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.
Russian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Snow Maiden (Snegurochka)
A childless old couple build a snow girl who comes to life, but when they cheat the fox who saved her, she hears that a hen matters more and melts away.
Arabian Nights
Ages 9-12
The Fisherman and the Genie
A poor fisherman tricks a furious genie back into his jar, and the four coloured fish he wins lead a curious Sultan to a palace of black marble.
African Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The World’s Reward
An old dog no longer wanted by his master sets out for the land of the aged with six other old animals, and they find a house full of robbers.
African Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Monkey’s Fiddle
Monkey brings home a bow that never misses and a fiddle that makes everyone dance, and when a crooked court sentences him to hang, he plays.
African Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Story of a Dam
Jackal refuses to help dig the drought dam, then drinks from it, tricks the guard Baboon with a pot of “honey,” and is caught by a sticky Tortoise.
African Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Lion, the Jackal, and the Man
Tired of Lion’s boasting, Jackal promises to show him a creature stronger than any lion, and leads him past a boy and an old man to a hunter.
African Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Hunt of Lion and Jackal
Jackal’s arrow brings down an eland, Lion claims the shot, and Jackal lays a false trail of his own blood so he can steal back all the fat.
African Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Story of Lion and Little Jackal
Little Jackal agrees to hunt with Lion, then carries the eland home to his own children and escapes Lion again and again with quick-witted lies.
African Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Dance for Water, or Rabbit’s Triumph
Rabbit refuses to help the animals dance water up from a dry riverbed, drinks it anyway, and is caught by a pitch-covered Tortoise, but not for long.
African Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Lion’s Share
Jackal yields credit for his own shot to Lion, then keeps the best meat through false trails, false accusations and a dangerous tower trick.
African Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Lion Who Thought Himself Wiser Than His Mother
After quarrelling with the Only Man, Lion ignores his mother’s warning about the man with pinching weapons and white dogs, and lies in wait at the water.
African Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Lion and Jackal
Jackal agrees to share a winter’s hunting with Lion, starves Lion’s family while his own grows fat, then escapes up a cliff with a rope and a hot stone.