All Stories
Browse our complete collection of folk tales, Panchatantra stories, and moral stories from around the world.
Arabian Nights
Ages 9-12
The Barber’s Tale of His Sixth Brother
Shakashik the starving beggar of Baghdad accepts an imaginary feast from a Barmecide nobleman, plays through the cruel charade with patience, and wins both real food and a place in the great house - the Arabian Nights tale that gave English the word 'Barmecide.'
Russian Folk Tales
All Ages
The Tsarevna Frog
The Tsarevna Frog: [Illustration] In an old, old Russian tsarstvo, I do not know when, there lived a sovereign prince with the princess his wife. They had
Russian Folk Tales
All Ages
Seven Simeons
Seven Simeons: [Illustration] In an empire, in a country beyond many seas and islands, beyond high mountains, beyond large rivers, upon a level expanse, as if
Russian Folk Tales
All Ages
The Language Of The Birds
The Language Of The Birds: [Illustration] Somewhere in a town in holy Russia, there lived a rich merchant with his wife. He had an only son, a dear, bright
Russian Folk Tales
All Ages
Ivanoushka The Simpleton
Ivanoushka The Simpleton: [Illustration] In a kingdom far away from our country, there was a town over which ruled the Tsar Pea with his Tsaritza Carrot.
Russian Folk Tales
All Ages
Woe Bogotir
A Russian peasant folk tale of two brothers — one rich, one poor — and how the poor one outwits Woe (Gore), the gaunt grey personification of Misfortune who has come to live in his house. Translated by Verra Xenophontovna Kalamatiano de Blumenthal in Folk Tales from the Russian (1903) from Afanasyev's Narodnye russkie skazki. ATU 735A 'Bad Luck Imprisoned.'
Russian Folk Tales
All Ages
Baba Yaga
A canonical Russian wonder-tale from Afanasyev (tales 102-103, Narodnye russkie skazki, 1855-63; English re-telling Blumenthal 1903). Two orphan twins, sent into the forest by a wicked stepmother, find Baba Yaga the witch in her hut on chicken legs. They are saved by the small kindnesses they have given to mice, a hungry cat, forest birds, a rusty gate and a wounded birch tree; the cats gift of a towel and a comb becomes a river and a dark forest behind them in the magic flight. ATU 480 fused with ATU 313H*. With scholarly attribution to Propp, Johns, Hubbs and Forrester.
Russian Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
Dimian The Peasant
Dimian The Peasant: [Illustration] Not long ago, or perchance very long ago, I do not know for sure, there lived in a village, some place in Russia, a peasant
Russian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Golden Mountain
The Golden Mountain: [Illustration] Once upon a time a merchant’s son had too much fun spending money, and the day came when he saw himself ruined; he had
Russian Folk Tales
All Ages
Father Frost
Father Frost: [Illustration] In a far-away country, somewhere in Russia, there lived a stepmother who had a stepdaughter and also a daughter of her own.
Russian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Firebird and Princess Vasilisa
The Firebird and Princess Vasilisa: In the days when the world was young and magic flowed through forests like rivers of starlight, there lived a great Tsar
Russian Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Three Kingdoms: Gold, Silver, and Copper
The Three Kingdoms: Gold, Silver, and Copper: Long ago, when the earth was still young and caves held wonders beyond counting, there lived a noble prince named