World Tales for Family Storytelling

World Tales for Family Storytelling: 53 Traditional Stories for Children Aged 4–6 Years

These wonderful world tales are all selected from the highly acclaimed 147 Traditional Stories for Primary School Children to Retell, a storytelling resource used by teachers around the globe. In this collection intended for home use, the focus is on tales for children ages 4 to 6. The stories may be read, told, and retold, and then explored with the whole family. They offer a rich vein of world heritage, giving your family a doorway into the wonderful world of traditional tales.

Storyteller Chris Smith presents traditional oral stories from a variety of historical, cultural, and world sources, featuring:

• Stories retold, based on traditional tales and related in the voice of a storyteller;
• Tales that are short, simple, and easy to learn;
• Stories that parents can read and tell and children can then tell themselves;
• Stories for bedtime, family occasions, car journeys, and get-togethers;
• Oral storytelling for home to build children’s confidence in their own voices.

The author includes story sources and storytelling resources.

“Most precious of all was the bedtime story…being taken to the brink of sleep by just the right story.” -Jamila Gavin, from the foreword

C O N T E N T S:

Foreword by Jamila Gavin
Introduction

STORIES:

1. Monkeys and Hats (India)
2. The Little Red Hen (England)
3. Three Little Pigs (England)
4. The Birth of Jesus (World)
5. The Gingerbread Man (England)
6. Bats Learn to Dance (origin unknown)
7. Three Billy Goats Gruff (Norway)
8. The Noisy House (England)
9. The Giant Turnip (Russia)
10. The Wooden Baby (Czech)
11. Goldilocks and the Three Bears (England)
12. The Fox’s Sack (England)
13. The Princess and the Pea (England)
14. Skinny Old Lady (Africa)
15. The Freedom Bird (Thailand)
16. Snip-Snip (European Jewish)
17. The King and the Moon (Dominican Republic)
18. The Magic Porridge Pot (Germany)
19. The Sweet-talking Potato (Africa)
20. Stone Soup (Switzerland)
21. A Husband for Miss Mouse (Myanmar)
22. Awongalema (Africa)
23. The Lion’s Roar (India Buddhist)
24. Goose Girl’s Wings (China)
25. Mouse and Lion (Greece)
26. The Nest and the Web (Islam)
27. The Dancing Harmonica (U.S.)
28. The Talkative Turtle (Native American)
29. Bandits and Berries (China)
30. The Thirsty Frog (Aboriginal Australia)
31. More! (U.S.)
32. Little Red Riding Hood (France)
33. Jack and the Beanstalk (England)
34. The Stonecutter (China)
35. The Unlucky Man (England)
36. The King and the Cockerel (Iraq)
37. The Bird and the Forest Fire (India Buddhist)
38. Honey and Trouble (Africa)
39. How Coyote Brought Fire to Earth (Native American)
40. The Snake and the Frog (U.S.)
41. The Talking Skull (Africa)
42. The Elephant’s Fury (Asia Buddhist)
43. The Island of Fairies (Scotland)
44. The Bee’s Treasure (Japan)
45. The Pied Piper of Hamlyn (Germany)
46. The Pedlar of Swaffham (England)
47. Strength (Africa)
48. Sleeping Beauty (Germany)
49. Rumpelstiltskin (Germany)
50. Cinderella (Germany)
51. The Magic Paintbrush (China)
52. Snow White (Germany)
53. The Two Dragons (Wales)

Sources and Resources
Acknowledgments
About the Author

About the Author

Chris Smith, PhD, is an Oxford-based storyteller, musician, teacher, and founding director of Storytelling Schools, the fruit of ten years’ research and development experience. He has a passion for Arab folktales, myths, and legends, developed while living in Palestine. He takes storytelling into a variety of institutions including schools, universities, museums and prisons, working with adults and children alike.