The story of a kind-hearted, curious mouse who gives his own eyes to other creatures so that they might be healed of various ailments. As a reward for the mouse's unselfish actions, a magical frog turns him into a majestic eagle.
A tiger caught in a trap tricks a kind Brahman to release him. But when the tiger then threatens to eat the Brahman, a sneaky jackal saves the day by tricking the gullible tiger.
A wizard helps a timid mouse become what he is most of afraid of. But no matter how the mouse changes, he cannot escape who he is inside.
The town of Hamelin is being overrun by rats! A mysterious traveling piper has the power to rid the town of the pests, but when he is cheated out of his payment, he gets revenge.
The story of Medio Pollito, a chicken born with only half of his body, is one of inspiration and purpose. He travels to find adventure, and with the help of the wind, finds his true calling as a weather vane.
This magical folktale tells of a boy who awakes from a dream with a paintbrush that brings his drawings to life. He paints tools, cows, and food for his village, and teaches a greedy emperor a lesson.
Children will love the ancient tale of Issun Boshi, a one-inch-tall boy who falls in love with a princess, slays a monster, and, through the power of a magical hammer, returns to normal size.
Magic beans bring young Jack luck and wealth, and then danger when he pushes his luck due to greed.
The story of Fedja the frog, her attempts to fly, and how her pride nearly costs the frog her life.
Some loud, disrespectful frogs need a king to teach them to be kind and courteous to others. After mistaking a rock as their ruler, they learn that the crocodile Mamba, with its sharp teeth and swishing tail, was their true king.
Readers learn how one child can make a difference when a young boy saves a village by plugging a hole in a dike with his finger.
Bouki mistakes an old man for a fortune teller, and gets fooled in this favorite folktale from Haiti.
A hungry wolf disguises himself as a sheep in order to steal and eat other members of the flock. He soon becomes the largest and fattest 'sheep,' which the shepherd then catches and cooks for his own dinner. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
The boastful hare thinks no creature can beat him in a race, but his overconfidence is tested in a race against a slow-moving tortoise. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
When a meek mouse is spared from becoming a hungry lion's next meal, she promises to return his great kindness. The little mouse later rescues a huge cat from a hunter's trap. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
Carrying her pail of milk upon her head, a milkmaid daydreams of what she will purchase once she sells the milk at market. But the milk is spilt before the maid can sell it, and thus readers learn the phrase 'don't count your chickens before they're hatched.' Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
Mr. Fox plays a trick on Ms. Stork--but he doesn't enjoy having the same trick played on him in return. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
A hungry heron spends all day looking for the perfect meal--bypassing all sorts of perfectly fine food in the process. The heron is so choosy that the sun soon sets, and he is forced to eat only a small snail. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
A vain crow has found some cheese to eat, but a hungry fox knows a secret: the crow cannot resist showing off! Flattering the crow into singing a song, the fox grabs the cheese when it falls from the crow's beak. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
A hungry fox tries repeatedly to reach some grapes hanging high on a vine. After numerous attempts, the fox gives up and stalks angrily away, saying that the grapes were most likely sour anyway. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
A bored shepherd entertains himself by falsely telling townspeople a wolf is stealing his sheep. When a wolf really does appear, the twice-tricked townspeople are convinced the shepherd is lying, and no one comes to his aid. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
Two mice cousins decide to visit each other's surroundings to learn more about their different worlds. But the city mouse soon feels that the country life is far too simple and boring for him, and the country mouse fears the city's many dangers. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
A busy ant spends all her time preparing for winter, while a lazy grasshopper enjoys the sunshine and summer warmth. When the cold winds begin to blow and food becomes scarce, the hungry grasshopper regrets his wasteful ways. Additional features include pages defining fables and morals, an introduction to Aesop, a Think-About-It section, activities for further learning, and an introduction to both the author and illustrator.
This tall tale tells the story of mighty John Henry, the Black steel-driving folk hero who raced against a steam drill with just a hammer--and won. Additional features to aid comprehension include background information and historical context of the tale, and an introduction to the author and illustrator.
This truly tall tale weaves the story of giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan and his beloved bovine companion, Babe. Additional features to aid comprehension include background information and historical context of the tale, and an introduction to the author and illustrator.