Here are some really amusing stories and fables told with delightful wit. Some poke fun at human foibles and some are there for the simple joy of silliness. all read for you by the amazing Volunteers.
A collection of ancient myths, legends and fairy-tales. Each story is a timeless adventure featuring a hero who is sometimes a man, animal or reincarnated Buddha. The short stories are life lessons presented in a humorous lighthearted nature. They will appeal to young and old alike as they have for centuries past.
Eric, artist for the king, has created a marvelous painting of a royal wedding. It is finished except for the face of the queen, which appeared to him in a dream. When he awoke, he had forgotten the form of the features. Obsessed with recapturing this vision, he goes on a quest to find the woman because he cannot paint another stroke until he sees those eyes again. During his journey, he discovers much more, perhaps even the true meaning of his dream and of his life.
We all know that Santa Claus has a large family in which to help him in the delivery of presents, peace, and good cheer. So what would you do if you were Miss Santa Claus and met two children on Christmas Eve traveling to a strange town to be reunited with their father and new stepmother? Why, naturally you would tell them the story of Princess Ina and a powerful charm they could use to turn their feared stepmother into a real mother. Follow the children as they learn to pick starflowers of obedience and kindness to make a mantle of love and become a real family.
There is no richer theme for children’s stories than the miracle of Spring. The selections in “The Emerald Story Book” aim to serve the young reader’s interest in three ways. Some of the myths and legends are interesting or amusing because flowers, insects, or birds are presented as personalities and emphasise human qualities or feelings. Some of the stories and poems contribute to the child’s store of knowledge by attracting his attention to some fact, beauty, or blessing in nature which may have escaped his notice. Still others make an appeal by suggesting or affirming the abiding hope symbolised in the thought, “See the land her Easter keeping.”
The child’s heart is filled with the joy of spring,—with the rapture expressed in the thrush’s song which Mrs. Ewing describes. “Fresh water and green woods, ambrosial sunshine and sun-flecked shade, chattering brooks and rustling leaves, glade and sward and dell. Lichens and cool mosses, feathered ferns and flowers. Green leaves! Green leaves! Joy! Joy!” (From the Introduction)
A little boy, recuperating from a lengthy illness, is entertained by visits from the Counterpane Fairy, who treats him to stories associated with each of the squares in the counterpane (quilt) on his sickbed. She has him concentrate on one of the squares until it turns into something like a doorway into the story. Once inside the story, he becomes its lead character until it fades out as if he's awakening from a dream.
A lonely boy is taken in by the friendly inhabitants of a little house in the woods. Through this adventure, he finds the fairy folk, nature, and happiness.
This is another "TWINKLE TALE" from Mr. Baum (written under the pen name Laura Bancroft) and celebrates the further adventures of Twinkle and Chubbins as they magically become child-larks and live the exciting, and often dangerous, life of birds in the forest.
A book of short fables with morals.
David Cory is the author of more than 40 childrens books. This is one in his series of Puss in Boots, Jr. The roots of the legend of Puss in Boots seems to go back to Italian folklore. These books are written for younger readers, about second grade and up, hence the "junior" designation
An elephant in Oz? You bet! The tiny kingdom of Pumperdink has what no neighboring kingdom has: an Elegant Elephant in court, and his name is Kabumpo. He is very proud of his kingdom, his elegance and tends to be just the smallest bit pompous. On the other hand, he loves the young prince Pompo and goes with him in a desperate search to save their kingdom from disappearing. Yes, the prince must find the 'proper princess' and marry her within 7 days or the entire kingdom and everyone in it will be gone. Such a great responsibility on such a youth is hard to bear but Kabumpo helps a lot. Naturally the evil gnome Ruggedo is involved deep underneath but this will all be explained in the exciting chapters. Will he find the proper princess? will he squished by the giant? You must listen to find out and I promise it will be a wild ride
Julian Hawthorne spins a charming fairy tale featuring the mischievous dwarf Rumpty-Dudget', Princess Hilda, Prince Frank and the Queen. Add in some gnomes, golden Ivy-seed, diamond water-drops and magic fire and you are in for enchanting adventures.
Sisters Margaret and Frances wait for their younger brother Edward to go for a nap before embarking on the adventure of trying to stand on the heads of their shadows. Daddy sees them and encourages them to chase further adventures of childhood, little suspecting where they will take them.
