Shows
2023-09-2710 min2023-09-2014 minRebecca ReadsThe Goose GirlAnother wonderful story from the Brothers Grimm. Because it's an original Grimm story, beware of a few things that are a bit icky (a dead horse's head talking and a terrible fate for the imposter). But it is a fun story and the basis for one of my favorite books.
2023-09-1315 minRebecca ReadsThe SwineherdA fun short story from Hans Christian Andersen. The ending is not quite what you will expect.
2023-09-0612 minRebecca ReadsBeowulfThe oldest story written in English. It is a story of fighting monsters and a great hero.
2023-08-1620 minRebecca ReadsThe Taming of the ShrewAnother wonderful story from William Shakespeare, as adapted by Edith Nesbit.
2023-08-0915 minRebecca ReadsThe Frog PrinceAnother wonderful story from the Brothers Grimm. It was actually one of their favorites. Today's poem is The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt.
2023-08-0211 minRebecca ReadsSif’s Golden HairAnother Norse myth. It is another way how Loki makes trouble for the Gods in Asgard.
2023-07-2612 min2023-07-1919 minRebecca ReadsHábogiA nice little tale from Iceland. The poem for today is Kubla Khan by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
2023-07-1214 minRebecca ReadsThe Elephant’s ChildAnother story and poem from Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories. This one tells how the Elephant got his trunk.
2023-07-0518 minRebecca ReadsPooh Goes Visiting and Gets Into a Tight SpotOne of the beloved stories from A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh.
2023-06-2811 minRebecca ReadsSnow White and Rose RedAnother wonderful story collected by the Brothers Grimm. Not the Snow White you're used to, but a lot of magical elements.
2023-06-0715 minRebecca ReadsKisa the CatToday's story comes from Iceland. It is a great story of kindness and friendship.
2023-03-2912 minRebecca ReadsDon Quixote and Two ArmiesWe continue the story of Don Quixote. Today he encounters two armies...of sheep.
2023-03-2214 minRebecca ReadsDon Quixote and the MonksWe continue the story of Don Quixote. Today he encounters some monks and sleeps with goatherds.
2023-03-1519 minRebecca ReadsDon Quixote and the WindmillsIn today's story, our hero is knighted and encounters some windmills.
2023-03-0818 minRebecca ReadsDon Quixote Starts His QuestWe are embarking on some of the stories of Don Quixote de la Mancha. This week is how he came to be Don Quixote and his first foray into the world.
2023-03-0119 minRebecca ReadsThe Golden Beetle, Part 2The conclusion of The Golden Beetle, an origin tale from China.
2023-02-2214 min2023-02-1514 minRebecca ReadsMore Aesop’s FablesSix more of Aesop's Fables. Then I share the longer poem The Lady of Shalott by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
2023-02-0815 min
2023-02-0101 min2023-02-0121 min2023-02-0113 minRebecca ReadsThe Fisherman and His WifeThis is a cautionary tale from the Brothers Grimm. It teaches us to be grateful for all we have. This is a lesson I have been learning the last couple weeks. A fun story.
2022-03-3115 minRebecca ReadsAnanzi and the LionA fun trickster tale from Africa. Ananzi is a well known trickster that can take many forms. His stories are called spider tales. This story is very well known in many parts of the world.
2022-03-0912 minRebecca ReadsThe Princess of CanterburyA fun tale from England. Is the fool really a fool? The poem for today is I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud by William Wordsworth.
2022-03-0409 minRebecca ReadsThe Emperor’s New ClothesA classic tale from Hans Christian Andersen. We can all have a laugh at the Emperor who pretends to see clothes that aren't there. The poem for today is Eletelephony by Laura Elizabeth Richards.
2022-02-2412 minRebecca ReadsRapunzelA great story from the Brothers Grimm. Most know this story but it's such a good one. I also share a short original story and share a big announcement. Make sure you listen all the way to the end!
2022-02-0214 minRebecca ReadsThe Marriage of Sir Gawayne Part 2The concluding part of The Marriage of Sir Gawayne. Find out if Gawayne is loyal to his promise to Arthur and what he learns from his choices. A happy conclusion to the events set up from last week. The poem today is Sonnet 130 by William Shakespeare.
2022-01-1218 minRebecca ReadsThe Marriage of Sir Gawayne Part 1One of the stories surrounding King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. It is pretty long, so I have broken it up into two parts. Find out what happens when Arthur blazes into a situation without thinking and learns he can't solve all his problems with a sword or by himself.
2022-01-0520 minRebecca ReadsThe Little Match GirlA bit of a sad story from Hans Christian Andersen. It is quite a famous story, and although sad, it has a wonderful message. It is a wonderful story to make you think for the beginning of a new year. Poem today is Ring Out Wild Bells by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
2021-12-2910 minRebecca ReadsMr. Fezziwig‘s Christmas PartyA short part pulled from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This is one of the memories the Ghost of Christmas Past shows Ebenezer Scrooge on his path of remembering where he came from. The poem today is also called Christmas Carol, but its subject is different from Scrooge and it is authored by Paul Laurence Dunbar.
2021-12-2212 minRebecca ReadsJimmy Scarecrow‘s ChristmasA fun Christmas story by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman. A scarecrow is pretty miserable in the winter: it's cold and he has nothing to do. A kind girl tries to make sure he isn't forgotten, and his misery finds a solution with Santa Clause. A lesser known story, but a good one.
2021-12-1516 minRebecca ReadsMon-Daw-MinA Native American story that tells where corn came from. A young man wrestles for the answer to how feed his people aside from hunting. The poem for today is Laughing Corn by Carl Sandburg.
2021-12-0113 minRebecca ReadsMrs. November‘s Dinner PartyA fun story I found of all the months, holidays, and other calendar events gathering for a Thanksgiving feast. It's a perfect story for this time of year, and it is quite fun picking out all the holidays. Bonus points if you catch the name of July's eagle's name.
2021-11-1713 minRebecca ReadsI WonderA Scandinavian tale of a young brother whose wonderings benefit him in the end.
2021-11-1013 minRebecca ReadsThe Tale of Peter Rabbit and The Tale of Benjamin BunnyTwo wonderful stories from Beatrix Potter.
2021-11-0315 minRebecca ReadsThe Monkey PawA spooky story for Halloween. (Not too spooky; it's more suggestion and using your imagination than actually scary.)
2021-10-2724 min2021-10-2016 min2021-10-1312 minRebecca ReadsThe Ratcatcher (Pied Piper of Hamelin)The sad tale of the Pied Piper of Hamelin (it is called The Ratcatcher in the Red Fairy Book).
2021-10-0615 minRebecca ReadsThree Tales of WarningThree short stories this week, all with the same theme. We will read Henny Penny, The Shepherd and the Wolf (an Aesop story), and Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
2021-09-2913 minRebecca ReadsHow Odin Lost His EyeAnother Norse myth. This is how Odin, All Father, came to only have one eye.
2021-09-2218 minRebecca ReadsThe Twelve Dancing PrincessesAnother Grimm story, but this version is just a little different from the Grimm version. One of my favorites.
2021-09-1523 min2021-09-0812 min2021-09-0111 min2021-08-2517 min2021-08-1820 min2021-08-1115 min2021-08-0417 minRebecca ReadsAesop's FablesFour fables attributed to Aesop. Also I will read The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe for our poem.
2021-07-2814 min2021-07-2121 min2021-03-2518 min2021-03-1014 min2021-03-0307 min2021-01-2808 min2021-01-1317 minRebecca ReadsBabouscka, A Russian Christmas StoryA traditional tale from Russia. Also, A Visit from St. Nicolas.
2020-12-2313 min2020-12-1615 minRebecca ReadsKing ArthurTwo short stories of how King Arthur pulled the sword from the stone and how he got Excalibur. Plus a poem about Sir Galahad, a knight of the Round Table.
2020-11-1115 minRebecca ReadsThe Cat and the FiddleA fun story behind the Mother Goose rhyme as dreamed up by L Frank Baum.
2020-11-0412 min2020-10-2818 min2020-10-1516 minRebecca ReadsThe Six SwansAnother story collected from the Brothers Grimm. A story of a girl with unfailing loyalty and love for her family.
2020-10-0611 min2020-08-2513 minRebecca ReadsRikki Tikki Tavi Part 1The first part of a wonderful story by Rudyard Kipling about a mongoose.
2020-08-1919 minRebecca ReadsThe Last LeafA fun story from O. Henry. This is a little more advanced, but smaller children can still enjoy the story and the beautiful language O. Henry uses. And surprise endings are always fun.
2020-07-2815 minRebecca ReadsEast of the Sun, West of the MoonA Norwegian fairy tale. I found this version in Andrew Lang's Blue Fairy Book.
2020-06-3023 min2020-06-2320 minRebecca ReadsIduna and Her ApplesA Norse myth involving Loki and apples that make you young forever.
2020-06-1723 minRebecca ReadsLittle One Eye, Little Two Eyes, Little Three EyesEnjoy a lesser known story from the Brothers Grimm.
2020-06-1016 minRebecca ReadsWell of World's EndA fairy tale that is not as well known but has things you will recognize from many other tales.
2020-06-0208 minRebecca ReadsThe Myth of PandoraA Greek myth that explores our curiosity and the importance of hope.
2020-05-2613 min2020-05-1911 min2020-05-1211 minRebecca ReadsA Midsummer Night's DreamAn adaptation of Shakespeare's play into a story for children.
2020-05-0513 min2020-05-0508 min