1. Our bedtime stories >
  2. Around the World

Around the World

Let's travel around the world together? Will we first visit the seal hunters in Greenland or the African tribes? And how about getting to know the story of the Vietnamese Cinderella? Immerse yourself with the children in the secrets of traditional stories from all over the world: from the Far East through vast Africa to the eternally frozen plains of the far north.

Download all stories
The Magic Cooking Pot

Chinese Tale

The Magic Cooking Pot

7
 min
5
+
4.6

This traditional tale takes us to China, to a family where a penny-pinching, cantankerous wife is constantly complaining about a lack of money. Everything changes when her husband brings home a magic cooking pot. How will they get along with their new wealth? Find out in this Chinese tale with a rather surprising ending.

Around the World
Brave Santiago

Colombian Tale

Brave Santiago

14
 min
5
+
4.59

Ages ago, in a Colombian village, the young inhabitants decide to evict all the elderly, forcing them to find another settlement elsewhere. Only one young man objects to this idea. As a result, he joins the old folks and they establish a fine new village. But when Santiago goes back to the old village to find love, he discovers turmoil. Do the young people realise what they have done?

Around the World
The Fox and the Tiger

Chinese Tale

The Fox and the Tiger

6
 min
5
+
4.58

When a little fox encounters a huge, hungry tiger in the forest, it seems like his fate is sealed. But he uses his wits to prove to the tiger that even though he is no match for his strength, his sharp mind will get him out of this mess.

Around the World
Romulus and Remus

Greek Fable

Romulus and Remus

9
 min
8
+
4.54

Do you know the legend of how the world-famous city of Rome was founded? Meet Romulus and Remus, twins raised by a kind she-wolf.

Around the World
Pygmalion

Greek Fable

Pygmalion

10
 min
8
+
4.53

An old Greek story about the greatest sculptor of all time – Pygmalion. Find out whether he was truly able to replicate life in his art, but also something much more important: how sculpture taught him to love himself.

Around the World
The Man Who Didn't Want To Be Angry

Chinese Tale

The Man Who Didn't Want To Be Angry

12
 min
8
+
4.53

Mr Wang steals his neighbour's duck and gets taught a really good lesson – he sprouts feathers! A Chinese god tells him that to get rid of the feathers, his neighbour must give him a good scolding. But what if that neighbour is a calm, kind person and doesn’t want to get angry with anyone? Read about Mr Wang’s struggles in this humorous Chinese fairy tale.

Around the World
The Blue Jackal

Indian Tale

The Blue Jackal

7
 min
5
+
4.52

A jackal jumps into a bucket of blue paint. The other animals come to fear him because they have never seen a blue creature before. When the jackal realises that everyone is afraid of him, he declares himself King. Eventually, the self-proclaimed king finds out that a lie only goes so far.

Around the World
The Offended Lion

German Tale

The Offended Lion

5
 min
3
+
4.51

A little bunny carelessly makes fun of the lion, the king of the animals. For this audacious offence, he is taken to court, where he faces a terrifying sentence. However, the lion behaves like a true king, and his judgment ends up teaching the little bunny a valuable lesson.

Short stories
The Crystal Heart

Vietnamese Tale

The Crystal Heart

10
 min
8
+
4.42

Mi Nuong falls in love with a song that she hears one day from outside her window. She thinks it must have been a young gentleman singing it just for her. But this fantasy and her superficiality end up causing a lot of suffering – both to others and to herself.

Around the World
Crocodile Skin

African Tale

Crocodile Skin

3
 min
3
+
4.42

The African folk tale reveals why crocodiles have such a rough and scaly skin. It wasn’t always like this though. The story teaches that much pride can be harmful.

Around the World
How the Tiger got its Stripes

Vietnamese Tale

How the Tiger got its Stripes

8
 min
5
+
4.4

The tiger noticed that the big, powerful buffalo obeyed his master, a weak and helpless farmer. It was bugging him that everyone was talking about the farmer possessing something called wisdom. He was keen to find out what ‘wisdom’ actually was, where it comes from, and how to get it. In this fairy tale, that wisdom is revealed. And you’ll see just how it is connected to the tiger obtaining its stripes.