A delightful Christmas fantasy told with inimitable charm and delicate humor. It is "the story the robins tell as they huddle beneath the holly on the Eve of Christmas"—the sensation created by the birth of the first baby, among the animals on earth, the angels in heaven, and even in the mind of the surprised Almighty Himself. The conception of the Deity is a primitive one, as required by the nature of the tale, and the story should be read as a "myth-story." - Publisher's Advertisement
THERE was once a cat which was not in the least like any cat you have ever seen, or I either, for the matter of that. It was a fairy cat, you see, and so you would rather expect it to be different, wouldn’t you? It had a violet nose, indigo eyes, pale blue ears, green front legs, a yellow body, orange back legs and a red tail. In fact, it was coloured with all the colours of the rainbow, and on that account it was known as the Rainbow Cat.It lived, of course, in Fairyland, and it had all sorts of strange adventures. I am going to tell you some of them, and I think you will agree with me that it really had a very thrilling time, one way or another.
A collection of unique stories for listeners with the wisdom to see a bit beyond the printed words. The stories start in Korea with The Laughing Bear (or MOUWOU The Deliverer.as he is also called in Korea) and move through the world of a not nice girl and the visits she receives from the Gray Witch, to the hilarious adventures in the barn yard and we even dip under the world for a few to see what is happening in middle earth. All are interesting and may well surprise you in their uniqueness.
This is a charming fairy story by renowned author William Bowen. Merrimeg is a kind, helpful and obedient little girl. But after finishing her chores, as she goes outside to play, imps intervene and sweep her up the chimney. What is to become of her? And so her adventures begin.
A collection of Nursery Rhymes retold by the author and others.
This is a recording of seven immortal and delightful fairy tales written by Hans Christian Andersen. The Little Match Girl is of course the first, followed by The Swineherd, The Real Princess, The Leap Frog, The Elderbush, The Bell and finally, The Old House. They cover a wide range of topics but all demonstrate the storytelling genius of the prolific Danish author who gave us so many memorable and cherished tales.
Fairies, Evil Step Mothers, Enchanted Forests, Golden Geese, Poor Little Children, Fairy Godmothers, Magic wells, and oh, so many many more of the things that make those well loved stories thrilling to tell and listen to are in this little book. And there are a few that you may never have heard of before. just to spice things up a bit. Some are short and some are long but all have a big helping of magic and wonder. Do you like stories like this? well, here you are!
The Light Princess is a fairytale written by George MacDonald about a young princess who is cursed by her wicked aunt to be without gravity. The only time the princess is not light and able to be normal is when she is in water. She soon grows an attachment to the lake near her palace and spends as much time in this lake as she can. A young prince who set out to find a princess to marry stumbled upon this young princess' palace. She was nothing like any princess that he had met before, and they soon spent nights swimming together in her lake. But when the lake starts to dry up, due to the same witch who removed the weight from the princess, the princess starts to wither away with it. In order for the lake, and consequently the princess, to be saved, someone has to plug the hole that the water is escaping through, and therefore sacrifice their own life. The prince eagerly volunteers to give his life to save the princess. Despite the odds, he saves the lake, the princess, and manages to survive as well. The lake becomes full again and the princess regains her gravity. All is well in the kingdom and the prince and princess live happily ever after.
All people in the world tell nursery tales to their children, and the stories are apt to be like each other everywhere. A child who has read the Blue and Red and Yellow Fairy Books will find some old friends with new faces in the Pink Fairy Book. Courage, youth, beauty, kindness, have many trials, but they always win the battle; while witches, giants, unfriendly cruel people, are on the losing hand. So it ought to be, and so, on the whole, it is and will be; and that is all the moral of fairy tales. We cannot all be young, alas! and pretty, and strong; but nothing prevents us from being kind, and no kind man, woman, or beast or bird, ever comes to anything but good in these oldest fables of the world. (Summary of the Author's Preface by Elliott Miller)
The Sleeping Beauty, Bluebeard, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. All stories we of course have heard many times. But these are retold by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch in a unique way that keeps the flavor of the original French of Perrault but adds a delightful easy of reading and speaking them.
Andrew Lang’s Violet Fairy Book (1901) was a beautifully produced and illustrated edition of fairy tales that has become a classic. This was one of many other collections of fairy tales, collectively known as Andrew Lang’s Fairy Books.
