This wise tale comes from India. It has been told for more than two thousand years, and it has travelled to Persia, Arab...
The shelf
Famous tales
Stories children already know by heart.
The Mitten in the Snowy Forest
This cozy tale comes from Ukraine, where it is called "Rukavychka." Ukrainian grandmothers tell it on cold winter nights...
The Talkative Tortoise and the Two Kind Ducks
This tale comes from India, from a very old book of animal stories called the Panchatantra, and from the Jataka tales. I...
Momotaro, the Peach Boy, and His Three Friends
This is one of the most famous folk tales of Japan. Japanese children hear about Momotaro, whose name means "Peach Boy,"...
The Giant Turnip and the Littlest Helper
This happy tale comes from Russia, where it is called "Repka." Russian grandparents love to tell it, and children love t...
Ma Liang and the Magic Paintbrush
This much-loved tale comes from China, where children have heard about the boy Ma Liang and his magic brush for many, ma...
The Traveler and the Wonderful Stone Soup
This cheerful tale is told all over Europe, in France, Portugal, Sweden and many other lands. Every country tells it a l...
Anansi and the Pot of All the Wisdom
This tale comes from the Ashanti people of Ghana in West Africa, where grandparents have told stories of Anansi the spid...
Juha, His Son and the Little Grey Donkey
This is a funny old tale told by Arab families for hundreds of years, from Syria and Iraq to Egypt and Morocco. It is ab...