Here are some of the most popular folktales, fairy tales and wonder stories from around the world.
A shoemaker, by no fault of his own, had become so poor that at last he had nothing left but leather for one pair of shoes. So, in the evening, he cut out the shoes which he wished to make the next morning. And as he had a good conscience, he lay down quietly in… Read More »The Elves and the Shoemaker
There was once a man who had three sons. The youngest was called Langsam, and was on all occasions scorned and ill-treated by the whole family. It happened that the eldest took it into his head one day to go into the forest to cut wood; and his mother gave him a delicious meat pie… Read More »The Golden Goose
“Hold still, Thor. I’m trying to fix your train.” Loki folded a piece of white silk and applied the pins. “I look ridiculous,” said Thor gloomily. The huge red-haired thunder god stared in the mirror at his muscular frame squeezed into the tight wedding gown. He frowned. Outside, thunder growled in response. Loki pressed his… Read More »Thor’s Wedding
Once upon a time there dwelt near a large wood a poor woodcutter, with his wife and two children by his former marriage, a little boy called Hansel, and a girl named Gretel. He had little enough to break or bite; and once, when there was a great famine in the land, he could not… Read More »Hansel and Gretel
There lived a tailor who had only one son, and he was extremely small, not any larger than your thumb, and so was called Tom Thumb. However, he was a courageous little fellow, and he told his father, “Father, I am determined to go into the world to seek my fortune.” “Very well, my son,”… Read More »The Travels of Tom Thumb
There was once a poor Miller who had a beautiful daughter, and one day, having to go to speak with the King, he said, in order to make himself appear of consequence, that he had a daughter who could spin straw into gold. The King was very fond of gold, and thought to himself, “That… Read More »Rumpelstiltskin
In the olden time, when wishing was having, there lived a King, whose daughters were all beautiful; but the youngest was so exceedingly beautiful that the Sun himself, although he saw her very, very often, was delighted every time she came out into the sunshine. Near the castle of this King was a large and… Read More »The Frog Prince
A Fable as told by Aesop A Shepherd Boy tended his master’s Sheep near a dark forest not far from the village. Soon he found life in the pasture very dull. All he could do to amuse himself was to talk to his dog or play on his shepherd’s pipe. One day as he sat… Read More »The Boy Who Cried Wolf
A Fable as told by Aesop A Hare was making fun of the Tortoise one day for being so slow. “Do you ever get anywhere?” he asked with a mocking laugh. “Yes,” replied the Tortoise, “and I get there sooner than you think. I’ll run you a race and prove it.” The Hare was much… Read More »The Tortoise and the Hare
A Fable As Told by AESOP A COUNTRY MOUSE invited a Town Mouse, an intimate friend, to pay him a visit and partake of his country fare. As they were on the bare plowlands, eating there wheat-stocks and roots pulled up from the hedgerow, the Town Mouse said to his friend, “You live here the… Read More »The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
