Super Great Kids' Stories

In this fun how and why story from South Africa a little tortoise is frustrated at not looking as interesting as all the other animals. In the end she finds a way to stand out, but not quite as she planned. Listen to Gcina Mhlophe from Durban in South Africa to find out how the tortoise got her cracked shell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this lively story, Gayle Ross from the Cherokee Nation in the US illustrates how Rabbit's habit of playing tricks on his friends backfires, and leaves him with the stubby little tail he has to this day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We all love stories, but where did they come from? Listen to Wangari tell this lively and imaginative how and why story from South Africa which explains all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever wondered why the sun comes up once rooster starts crowing? Listen to Kim telling this lively, interactive song-story from China and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This story is a selection from: ‘The Best of Super Great Kids' Stories. We're going to release one popular story from our archive - each month on a Wednesday in the middle of the month. This episode was the first to be released on our podcast. It's a ‘How and Why' story retold by Tuup. He's been telling this story for many years. He first read it in a book called: 'Whale in The Sky' by Anne Siberell' (Puffin 1991) and was inspired to work it into a version of his own. There are many stories about powerful birds and big fish told across the American Pacific Northwest. Happy Listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever wondered why the sea is salty? All you need is one hungry girl, a rich but mean brother and a sprinkling of magic. Dominic Kelly explains all - in this imaginative ‘how and why' story from Sweden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first of May isn't just a celebration of summer and dancing round the maypole. Some Europeans believe it's the date when witches gather to cause trouble. Guest storyteller Emily Hanna-Grazebrook from dragonflytales.uk shares a slightly scary witchy story to mark this magical day. Will the young witches appease the angry mob, or will their frantic spells make things worse? Listen to Emily's gripping version of a tale from Estonia and find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A loyal cockerel sets off on a quest to help his owner who is short of money. Amazingly, the bird finds gold, but a rich man steals it and then tries to kill him. Can the bird escape and return to reward his master? Listen to this rollercoaster of a story from Eastern Europe told by storyteller - Justine de Mierre, and find out. Can you join in the fun rhyme as you listen? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A little rabbit who talks too much - is chosen to be the messenger for the animals who lead their community - known as the Tribal Council. Unfortunately, that rabbit just doesn't know when to be quiet. Can the bigger animals silence him? Listen to Gayle Ross from the Cherokee Nation tell this moving story with an important message. Note to the grown-ups: this story is a bit unsettling, but all works out fine in the end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An old English folk tale which explains why birds build their nests differently. And shows the importance of listening carefully. Which bird will end up with the best nest? Listen to Wangari the storyteller and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this tale from the Cherokee Nation, we hear about poor meadowlark who is a handsome bird, but unhappy with his big feet which he thinks are ugly. His friend grasshopper insists he must have been given them for a reason. Listen to storyteller Gayle Ross, share this moving tale – passed on by her grandmother - and learn how meadowlark discovers that big feet can actually save lives! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A double story week with two song-stories told by Kim. The first is a funny little tale about a sweet-smelling skunk. And the second is a thoughtful story from China about a frog who is encouraged by a turtle to leave his small home and embrace adventure in the big wide world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Imagine catching a turtle and taking it home, only to discover that the turtle has turned into a lovely woman. That's what happens to a fisherman im this story from the Greek Island of Kasos. Add in a jealous king, a funny little man and some magic powers, and you have the makings of a marvellous tale told beautifully by storyteller Despina Ariou. Happy listening! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you like monsters? What! How can anyone like monsters? Well in this story from the US, a young boy called Jimmy does not like them, but a monster decides that he really likes Jimmy's belly button, pops it in his button bag and flies off with it. Listen to this fun story told by storyteller new to super greatkids' Stories - Dominic Kelly, and learn what it's like to lose a belly button. