Nature & Animals
Talking animals, enchanted landscapes and stories explaining natural features appear in this theme. Animal characters may act like people, while a legendary origin may carry symbolic meaning. Read them as stories and use the source notes to distinguish a tale’s explanation from a factual claim about wildlife or the natural world.
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 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.
African Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Jackal and Monkey
Caught swinging in the Boer’s snare after stealing lambs, Jackal convinces a mocking Monkey that swinging is fun, and Monkey takes his place.
African Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Elephant and Tortoise
After Elephant quarrels with Rain, he leaves little Tortoise guarding the last lagoon, but Lion drinks anyway and Elephant’s punishment backfires.
Norse Folk Tales
Ages 3-5
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Three billy goats, all named Gruff, want to reach the sweet grass up the hill, but first they have to cross a bridge with a hungry troll living under it.
Norse Folk Tales
The Lassie and Her Godmother
A kind and beautiful lady raises a poor couple’s daughter but forbids her to open three rooms in her house, and one by one the girl cannot resist.
Norse Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Cat on the Dovrefell
A traveler leading a great white bear to the King of Denmark asks for shelter on Christmas Eve, the one night a whole pack of trolls always comes to feast.
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Wild-Cat Woman
Late one night a young scholar is eating roasted chestnuts brought by his wife when the door opens and a second wife walks in, carrying the very same basket.
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Unmannerly Tiger
Tricked by a hunter’s mirror into leaping at his own reflection, a proud old tiger lands in a pit and begs a passing monk to set him free.
Korean Folk Tales
The Snake’s Revenge
An archer shoots a great snake caught in the bars of the Water Gate of Seoul, and soon after, his wife gives birth to a son who is terrified of him.
Korean Folk Tales
All Ages
The Sky Bridge of Birds
Once a year every magpie in Korea flies up to the sky, where millions of them join wings to make a bridge across the River of Stars for two parted lovers.
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Rabbit’s Eyes
When the King of the Fishes swallows a fishhook, the sea doctors decide only a rabbit’s eyes can cure him, and Dr. Turtle is sent ashore to fetch one.