Around the World
The Man Who Lived Three Thousand Years

Korean Tale

The Man Who Lived Three Thousand Years

9
 min
5
+
4.39

This Korean folk tale tells the story of cunning Mr Tong, who was given a short life. In the end, he managed to live a hundred times longer and he hoped that thanks to his cunning he would be able to live forever. However, he had much too high an opinion of himself, and the messengers from the underworld who were looking for him managed to outwit him. A fairy tale about how no fate is unchangeable and even misfortune can be avoided.

Around the World
Jim and the Dragon

Czech tale

Jim and the Dragon

8
 min
5
+
4.39

In this story, you will discover how life changes in one small town when a terrible dragon takes up residence in a nearby cave. What will the dragon do and who will be brave enough to challenge it?

Around the World
The Toad Who Asked for Rain

Vietnamese Tale

The Toad Who Asked for Rain

6
 min
5
+
4.37

The whole earth is afflicted by a huge drought and so a little toad decides to go and ask the gods for rain. The gods don’t take his visit seriously at first, but he comes up with a clever plan to attract their attention.

Around the World
The Legend of the Dombra

Kazakh Legend

The Legend of the Dombra

5
 min
8
+
4.35

Have you ever heard of the dombra, a musical instrument from the Far East? In this Kazakh legend, you will learn about the magical sounds of the dombra and its association with the famous Genghis Khan.

Around the World
The Fern Flower

Polish tale

The Fern Flower

16
 min
8
+
4.32

In this Polish tale you will read about curious young Johnny, who sets out to find a magical fern flower that will make his dreams come true. The fern flower only blooms one night a year, but that doesn’t stop Johnny. He’s forbidden from sharing the tempting reward with anyone, and his obsession with wealth overtakes him - leading to a tragic end.

Around the World
Why Dogs Smell Their Tails

Mexican Legend

Why Dogs Smell Their Tails

5
 min
3
+
4.29

When the people of long ago Mexico behaved badly towards their faithful companions, the dogs gathered for a great meeting to put an end to it. They agreed to ask one of the greatest Aztec gods for help, so they wrote him a letter. In our story, based on an ancient legend, you can find out what happened. And a reminder to always treat our four-legged friends respectfully and kindly.

Around the World
Sir Twardowski

Polish tale

Sir Twardowski

7
 min
5
+
4.27

This Polish tale takes us to Krakow. There we find a nobleman whose curiosity for learning new and exciting things ends up bringing him face to face with the devil himself. The clever nobleman manages to turn the devil’s powers to good use, helping those around him. Although the devil tries to put an end to his good deeds, the nobleman’s prayers eventually free him from the devil’s clutches.

Around the World
Bedtime stories
Short stories
Folk stories
Human body
Wellbeing
Emotions & empathy
Nature stories
Science stories
Around the World
Animal stories
Aesop's fables
For toddlers
For 3+ years old
For 5+ years old
For 8+ years old
Christmas stories

Questions about

Around the World

What regions and cultures are featured in Readmio’s "Around the World" stories?

Readmio’s "Around the World" stories feature a diverse range of regions and cultures from across the globe. For example, you can explore the traditional tales of the Native Amerikans in the story The Hunter and The Snake, discover the rich cultural heritage of African tribes, or enjoy the enchanting Vietnamese Cinderella story The Sisters Tam and Cam. These stories span continents, including the Far East, Africa, Europe and the Americas, offering a broad spectrum of cultural experiences and traditions.

Are there any traditional stories included in the "Around the World" section?

Yes, the "Around the World" section includes several traditional stories from various cultures. Examples include the Korean folk tale The Delicious Stone Tteok  or the ancient Mayan Legend The Rabbit’s Ears.These stories are designed to immerse children in the richness of global cultural heritage and offer a window into the traditions and beliefs of different societies.

How can children benefit from reading stories from different cultures?

Reading stories from different cultures offers numerous benefits for children. By engaging with stories from various cultures, children can learn about different customs, values, and traditions, which enhances their cultural awareness and promotes inclusivity. Additionally, these stories can spark curiosity and a lifelong interest in exploring and respecting different cultures.

What age groups are the "Around the World" stories suitable for?

We believe these stories are suitable for a wide range of age groups. The stories are crafted to be engaging and accessible from the youngest children up to the age of 10. The narratives are designed to be age-appropriate, with content that is both educational and entertaining. For older children, the stories provide a deeper understanding of cultural diversity and can be used as a starting point for further exploration of global traditions and histories.

Mio tip: install the Readmio