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An East African chain story from Kenya about a community which pulls together to rescue some important cows which have been stolen from the village. Will the elders be able to persuade Kamankura the lead warrior to track down the thieves? And will Ciari agree to dance with Kamankura? Listen to Wangari and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this story from the US, Coyote is not happy. He keeps changing colour which is sometimes confusing, often embarrasing. Then one day, Coyote has a little accident which changes everything. Have a listen to Nick Hennessey tell this lively, fun story and find out what happens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This tale from Indonesia is about patience, and giving people space to recover. It's told by the inimitable Tuup along with his drum and some realistic tiger sound effects. It's aimed at a slightly older age group 7 – 9. If you have younger children, we have an imaginative second story this week told by Nick Hennessey: Coyote and Bluebird. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When young Masha goes into the woods to pick mushrooms, she gets lost. As if that's not bad enough, a bear takes her to his home and insists she stay there forever to clean his house. Masha comes up with a clever escape plan which involves baking some delicious cherry pies. Listen to storyteller Cat Weatherill tell this fun song-story from Russia and find out if the plan works. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yeh-Hsien, an orphan with shiny black hair and skin as soft as silk wishes to go to the lunar new year celebrations with her sister and step mother. She's told to stay at home and cook, but with a little help from a magical fish, and a pair of slippers that make no noise, her wish just might come true. Listen to Kim telling this ancient Chinese version of a Cinderella-style love story to find out what happens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Listen to Jason Buck tell his gripping version of the European story, Rumplestiltskin – complete with a nasty little goblin, a frightfully greedy King, and a clever girl who gets herself out of a tricky situation. It's a little bit scary but not very. Packed with wisdom and entertainment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kim tells the story of the twelve animals which represent the Chinese New Year. As the Lunar New Year approaches, each animal wants it to be named after them, but no one can agree which animal is most deserving. The Jade Emperor steps into solve the problem by proposing a race. Listen to this lively story and discover who wins, and who loses. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a grand house high up on a hill above the sea lived an old man who had a little granddaughter whose face he had never seen because his lovely daughter died at her birth… Nick Hennessey tells a moving English version of the Cinderella story. A word of warning –this version is unsettling at times so if this doesn't sound like one for you and yours, have a listen to our other story this week ‘Star Coin', told for our younger listeners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Coin is a Brothers Grimm story from Germany about an orphan girl who has nothing left in the world but the clothes on her back and a piece of bread. As she walks through the forest, looking for her luck, she encounters various people in need and helps them, but is left standing in the snowy forest with only a thin undershirt and no food or shoes. Who will come to her aid? Listen to the magical voice of storyteller Simone Schuemmelfeder, and take heart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A blacksmith sets off on a journey leaving a wife at home. The wife is expecting a baby, and after the months pass without a word from her husband, an unexpected visitor appears. He's covered in fur and has one eye in the middle of his head. Should she trust him? Listen to this week's fairytale told by Wangari the Storyteller from Kenya and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A girl lives with her Mum and little brother on the edge of a forest. When her brother is snatched away by the snow geese she asks for help from some unlikely assistants. But they'll only help her if she agrees to eat food she's never tried before. Can she give up habits of a lifetime in order to save her little brother? Listen to storyteller from Cambridge Maryun Leeper and find out. A heart-warming story from the chilly north. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To start off the new year – a gripping story from Romania. If you like fairytales and dragons and tricksters, then this is definitely the story for you. And it's told by talented storyteller Emily Hennessey who conjures up not one, but two scary dragons. What's not to like? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greek Storyteller Despina Ariou shares her Granny's Christmas story. It's about troll- like creatures called the Kallikantzari who make mischief at Christmas by stealing delicious food and sometimes even stealing children. Eek! These creatures are slightly scary, but fear not, this is a fairytale with a happy ending. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this Christmas tale from Germany, Storyteller Marion Leeper tells us about 'Tante' an old woman who is busily preparing her house on Christmas Eve to impress Christ Kindl - the bringer of Christmas. Tante cleans and polishes, and sweeps out the spiders and their webs, and decorates a particularly beautiful tree. When Christ Kindle visits, the exiled spiders beg him to let them into the house to see the tree. But will a house full of spiders stop the Christmas magic from happening? Listen to Marion Leeper's story and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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! Jason has done it again and pulled another cracking fairytale out of the bag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Masako Carey takes us to Japan for our first fairy tale of the season. Stranded in the dark without a lantern, a young monk is offered shelter by a kind and beautiful woman - who turns out to be a hungry mountain witch. Eek! Luckily, the monk has three lucky charms to help him. But will they be enough to ensure his escape from the clutches of a child-eating witch? Listen to Masako's tale and find out. This story is a little bit scary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Storyteller Tuup returns to tells us a First Nation story about a young girl who is unwell, and her father's quest to find a fox who can help her get better. Her father sets off in a blizzard, to find the fox and bring it back to the family home. Will this wild animal allow itself to be taken, and will the young girl recover? Listen to Tuup tell this mysterious story and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Storyteller Dave Tong, tells us a medieval English Tale about Robin Hood and his merry men who hear about an archery competition organised by the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. In spite of warnings from Maid Marian, Robin Hood decides to take part and attend the competition in disguise. Will Robin Hood be able to outwit the Sheriff, and lead his band of merry men back to safety with the silver arrow for his prize? Listen to Dave Tong tell this gripping tale and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Storyteller Simone Schuemmelfeder shares this delightful Spanish tale of a miserable old woman who hates autumn because of children stealing the delicious pears from her tree. One day, an old man appears and asks for a pear using the magic word ‘please'. He gets his pear. In return, the old woman is given a wish which means she never hates autumn again, and the local children learn an important lesson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One little weeping willow annoys his friends so much with his complaining that eventually they all move away to the other side of the land. So who will help him when he's faced with a serious problem? Listen to genius North American storyteller Sheila Arnold to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An old Welsh farming couple mourn the loss of their farm assistant. Shortly after, they're joined by a mysterious creature called a Bwca who starts helping them at night - unseen and uninvited. But suddenly he stops being helpful, and starts causing big trouble. Can the farmer and his wife make friends with the Bwca, once again, or will they have to flee their home? Listen to master storyteller Daniel Morden weave another of his magical tales from Wales. Warning: this slightly scary story has a death in it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Take one fierce hairy Buggane (an ogre-like creature), a trickster tailor, and a ruined church and you have the setting for quite a story told by Kim. Be a little bit afraid. Feel the fear and listen anyway. Warning: this story is a little bit scary because it has a hairy monster in it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A grumpy witch, an overworked donkey, and a mean merchant. Amy Douglas tells this entertaining story from Shropshire in England about an animal-loving witch who gets revenge and teaches locals a lesson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To conjure up our new theme - Stories of Magic, we have: a powerful wizard, a book full of secrets, a curious boy, wriggling words, and a clawed creature determined to be free. It's all here, blended into one magical story told by master storyteller from Wales: Daniel Morden. Don't miss it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A long time ago - back in the Dreamtime, the animals hold a competition to decide who is best at jumping, dancing, singing and running. Joolah the Lyrebird wants to dance, but he's too shy and embarrassed by his straggly tail feathers to compete. So Joolah stands apart to watch the events. But watching and listening can bring its own reward. Listen to Warren Foster Junior tell this moving story to discover who the real winner is in these games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A long time ago- back when the animals could talk, the earth is dark and cold. But when a lightning storm sets fire to a tree in the distance, the animals delight in the light and warmth - and agree they want some of that for themselves. But how can they safely fetch it and bring it back across the water to their camp? Listen to Lisa La-Rue Baker tell this beautiful story of ingenuity and courage and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A word to the grown-ups: this story told by Jason Buck is not scary, it's very funny – and brilliantly told, but it's does include toilet humour including