Inspiring and engaging stories for kids, featuring ancient wisdom, timeless tales, and contemporary heroes. Listen here or on your favorite podcast app!
Rejected by his first love, a young man moves to a deserted island. When he catches a mermaid, she offers him a magic ring that will give him a second chance at love - but will he take it?
This story is part of the Stories to Grow By collection, and is used with permission here on Elderberry Tales.
A group of animals want to build a house for themselves in the middle of the forest, but what will happen when the Big Bad Wolf arrives for a visit?
This story is produced in collaboration with Stories to Grow By, a collection of fables and folktales from around the world, carefully selected and adapted to inspire character growth in children.
When a flock of doves is captured in a hunter's net, they need to work together to escape.
This classic story is adapted from the Panchatantra, an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables attributed to Vishnusharma.
This story is produced in collaboration with Stories To Grow By, an award-winning collection of stories from around the world, carefully selected and adapted to build character in children.
Image by Gerhard Gellinger from Pixabay
Emma and Josh heard that something happened in their town. A Black man was shot by the police.
"Why did the police shoot that man?"
"Can police go to jail?"
Something Happened in Our Town follows two families — one White, one Black — as they discuss a police shooting of a Black man in their community. The story aims to answer children's questions about such traumatic events, and to help children identify and counter racial injustice in their own lives.
Written by Marianne Celano, PhD, ABPP, Marietta Collins, PhD, and Ann Hazzard, PhD, ABPP
Refiloe's sister is getting married. Refiloe's chickens are very dirty and she decides to wash them for the wedding. The chickens do not like being washed. Refiloe cannot find her chickens when it is time for the wedding, and everyone is in for a big surprise!
This story: Refiloe and the Washed Chickens is written by Marion Drew. Illustrations by Wiehan de Jager. © African Storybook Initiative, 2014. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license.
African Storybook Initiative provides open access to picture storybooks in the languages of Africa, for children’s literacy, enjoyment and imagination.
If you haven't yet, please listen to "The Magic Library Part 1" before listening to this episode!
When we left Armie, he was having a nightmare about a chimera! In this second half, we learn what Armie's dream means, and the family returns to the magic library to fulfill their half of the bargain.
Written and Illustrated by William Sterr
Featuring Armando Coello and Desmond Coello as themselves
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The latest and greatest installment in the "My Mom, Detective!" series!
When Armando and his mother find a little library in their neighborhood, Armando is delighted to bring home "Wonders of the World." However, strange and unsettling events start to concern him. Could it be connected to the library and the book?
Written and Illustrated by William Sterr
In this classic English Fairy Tale, a couple wishes for a child, even if he is only as big as thumb - and that is exactly what they get. It isn't easy being small in a big person's world! Listen to how Tom gets into - and out of - trouble.
This version of the classic tale appeared in the Beacon Second Reader, by James H. Fassett, published in 1914 and available here through Project Gutenberg.
When a cold dreary day with no food brings the roosters, hens and geese down into "the dumps," one rooster manages to lift their spirits and make the best of things. Followed by a discussion about how we can lift our mood when we face challenges and disappointments.
Story by Frances M. Fox
Illustrator unknown
Published as part of "The Child's World Third Reader", edited by Hetty Browne, Sarah Withers, W.K. Tate and available here.
Originally appeared in The Outlook.
Long, long, ago an Emperor grows up so spoiled that no one is willing to do anything that might upset him, or make him think he is wrong in any way. It takes an honest peasant to make him aware of how he is being deceived.
Written by Anna von Rydingsvard
From the Wide Awake Third Reader, 1908.
Available through Project Gutenberg
