A humorous tale about friendship and the gains from a finger of millet. This story gives us the opportunity to talk about "trickster" characters - neither perfectly good, nor evil, we can admire their clever ways... from a distance.
This traditional story was written and translated by Cornelius Wambi Gulere. It was made available to the African Storybook Project by the Uganda Community Libraries Association.
For more incredible stories in English and a wide variety of African languages, visit The African Storybook Project. Thanks to the African Storybook initiative, for making this story available under a Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0 license.
Image by Couleur from Pixabay.
It is a time when only Owl has sun, water and fire, and life is very difficult for humans. Dima wants these things, and makes a plan to take them from Owl.
This traditional San story was told by Katunga Carimbwe and translated by Titu Mangumbu, Kapilolo Mahongo and Marlene Winburg. It was made available to the African Storybook Project by the Manyeka Arts Trust.
For more incredible stories in English and a wide variety of African languages, visit The African Storybook Project.
Image by Capri23auto from Pixabay
Alfi enjoys blowing bubbles, and doesn't mind if the bees pop them. The bees hate the bubbles, and want to keep from getting splashed! But when Alfi gets into trouble, will the bees come to his rescue?
Written by Tony J Moon
This story, and many more by Tony J Moon, are available for free download at Tony On The Moon.
Image by Alexas_Fotos, published by Pixabay.
The moments Emma shares with Grandpa Phil are always filled with beautiful discoveries. That is because her grandfather knows so much. He even knows how to change ordinary stones into precious gems by doing good deeds to others and for the environment. And now Emma, in turn, learns to transform plain beads into precious gems by performing kind and generous deeds.
Written by Anne Renaud
Art by Leanne Franson
"Emma's Gems" is available in English from Peanut Butter Press. Unfortunately the French version referenced in the podcast is no longer available.
This episode will be available for download until Sept 29, 2020.
Tim is nervous about starting school. So he comes up with a VERY clever plan to bring his pet llama Lottie with him. But things don’t go exactly to plan. Join Tim and Lottie on their adventure as Tim discovers that school isn’t so bad after all.
By Colette Warbrook
Art by Mark Wilcox
Help! I've Lost my Llama is available on Amazon.
For No Reason is an insightful tale about a better way to handle a bullying situation, following Jamie Higgins and a new boy in her class who keeps picking on her. Can Jamie solve this problem without getting into trouble?
By Kathleen Gauer
Art by Sari Richter
This is a book that plays very well in audio - but if you only experience it as an audiobook, you're missing out on the way the illustrations comment on and add additional layers to the text. Check it out at Skipping Stone Press, where you'll also find other books by Gauer & Richter, along with ideas of how to foster kindness in the classroom!
A Whole Other Magic is the jubilant ballad of a rogue fairy godmother who pawns off her wand, her wings, and all her magical powers for a sackful of old-fashioned toys, treasures, and "other things." She is moved by the plight of children today who are playing alone, inside, "in the blue and white glow of some other spell." To remedy their lackluster imaginations she has a whole new kind of magic up her sleeve... With her smorgasbord of unusual bibs and bobs and nature bits, and a rather rascally Toad by her side, she invites the children to enter into play that is ramshackle-wild, open-ended, and deeply satisfying.
Written by Gigi Jobb
Art by Alisa Day Reeves
A Whole Other Magic is available on Amazon.
Kanunu doesn't want to go to school. How could his mother possibly convince him to go?
In this goofy, silly, absurd, and ridiculous Syrian tale, it takes a household to send Kanunu off to school... or does it?
Written by Chris Esper
Art by Cardigan Broadmoor
"Go To School, Kanunu" is available on Amazon.
Being small is the worst! No one ever picks me for their sports team and my feet hurt from standing on my tiptoes all the time. There can’t be anything good about being small…right?
Told in dialogue between parent and child, this adorable rhyme is for every person who struggles with seeing the positive side to their unique traits.
Written by Lori Orlinsky
Check out the book on Amazon or find extra resources on Facebook!
It's Violet's first day at a new school, and she is starting to feel worried. What if nobody likes her? What if her teacher is mean? Unlike your ordinary first day jitters, these thoughts refuse to stay inside Violet's head. They pop into the air and become 'worry clouds' that won't stop following her! Feeling small, alone and invisible, Violet must figure out what she's going to do about the worry clouds. If her thinking got her into this mess, can it get her out, too?
Written and Illustrated by Roz Maclean
"Violet's Cloudy Day" is available on Amazon.
You can also download a classroom activity packet to practice replacing worries with helpful thoughts.
