Super Great Kids' Stories

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 Sibere...

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 gri...

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...

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 wor...

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 ab...

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....

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 mo...

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...

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 yo...

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...

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....

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...

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 magica...

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 podcast...

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 Marion Leeper and find out. A heart-warm...

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