Family Folktales

When an emperor learns of a nightingale who sings beautifully in his garden, he makes the bird a guest of his court. When the emperor receives a mechanical nightingale as a gift he forgets about the real one, who takes the opportunity to escape the palace. But when the emperor is taken ill, can his mechanical bird comfort him?

A town’s champion, the swiftest, strongest man in the area, hears of someone even swifter and stronger – one Andras Baive. Determined to prove his superiority, the champion challenges Baive. Who will prove victorious?

A childless queen has a daughter and son using magical means. After her death and the king’s remarriage, the children are separated – from their father and each other. Will the Princess Dotterine find the life of comfort she was born to, or live a life in service to others?

“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me,” goes the old saying. What will happen when Antoine – or Toueno-Boueno, as people call him – tries repeatedly to fool three brothers?

Ball-Carrier has taken a wife, but when he becomes very ill he gives his wife instructions on how he is to be laid to rest. How will his family manage without his hunting?

A boy is lured to a witch’s home by a magic ball and then fasts for weeks until he has received the gifts of all the good spirits. Finally he is ready for the quest the witch has in mind – but will he succeed?

Who is Schippeitaro? And will he be able to defeat the Spirit of the Mountain, freeing a community from providing a human sacrifice every year?

A prince who has taken work with a magician escapes with the magician’s talking horse. Will the horse give the prince sage advice, or lead him right into trouble?

A dying king entrusts his son to the care of his servant, Trusty John. After helping the new king to secure a bride, how far will John go to serve the King?

A fisherman inadvertently promises his son to a fish! Will the king himself be able to protect the child?

A king’s son is rewarded with a strange bundle by a once-enchanted young man. When he opens it, he finds more than he bargained for – and challenges for years to come!

A princess is taken by a giant, who cuts off her feet; she is then rescued by Kisa, the cat she had as a young child. Kisa outsmarts the giant and his wife, recovers and reattaches the princess’s feet, and returns her to her parents. But that’s not the end of the story!

A poor young man goes off to seek his fortune and is rewarded with a nut. Cracking the nut reveals an explosion of wealth, which the fellow can only contain with the help of a stranger who extracts a promise from him. And when the young man breaks his promise, who knows what dangers may befall him?

A young man, aided by a most unusual horse, saves a princess from troll. But will her father reward the young man as he promised?

A girl who is happiest in frigid temperatures and her brother, who craves nothing more than heat, try to make their way in the world after the deaths of their parents.

Twin brothers both want to go off to see the world, but only one may go at a time. When the brother at home sees a sign that harm has come to his travelling brother, he leaves home to find him. Will he be in time to save his brother?

A princess is destined to cause the deaths of her brothers, so her parents secure her in a tower. After the deaths of their parents, the princes free Princess Rosette, who is charmed when she sees a peacock; she declares she will marry only the King of the Peacocks. Will her brothers manage to arrange the marriage she wants, or will she be the cause of their deaths?

A woman angers an ogre by taking water from his pond. In an attempt to save her own life, she tells the ogre where to find her baby. Can little Motikatika outwit the ogre?

A girl is repeatedly distracted from her herding duties by a lion needing her care. When she discovers that he is actually an enchanted prince, will she be able to break the enchantment?

A man agrees to work for some dragons to provide for his suddenly-large family. Will he manage to keep his life and his large payment, or will the dragons renege on their deal?

Each day after dinner, the king of a certain country has a covered dish brought to him that he will not even uncover until he is completely alone. When a curious servant discovers the secret, will it go well for him or ill?

A queen helps her son escape the deadly wrath of his father. When he hires a servant based on his mother’s advice, what strange circumstances will he encounter?

A lazy young man wants to become rich, but isn’t willing to work. When he follows a stranger’s advice he finds success; what will happen when he thinks he knows better what to do?

Wisdom, strength, long life, riches, health, or beauty – which would you choose? Fortunatus was given such a choice; listen and find out what came of his decision!

A prince falls in love with a maiden who transforms into a pea-hen. When she disappears, how long will he search and how far will he go to find her?