The Fairy Tale Art Cart

Ever been bossed around (or, ever done the bossing)? In this draw along episode, we tell a beloved Cuban folktale about a very proud rooster on his way to his uncle's wedding. When El Gallo, The Rooster, gets his magnificent beak muddy right before the ceremony, he demands that everyone around him fix the problem: the grass, the goat, the stick, the fire, the water. One by one, they all say... noo...

What if the days were so short that by the time you said "good morning," it was already nighttime? In this draw along episode, we travel to the world of the Māori people and discover the folktale How Maui Caught the Sun, a story about Maui the demigod who is done waiting around for things to get better and decides, with his brothers by his side, to do something no one has ever dared to do before....

What would you do if you wanted something so badly that you'd go to the most outrageous, over-the-top lengths imaginable to get it? In this draw along episode, we travel to the Domincan Republic and discover a story called The King and the Moon . It's the tale of a very powerful king who looks up at the night sky one evening and decides he simply must have the moon. What follows is a chain of dema...

What would you do if you had to show up with nothing but the truth, but the truth was actually all that you needed? In this episode, we travel all the way to ancient China for a folktale called The Empty Pot . It's the story of a boy named Ling who loves plants and gardens, and who is given a very special seed by the emperor himself. Ling waters it, tends it, sings to it, and moves it to a bigger...

There's a drought in the land. The riverbed is dry. Every single animal, from the massive elephant to the squeaky little mouse, tries to stomp the water up from the ground. One by one, they all give up. But tiny little Gecko refuses to quit. The bigger animals laugh at him. They mock him. But, Gecko stomps anyway. This is a story about what happens when you keep going even when others say you can'...

What if winter could turn into spring in an instant just because you were kind? In this magical draw along episode, we travel deep into a snowy Czech forest and discover one of the most enchanting folktales from Eastern Europe: The Twelve Months . It's a story about a girl named Marushka who loves nature so deeply that nature loves her right back...and about what happens when greed meets the 12 gn...

Once upon a time, a kind old man and a kind old woman wished and wished for a child... and then one sunny washing day, a giant rosy peach came bobbing down the stream with the most surprising little someone tucked inside. In today's draw along folktale from Japan, a tiny peach-born boy named Momotaro grows big, strong, and brave enough to set off on the adventure of a lifetime. But he quickly lear...

A little old man and a little old woman are stuck in the silliest standoff over who should walk down to the river to fetch the water...and the tomato, onion, and pepper sitting in a basket on the kitchen table are getting more frustrated with every grumpy “I don’t wanna!” In today’s draw-along folktale from Mexico called "The Cherry Tree", one teeny squabble snowballs into a juicy, sky-tumbling, s...

What happens when 500 lost elephants stomp their way into what they think is a cave? The answer will simply bloooowwww you away! In today’s screen-free draw along folktale episode called Aran Aung and the Elephants, your young story artist will discover that even when you’re lost (and a little bit grouchy), help has a funny way of arriving in the most unexpected ways: sometimes from a kind strange...

Once upon a time in Ireland, there lived a king with a secret so enormous, so embarrassing, so downright ridiculous that he had not told a single soul — not the queen, not his children, not even his dog (and dogs, as you know, are excellent listeners). In today's draw along episode, The King's Secret, your story artist meets a young barber named Liam who is about to learn two things the hard way:...

Story artists, grab your crayons and your drawing paper because the story in today's episode is about to get fuuuun! In this magical Tanzanian folktale called The Calabash Children, a lonely woman makes a wish so impossible it could never, ever come true… except it totally does, in the most way imaginable. And just when you think you've figured out where this story is going, buckle up, because the...

What if the stories you never told came alive? Once upon a mischievous midnight, a young boy's unspoken tales burst free from the bag he's kept them in and create quite a flurry! What happens next will have your little ones smiling wide and begging for one more story. This is the Korean folktale called The Story Bag. The Fairy Tale Art Cart is an interactive draw along podcast where your kids get...

The people of a small village, decide to build a bell tower in the middle of the square with one rule: anyone who has been treated unfairly can ring it... but wait until you hear who rings it in this retelling of the Italian folktale called The Bell of Atri! The Fairy Tale Art Cart is an interactive draw along podcast where your kids get to become the illustrators of the stories they hear! It's th...

