The Legend of Queen Amina – Nigeria (Original Version) In the 16th century, in the ancient city-state of Zazzau, part of present-day Nigeria, there lived a young princess named Amina. Born into the royal family of the Hausa people, Amina was the daughter of Bakwa Turunku, the ruling queen. From a young age, Amina displayed…
Anansi and the Wisdom of the World – West Africa (Original Version) Once upon a time, in a lush and vibrant village in West Africa, there lived a cunning spider named Anansi. Anansi had a reputation for being clever and sly, often finding ways to get what he wanted through trickery and wit. One day,…
The Little Match Girl – Denmark (Original Version) On a bitterly cold New Year’s Eve, as snowflakes danced through the streets of a bustling town in Denmark, a poor little girl wandered alone. She was barefoot, having lost the oversized slippers her mother had given her, and her feet were red and blue from the…
The Legend of the Christmas Spider – Ukraine (Original Version) Once upon a time, in a small Ukrainian village nestled among rolling hills and snow-covered fields, there lived a poor widow with her two young children. They lived in a tiny, humble cottage, and though they had little in the way of material wealth, their…
The Little Humpbacked Horse – Russia (Original Version) Once upon a time in a distant Russian village, there lived a humble peasant with his three sons. The youngest son, Ivan, was often teased by his brothers for being simple-minded, but he had a kind heart and a gentle spirit. One evening, their father sent the…
The Firebird – Russia (Original Version) Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom in Russia, there lived a mighty Tsar named Ivan. He had three sons, the youngest of whom was named Prince Ivan. The Tsar’s greatest treasure was his magnificent orchard, filled with trees bearing golden apples. One morning, the Tsar awoke to…
The Gruffalo – United Kingdom (Original Version) In a deep, dark wood, a clever little mouse was taking a stroll when he encountered a hungry fox. The fox, eager for a meal, invited the mouse to join him for lunch. But the mouse, thinking quickly, declined the offer. “Thank you, Fox, but no,” said the…
The Tale of Peter Rabbit – England (Original Version) Once upon a time, there were four little rabbits, and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter. They lived with their mother in a sand-bank, underneath the root of a very big fir tree. “Now, my dears,” said old Mrs. Rabbit one morning, “you may…
Finn MacCool and the Giant’s Causeway – Ireland (Original Version) Long ago, in the emerald hills and rugged coastlines of Ireland, there lived a legendary giant named Finn MacCool. Finn was known far and wide for his strength and bravery, but he was also admired for his cleverness and kind heart. He lived with his…
The Bremen Town Musicians – Germany (Original Version) Once upon a time, there was a farmer who had a donkey that had faithfully carried sacks to the mill for many years. But as the donkey grew older, he became less able to work, and the farmer began to consider getting rid of him. Sensing his…
