Super Great Kids' Stories

Listen to storyteller Liz Weir tell this stonkingly fun version of the English fairytale: ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’. Before you know it, you’ll be clapping and tapping and rapping along to this lively telling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Cherokee 'How and Why' tale which explains why turtle's shell is cracked. It's beautifully told by storyteller from the Cherokee Nation, Gayle Ross. Warning: there are moments of violence, and things do not end at all well for the wolf in this story. Some listeners particularly younger ones might find it unsettling. You might prefer listening to our extra story this week: The Three-Bears Rap. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This story is a selection from: ‘The Best of Super Great Kids’ Stories - What would you do if an angry fairy suddenly popped up beside you while you were taking a nap? In this Scottish fairy tale told by storyteller Amy Douglas that’s exactly what happens to an unsuspecting tramp with rather surprising results. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The birds of the forest need to choose a king. Turkey wants to be the one to wear the crown, but his dull feathers are not impressive. A colourful bird lkindly lends her bright feathers to Turkey, who promises to return them after he becomes king. Does he keep his promise? Listen to storyteller Wendy Shearer share this thoughtful story and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here’s a beautiful quest story for those of you who aren’t keen on scary tales. It’s filled with magic and drama and told by veteran storyteller from Northern Ireland Liz Weir. It’s about a princess, a king, a horse with magic powers, and a boy who struggles to read. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Take one sad ghost, a haunted house and seven semi-brave brothers and you have the ingredients for a perfect Halloween story told by Cat Weatherill. Be a little bit afraid. This story is scary, but not too scary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A sweet old woman sets off on a quest to solve the mystery of some missing eggs. Her search leads her to Hecate the Queen of the Witches who sets the old woman trembling. What will she find there waiting in the shadows? A goddess with the face of a lion, the body of a snake, and the horns of a bull? And can she get the answers she’s seeking? Listen to storyteller Sarah Liisa Wilkinson and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we approach Halloween, here is a funny, witchy story for you from Germany. A young woodcutter has an accident with an axe and is healed by a girl who comes across him in the woods. Love blooms, but the woodcutter’s friends warn him that this strange girl may well be a witch. He follows her to a witch’s gathering and in a moment of fury, she turns the woodcutter into a donkey. But she doesn't know how to undo the spell. How can they untangle this tricky problem? Listen to talented storyteller Lucy Lill and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Molly and the Skeleton. This is a story from our archive. It was the first in our Super Great Scary Stories collection for owlets which we began in October 2022. It's our little gift for you this Halloween month. Recommended for ages 8 to 108! Molly is a traveler happily tramping the roads and sleeping under the stars, but when winter draws near she needs a warm place to sleep. She can stay in a big empty house on the hill - but there is a catch…it's haunted. Will Molly make it through the night? Listen to Nick Henessey tell this old ghost story from England and find out. We have a rating system for our scary stories. We rate this story 😱😱😱, which means pretty darn scary! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One stormy October a long time ago in Cornwall in the UK, the waves were so high that none of the fisherfolk dared to go out on the sea to bring back fish. So people in the village were going hungry. This is the story of one man who dared to brave the stormy seas to try to catch some fish. Did he make it safely back? Listen to Jason Buck tell this Cornish legend of ‘derring-do’ and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mãui the demigod and trickster is fed up with his big brothers who won't let him go fishing with them. So Mãui decides to teach them a lesson by catching a fish bigger than any they've ever caught before. But he will be able to keep hold of it? Listen to storyteller Emmy Bidois tell this Mãori myth, and find out what happens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you more like a fox, or more like a dog? Storyteller new to Super Great Kids’ Stories - Cara Silversmith, tells this moving tale from Scottish traveller the late Duncan Williamson. The story compares the freedom and danger of the wild outdoors, to the comfort, warmth and safety of the home. Listen to Cara tell this moving tale and decide which would you would rather be - a fox or a dog. Warning: This story could be a little unsettling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A young boy is sent by his parents to become a priest, but really, all he wants to do is draw cats. He loves drawing cats, and dreams of becoming an artist. What he doesn’t know, is that this love of drawing cats will actually save his life. Listen to storyteller Tim Ralphs and find out how! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What would you do if noisy animals were keeping you awake at night? Put your hands over your ears, burst into tears, or get someone big to go and ask them to be quiet! Listen to storyteller Wendy Shearer tell this fun, interactive story set in the rainforest in Bali and find out what grumpy gecko decides to do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This story is a selection from: ‘The Best of Super Great Kids’ Stories - Can you imagine a cheeky fox inviting himself to your birthday party? What do you think might happen? Have a listen to this fun, interactive story told by Irish storyteller Kate Corkery and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two beautiful stories from the 'mother of all storytellers' - Liz Weir from Northern Ireland. One is about two friends who meet a mermaid, and the other, a How and Why story from the US about a vain skunk. Listen to Liz’s wonderful tales and be inspired to tell your own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Would you want a very loud frog for a pet? The children in this story do, and even manage to catch one, but they know their Mum won’t be happy. So they set him free and encourage him to go on a quest asking questions to each animal he meets. Listen to this funny story told by ace storyteller Amy Douglas, and laugh out loud. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lion’s voice is soft and quiet. This makes it tricky for the animals to know when lion is out hunting, and keep safely out of his way. So they need to find a way to get lion to roar. But no animal is brave enough to sort the problem. …. no one that is except for Unogwaja the trickster rabbit who comes up with a perfect plan. Listen to Gcina Mphlope tell this animated story from South Africa and find out how rabbit saves the day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kawariki is secretly in love with a shark man. Well, he wasn’t a shark when she fell in love with him, but her Dad who has magic powers, wants her to marry someone else, so he turns the man she loves into a shark. Eek! Listen to Emmy Bidois tell this Maori tale, from Aotearoa (New Zealand) and see how the power of love, and help from a sea goddess helps solve this problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Take one silly queen and a cook, and a pastry chef and a King, and some cute birds and some fuzzy bees and some mop slopping servants and some guards and nobles and advisors and one little stable boy and put them all together into the stomach of one small cat – and you’ve got a bit of a problem. Listen to genius storyteller Tim Ralphs weave his word magic while telling this story and enjoy the spectacular result. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This story is a selection from: ‘The Best of Super Great Kids’ Stories - Some people say, that if you catch a leprechaun, he will lead you to a pot of gold. Listen to Irish storyteller Kate Corkery, to see if Molly can get her granny a pot of gold? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Goanna (a huge lizard) keeps stealing the fairies’ delicious wattleseed damper (bread dough). What can they do? Two plucky young fairies decide to teach that lizard a lesson. But their plan involves a dangerous trip into the humans' camp. Will they succeed? Listen to this exciting fairy tale from the Australian outback told by Evita the storyteller - and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pekko loves Pirkko but sadly, Pirkko’s father doesn’t like the idea. Then one day, Pekko rescues a witch from a bog and is rewarded with a strange stone whose magical powers change everything. Listen to Sarah Liisa Wilkinson tell this funny story from Finland and have a good laugh. Note this story is a bit ‘windy’ and mentions the word ‘fart’ a few times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What can Bonita the sheep do when El Lobo the wolf says he’s going to eat her? Why, trick him, of course, keep her cool, and trick him again, and then again! Listen to Anne Johnson tell this lively song story from Cape Verde about a hungry wolf and pretty tricky sheep. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rabbit is up to his tricks again. This time he’s determined to keep all the meat for himself and his family and send wolf home with next to nothing. Will he succeed? Listen to this trickster tale told by Gayle Ross from the Cherokee Nation and find out. A little word of warning, if you love cows or even if you’re a vegetarian, you might want to listen to a different story. Gayle tells a beautiful story about a bird with big feet. Maybe try that one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Mexican farmer and his wife both love their white cow - as much as they love each other. A local priest is very keen to have it, and comes up with a sneaky plan. Will the priest get his way, or will love, and a little trickery from the farmer’s wife win the day? Listen to Tim Ralphs, a talented storyteller new to Super Great Kids’ Stories– and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Crocodile is not well, and needs some monkey liver soup to get better. But how can crocodile find a monkey willing to hand over his liver? Crocodile comes up with a cunning plan to trick a monkey – but sometimes even tricksters get tricked! Listen to writer and storyteller Wendy Shearer tell this witty tale from Trinidad and Tobago and enjoy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What would you do if a green-skinned, big, snotty-nosed long-clawed hairy monster with green legs, and red eyes came a knocking at your door? The tough old woman in this story from the North of England knows what she wants and it isn’t to be eaten by a monster so she has to use her wits to trick him. Will she succeed? Listen to this funny story told by storyteller new to super great kids’ stories - Lucy Lill, and find out Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Deep in the forest, a brother and sister live a simple life hunting and living off the land. But one day, the brother sets a trap for a bird— imagine his surprise when he catches a talking eagle! And this wasn’t just a talking eagle, this eagle could also SING! And each time he sang, something magical happened. Will the brother take pity on the eagle, and release him from the trap? Listen to Hana Baba from the podcast Folktales from Sudan - tell this moving song-story, and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Anne Johnson from the London storytelling charity Everyday Magic tells this moving European story about a family which is unexpectedly forced to flee their home and seek shelter elsewhere. Where will they sleep and how will they find food? Listen to Anne tell this moving story enhanced with beautiful songs 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 - Would you like to turn into a bird and fly off on an adventure? The two friends in this story did just that – but did they make it back home? Listen to Kim telling this story from Argentina and find out. (Warning - this story has a witch in it, but she’s a good witch so it’s not very scary.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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