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A collection of 22 leveled picture books featuring folktales from cultures around the world. Each story is carefully selected from the world's oral traditions, then edited and illustrated to actively engage a young reader's imagination. Since the stories come from the oral tradition, they are easy for children to decode, internalize and comprehend. Each story subtly incorporates character values into the dramatic elements of the plot.
In this story from Russia, two frog sisters learn the truth of that old saying, "It ain't over 'til it's over"—or, "The opera isn't over until the fat frog sinks." Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss, the team that brought us The Hidden Feast and Noodlehead Stories, put their noodles together to bring us this delightful tale of exploration and perseverance.
Did you ever wonder why spiders have no hair? After reading this African trickster tale, you will know. When Anansi goes to help his grandmother, he can't resist her steaming-hot pot of beans. Bobby and Sherry Norfolk take a wonderful new look at a classic story.
In this story, the world is dark and King Lion wants someone to go to the King of the Sky and ask for light. After many animals try and fail, Anansi the spider offers to go. In this timeless story from Africa, Bobby and Sherry Norfolk show us how Anansi uses his wits, his trickster skills, and the help of his friends to bring light to the world.
In this trickster tale from Africa, Anansi proves to Elephant and Killer Whale that in a battle of wits, brains definitely outdo brawn.
Anansi knows the custom that he must share his food if he has a guest at a mealtime. So when Turtle drops by before dinner, Anansi must be polite and invite Turtle to join him. Anansi, however, figures out a way to trick Turtle and keep all the food for himself. When Turtle realizes what Anansi has done, he decides to teach Anansi a lesson! In this trickster tale from Africa, Anansi learns the value of being a good host and the truth of the old saying, "what goes around, comes around."
Anansi is invited to three parties and wants to attend them all. He gives each of his hosts a rope to tug, ties the other end around his own waist, and waits to be summoned when the food is served -- but when all of the food is ready at the same time, Anansi is caught in the middle! That's why Spiders have small waists today.
Long ago, there were many suns in the sky and the world was miserably hot. The people asked the best archer in the land to shoot down many of the suns, leaving one in the sky. The remaining sun was afraid of the archer and hid behind a mountain, leaving the world cold and dark. Soon the people wanted the sun to come back, but it would take curiousity to lure the sun out from hiding. This classic story from China tells why the sun comes up in the morning and goes down at night, as well as why a certain farm animal is there every morning to loudly greet the sun.
When you think of Aesop's Fables, you probably think of "The Tortoise and the Hare" or "Country Mouse and City Mouse." In this collection, Rob Cleveland brings you three of Aesop's lesser-known but equally powerful fables. You will learn why bats fly at night, why you should pick your friends carefully, and why even a tiny ant could be your guardian angel.
When the head of a Buddhist monastery decides to pick a successor, he sends the young monks out to accomplish one task. The monks must each steal something, but they must steal in such a way that no one knows they have stolen. In this story T.V. Padma shows us how one young monk learns the truth of the saying, “to thine own self be true.”
When two greedy jungle cats discover a large piece of cheese, they can't decide how to divide it fairly. The clever monkey comes to their rescue. Or so they think. After reading this trickster tale from West Africa, you will think twice before asking a monkey for help.
A big bully lion is no match for old friend the Clever Monkey is this retelling of a classic story from West Africa.
In this story, a poor boy's dream of having a drum takes him on an unlikely path. He meets several people who guide him along the way. In time, he learns to make his own magic in this world.
In this story from India, a farmer’s three lazy sons don’t want to work. They sit around dreaming of making a lot of gold. When their mother tells them of gold buried in their field, they ask her how to bring the gold to the surface. Through clever suggestions, their mother guides them to tend the fields as they discover the true riches offered by hard work.
Many years ago, the proudest animal in the jungle was not the peacock. The proudest animal was the tiger. In this folktale from Vietnam, we see how Tiger's pride leads him to covet wisdom and, with the help of a wise farmer, earn his stripes.
In Puerto Rico, there are many stories about Juan Bobo, a young man with a good heart, but little common sense. In this tale, Juan Bobo’s mother tells him to take care of their pig while she goes to church. When the pig won’t stop grunting, Juan Bobo decides that the pig must want to go to church as well. Of course, you can’t go to church without being properly dressed.
Three brothers embark on separate journeys to fulfill their father's dying wish. In their journeys, they go to distant lands, find curious treasures, and learn the true meaning of giving.
In this story from China, when a woodcutter finds a magic pot that makes two of everything that he puts inside of it, he thinks all of his troubles have disappeared! Or have they just doubled?
In this story, a farmer and his wife match wits with a large, mean-spirited ogre. If they can’t outwit him, they will end up with no crops of their own to eat or sell. This whimsically drawn story is based on an old Swedish folktale.
In this chain story from Cuba, Rooster learns that he needs a lot of help to get cleaned up for Heron's party.
In this story from Peru, we meet a baker who is so stingy that he wants to charge people just for smelling his baked goods. When the baker takes his case to court, the wise judge decides to teach the greedy man a well-deserved lesson.
When Goat, Rooster, and Donkey decide to try their hand at farming, all goes well until Donkey’s appetite gets the best of him. In this tale from Egypt, Donkey learns the price of being greedy and discovers that the truth will always come out, even if it comes from the bottom of a well.
During a long drought in Australia, Tree Kangaroo and Koala grow thirsty for water. When Tree Kangaroo remembers how he and his mother survived a similar drought by digging a hole for water, their problems seem to be solved. Koala creates excuses to rest and be lazy while Tree Kangaroo works hard to dig the well. When water begins to fill the hole, Koala forgets to share and loses his tail and a friend!
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Story Cove Books
