Super Great Kids' Stories

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