Long ago in Japan, a village stood beside the sea. When the water was calm, the village children played in the gentle waves, shouting and laughing. But sometimes the sea was angry, and waves came tearing up the beach to…
A Hungry Little Bear
“Stop splashing, Little Bear!” Mother Bear said crossly. “I brought you to the river to teach you how to catch fish. You are not trying to catch fish. You are playing and splashing.” “But it is fun to splash in…
The Golden Ball
Eight hundred years ago on the banks of the river Neath in South Wales there lived a boy named Elidyr. He was twelve years old, and when he grew up his mother hoped that he would become a priest. So…
A Clever Shepherd
Many years ago, in the time of King John, there was an Abbot of Canterbury. The Abbot was famous for having a large and rich house. People said that it was finer than even the King’s house and when King…
Peach Boy
Once there lived an old man and his wife. They were a gentle couple, who were happy together except for one thing — they had no children. For years they had hoped for a child of their own, but fate…
Babes in the Wood
Once upon a time there were two little children who had lost their parents.They lived in a big house with their uncle.Now the uncle knew that when these two babes grew up they would be very rich.“If only I could…
The Roadrunner and the Coyote
One afternoon a coyote surprised a roadrunner when it was half asleep and leaning against a wall.“Ah! Ah!” the coyote shouted, “I’ve got you! There is no escape!”“Don’t touch me! If I move, this wall will fall down on both…
The Clever Servant
A long time ago, there was a rich old man who loved wine and good food above everything else. And he had a servant who loved drinking and eating as much as his master did.Each time the rich old man…
The Wonderful Beans
“There is nothing in the house to eat, Jack,” said Jack’s mother as she came out of the kitchen. “And we have no money now, We’ll have to sell our cow tomorrow.”Early the next morning, Jack took their cow from…
One Little Pig And Ten Wolves
Once upon a time a little pig lived in a little wooden house in the middle of a forest in Hungary.One very cold day, the little pig made a big fire and began cooking his dinner.Suddenly there was a banging…