Around the World

Ukrainian Tale

Mr Cat from Cat’s End

4.5

Things are often not quite what they appear to be. A funny story about an old cat who unexpectedly finds himself living in the woods among the wild animals. Little does he know it, but even the biggest and strongest animals in the woods will come to respect him.

Greek Fable

Orpheus and Eurydice

4.5

In this story, you and your children can explore one of the best-known Greek myths. You’ll read about the lovers Orpheus and Eurydice, about Orpheus’s journey to the underworld and about the incredible things that love makes possible. You’ll also find out more about the role of the storyteller or writer and about how stories are invented and how they can change.

African Tale

The Turtle, the Hippo and the Elephant

4.49

This story is about a smart little turtle that tricks an elephant and a hippo in order to gain their friendship. This African fairy tale also explains how turtles and tortoises came to exist.

African Tale

The Lion and the Hare

4.48

If someone is stronger, it does not mean they can blame others unjustly. The lion accused the turtle of sniffing off all the aroma from the meat he had roasted. This is why it wasn’t tasty. He even went so far as to ask the sultan to recognise the crime and punish the turtle. Fortunately, the cunning hare helps her out in the end.

Greek Fable

Hades and Persephone

4.48

Could it be that a kidnapped daughter and her mother are the cause of the changing seasons? According to Greek mythology, Persephone was abducted into the realm of the dead by Hades, the god of the underworld. Due to the enormous grief felt by her mother, the crops dried up and winter came to the Earth for the first time. To prevent an eternal winter, a certain deal had to be struck with Hades …

Jewish Tale

Rabbi Loew and the Golem

4.47

Let this story carry you off to Renaissance Prague, a city of mystery and alchemy, where Rabbi Loew managed to do something unheard of: bring the legendary golem, a clay statue, to life.

Vietnamese Tale

Why Ducks Sleep the Way They Do

4.47

Ducks have a curious way of sleeping — they stand on one leg. However, according to this Vietnamese fairy tale, there’s a good reason for that. It’s said to have started with four particular ducks who, long ago, were born with only one leg. This predicament greatly displeased them, so they decided to complain to the heavens about it... Which resulted in a funny turn of events!

Vietnamese Tale

Why the Moonlight isn’t Warm

4.46

This is the legend of the moon in the early days of its existence, when it shone as brightly as the sun and heated the Earth all night long. The excessive heat caused much distress, threatening all living things. People everywhere looked for ways to protect the planet from burning up. This was finally achieved thanks to a skilled archer and his talented wife, who worked together to send a beautifully embroidered silk veil into the sky to cover the moon and quell the heat. It reminds us that long ago, humans still found a way to explain phenomena they did not understand.

Chinese legend

The Legend of the Milky Way

4.45

This old Chinese legend tells the story of two lovers – the beautiful heavenly weaver, daughter of the Emperor of the Heavens, and a cowherd from the world of humans. Unfortunately, their love makes them forget about all their duties, and so they end up separated forever by the Milky Way.

Greek Fable

Myth of the Minotaur

4.44

This well-known Greek legend takes us into the lives of the kings and queens, as they intermingle with gods and magic in these ancient times. Eventually the story brings us, along with Theseus, into a huge, complex labyrinth in the middle of which lurks a fierce creature called the Minotaur. In order to save human lives, Theseus must slay the Minotaur. But can the hero survive this challenge, and will he ever find his way out of the maze?

Korean Tale

The Delicious Stone Tteok

4.43

This old folk tale reminds us that when we are smart, we can overcome the most difficult obstacles, even if we are at an obvious disadvantage.

Chinese Tale

A Long Name

Simpler solutions can be much more effective. An old Chinese superstition says that the longer a name, the longer lived and happier a person will be.

Indian Tale

The Monkey and the Drum

When a clumsy monkey gets a thorn in its tail, it has no choice but to rely on human help. However, it very quickly abuses this help and shows its greed. In this way the monkey gets a lot of things from people in exchange.

Short stories

Albanian Legend

The Land of the Eagles

Albania is a country they sometimes call the land of eagles. There is a legend that explains its name. When a brave hunter saved a young eagle from danger, he laid the foundations of an inseparable friendship between man and eagle.

Armenian Tale

The King and the Weaver

Life experience is often more valuable than theories from books. Sometimes even the poor weaver can be smarter than the sages at the imperial court, who are generously paid for their services.

Italian Tale

Vardiello and the Hen

4.4

Vardiello isn’t a very clever son, but he thinks he is. When his mother leaves him alone in the house he gets into deeper and deeper trouble. Find out how a hen led to him hiding in the oven!

Short stories

Inca Legend

The Spider Princess

4.39

This is a story about the Inca Princess. Instead of doing her royal duties, she was carried away by her cruelty and ignorance. For her behaviour, she was punished and turned into an eternally working spider.

Venezuelan Tale

The Singing Flute