Embedded Files
Reading Resources for Elementary School
Reading Resources for Elementary School
This page contains links to online books for grades K-4. Some offerings can be navigated and used independently by students, while some will require adult support, at least for younger students.
Adults: If you need a translation, try the "Google lens" app. Hover over the German text and click "translate" for an instantaneous translation of the words. It won't be 100% correct, but is a good support for non-German speaking parent/guardians.
Glossary
Glossary
das Buch, die Bücher = book, books
lesen = to read
die Sprache = language
Amira has online audio books with text and illustrations in a simple format suited to both mobile and desktop that kids can navigate on their own or with an adult.
This is a great resource for all levels of elementary school and early middle school. Choose books from one of three reading levels to hear the story read aloud and follow along.
Click on "Lesen" and select the number for the reading level!
Example from Level 1 (~K-2nd grade)
Example from Level 2 (~2nd & 3rd grade)
Example from Level 3 (~3rd/4th grade and up)
Bürcherpiraten has a bilingual children's book creator: select a book and two languages and get a bilingual PDF text. Many of these books are written by groups of children around the world, and some are professionally written books included here with permission.
Example books with original text in German:
Das kleine Wir/The little Us by Daniela Kunkel
Wir sind doch keine Angsthasen/We are no scaredy-cats by Jörg Hilbert
Oskar and Lumofo - the fox and the alien by a group of kids!
Where are you, Momo? by a group of kids!
This online library from the Goethe Institut offers a variety of audiobooks and e-books (as well as films and magazines) for children and adults.
To get started: learn more about how to make an account here. There are a few steps!
The interface is mostly available in English (as well as Spanish and several other languages), though some of the catalog is only in German.
Not sure what to borrow? Try some of these examples.
For all ages, non-fiction: Wieso, Weshalb, Warum? - audiobook versions of the popular series, from Junior versions for younger grades to ProfiWissen editions about topics like climate change and outer space for older students.
For grades K-2: Reim dich ins Bett by Kai Hohage - an audiobook of bedtime rhymes
For grades 1-4: Der kleine Drache Kokosnuss - a variety of audiobook (and e-book) titles about the little dragon Coconut, a popular book and TV character
For grades 2-4: with Was ist was: Fußball, follow a youth soccer team on their trip to a tournament in Berlin in this music-filled audio story.
For grades 3 and up: Verrückt zu sein ist gar nicht so einfach is a collection of stories from Syrian-German writer Rafik Schami.
For grades 3 and up: Juni im blauen Land by Jörg Steinleitner - an audiobook adventure story
Page updated
Report abuse