor, and Victorian culture. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Selected Short Stories by Edgar Allan Poe | Edgar Allan Poe | Short Story Collection | Download | Essential horror and mystery classics that build critical thinking around tone, symbolism, and suspense. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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Grade 11 Reading List (Ages 16–17)
| Title | Author | Type | Link | Quick Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pride and Prejudice | Jane Austen | Novel | Download | Classic romantic comedy of manners — a rich study in characterization, irony, and class commentary. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Moby Dick (selected chapters) | Herman Melville | Epic Novel | Download | Epic whaling saga dealing with obsession and fate. Often excerpted for thematic study. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Wuthering Heights | Emily Brontë | Gothic Novel | Download | Dark and passionate love story perfect for advanced literary analysis and character studies. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| The Souls of Black Folk (selections) | W. E. B. Du Bois | Essay Collection | Download | Key historical work offering insight into race relations and African-American identity post-Civil War. Very important for American history and social studies tie-ins. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Selected Poems by Walt Whitman | Walt Whitman | Poetry Collection | Download | Vivid, free-verse celebration of humanity, nature, and democracy. Excellent for poetry exploration. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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Grade 12 Reading List (Ages 17–18)
| Title | Author | Type | Link | Quick Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime and Punishment | Fyodor Dostoevsky | Psychological Novel | Download | Dark exploration of guilt, morality, and redemption — heavy but incredibly rich for advanced readers. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Great Expectations | Charles Dickens | Novel | Download | Classic coming-of-age novel featuring ambition, class, and self-realization. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Selected Speeches by Abraham Lincoln | Abraham Lincoln | Historical Documents | Download | Primary source speeches perfect for rhetorical analysis and U.S. history integration. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Faust (Part I) | Johann Wolfgang von Goethe | Drama | Download | Philosophical tragedy about ambition, knowledge, and redemption — great for complex character analysis. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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| Selected Essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson | Ralph Waldo Emerson | Essay Collection | Download | Foundational American essays on self-reliance, nature, and individuality. Great for personal and persuasive writing inspiration. |
License: This resource is based on texts from Project Gutenberg, which are in the public domain.
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