Elderberry Tales

This thrilling (and long) finale is packed with action, a couple of mildly scary moments, and a moment of sadness. The secrets of the mechanical chukars (and more!) will finally be revealed. Story by William Sterr Narrated by Carrie Coello Image by Stephen D from Pixabay 

In Part 2 of this 3-part series, Dad takes Trooper on a visit to their mysterious neighbor, Mrs. Coronet, and the plot thickens... Story by William Sterr Narrated by Carrie Coello Image by Stephen D from Pixabay 

In this all-new, 3-part adventure, our Dog Detectives discover a *very* unusual bird! Original Story by William Sterr Narrated by Carrie Coello Image by Stephen D from Pixabay 

Part 2 of a 3-part series! This story series stands alone, but the characters of Leenie, Logan, and her parents are introduced in the series Leenie and the Big Idea. Leenie and her brother Logan are off on another adventure!  When Leenie and Logan wander off during a family picnic, they encounter strange new friends in the woods.  In this episode, they face the troll at the fairy bridge... Story by William Sterr Image by Willgard Krause from Pixabay 

Part 2 of a 3-part series! This story series stands alone, but the characters of Leenie, Logan, and her parents are introduced in the series Leenie and the Big Idea. Leenie and her brother Logan are off on another adventure!  When Leenie and Logan wander off during a family picnic, they encounter strange new friends in the woods.  In this episode, they realize that fairy hospitality comes at a price. Story by William Sterr Image by Willgard Krause from Pixabay 

Part 1 of a 3-part series! This story series stands alone, but the characters of Leenie, Logan, and her parents are introduced in the series Leenie and the Big Idea. Leenie and her brother Logan are off on another adventure!  When Leenie and Logan wander off during a family picnic, they encounter strange new friends in the woods.  Story by William Sterr Image by Willgard Krause from Pixabay 

The thrilling conclusion to the Hound of the Baskerville Hall mystery! Story by William Sterr

The four detectives arrive in the town of Baskerville, and receive a nasty surprise. Story by William Sterr

This is part 2 of a 4 part series. The three detectives meet up with a fourth companion, and all the dogs travel to the town of Baskerville.

Introducing a new series about the dogs in the family! Overton leads his associates, Trooper and Theo, on an investigation to solve the mystery of the Hound of the Baskervilles.  Story by William Sterr

A new adventure for Desi, his superhero Dad, and the rest of the family! This story is in three parts, with a new part published each week.  In Part 3, cousin Jack arrives just in time for the thrilling conclusion! By William Sterr Photo by takenbytablo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/thunder-striking-a-building-photo-680940/

A new adventure for Desi, his superhero Dad, and the rest of the family! This story is in three parts, with a new part published each week. Part 2 has us back at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery, a favorite place for the family to visit every year. But this visit is... unique! By William Sterr Photo by takenbytablo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/thunder-striking-a-building-photo-680940/

A new adventure for Desi, his superhero Dad, and the rest of the family! This story is in three parts, with a new part published each week.  By William Sterr Photo by takenbytablo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/thunder-striking-a-building-photo-680940/

The whole family comes together to craft a plan to clean up the Jorgensen's farm and cure Desmond once and for all! Story by William Sterr

Dad's powers continue to develop. Also, after Armando makes a very exciting discovery in the backyard, he realizes that all is not well with Desmond... Story by William Sterr

It's been many weeks since Desmond's experience with the moles... and he is still feeling the effects. What can Armie and his detective Mom do about it? Luckily, they have help... from unexpected sources! This is a three part story - come back each week for the next installment! Story by William Sterr

In part 2 of this story, Gawain travels to find the Green Knight, as promised, to meet his fate.  Note: This is an old story, and contains themes of chivalry, romantic love (including allusions to infidelity), and violence. I do not feel it is inappropriate for children, but family values vary and I invite you to preview this episode and part two first if you have any concerns.  Story adapted by Elaine L. Lindy for Stories to Grow By.  Illustration by Tristan Liu

As King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table gather to celebrate New Year's Day, a mysterious stranger arrives with a challenge for Sir Gawain, one of the bravest knights of the Table.  Note: This is an old story, and contains themes of chivalry, romantic love (including allusions to infidelity), and violence. I do not feel it is inappropriate for children, but family values vary and I invite you to preview this episode and part two first if you have any concerns.  Story adapted by Elaine L. Lindy for Stories to Grow By.  Illustration by Tristan Liu

John's honesty earns him a job in the Lord of Ostergaard's Estate. The Lord of Nebbegaard bets Ostergaard that he can make John tell a lie. Will John stay honest, even when he is afraid to tell the truth? Story adapted by Elaine L. Lindy from the story "Temptation", which appeared the book Scandinavian Folk and Fairy Tales, edited by Claire Booss. Used with permission from Stories to Grow By Illustration by Elizabeth Rocha

After assisting a wounded lion, a young maiden is concerned to find that her livestock has gone missing! What can have happened to the animals? And why does the lion keep returning? This story was adapted by Elaine L. Lindy from the story "The Wounded Lion" from Wise Women: Folk and Fairy Tales from Around the World, retold and edited by Suzqanne I. Barchers. Illustration by Elizabeth Rocha.  Used with permission from Stories to Grow By.

