Ages 9-12
Stories suggested for ages 9–12, with longer journeys, competing motives and difficult choices. Some contain frightening scenes or violence described in the page’s guidance. These age suggestions support selection and discussion; they do not make every traditional story equally suitable for every reader.
The King Who Would See Paradise
A king who cannot believe in what he cannot see makes a holy man promise to show him Paradise, and the glimpse he gets costs him far more than he expects.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Why Brahmans Cannot Eat in the Dark
On his wedding night a young bridegroom is caught by a crocodile and begs to be let go until midnight, but his clever bride follows him with a hidden lamp.
The Cat, the Mouse, the Lizard and the Owl
A cat caught in a hunter's snare begs her old enemy the mouse to bite through the string, and the mouse agrees, but only on his own careful terms.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Keep It for the Beggar
Every night a farmer asks his wife to save some dhal soup for his breakfast, until one night an invisible someone laughs out loud at his words.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Sir Buzz
A soldier’s son pulls a thorn from a tigress’s paw and is given a box, and out jumps a tiny, bad-tempered man who can fly like a bee.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Beetle and the Silken Thread
A wise vizier is left to die at the top of a tall tower, and to save him, his wife must bring a beetle, a drop of honey and a thread as fine as a spider's web.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Beggar and the Five Muffins
A poor beggar and his wife make five muffins and cannot agree who gets the extra one, so they agree that whoever speaks first will get only two.
The Goat Who Laughed and Wept
A goat being made ready for a feast laughs out loud and then weeps, and when the teacher asks why, the goat’s answer changes the way he thinks.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Brahman Priest Who Became an Amildar
A king makes his household priest a district governor and gives him three pieces of advice, which the priest follows word for word, with ridiculous results.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Charmed Ring
A merchant's son spends all his money saving a dog, a cat and a snake, and when his magic ring is stolen, the cat and the dog set out to bring it back.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Wise Jackal
Two runaway princesses find a marble palace in the jungle, and a friendly jackal promises to warn them when the ogre who owns it comes home.
Indian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Valiant Vicky, the Brave Weaver
A weaver mistakes a lucky hit on a mosquito for proof of heroism. Further accidents bring him fame, though the reader sees the fear behind his boasts.