quite a few sound effects - so, if you want to discourage giggles about ‘p-o-o' this is probably not the story for your children. We also have another fun story this week from Greece called The magical sneeze. In this funny story from Scandanavia, told by Jason Buck, a poor family are asked to donate a barrel of their finest ale to a troll. Would you give a troll a barrel of beer? Well it's just as well this family did, because they were given a magic barrel in return for their kindness, and it's a gift which keeps on giving. But listen on, there's a twist in the tale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, a storyteller new to Super Great Kids' Stories - Despina Ariou tells a fun quest tale about 6 animal friends who meet a pedlar and then mysteriously lose their voices. They head into the forest to find the pedlar and discover what they need to do in order to recover their lost voices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Indigenous Australian, Warren Foster Senior, tells a dreamtime story about Bungoo the Flying Fox. Bungoo is bored, because all his friends want to do is search for fruit. So he decides to go off in search of more exciting friends. Bungoo finds himself caught up in battles between the furry and the feathered creatures. Listen to this ‘How and Why' story, and find out what Bungoo learns on his travels about friends and family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you know that in many Spanish speaking countries, children who lose a tooth are visited by Ratoncito Pérez – a tooth mouse! Juliana Marin the travelling storyteller from Colombia tells a story about a spoilt little boy who happens to be a King, and a rather hairy tooth fairy …ok he's a mouse really. What gift will the tooth mouse give the young King? Listen to Juliana tell this heart-warming tale and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Word has it that Bad King John is coming to the village of Gotham for a royal hunt. The villagers know that this greedy King will kill and eat all the wild animals in their woods. So, they come up with a cunning plan: when the King's Herald arrives to organise the hunt for the King, he's greeted by a bunch of ‘ninny-hammers' or sillies. Will the villagers succeed in stopping, the King from coming? Listen to storyteller Dave Tong and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A selkie is a seal which can shape shift into human form by taking off its seal skin. Gillian Brownson relates this moving story from Ireland about a selkie who loses her beautiful skin and is trapped on land in the shape of a young woman. Will she get back to her seal family under the Irish sea? Or will she and her daughter be stuck on land forever? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this ‘How and Why' story Emily Hennessey takes us back to a time when there was no vast beach near her home in the North West of England, back to a time when the sea was in danger of being swallowed up by a hungry giantess. Did the giantess succeed? Or did the sun, the moon the wind or the rain manage to stop her? Listen to Emily's powerful story about the battle for sea and sand, and discover what part the little curlew bird had to play in the story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this old Japanese legend – a fisherman, ‘Urashima Taro' is rewarded by the Emperor of the Sea, for rescuing a small turtle. He's taken underwater to the Palace of the Dragons where he meets the Emperor's daughter, and spends three happy years. The daughter gives Taro a box to take home with him, but makes him promise not to open it. Listen to Japanese storyteller Masako Carey, and see if he keeps his promise. (It's a sad ending.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jebro is a small boy who lives on an island with his nine older brothers in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. With the seas rising, they have to find a new island to live on, but who will be their leader? Their wise mother suggests they decide with a race. When that day arrives, Jebro has to make a decision which might well mean he loses the race. What should he do? Listen to storyteller Marion Leeper, share this thoughtful traditional tale from the Marshall Islands and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We have a legendary Welsh water monster to kick off this month's theme of watery stories. The Afanc is described as a cross between a crocodile and a giant beaver. This enormous creature is causing floods and eating anyone who comes near. Many brave souls have tried to kill it, but its hide is so tough that no spear, or arrow can pierce it. How can the local people stop the Afanc from flooding their land? Listen to Welsh singer/storyteller Gillian Brownson and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

According to this Cherokee legend, Unetlanvhi, The Great One, created little corn people to help the first woman on earth, with the chores. The corn people were very beautiful, but spent more time admiring their reflection, than helping out. The Creator was not happy, and did something dramatic to teach them an important lesson about beauty. Listen to Lisa La Rue Baker tell this traditional tale from the Cherokee Nation and discover what happened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices