Short English Stories for Kids with Arabic Translation: 5 Easy Stories for Beginners

Five very short English stories for children who are starting English, written mostly in simple words children can learn early. Each has an Arabic translation, five new words and a question to ask in English. Read the English first; use the translation once, if you need it.

How to read them

• Read the English, point to the words, and act the story out with your voice and hands (British Council).
• Translate once, quietly, for a new idea, then go straight back to English (British Council).
• Read the same story again and again. Re-reading gives children the repetition they need to pick up new words (British Council).
• Let your child join in with the words they know, like "Beep, beep!" and "Thank you, dog!"

1. The Red Hat

Sam has a red hat. The wind is strong. The hat flies up, up, up! Sam runs and runs. A dog sees the hat. The dog gets the hat. "Thank you, dog!" says Sam. Sam and the dog sit in the sun.

In Arabic: عند سام قبعة حمراء. الريح قوية. القبعة تطير إلى أعلى، أعلى، أعلى! يجري سام ويجري. يرى كلب القبعة. يحضر الكلب القبعة. يقول سام: «شكرًا يا كلب!» يجلس سام والكلب في الشمس.

New words: hat (قبعة), red (أحمر), wind (ريح), run (يجري), sun (شمس)

Ask: What colour is Sam's hat? Who gets the hat?

2. Mia and the Big Box

Mia has a big box. The box is a bus. "Beep, beep!" The box is a boat. "Splash!" The box is a bed for her cat. The cat is in the box. The cat naps. Mia hugs her cat.

In Arabic: عند ميا صندوق كبير. الصندوق أتوبيس. «بيب، بيب!» الصندوق مركب. «طُش!» الصندوق سرير لقطتها. القطة في الصندوق. القطة تنام قليلًا. تحضن ميا قطتها.

New words: box (صندوق), big (كبير), bus (أتوبيس), boat (مركب), cat (قطة)

Ask: What is the box first? Who sleeps in the box?

3. Tom Can Help

It is time to eat. Mum has a pot. Dad has a pan. "I can help!" says Tom. Tom gets the cups. Tom gets the plates. Tom puts a cup by each plate. "Well done, Tom!" Mum and Dad say.

In Arabic: حان وقت الأكل. مع ماما قِدر. ومع بابا مقلاة. يقول توم: «أنا أستطيع أن أساعد!» يحضر توم الأكواب. يحضر توم الأطباق. يضع توم كوبًا بجانب كل طبق. تقول ماما ويقول بابا: «أحسنت يا توم!»

New words: pot (قِدر (حلّة)), pan (مقلاة (طاسة)), cup (كوب), plate (طبق), help (يساعد)

Ask: What does Tom get? How do Mum and Dad feel?

4. Five Fish

One fish is red. Two fish are blue. Three fish are yellow. Four fish are green. Five fish are pink. Look! A big fish! The little fish hide. The big fish is sad. "I want a friend," it says. The little fish come back. Now they are all friends.

In Arabic: سمكة واحدة حمراء. سمكتان زرقاوان. ثلاث سمكات صفراء. أربع سمكات خضراء. خمس سمكات وردية. انظر! سمكة كبيرة! تختبئ السمكات الصغيرة. السمكة الكبيرة حزينة. تقول: «أريد صديقًا». تعود السمكات الصغيرة. والآن كلهم أصدقاء.

New words: fish (سمكة), blue (أزرق), green (أخضر), friend (صديق), hide (يختبئ)

Ask: How many pink fish are there? Why is the big fish sad?

5. The Sun and the Moon

The sun is up. It is day. Ali gets up. Ali eats and plays. The sun goes down. The moon is up. It is night. Ali has a bath. Mum reads a book. Ali is in bed. "Good night, moon," says Ali.

In Arabic: الشمس طالعة. إنه النهار. يستيقظ علي. يأكل علي ويلعب. تغيب الشمس. القمر طالع. إنه الليل. يستحم علي. تقرأ ماما كتابًا. علي في السرير. يقول علي: «تصبح على خير يا قمر».

New words: sun (شمس), moon (قمر), day (نهار), night (ليل), bed (سرير)

Ask: What does Ali do in the day? What does he do at night?

Books for the next step

• For Young Readers — 12 English Stories (ages 1–4): short stories with simple language.
• Bilingual Moral & Fantasy Stories Series (ages 2–5): stories in Arabic and English together.
• The Caillou talking pen (ages 3–6): reads the words aloud in English and Arabic.
• Sight Words Swat (ages 3–8): a race to spot common English words.

More: teaching your child English at home and bilingual Arabic–English books.

Questions parents ask

How can I read English stories to my child if my English is weak?

Choose stories with short, simple text like these; a fixed text is a good support for parents who lack confidence in English. Enjoy the story, and don't worry about a perfect accent (British Council).

Should I translate the story for my child?

A quick translation once is fine for a new idea, then go back to English. Pictures, your voice and gestures carry most of the meaning.

How many times should I read the same English story?

As many times as your child asks. Re-reading favourites is how children pick up and confirm new words (British Council).

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