Barefoot Books Podcast

A farmer's son becomes groom to the tsar of Russia and is set a series of impossible tasks. But his friend, the ugly but clever humpbacked horse prooves a valuable companion on his adventures.

This Native American Tale takes place when the world was still in darkness. When the animals learn about light, they send their bravest to catch it. From The Barefoot Book of Animal Tales, retold and narrated by Naomi Adler, illustrated by Amanda Hall.

A farmer digs up gold in his field of turnips, but he knows his wife will spread his secret and the whole village would know of his fortune. He devises a cunning plan to show her that it is not wise to spread gossip. From Tales of Wisdom and Wonder, retold by Hugh Lupton and illustrated by Niamh Sharkey.

Old Heena works hard all her life and is always kind to others. See where Rainbow leads her to relax! From the collection Grandmothers' Stories, retold by Burleigh Mutén and illustrated by Siân Bailey.

Princess Fifine escapes from marrying an evil spirit disguised as a Golden Prince. The White Mare protects her with magic that swallows the evil spirit into the earth for seven years, and then for eternity. From our Magic Hoofbeats collection, retold by Josepha Sherman and illustrated by Linda Wingerter. Narrated by Ellen Verenieks.

An old shepherd follows a white butterfly while his friend dreams of making an equally tremendous journey. From Tales of Wisdom and Wonder, retold by Hugh Lupton and illustrated by Niamh Sharkey

An old woman has a cooking pot that’s always full of food, as long as she chants the magic words every night so the faeries will return the pot! From The Barefoot Book of Faeries, retold by Tanya Robyn Batt and illustrated by Gail Newey.

Every day, a cat and a blackbird go out in search of food while a rooster stays at home to mind the house. One day Old Foxy comes knocking at the door and lures the rooster outside. Will the cat and the blackbird always be there to save him? From the book, The Story Tree, retold by Hugh Lupton and illustrated by Sophie Fatus.

In this well-loved German tale, the princess’s love for exploration leads her to the spindle that puts her into a hundred-year slumber. From The Barefoot Book of Princesses, retold by Caitlín Matthews, illustrated by Olwyn Whelan and narrated by Margaret Wolfson.

Niall, the son of King Eochaid and the slave woman Cairenn, proves himself to be as worthy of the throne as his half-brothers. Will Queen Mongfind stop him so one of her own sons will be King? From the collection Tales from Celtic Lands retold by Caitlín Matthews, illustrated by Olwyn Whelan and narrated by Niamh Cusack.

In the story that inspired Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” a woodsman named Jamie marries the beautiful but grumpy Nora. The Nicky Nicky Nye, a water demon, bets that Nora won’t last a week. From the collection Shakespeare's Storybook, retold by Patrick Ryan and illustrated by James Mayhew.

A donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster decide to run away to become musicians. They find success in Bremen after using their music to scare away some robbers from a cottage. From the collection The Barefoot Book of Animal Tales, retold by Naomi Adler and illustrated by Amanda Hall.

In this Hungarian story, a king wishes to be reunited with his old friend. With the help of the Taltos horse, his youngest son goes on a journey to cross three bridges, slay dragons, and defeat an army of demons. From the collection Magic Hoofbeats, retold by Josepha Sherman, illustrated by Linda Wingerter and narrated by Ellen Verenieks.

When a giant turns six princes and their brides into stone, it's up to Ashpattle, the youngest prince, to save them. With help from a princess, a raven, a salmon and a wolf, Ashpattle is able to capture the giant's heart. From The Barefoot Book of Giants, Ghosts and Goblins, retold by John Matthews, illustrated by Giovanni Manna and narrated by Jerry Nelson.

In this Italian, operatic version of Cinderella, Cenerentola falls in love with Prince Ramiro, who is disguised as his own assistant. From the book The Barefoot Book of Stories from the Opera, retold by Shahrukh Husain, illustrated by James Mayhew and narrated by Miranda Richardson.

When a jaguar is tricked by a magic snake, he must seek the help of the rainforest to reverse his fate. From The Barefoot Book of Animal Tales retold and narrated by Naomi Adler and illustrated by Amanda Hall.

When the Queen of Leinster wishes to give up her twelve sons for a daughter, an old woman grants her wish, and the sons turn to geese when her new child is born. From the book Tales from Old Ireland, retold by Malachy Doyle, illustrated by Niamh Sharkey and narrated by Maura O'Connell.

