Nature & Animals
Discover 204 folk tales about nature and animals — the largest theme in our collection. These stories feature talking animals, enchanted forests, magical rivers, and the deep connection between humans and the natural world. From Panchatantra’s jungle fables to Aesop’s barnyard tales, these animal stories for kids use the wonders of nature to teach timeless moral lessons.
African Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
Elephant and Tortoise
A southern African Bushman tale: proud Elephant quarrels with Rain, claims the last water of a drought-stricken plain, and is undone by the patient wit of Tortoise.
Norse Folk Tales
Ages 3-5
The Three Billy-Goats Gruff
Norwegian *De tre bukkene Bruse* — three goats, one bridge, one greedy troll — ages 3–5 / 6–8. Asbjørnsen & Moe.
Norse Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Lassie And Her Godmother
The Lassie And Her Godmother: Once on a time a poor couple lived far, far away in a great wood. The wife was brought to bed, and had a pretty girl, but they
Norse Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Cat On The Dovrefell
A traveller's 'white cat' is really a great white bear — and on Christmas Eve he teaches a band of trolls a lesson they never forget.
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Wild-Cat Woman
The Wild-Cat Woman: [Kim Su-ik was a native of Seoul who matriculated in 1624 and graduated in 1630. In 1636, when the King made his escape to Nam-han from the
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Unmannerly Tiger
The Unmannerly Tiger: Mountain Uncle” was the name given by the villagers to a splendid striped tiger that lived among the highlands of Kang Wen, the long
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Snake’s Revenge
The Snake's Revenge: There lived in ancient days an archer, whose home was near the Water Gate of Seoul. He was a man of great strength and famous for his
Korean Folk Tales
All Ages
The Sky Bridge Of Birds
The Sky Bridge Of Birds: No bird is more common in Korea than the magpie. They are numbered by millions. Every day in the year, except the seventh day of the
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Rabbit’S Eyes
The Rabbit’S Eyes: There was trouble down in the fish world under the waves. Indeed, every creature with fins and a tail was in distress, for the king of the
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
The Grateful Ghost
The Grateful Ghost: It is often told that in the days of the Koryo Dynasty (A.D. 918-1392), when an examination was to be held, a certain scholar came from a
Korean Folk Tales
All Ages
The Boxed-Up Governor
The Boxed-Up Governor: A certain literary official was at one time Governor of the city of Kyong-ju. Whenever he visited the Mayor of the place, it was his
Korean Folk Tales
Ages 6-8
Cursed By The Snake
A proud magistrate kicks over a sacred snake and learns that nature — and the spirit in it — always remembers.