Super Great Kids' Stories

Alton Takiyama-Chung tells us two lively tales which help explain some of the traditions celebrated in China and other parts of East Asia at Lunar New Year. One story is about how the twelve animals who represent the Lunar New Year Calendar were chosen - by having an exciting river race. And a second story is about the Nian, a terrifying monster who arrives after dark every New Year’s Eve - to eat the people and their animals. Until one year, a brave old man, comes up with a plan to stop him. This legend explains some of the traditions and celebrations which still take place today at this popular festival which marks the beginning of Spring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A farmer in ancient Japan saves a spider from the jaws of a huge black snake. The spider in turn helps the farmer. But who will protect the spider when the farmer isn’t there? Listen to Alton Takiyama-Chung tell this beautiful tale which explains the origin of the Japanese word for ‘cloud’. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a: 'Best of Super Great Kids' Stories' selected from our Archive. Anansi the spider is up to his tricks again. In order to win the King's gold, he has to eat a large bowl of super hot pepper soup. Will he outwit the king and the other competitors? Listen to Tuup telling this lively song-story from West Africa and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The King is worried. Every night he locks the door to the bedroom where his 12 daughters sleep, and every morning their silk shoes are worn to tatters as if they have been dancing all night. What’s going on? "Whoever solves the mystery can marry a princess!.” declares the King. Can anyone help? Listen to Kim tell this magical song tale from Europe and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anansi is up to his tricks again. Following a greedy feeding-frenzy he tries to distract elephant and his friends by persuading them that watermelons can talk. Does he succeed? Listen to this lively story from the Caribbean told by Wendy Shearer and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alton Takiyama-Chung tells this magical fairytale from China about twin brothers who both want to marry the Dragon King’s daughter. To help her decide which one to choose, Princess Li Mei sends them on a quest to find a gleaming pearl from her father’s underwater palace. But which brother will be compassionate, honest and brave and win the heart of the princess? Listen to Alton and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paul Alborough tells his upbeat version of this classic Brothers Grimm fairytale. Two siblings pit their wits against a hungry witch and a greedy king and win the day. Note to parents, this story has a scary witch, but the ending is a happy one (for everyone but the witch and the greedy king!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tatterhood is a Norwegian fairytale about two sisters who are very different. Plum is sweet and gentle, Tatterhood is bold and wild and rides around on a goat! When witches steal Plum’s head and replace it with a cow’s, Tatterhood sets off with Plum (mooing loudly) determined to get it back. Listen to Sarah Liisa Wilkinson’s funny retelling of this lively tale and find out what happens. Note to parents, this story could seem unsettling, but only fleetingly and the ending is a happy one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A story from our archive: The Best of Super Great Kids' Stories.Talented storyteller Jason Buck narrates the classic French fairy tale "Puss in Boots" written down by Charles Perrault. In this story, a young man inherits a cat, who persuades his owner they can make their fortune if he can give him a hat, a sack, and some fancy boots. All dressed up, the cat charms the king, outwits an ogre and delights the king’s daughter. Tada! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tim Ralphs narrates this charming fairytale from Pakistan about Walidad, a simple grasscutter who doesn’t know what to do with all his savings. How can he solve this problem so he can carry on living simply and happily? A thoughtful story which shows us what’s really important in life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To mark New Year – Alton Takiyama-Chung – who’s new to Super Great Kids’ Stories, shares two tales from Asia: from Japan, "The Grateful Statues", and from China: "The Magic Pear Tree" about a farmer who encounters a beggar. Both stories have a theme of kindness and generosity and are sprinkled with a little bit of magic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A King and Queen living in a cold castle argue and their fire goes out, casting a chill and a gloom over the whole kingdom. They send a servant to fetch more hot coals from the neighbours. Will he succeed and return warmth to the castle in time for the winter festivities? Listen to Wendy Shearer tell this uplifting Christmas story and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A little fir tree, is not happy, he longs to leave his forest and go out to see the world like the bigger trees which are taken and decorated with sparkly things. Eventually his wish comes true, but does it make the tree happy? Listen to storyteller Anne Johnson's retelling of this Hans Christian Andersen tale to find out. (Note, this version has an upbeat ending.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This Cinderella-style story is set in the Appalachian mountains and told by Storyteller from Dragon Fly Tales: Emily Hanna-Grazebrook. It has all the ingredients of a great fairytale: a witch-woman, a mistreated orphan, a kind doctor’s son, some mean stepsisters and some stonkingly good singing from Emily. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tiernan Douieb is back with a fabulous fairytale from Finland about 3 brothers who are sent on a mission to find their bride. The youngest one heads for a forest and his brothers laugh, saying the only thing he'll find to marry there is a fox or a wolf. In fact, Veikko the youngest son finds something much more unlikely and wonderful. Listen to Tiernan tell this magical fairytale and discover how the youngest brother finds his true love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A story from our archive: The Best of Super Great Kids' Stories. This story is about a snow wolf and a boy who are friends. It was inspired by the Nenets people who live at the top of the world in the snowy Siberian Arctic. There is a scary moment in this story when the hunter comes along with his gun, but keep listening, because it has a twinkly, happy ending. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Storyteller new to Super Great Kids’ Stories - Rosalind Buck tells this funny fairytale inspired by The Frog Prince. It’s got all the right ingredients: a princess, a prince, some fairies…. and a girl called Lettuce! Can a spoiled princess break her promise to a frog and still get to marry him when he turns into a prince? Listen to Rosalind Buck’s witty retelling and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah Liisa Wilkinson tells a very witty trickster tale from Norway about a show-off squire who is determined to marry the farmers’ daughter, but the farmer’s daughter is equally determined not to marry him. Who will get their way? Listen to Sarah Liiisa and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Storyteller Tim Ralphs has fun with words in this old English Folktale. A new servant girl is told by her master to call things by rather silly names. The cat is a 'white-faced simminy' and the fire in the hearth is to be called 'hot cockalorum.' Will the young girl be able to remember all these daft names when there's an emergency? Listen along, join in the repetition and find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen to storyteller Liz Weir tell this stonkingly fun version of the English fairytale: ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’. Before you know it, you’ll be clapping and tapping and rapping along to this lively telling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices