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
Vasilisa the Beautiful

Russian Tale

Vasilisa the Beautiful

16
 min
5
+
4.64

This traditional Russian tale tells of poor young Vasilisa, who suffers hardship at the hands of her stepmother and stepsisters. Fortunately, she has a magical gift from her mother that can help her when times get tough. And thanks to her wit and diligence, Vasilisa eventually finds her way to a happier life.

Around the World
The Frog Princess

Russian Tale

The Frog Princess

15
 min
5
+
4.63

In this traditional Russian tale you will read about prince Ivan and his unusual bride, who helps him complete several seemingly impossible tasks. But then Ivan loses his magical princess. Will he manage to find her again?

Around the World
Eat, Coat, Eat!

Turkish Tale

Eat, Coat, Eat!

5
 min
8
+
4.6

Here’s another story about the Turkish sage and joker Nasreddin Hodja. This time, it’s a tale about how he was invited to a lavish feast. What happens when a guest arrives at the banquet inappropriately dressed?

Short stories
Ivan and the Greedy Innkeepers

Ukrainian Tale

Ivan and the Greedy Innkeepers

12
 min
8
+
4.6

The star of this traditional Ukrainian fairy tale is a clever man called Ivan. The people of his village didn’t like the local innkeepers because they encouraged people to drink too much alcohol. So Ivan decided to teach them a lesson! In this story, you’ll discover how things ended up for those greedy innkeepers.

Around the World
Romulus and Remus

Greek Fable

Romulus and Remus

9
 min
8
+
4.59

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
The Story of Loki

Nordic Fable

The Story of Loki

9
 min
8
+
4.58

Another Scandinavian myth, this tale introduces us to the famous prankster god Loki. What will happen when one of his careless jokes gets him into big trouble? He risks losing the moon and the sun!

Around the World
The Legend of the Drum

African Legend

The Legend of the Drum

8
 min
3
+
4.57

An African legend explains how people discovered the first musical instrument – the drum. It fell into the middle of their village straight from the moon, along with a playful monkey. Even bold ideas, which at first glance might seem impossible, can pay off. However, it’s important to think ahead to avoid any bad falls like the monkey had in this story.

Around the World
The Legend of the Dombra

Kazakh Legend

The Legend of the Dombra

5
 min
8
+
4.54

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
Donkey Skin

French tale

Donkey Skin

14
 min
5
+
4.54

A kind princess was told she must marry a cruel prince. To free herself from this horror, she gives the prince a series of difficult tasks to achieve, expecting that he would fail and she could safely avoid the wedding. But this ploy doesn’t work, so she’s left with only one option — to flee the palace disguised as a peasant. As a result, her life takes a curious turn.

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 Poor Farmer and the Rich Miser

Indian Tale

The Poor Farmer and the Rich Miser

9
 min
5
+
4.49

In this Indian story, we learn the fate of a poor farmer living in poverty and having almost nothing. He has to give everything to his neighbour, a money-lender. When he is given a rare magic horn that will fulfill his every wish, the greedy rich man finds out. Of course the neighbour wants to take advantage of the horn's power immediately. The farmer comes up with an idea, thanks to which he gets rid of the rich man's greed once and for all.

Around the World
The Offended Lion

German Tale

The Offended Lion

5
 min
3
+
4.48

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 Man Who Didn't Want To Be Angry

Chinese Tale

The Man Who Didn't Want To Be Angry

12
 min
8
+
4.48

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
Jim and the Dragon

Czech tale

Jim and the Dragon

8
 min
5
+
4.48

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
How the Tiger got its Stripes

Vietnamese Tale

How the Tiger got its Stripes

8
 min
5
+
4.43

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 Woodcutter and the Deer

Korean Tale

The Woodcutter and the Deer

14
 min
5
+
4.42

In this beautiful Korean folk tale, a poor woodcutter saves a young deer in the forest. As a thank you, he receives valuable advice on how to find joy. But will this advice be enough to bring him lasting happiness? Although the woodcutter has good intentions, he fails to follow the deer’s advice fully, and it ends up doing him more harm than good.

Around the World
The Impatient Peasant

Vietnamese Tale

The Impatient Peasant

5
 min
5
+
4.4

This is the story of a farmer who was too impatient. He didn’t like how slowly the seeds he had planted in his field were growing, he thought they were lazy. So he decided to help them so that he would bring in his harvest sooner. But all he managed to do was damage the plants and in the end his impatience meant there was no harvest at all. Patience and thoroughness always pay off.

Around the World
Sir Twardowski

Polish tale

Sir Twardowski

7
 min
5
+
4.39

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.