These Norwegian tales of elemental mountain, forest and sea spirits, have been handed down by hinds and huntsmen, wood choppers and fisher folk. They are men who led a hard and lonely life amid primitive surroundings. The Norwegian Fairy Book has an appeal for one and all, since it is a book in which the mirror of fairy-tale reflects human yearnings and aspirations, human loves, ambitions and disillusionments, in an imaginatively glamored, yet not distorted form. [from the book's preface]
The Crimson Fairy Book contains thirty-six stories collected from around the world and edited by Andrew Lang. Many tales in this book are translated, or adapted, from those told by mothers and nurses in Hungary; others are familiar to Russian nurseries; the Servians are responsible for some; a rather peculiarly fanciful set of stories are adapted from the Roumanians; others are from the Baltic shores; others from sunny Sicily; a few are from Finland, and Iceland, and Japan, and Tunis, and Portugal. No doubt many children will like to look out these places on the map, and study their mountains, rivers, soil, products, and fiscal policies, in the geography books. The peoples who tell the stories differ in colour; language, religion, and almost everything else; but they all love a nursery tale. The stories have mainly been adapted or translated by Mrs. Lang, a few by Miss Lang and Miss Blackley.
Every child knows about Santa Claus, the jolly man who brings gifts to all on Christmas. There are many stories that tell of his life, but the delightful version relayed in The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus is by far the most charming and original of all, at least in my opinion. Only L. Frank Baum, the man who created the wonderful land of Oz, could have told Santa's tale in such rich and imaginative detail. The book is divided into his youth, his manhood and his old age and of course ends in how he became immortal and had to recruit helpers in almost every household around the world to keep the joy and happiness going each year. This delightful book has been recorded by Volunteers several times, including a wonderful dramatic version, but I think it is nice enough to do again and will also be a chance for new readers to contribute their unique voices to this tale. I hope we can finish this in time for the Christmas season but if not, that's OK too. Santa would understand!
Here they are again, the old, old stories, the very best; dear Cinderella, wicked old Bluebeard, tiny Thumbling, beautiful Beauty and the ugly Beast, and a host of others. But the old stories, I may tell you, are always new, and always must be so, because there are new children to read them every day, and to these, of course, these old tales might have been written yesterday. And these old stories are new too, because each reader performs them in a unique way that brings a fresh interpretation to the story
"Here they are again, the old, old stories, the very best; dear Cinderella, wicked old Bluebeard, tiny Thumbling, beautiful Beauty and the ugly Beast, and a host of others. But the old stories, I may tell you, are always new, and always must be so, because there are new children to read them every day, and to these, of course, these old tales might have been written yesterday.But the stories in this book are new in another way. Look how they are clothed, look at their beautiful setting, the wonderful [pg 8] pictures! Have you ever seen such charming princes and lovely princesses, such dainty grace and delicate feeling?What would our grandfathers and grandmothers have said of such a book! They would have thought there was magic in the brush and pencil.Surely we are favoured in this generation when we see before us, the old, old fairy tales, which are ever new, dressed in such a beautiful and splendid fashion! "
This book of Scottish fairy tales tells of brownies, fairies, and apparitions, bogies, witches, kelpies, and tales told about a mysterious region under the sea, "far below the abode of fishes," where the Mermaids and Mermen live. There are stories of the Brownie, magical animal tales where the animals are endowed with the power of speech, tales of enchantment, and legendary stories, half real, half mythical. The author has tried to make a representative collection from these different classes of Scottish Folklore, choosing the tales that are the least well known.
Many of these tales were published in English in 1909, the Brothers Grimm tales in this book were published separately in 1920 with illustrations by Arthur Rackham (1867-1939).
The beloved Raggedy Ann stories are beloved classics about the little rag doll with the floppy body, perpetual smile and happy attitude. Well, these stores about Raggedy Andy, a boy rag doll who has those same attitudes and some exciting adventures. Read how he came into the life of Raggedy Ann and how they became best friends in the nursery. True, his enthusiasm to help gets him into some strange places with funny dolls and animals, but with the help of his friends he always comes through with a big smile as usual.
Professor Macmillan has placed all lovers of fairy tales under a deep debt of obligation to him. The fairy tale makes a universal appeal both to old and young; to the young because it is the natural world in which their fancy delights to range, and to the old because they are conscious again of the spirit of youth as they read such tales to their children and grandchildren over and over again, and rejoice in the illusion that after all there is not a great difference of age which separates the generations.
The fairy tale makes this universal appeal because it deals with the elemental in our natures that is the same in every age and in every race. In the Canadian Tales which Professor Macmillan has so admirably gathered from Indian sources, we find the same types of character and scenes of adventure that we do in the tales of the German forests, of Scandinavia, England or France.
There is in us all an instinctive admiration for the adventurous spirit of the fairy tale which challenges the might that is cruel and devastating, and for the good offices of the fairies which help to vindicate the cause of the noble in its conflict with the ignoble, right with wrong.
A darling collection of Dutch fairy tales presented by William Griffis. Starting with The Entangled Mermaid and ending with Why the Stork Loves Holland, these 20 stories are all entertaining and well written. Children of all ages should love to hear them.
This book is made of the stories told by the Northern folk,—the people who live in the land of the midnight sun, where summer is green and pleasant, but winter is a terrible time of cold and gloom; where rocky mountains tower like huge giants, over whose heads the thunder rolls and crashes, and under whose feet are mines of precious metals. Therefore you will find the tales full of giants and dwarfs,—spirits of the cold mountains and dark caverns.You will find the hero to be Thor, with his thunderbolt hammer, who dwells in the happy heaven of Asgard, where All-Father Odin is king, and where Balder the beautiful makes springtime with his smile. In the north countries, winter, cold, and frost are very real and terrible enemies; while spring, sunshine, and warmth are near and dear friends. So the story of the Beginning of Things is a story of cold and heat, of the wicked giants who loved the cold, and of the good Æsir, who basked in pleasant warmth.
"Of course, we all knew the Scarecrow was a very fine fellow, but surely we never guessed he ascended from an emperor. Most of us descend from our ancestors, but the Scarecrow really ASCENDED.The Scarecrow had a most exciting and adventurous time on the Silver Isle and Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion just ran out of one adventure into another trying to rescue him. They made some charming new friends in their travels—Sir Hokus of Pokes, the Doubtful Dromedary, and the Comfortable Camel. You'll find them very unusual and likable. They have the same peculiar, delightful and informal natures that we love in all the queer Oz people." From the introduction. When Frank Baum died, he left notes for the next book in the Oz series and they were used to write this delightful story.
"Princess Ozma has ruled so wisely and happily in the wonderful Land of Oz for so long that most of us have forgotten the strange story of the Lost King of Oz—Ozma's father.As everyone in Oz knows, the King was transformed from his royal self by Mombi, the wicked old Gilliken witch, and lost his throne and his crown when he, himself, was lost.In this new Oz book the Royal Historian tells how Snip, the little buttonboy, and Pajuka, the great white goose—who had been the lost King's prime minister in the good old days—set out from the jolly Kingdom of Kimbaloo to find the King and to petition Princess Ozma to punish Mombi for her wicked mischief.Princess Dorothy meets Snip and Pajuka, as she returns from a sudden and curious visit to Hollywood with a funny and friendly moving picture dummy, and the four adventurers are whisked to the Emerald City by Kabumpo, the Elegant Elephant. At the Court of Ozma the Scarecrow and the Wizard of Oz join in the attempt to find the Lost King, and the surprising events that follow make a truly exciting Oz story.After many thrilling attempts, the mystery of the Lost King is magically solved, but you must read for yourself to find out all about it."
These are selections from a large collection made by A. J. Glinski, printed at Wilna in 1862. These fairy tales come from a far past and may even date from primitive times. They represent the folklore current among the peasantry of the Eastern provinces of Poland, and also in those provinces usually known as White Russia. They were set down by Glinski just as they were related to him by the peasants. In the translation it was of course necessary to shorten them considerably; the continual repetition—however quaint and fascinating in the original—cannot easily be reproduced. Portions, too, are often told in rhyme, or in a species of rhyming prose that we associate with the ancient ballad. The obvious likenesses between these and the folklore of Germany, the Celtic nations, or to the Indian fairy-tales, will strike every reader. The stories are longer than usual but very rewarding and fun to listen to.
The Cowardly Lion, always fearful, has become even more afraid than usual and is convinced that he has lost the courage the Wizard of OZ gave him man years ago. To remedy this he decides to follow the dubious advice from the Scrapwork Girl, to 'find someone who has courage and swallow him up'. Unfortunately the King of the little known country of Mudge wants him captured and added to his lion collection. Naturally new characters, all funny and fun, join in the collision of intents and purposes as only in t he magical land of OZ can they do so. Exciting, funny and fabulous this tale will enchant you with its whimsy and wit. Will our dear Cowardly Lion actually swallow someone:? Will he be captured and added to the zoo of the Mudgers? Listen and be delighted with it all works out.
"The Publishers offer in this little volume of well known and long loved stories to their young readers. The tales which have delighted the children of many generations will, they feel assured, be equally welcome in the nurseries of the present day, which, with the popularity and antiquity of the contents of the volume, justify them in styling it The National Nursery Book." Red Riding Hood, The Three Bears, Mother Hubbard, Cinderella and many other well known stories, poems, nursery rhymes and songs are included in this little book. Note that the Punch and Judy story does include a lot of gratuitous violence but then that is what Punch and Judy seem to be all about, eh?
This book, subtitled "How and Why Tales from Brazilian Folk-Lore", is a collection of short stories, most of them etiologial myths from Brazilian Indian Folklore.
Here are four delightful fairy tales that have fascinated children and adults for centuries. Several, such as The Three Bears and The Three Little Pigs are well known and can be listened to with delight as each remembered and beloved part is come to. Others, such as The Golden Goose and Tom Thumb are not so well known and listening to them can be exciting because we do not know exactly what is to come as the story unfolds.
The well known and delightful tale of Alice in Wonderland but retold in simpler language. All the characters are there, even the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter. Note that even though the title says 'words of one syllable', there are quite a few two and even multiple syllable words which the author divides into smaller bites by using dashes. Don't let this bother you. The book is well written and would be an excellent choice for all listeners or those for whom English is not their first language.
"Tales of Fun & Fancy" is the subtitle of this story book and it well describes the contents which are written with a great deal of fun and fancy indeed. I have chosen 15 of these imaginative and delightful stories for us to record in this project. Some are short, some are longer but all will capture your fancy as you listen to them.
Glinda the Good, the great sorceress of Oz takes the spotlight in this, the very last OZ book written by L. Frank Baum himself. Ozma hears of previously unknown parts of her kingdom having difficulties and at war with each other and knows it is her duty to go there and stop the hostilities. She and Dorothy find truly bad conditions in these areas of Flathead Mountain and the Skeezers Magic Island where the inhabitants are being mistreated. But through events that could only happen in Oz, they become trapped in a submerged island along with all the Skeezers. Glinda and all the well known characters of Oz set off to attempt a rescue. Do they make it in time? Listen to this book full of magic and exciting adventures and see.
This is a collection of delightful tales that explore the uniqueness of the Welsh people, Welsh heroes, Welsh countryside, Welsh animals and Welsh pride. Some other minor peoples are mentioned in passing (the English, The Scots, etc.) but mainly these stories embody the exuberant pride and joy in living of the Welsh people as well as their wry humor. Most stories are fairly short and would make a wonderful listening episode for anyone..
On many a day had Handy, the Goat Girl of Mern, pursued her goats up and down the rocky eminences of her native mountain. And never—NEVER—in her fourteen or so years' experience had she been blown up by a mountain spring. But there comes, in every one's experience a day which is unlike every other day, and so it was with the Goat Girl. As she was pursuing What-a-butter, her favorite goat, there was a sudden crash, a whish, and up flew the slab of rock on which she was standing, up and away.The adventures into which she was carried by this simple though awefull beginning take a whole book to relate. How she met Nox the Royal Ox of Keretaria, how together they went in search of little King Kerry, how at last they rescued him and found themselves feted guests of Ozma of Oz, all these things you must read for yourselves.
A retelling of Greek myths, history and stories aimed at children.
Samuel Adams was born in 1833, began journalism in 1858, served in the Army for 10 years & returned home to continue with his journalism. Journalism must have been his passion as he did write many books with this one being one of his last. ‘The Myths and Fables of To-day’ is a wonderful collection of myths & fables that are certain to keep the kids smiling. Summary by adr6090.
A Faithful Story of the Astonishing Adventure Undertaken by the Tin Woodman, assisted by Woot the Wanderer, the Scarecrow of Oz, and Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter. The Tin Woodman, whose real name is Nick Chopper, seeks to find the Munchkin Girl he had courted before he became a tin man. Sadly, she has a new love and no longer cares for him. As he attempts to regain her affection, Nick discovers a fellow tin man, Captain Fyter, as well as a Frankenstein monster-like creature, Chopfyt, made from their combined parts by the tinsmith, Ku-Klip. Many exciting adventures happen to everyone involved and the Land of Oz contributes much magic and happiness to the outcome.