Super Great Kids' Stories

South African storyteller Nomakhwezi Becker tells us a lively song-story about a little turtle from Ivory Coast in West Africa. Tutu has lost her beautiful coloured shell and asks her animal friends to help her find it. Will they succeed? Listen to Nomakhwezi and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Danielle Free from Shropshire in England a storyteller new to this podcast, tells a French quest story. It’s about a cheeky chicken who won’t take no for an answer. Can she outwit the greedy farmer who stole her gold and get it back? Listen to Danielle tell this fun story and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Storyteller Alton Takiyama Chung tells a trickster tale about a Tanuki – a magical badger-like creature. The Tanuki’s tricks go too far and upset his friend Rabbit (Usagi). How can Rabbit help his friend Tanuki see that he needs to change his ways? Listen to Alton tell this thought-provoking story from Japan and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scottish storyteller Cara Silversmith shares a How and Why story from the US which explains why bears hibernate. The little animals are going hungry because a big brown bear is rather too fond of food. Happily, a fox, a squirrel, a mouse and a hare team up to solve the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a: 'Best of Super Great Kids' Stories' selected from our Archive. The Giant’s Causeway on the coast of Antrim in Northern Ireland is an awe-inspiring staircase of huge rocks stretching far out into the sea. But how did it get there? Was it the work of Irish Giant Finn McCool and if so why? Irish storyteller Kate Corkery explains all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tuup shares a story from India about a good-hearted Brahmin (wise man) who helps some animals and a jeweller who are in trouble. Do you think they all help the Brahmin in return when he needs them? Have a listen to Tuup telling this ancient animal fable from India and see if you can spot the twist in the tale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this story from South Africa, we meet Thokozani the Eland, a type of antelope who has magic powers to shape-shift into a human. When a series of fires sweeps through his area putting the animals at risk, Thokozani is chosen to talk to the villagers. Will they listen to him? Listen to Nokugcina Mhlophe tell this moving story and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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