Androcles, an escaped slave, finds an injured lion in the woods. What happens after he removes a thorn from the lion's paw? Story by Aesop, 620-580 BCE. This version is from Joseph Jacobs, "European Folk and Fairy Tales," 1916.  It can be found at Stories to Grow By. Image by pamstenzel from Pixabay  NOTE: This episode was originally published with an error in audio mastering. This is an updated version.

This is the story of Bambi, a young deer, from his childhood with his mother in the forest through his coming of age and adulthood.  This tale is based on the novel of the same name, by Felix Salten. Adaptation by Elaine L Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By.  Image by smarko from Pixabay 

In this Arabian/Russian folktale mashup, a princess needs to choose between three unsuitable princes. One year, an adventure and three magical objects later, she makes a truly surprising choice. Adapted by Elaine L. Lindy from Saudi Arabian and Russian sources, this story is part of the Stories to Grow By collection. Image by Peter Fischer from Pixabay 

When Leenie's parents get the Big Idea of renting a caravan from M. A. G. I. C., the family begins an adventure that surprises them all! In Part 6, the AstroVan lands on the moon, where they learn much more about the Wheezer than they could ever have imagined... Story by William Sterr Narration by Carrie Coello Photo by Nubia Navarro (nubikini) from Pexels

When Leenie's parents get the Big Idea of renting a caravan from M. A. G. I. C., the family begins an adventure that surprises them all! In Part 5, Leenie and her family go where no caravan has ever gone before - into Orbit! Story by William Sterr Narration by Carrie Coello Photo by Nubia Navarro (nubikini) from Pexels

When Leenie's parents get the Big Idea of renting a caravan from M. A. G. I. C., the family begins an adventure that surprises them all! In Part 4, Leenie and Theo join in the Council of Animals and hear what they all have to say. Story by William Sterr Narration by Carrie Coello Photo by Nubia Navarro (nubikini) from Pexels

When Leenie's parents get the Big Idea of renting a caravan from M. A. G. I. C., the family begins an adventure that surprises them all! In Part 3, the van parks in the forest next to the lake, and Leenie finds a very interesting gathering deep in the woods. Story by William Sterr Narration by Carrie Coello Photo by Nubia Navarro (nubikini) from Pexels

When Leenie's parents get the Big Idea of renting a caravan from M. A. G. I. C., the family begins an adventure that surprises them all! In Part 2, the van transforms yet again for a very special tour *under* Shasta Lake. Story by William Sterr Narration by Carrie Coello Photo by Nubia Navarro (nubikini) from Pexels

When Leenie's parents get the Big Idea of renting a caravan from M. A. G. I. C., the family begins an adventure that surprises them all! In Part 1, the caravan is introduced, and the family makes their way to Shasta Lake. Story by William Sterr Narration by Carrie Coello Photo by Nubia Navarro (nubikini) from Pexels

A fairy lets three farmhands borrow her three golden goats, for as long as they can hold onto them.  This Swedish folk tale was adapted by Elaine L. Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By, and is used by Elderberry Tales with permission. 

This tale is told in three parts. In this third and final part, we learn about the princess's plan - and Aladdin's final wish. This story appeared in later versions of The Arabian Nights, and is credited to a Syrian storyteller, Hanna Diyab. This version was adapted by Elaine L. Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By. Image by Karina Mannott from Pixabay 

This tale is told in three parts. In this second part, we learn how Aladdin and his mother used their wishes to arrange Aladdin's marriage to the Sultan's daughter... but it did not go the way they expected! This story appeared in later versions of The Arabian Nights, and is credited to a Syrian storyteller, Hanna Diyab. This version was adapted by Elaine L. Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By. Image by Karina Mannott from Pixabay 

This tale is told in three parts. In this first part, we learn how Aladdin and his mother came to own the magic lamp. This story appeared in later versions of The Arabian Nights, and is credited to a Syrian storyteller, Hanna Diyab. This version was adapted by Elaine L. Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By. Image by Karina Mannott from Pixabay 

When Goldilocks finds an unlocked and empty cabin the woods one day, she makes some unfortunate choices... and when the three bears return home, she must face the consequences.  Story adapted from the original by Elaine L. Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By. Image by 

In these two legends of the demigod Māui, he blesses the people in two ways: creating the Hawaiian Islands and arranging for long days in the summer to give us time to do everything we need to do.  This summer solstice, Maui's arrangement with the sun is most obvious - the days are so long and the nights so very short.  These legends were adapted by Elaine L. Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By, where you can find a wide variety of wonderful stories.  Image: Participant of the Merrie Monarch Parade in Hilo performs as demigod Māui. Source: Creative Commons. 

