Free 5th grade reading passages
These are real 5th grade reading passages from Peabody's free library, level 4 stories with vocabulary and comprehension questions at the end. Read them online with no sign-up. Peabody starts a 5th grader at level 4 and moves up as books get easy. Free through 2026.
Free passages to read now
Each passage below opens a whole story with word meanings and questions at the end. Pick one, read aloud together, then talk about it.
Rumpelstiltskin
Once there was a poor miller who had a beautiful daughter. One day, when the miller met the King on the road, he wanted to seem important, so he said something very foolish. "My daughter is so clever," he boasted, "that she can spin straw into gold." The greedy King loved gold more than anything else in the world. "Now that is a skill I like," he said. "Bring her to my castle tomorrow."
Read the whole story free. It teaches 6 vocabulary words and ends with 6 comprehension questions.
Cinderella
Once upon a time, a kind gentleman married for the second time. His new wife was the proudest, crossest woman anyone had ever met, and she had two daughters who were exactly like her. The gentleman also had a daughter of his own. She was gentle and sweet, just as her own mother had been, and she was the loveliest girl in the land.
Read the whole story free. It teaches 6 vocabulary words and ends with 6 comprehension questions.
The Frog Prince
Once upon a time, a king had a daughter so lovely that the sun itself was amazed whenever it shone on her face. Near the castle was a great dark forest, and in the forest, under an old lime tree, there was a cool, deep well. On hot days, the little princess went out to the well and sat on its edge. Her favorite toy was a golden ball, and she liked to toss it high in the air and catch it again.
Read the whole story free. It teaches 6 vocabulary words and ends with 6 comprehension questions.
Puss in Boots
Once there was an old miller who had three sons. When he grew too old to work, he gave away everything he owned. The oldest son got the mill, and the second son got the donkey. The youngest son got only the cat. "My brothers can work together and earn a good living," he sighed. "But what can I possibly do with a cat?"
Read the whole story free. It teaches 6 vocabulary words and ends with 6 comprehension questions.
John Henry
The night John Henry was born, the hills rang like a bell. He was the biggest baby anyone had ever seen, with a voice like thunder, and he ate four breakfasts and then asked for a fifth. Before he could walk, he picked up a small hammer and grinned. "That boy was made for iron," said his father. By the time he was grown, John Henry stood taller than any doorway, so he had learned to duck politely.
Read the whole story free. It teaches 5 vocabulary words and ends with 6 comprehension questions.
How the comprehension questions work
Each story ends with questions of a few kinds, and a child can answer them on the screen. There is no grade given and no timer. Peabody reads the answers to choose the next story. It is a learning app, not a test: a teacher is the one to ask about fluency.
More 5th grade reading and math
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- Reading level 4: the limits and the skills
- Free learning games for 5th graders
- Free typing games for kids
- Free homeschool reading curriculum plan
Questions parents and teachers ask
Are these passages free?
Yes. Every story in the open library is free to read, with no account.
Can I print them?
The stories are made to read on a screen, with the story read aloud. Printing is not built in; the printable learning record is for homeschool hours only.
What grade level are they?
Peabody levels stories by sentence length, words a screen and how common the words are, not by a grade label. Level 4 is where Peabody starts a 5th grader, one level under the grade so the first stories feel easy.
Checked against how Peabody works on 18 October 2026. Written with help from AI, from Peabody's own code and library. Peabody is a learning app, not an assessment: if you're worried about your child's learning, talk to their teacher.