Folk Myths

When small animals work together, they prove that unity is more powerful than size or strength in this inspiring tale and other meaningful stories.

A noble elephant’s acts of kindness bring blessings from above—just one of the touching stories found in this collection.

A thrilling tale where brain beats brawn shows that quick thinking wins—just one of the clever stories packed into this book.

A touching story of kindness and quiet revenge unfolds with gentle humour, along with other feel-good animal tales.

When a farmer’s sons search for gold in the field, they discover the real treasure lies in honest work—one of many inspiring tales in this book.

A jackal tries to become king by changing his colour—but learns that pretending to be something you're not never lasts, in this and other clever tales.

This amusing tale follows a cat who fools others with fake kindness—until the truth comes out, along with other memorable animal fables.

A brave little hare uses his wits to escape danger, teaching young readers the value of clever thinking—just one of the many stories inside.

A wise swan teaches others the value of thinking ahead in this thoughtful story about planning and foresight, along with other insightful tales.

A simple story that shows why advice given without understanding can lead to trouble—one of several moral stories in this book.

From 20-year veteran storyteller Pleasant DeSpain, known for reducing folktales to their essence, 20 "retellable" folktales from around the world. Folktales captivate generation after generation because they remind us that our forebears overcame seemingly insurmountable odds and we can, too! Folktale characters show us the best in ourselves; our sense of humor, our perseverance, our resilience that overcomes giant hurdles, and our innate sense of fair play.

The world’s most beautiful bird is about to learn that beauty is no shield against justice. The Pulcher, with feathers that outshine the sunrise, is the envy of the skies—and he knows it. Arrogant and cruel, he bullies his fellow birds without mercy. But when he targets a tiny, unassuming she-sparrow, his vanity leads him into a battle he never saw coming. “Don’t henpeck me, you unpleasant little avian!” the Pulcher trills, dismissing her with his usual contempt. But this sparrow won’t be silenced. She flies north to the Scottish Highlands in search of the legendary She-Eagle, a...

Emmy Award-winning storyteller Bobby Norfolk brings his electrifying energy to world folktales (from the African, Eastern European, Appalachian, and Irish traditions) to the delight of all ages. From Anansi, the African trickster, to Jack, the bumbling, lucky, persevering Everyman of traditional stories, Norfolk's characters instruct while they entertain.

The traditional retold fairy tales in this volume speak of the awesome and the marvellous, of the perilous and the exhilarating. We shall explore the traditional, age-old stories for children our ancestors have told us about Dragons. These fairy tales of awe have grown and flourished all over the globe, although as you travel futher East it’s likely that you’ll find more dragons — and also kindlier ones. For not all dragons are the same: they’re not really siblings to each other, they’re more like removed cousins. Some are imbued with fire, others with light, and others with rain ...

Evie is happiest when she is healing people, diagnosing symptoms and prescribing medications, with the help of her devoted friend (and test subject) Wormy. So when Wormy unexpectedly proposes to her, she kindly turns him down; she has far too much to do to be marrying anyone. And besides, she simply isn’t in love with him.

Margot's been invited to the medieval town of Chapais, France for a reunion of the town's descendants. She plans to stay with her aunt, who lives above the family bookshop inside the ancient walled city. Little does she know that three fairies have called her there to help a beastly teenage boy break the curse that has plagued his family for generations.

Using his father's watch as a key, Jake intends to return to Calypsos. Instead he's thrust into a strange desert land where he's joined by his friends Marika, Pindor, and Bach'uuk and his sister, Kady. As they try to figure out what to do next, a surprise attack by the beautiful young Princess Nefertiti takes them all captive. Soon even she is battling the Skull King's minions. For Jake has something the Skull King wants - a prize that will give its owner awesome power, including control of the fearsome Howling Sphinx.

On the day of the Harvest Festival, the old woman who lives in the forest appears in Abeni's village with a terrible message: You ignored my warnings. It’s too late to run. They are coming. Warriors with burning blades storm the village. A man with a cursed flute plays an impossibly alluring song. And everyone Abeni has ever known and loved is captured and marched toward far-off ghost ships set for even more distant lands. But not Abeni. Abeni is magically whisked away by the old woman.

A retelling of a classic tale of a kindly but poor shoemaker who gets unexpected help with his work.

Mangoshi lives with her mum and dad in a village near the forest. When her mum becomes ill, Mangoshi knows only one thing can help her - a special flower that grows deep in the forest. The little girl needs all her courage when she sets out alone to find and bring back the flower and all her kindness to overpower the dangers she encounters on the quest.