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Popular Folktales

Here are some of the most popular folktales, fairy tales and wonder stories from around the world.

The Flying Canoe

Long ago, there were a number of lonely lumberjacks working in the center of a very large forest. They cut down mammoth trees and watched them crash into the thick snow in exactly the place where they said the trees would land. They would cut up the trees and haul them hither and thither. They… Read More »The Flying Canoe

The Golden Goose

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

Thor’s Wedding

“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

Hansel and Gretel

Hansel and Gretel

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

The Travels of Tom Thumb

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

Rumpelstiltskin

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

The Frog Prince

The Frog Prince

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