In this updated version of the beloved classic, Cinderella and the Prince's relationship is based on more than just shoe size.  Adapted by Elaine L. Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By

In this updated version of the classic tale, our princess discovers that frogs are not always just what they seem to be.  Adapted by Elaine L. Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By.  Image by Dawn Howeth from Pixabay 

In this adaptation of the classic fairytale, Aurora isn't content with the marriage planned for her future. Instead, she takes control of her own destiny, as well as the curse that has haunted her since infancy.  Adaptation by Elaine L. Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By. Image by Enrique Meseguer from Pixabay 

What if "fairest of them all" really meant fairest, as in most just? What if Snow White and her Prince already had a friendship based on adventures and shared experiences?  This updated version of Snow White has all the classic charm and drama of the original, but with a couple of key updates for a modern audience. Image by Sayaka Photos from Pixabay  Adapted by Elaine L. Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By, where you can find dozens of fairy tales, folk tales and bedtime stories specially curated to to highlight positive messages and promote character growth. 

A beautiful ball appears to Natalia and Luis one day, near their home in the Andes mountains. They follow it further and further from their valley, until it suddenly disappears, leaving them stranded - and under the spell of an evil witch. Will they ever escape and find their way home? This traditional Argentinian story appeared in Tales from Silver Lands by Charles J. Finger, published 1924. This version was adapted by Elaine Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By.  Image by Jordan Holiday from Pixabay 

A young man sets out on a dangerous quest to find a magic feather from an evil ogre. Will he find the feather in time to save the ailing King? This story was originally published by Italo Calvino in 1956. This version was adapted by Elaine Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By.  Photo by Isaque Pereira from Pexels  

One day a wise old goose notices a small vine beginning to grow at the base of the fig tree. He is sure the vine will be trouble, but will the other geese listen to his warning?  Photo by Daniel Watson from Pexels This story is sourced from the Panchatantra, an ancient Sanskrit collection of moral tales. This version was adapted by Elaine Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By. 

When the king of Granada begins his search for a wife, the king's barber offers up his magic mirror as a test for any potential brides. Can any women in the kingdom pass the mirror's test? "The Magic Mirror" is retold by Elaine L. Lindy from Tales from the Lands of Nuts and Grapes: Spanish and Portuguese Folklore, by Charles Sellers. This version is for the website Stories to Grow By.

A herd of elephants trample the village of the mice without even realizing it. What do we do when we hurt other people by accident? This story was adapted from “The Mice that Set the Elephants Free” from The Panchatantra translated from the Sanskrit by Arhur W. Ryder. Adaptation by Elaine Lindy for Stories to Grow By.

A lion, a man, a mouse, a falcon and a snake all fall into an elephant pit. Luckily, the hunter to dug the pit comes to rescue them. But their fates remain intertwined from that day forward.  This tale, with sources going back to Tibet and the Panchachantra, is variously titled "Gratitude", "The Grateful Animals and the Ungrateful Man", "From the Elephant Pit" and "The Hunter and the Trap." This version, adapted by Elaine L. Lindy, is from the website Stories to Grow By.

An old man and his son meet with criticism when they try to bring their donkey to market. It's just not possible to please everyone all of the time... "A Donkey to Market" is based on the story, "The Seller of a Donkey" from A Collection of Cambodian Folk Tales. Adapted by Elaine Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By.

The chief of a nearby village is looking for a wife, and two sisters decide they would like to meet the chief. The two women have very different experiences along their journey! The story "Chief Five Heads" is based on "The Story of Five Heads," from Kaffir Folk-lore by George McCall Theal, 1889. It is a Khosa tale, and has been adapted by Elaine L. Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By.  Illustration, "Girl Surprised by Snake in Tree," by Therson Boadu, is available through a Creative Commons 4.0 license.

Faraz buries his life savings under a tree, only to return and discover that someone has dug them up. Will he be able to locate the missing treasure and solve the mystery? Retold by Elaine L. Lindy from the story, "The Hidden Treasure," in the book, A Group of Eastern Romances and Stories from the Persian, Tamil, and Urdu by William Alexander Clouston.  Used with permission from Stories to Grow By. 

A hungry wolf is out looking for his next meal. He meets a ram, a horse, and a pig... will any of them make a good meal for a hungry wolf? From More Russian Picture Tales by Valery Carrick, Translated by Nevill Forbes [1914] Image by Christel SAGNIEZ from Pixabay

When their father-in-law sets three young women a series of seemingly impossible tasks, all seems lost - until a wise young woman on a water buffalo shows them how all three tasks can be solved in simple, everyday ways.  "The Young Head of the Family" is based on a story of the same name from Chinese Fairy Tales by Adele M. Fielde. This version is adapted by Elaine L. Lindy for the website Stories to Grow By. 

A nobleman's son disappears just days before his 12th birthday. Years later, a room in the nobleman's house seems to be haunted. Can anyone solve the mystery of the haunted room, and bring the nobleman's son back to his family? Note: Even though there is a haunted room in this story, it's not a ghost story. It's a fairy tale, and I don't think it's scary. Based on the story "The Lost Child" from Folk Lore from Foreign Lands by Catherine T. Bryce. Adapted by Elaine Lindy for Stories to Grow By.  Image by Gaertringen from Pixabay