Ready for your kids to outwit an evil magician, one drawing at a time? In this adventurous episode of The Fairy Tale Art Cart: Draw Along Stories For Kids, a young man named John begins reading books from the secret library of an evil magician. When the magician finds out, a wild ride of wit and magic ensues! The Fairy Tale Art Cart is the perfect screen-free creative activity for busy families! G...

🍀 Grab your crayons and get ready for a little Saint Patrick's Day magic! In this episode of The Fairy Tale Art Cart: Draw Along Stories For Kids, host Rachael Harrington retells the hilarious Irish folktale "Clever Tom," a tale packed with wit, trickery, and the kind of laugh-out-loud fun that keeps little ears perked up and tuned in. Your kids will listen, imagine, and draw their way through th...

**The Crane's Gratitude - Folktale Draw-Along | Valentine's Day Story for Kids** Join storyteller Rachael Harrington for a magical Valentine's Day draw-along adventure with "The Crane's Gratitude," a beloved Japanese folktale perfect for children! In this episode of The Fairy Tale Art Cart podcast, your kids will listen to and illustrate this heartwarming story about kindness, gratitude, trust, re...

Happy New Year 2025! As we get ready to welcome 2026, I thought it'd be fun to re-release the very first ever episode of The Fairy Tale Art Cart as a way to reflect on the amazing journey of the show so far. This new year already holds some pretty incredible things for the podcast (click that newsletter subscribe button to be the first to know) - so thank you for being here and being a part of the...

Gather your crayons and settle in for a cozy, screen-free interactive draw along adventure as we tell a folktale from the Maori people called How Maui Brought Fire. Designed with creative kids and busy, imaginative parents, this storytelling episode invites children to listen closely, draw along, and bring Maui’s mischievous adventure to life on paper. With playful narration and fin illustration p...

What’s the craziest yet most delicious recipe idea that you can think of for a cup of hot cocoa? What ingredients might be a yummy way to spice up that mug of cocoa? Welcome to The Fairy Tale Art Cart, a podcast where you get to become the illustrator of the stories you hear: hosted by art teacher turned globe-trotting professional storyteller Rachael Harrington. If you’re a parent looking for ima...

Get ready for a giggle-filled draw-along storytelling adventure as we draw our way into the classic English folktale “The Emperor’s New Clothes!” In this playful episode, kids can sketch, imagine, and laugh along as our very fancy Emperor shows off an outfit that—oops!—might not be quite what he thinks, making it a perfect screen-free creative activity for busy families. Grab your crayons and sett...

Get ready for a draw-along storytelling adventure as we dive into the joyful Ghanaian folktale “Anansi’s Hat Shaking Dance!” In this upbeat story draw-along episode, your child can laugh, wiggle, imagine, and draw along with Anansi the Spider—a perfectly screen-free way to spark creativity, keep little hands busy, and make story time extra fun. Grab some crayons and settle in, because this silly,...

In this delightful Nigerian folktale, your kids will listen and draw along as they imagine a time when the sky hung low enough for children to reach up and take just what they needed. But when greed begins to stir, the sky zips far, far away—setting the stage for a playful, meaningful adventure that inspires creativity and big conversations. Perfect for families seeking screen-free entertainment,...

"Who will help me..." In this playful episode, the Little Red Hen finds a few grains of wheat and sets out to bake a loaf of bread—with a little hope (and not much help) from her friends. Along the way, there’s laughter, lessons, and the sweet smell of something wonderful baking. Curl up and listen to this classic tale about hard work, helping hands, and the joy of sharing what you’ve ma...

A story about a talented young girl and her ukelele, her magician father, and a giant who threatens their village?? It's a fresh new take on the South African folktale Abiyoyo! Through music, laughter, and a little bit of magic, the young girl and her father activate the power of creativity and courage to save the day. This episode was recorded LIVE at Buunni Coffee , Inwood and features Latin...

Take a rollicking road trip with four unlikely animal friends who refuse to grow old quietly! In The Bremen Town Musicians, a donkey, dog, cat, and rooster hit the road in search of a new life (and a shot at a music career). It’s a story about reinvention, resilience, and finding your harmony... even if it's a little off key! The Fairy Tale Art Cart: Screen-free Creative Time For Your Kids, Ma...