Tuck-Me-In Tales

In this charming Chinese folktale, a hardworking woodcutter discovers a magical pot that duplicates everything placed inside it. While he and his wife are initially overjoyed by their sudden wealth, they soon realize that doubling their possessions can also double their troubles.

Long ago in India, there lived a raja who believed that he was wise and fair. But every year he kept nearly all of the people's rice for himself.

This timeless story from India is about a poor boy's dream of having his own drum. His mother is...

Rooster's Night Out is a humorous Cuban folktale about a vain rooster who gets tomato juice on his feathers right before a big party.

Fat Cat: A Danish Folktale is a hilarious and colorful retelling of a classic story about a cat whose hunger knows no bounds. After eating everything from a washerwoman to a king and his elephant, the greedy cat meets his match when he finally swallows a clever little mouse.

When Nicki drops his white mitten in the snow, he goes on without realizing that it is missing. One by one, woodland animals find it and crawl in; first, a curious mole, then a rabbit, a badger and others, each one larger than the last. Finally, a big brown bear is followed in by a tiny brown mouse and what happens next makes for a wonderfully funny climax.

The Well of Truth is a funny Egyptian folktale about three friends—Goat, Rooster, and Donkey—who decide to start a farm together. When their clover field is suddenly destroyed, Donkey tries to hide a greedy secret.

Have you ever stopped to really look at a spider’s web? If it’s only meant to catch flies, why does it shimmer with such delicate, beautiful patterns? Have you ever wondered what makes thunder rumble, why the ocean tastes salty, or how tigers came to wear their bold stripes? This collection gathers delightful “why” stories from many cultures and time periods—tales that imagine how animals, plants, and natural wonders came to look or behave the way they do.

A spellbinding gathering of eerie and enchanting tales, this collection brings together ghostly encounters and supernatural wonders from cultures around the world. Master storytellers—Mariella Bertelli, Alice Kane, Cathy Miyata, Stanley Sparkles, and many others—share stories that shimmer with mystery and imagination.

In Anansí and the Tug O' War, the clever spider Anansí uses his quick wits to teach the giant Elephant and the massive Whale a lesson about respect. By challenging them both to a tug-of-war, he tricks the two large animals into pulling against each other while he watches the fun.

Tim O’Toole and his wife, Kathleen, are so poor they have not a penny or a potato between them. Even...

This funny and rhythmic story teaches kids that a change in perspective can make any home feel perfect. It is an ideal read-aloud book for teaching gratitude and the value of a happy, bustling household.