A king and queen adopt a little white rat when it becomes apparent they will never have any children of their own. When a magician comes to their kingdom, the king and queen ask him to transform their beloved pet into a princess. From the book Tales of Wisdom & Wonder, retold and narrated by Hugh Lupton, and illustrated Niamh Sharkey.

In this story that inspired Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, the King of Cecelia causes his wife to die of despair and orders for his daughter Flora to be released into the river because he is ashamed of their commonness. From the book Shakespeare’s Storybook, retold and narrated by Patrick Ryan, illustrated by James Mayhew.

In this Iranian story, a magical talking, flying colt called Qeytas saves a prince from his stepmother’s plot to kill him. From the book Magic Hoofbeats, retold by Josepha Sherman, illustrated by Linda Wingerter and narrated by Ellen Verenieks.

In this Irish folk tale, an old woman and her daughter are harassed by a hoard of mischievous spirits. From the book Grandmother's Stories, retold by Burleigh Muten, illustrated by Sian Bailey and narrated by Olympia Dukakis.

This Indian folktale tells the story of how wise Rabbit became the moon. From the book The Barefoot Book of Animal Tales, retold and narrated by Naomi Adler, and illustrated by Amanda Hall.

A kindhearted hunchback’s life is changed forever when he overhears faeries singing a strange tune. From the book Tales from Old Ireland, retold by Malachy Doyle, illustrated by Niamh Sharkey and narrated by Maura O’Connell.

In this German tale about chivalry, an evil queen is displeased when her son marries a beautiful woman of mysterious origins, and tries in vain to do away with their magical children. From the book The Barefoot Book of Knights, retold by John Matthews, illustrated by Giovanni Manna and narrated by Anthony Head.

In this West African story, a blind man teaches a hunter that a man does not need eyes to see. From the book Tales of Wisdom & Wonder, retold and narrated by Hugh Lupton, and illustrated Niamh Sharkey.

In this Swedish version of Rumpelstiltskin, a beautiful peasant girl’s dreams come true with the help of three kind seamstresses. From the book The Fabrics of Fairytale, retold and narrated by Tanya Robyn Batt, and illustrated by Rachel Griffin.

Kindness toward strangers and respect for the spirits unite two unlikely friends in this ancient Chinese story. From the book The Barefoot Book of Giants, Ghosts and Goblins, retold by John Matthews, illustrated by Giovanni Manna, and narrated by Jerry Nelson.

It takes a frightening encounter with a crafty fox for the Little Red Hen’s friends to realize how much she does for them. From the book Storytime, retold by Stella Blackstone, illustrated by Anne Wilson and narrated by Jim Broadbent.

Heroic and quick-witted Anansi competes in a fierce dance competition to rescue a beautiful princess. From the book The Barefoot Book of Dance Stories, written by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple, illustrated by Helen Cann and narrated by Juliet Stevenson.

A little girl named Beth stays up with a faery and ends up wishing she had listened to her mother and gone to bed. From the book The Barefoot Book of Faeries, written and narrated by Tanya Robyn Batt, and illustrated by Gail Newey.

In this story from Japan, an old woman is forced to make her famous dumplings for a group of oni. From the book Grandmother's Stories, retold by Burleigh Muten, illustrated by Sian Bailey and narrated by Olympia Dukakis.

In this old Irish version of Cinderella, the king’s oldest daughters, Fair and Brown, forbid their younger sister, Trembling, from attending Sunday mass for fear that she will attract a husband before they do. From the book Tales from Old Ireland, retold by Malachy Doyle, illustrated by Niamh Sharkey and narrated by Maura O’Connell.

In this Haitian story, a monkey mistakenly believes the word misery to mean honey, and asks Papa God to give him more. From the book Tales of Wisdom & Wonder, retold and narrated by Hugh Lupton, and illustrated Niamh Sharkey.

In this traditional tale from north India, a young king must find a hallowed horse to help squash rebellious chieftains who refuse to serve him. From the book Magic Hoofbeats, retold by Josepha Sherman, illustrated by Linda Wingerter and narrated by Ellen Verenieks.

In this Iroquois story, a picky young woman turns away all of the suitors in her village and leaves her home to become the wife of a mysterious stranger. From the book The Barefoot Book of Princesses, retold by Caitlín Matthews, illustrated by Olwyn Whelan and narrated by Margaret Wolfson.

Sing around the planet with Fred Penner, from high in the mountains to low in the valleys, in every town and every city, and with all the fish and birds, trees and flowers! From the book Whole World, illustrated by Christopher Corr and sung by Fred Penner.

Find out what happens to a brazen chieftain when he crosses the notorious Grace O’Malley, the most famous pirate in Ireland. From the book The Barefoot Book of Pirates, retold by Richard Walker, illustrated by Olwyn Whelan, and narrated by Richard Hope.

When a Japanese samurai helps save the life of a bee, he finds an unlikely ally in a fierce battle to defend his lands from his brother-in-law. From the book The Barefoot Book of Knights, retold by John Matthews, illustrated by Giovanni Manna and narrated by Anthony Head.

A hare mistakenly believes that the earth is falling apart and causes widespread panic amongst the animals of the jungle. From the book Storytime, retold by Stella Blackstone, illustrated by Anne Wilson and narrated by Jim Broadbent.

Everyone loves the cakes Margaret makes, including faeries. Fed up with not even being able to enjoy leftover crumbs, the faeries decide to kidnap her so she can make them cake for all eternity. From the book The Barefoot Book of Faeries, written and narrated by Tanya Robyn Batt, and illustrated by Gail Newey.

In this Irish folktale, four children are transformed into swans by their evil stepmother and cursed to remain that way for nine hundred years. From the book Tales from Old Ireland, retold by Malachy Doyle, illustrated by Niamh Sharkey and narrated by Maura O’Connell.

Before giving birth to the sun god's children, Ruditdidit learns of the healing powers of dance from the goddess Isis. From the book The Barefoot Book of Dance Stories, written by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple, illustrated by Helen Cann and narrated by Juliet Stevenson.

In this story that inspired Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice, a foolish young man makes a deal he cannot keep and must rely on the duke’s daughter to save him. From the book Shakespeare’s Storybook, retold and narrated by Patrick Ryan, and illustrated by James Mayhew.

In this ancient Irish tale, the clever and beautiful Oona uses her wits to save her husband’s life after he is threatened by the fearsome giant Cuchulainn. From the book The Barefoot Book of Giants, Ghosts and Goblins, retold by John Matthews, illustrated by Giovanni Manna, and narrated by Jerry Nelson.

A vain princess refuses to give a bird a strand of her beautiful golden hair to help build its nest and ends up cursed. Will anyone be able to break the spell that has made the princess bald? From the book The Barefoot Book of Princesses, retold by Caitlín Matthews, illustrated by Olwyn Whelan and narrated by Margaret Wolfson.

Prince Tamino finds himself drawn into a quest to find the kidnapped Princesses Pamina in this retelling of Mozart’s famous opera. From the book The Barefoot Book of Stories from the Opera, retold by Shahrukh Husain, illustrated by James Mayhew and narrated by Miranda Richardson.

Though he’s one of the bravest and most courageous knights in the land, Ilya Murom of Rus proves himself to be a true hero through his good deeds he performs for others. From the book The Barefoot Book of Knights, retold by John Matthews, illustrated by Giovanni Manna, and narrated by Anthony Head.

After his fellow monks flee the abbey, sleeping Brother John is left as the only guard of their treasured bells. Will he be able to defend their home and precious belongings from thieving pirates all by himself? From the book The Barefoot Book of Pirates, retold by Richard Walker, illustrated by Olwyn Whelan and narrated by Richard Hope.

With the help of beautiful and clever Anaeet, Prince Vachagan uses his wits and his newfound trade to outsmart his evil captors in this Armenian love story. From the book The Fabrics of Fairytale, retold and narrated by Tanya Robyn Batt, and illustrated by Rachel Griffin.

With the help of a magical fairy, beautiful and kindhearted Cinderella attends a royal ball in disguise. From the book The Barefoot Book of Ballet Stories, written by Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple, illustrated by Rebecca Guay and narrated by Juliet Stevenson.

In this classic Danish story, a prince unsuccessfully searches for a true princess. Will he ever find a girl fit to be his bride? From the book The Barefoot Book of Princesses, retold by Caitlín Matthews, illustrated by Olwyn Whelan and narrated by Margaret Wolfson.