Around the World

Let's travel around the world together? Will we first visit the seal hunters in Greenland or the African tribes? And how about getting to know the story of the Vietnamese Cinderella? Immerse yourself with the children in the secrets of traditional stories from all over the world: from the Far East through vast Africa to the eternally frozen plains of the far north.

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French tale

Donkey Skin

min

4.59

A kind princess was told she must marry a cruel prince. To free herself from this horror, she gives the prince a series of difficult tasks to achieve, expecting that he would fail and she could safely avoid the wedding. But this ploy doesn’t work, so she’s left with only one option — to flee the palace disguised as a peasant. As a result, her life takes a curious turn.

Around the World

Indian Tale

The Poor Farmer and the Rich Miser

min

4.58

In this Indian story, we learn the fate of a poor farmer living in poverty and having almost nothing. He has to give everything to his neighbour, a money-lender. When he is given a rare magic horn that will fulfill his every wish, the greedy rich man finds out. Of course the neighbour wants to take advantage of the horn's power immediately. The farmer comes up with an idea, thanks to which he gets rid of the rich man's greed once and for all.

Around the World

Greek Fable

Romulus and Remus

min

4.54

Do you know the legend of how the world-famous city of Rome was founded? Meet Romulus and Remus, twins raised by a kind she-wolf.

Around the World

Ukrainian Tale

The Little Straw Bull

min

4.54

Once there was an old man and an old woman who were so poor they couldn’t even afford a single ox. So they had to figure out a way to earn some money. It started with making a little bull out of straw and resin. From there, they used lots of cunning and exercised good teamwork… And their reward was great. Let this charming Ukrainian folktale delight and inspire you.

Around the World

Indian Tale

The Blue Jackal

min

4.53

A jackal jumps into a bucket of blue paint. The other animals come to fear him because they have never seen a blue creature before. When the jackal realises that everyone is afraid of him, he declares himself King. Eventually, the self-proclaimed king finds out that a lie only goes so far.

Around the World

Colombian Tale

Brave Santiago

min

4.52

Ages ago, in a Colombian village, the young inhabitants decide to evict all the elderly, forcing them to find another settlement elsewhere. Only one young man objects to this idea. As a result, he joins the old folks and they establish a fine new village. But when Santiago goes back to the old village to find love, he discovers turmoil. Do the young people realise what they have done?

Around the World

German Tale

The Offended Lion

min

4.48

A little bunny carelessly makes fun of the lion, the king of the animals. For this audacious offence, he is taken to court, where he faces a terrifying sentence. However, the lion behaves like a true king, and his judgment ends up teaching the little bunny a valuable lesson.

Short stories

Chinese Tale

The Man Who Didn't Want To Be Angry

min

4.48

Mr Wang steals his neighbour's duck and gets taught a really good lesson – he sprouts feathers! A Chinese god tells him that to get rid of the feathers, his neighbour must give him a good scolding. But what if that neighbour is a calm, kind person and doesn’t want to get angry with anyone? Read about Mr Wang’s struggles in this humorous Chinese fairy tale.

Around the World

Czech tale

Jim and the Dragon

min

4.45

In this story, you will discover how life changes in one small town when a terrible dragon takes up residence in a nearby cave. What will the dragon do and who will be brave enough to challenge it?

Around the World

Korean Tale

The Village That Bought the Moon

min

4.43

Just because someone is rich, that doesn’t mean they are wise. When a venerable magistrate arrives in a modest, country village and steps out of his shiny carriage, he is completely stunned by the dark sky. It is sprinkled with thousands, even millions of twinkling stars, but the moon is nowhere to be seen. No respectable village can be without a moon, can it? And so he decides to put everything right.

Around the World

Korean Tale

The Woodcutter and the Deer

min

4.42

In this beautiful Korean folk tale, a poor woodcutter saves a young deer in the forest. As a thank you, he receives valuable advice on how to find joy. But will this advice be enough to bring him lasting happiness? Although the woodcutter has good intentions, he fails to follow the deer’s advice fully, and it ends up doing him more harm than good.

Around the World

Vietnamese Tale

How the Tiger got its Stripes

min

4.42

The tiger noticed that the big, powerful buffalo obeyed his master, a weak and helpless farmer. It was bugging him that everyone was talking about the farmer possessing something called wisdom. He was keen to find out what ‘wisdom’ actually was, where it comes from, and how to get it. In this fairy tale, that wisdom is revealed. And you’ll see just how it is connected to the tiger obtaining its stripes.

Around the World

Polish tale

Sir Twardowski

min

4.4

This Polish tale takes us to Krakow. There we find a nobleman whose curiosity for learning new and exciting things ends up bringing him face to face with the devil himself. The clever nobleman manages to turn the devil’s powers to good use, helping those around him. Although the devil tries to put an end to his good deeds, the nobleman’s prayers eventually free him from the devil’s clutches.

Around the World

Polish tale

The Fern Flower

min

4.39

In this Polish tale you will read about curious young Johnny, who sets out to find a magical fern flower that will make his dreams come true. The fern flower only blooms one night a year, but that doesn’t stop Johnny. He’s forbidden from sharing the tempting reward with anyone, and his obsession with wealth overtakes him - leading to a tragic end.

Around the World

Vietnamese Tale

The Toad Who Asked for Rain

min

4.39

The whole earth is afflicted by a huge drought and so a little toad decides to go and ask the gods for rain. The gods don’t take his visit seriously at first, but he comes up with a clever plan to attract their attention.

Around the World

Kazakh Legend

The Legend of the Dombra

min

4.35

Have you ever heard of the dombra, a musical instrument from the Far East? In this Kazakh legend, you will learn about the magical sounds of the dombra and its association with the famous Genghis Khan.

Around the World

African Tale

Crocodile Skin

min

4.34

The African folk tale reveals why crocodiles have such a rough and scaly skin. It wasn’t always like this though. The story teaches that much pride can be harmful.

Around the World

Korean Tale

The Man Who Lived Three Thousand Years

min

4.32

This Korean folk tale tells the story of cunning Mr Tong, who was given a short life. In the end, he managed to live a hundred times longer and he hoped that thanks to his cunning he would be able to live forever. However, he had much too high an opinion of himself, and the messengers from the underworld who were looking for him managed to outwit him. A fairy tale about how no fate is unchangeable and even misfortune can be avoided.

Around the World

Questions about

Around the World

What regions and cultures are featured in Readmio’s "Around the World" stories?

Readmio’s "Around the World" stories feature a diverse range of regions and cultures from across the globe. For example, you can explore the traditional tales of the Native Amerikans in the story The Hunter and The Snake, discover the rich cultural heritage of African tribes, or enjoy the enchanting Vietnamese Cinderella story The Sisters Tam and Cam. These stories span continents, including the Far East, Africa, Europe and the Americas, offering a broad spectrum of cultural experiences and traditions.

Are there any traditional stories included in the "Around the World" section?

Yes, the "Around the World" section includes several traditional stories from various cultures. Examples include the Korean folk tale The Delicious Stone Tteok or the ancient Mayan Legend The Rabbit’s Ears.These stories are designed to immerse children in the richness of global cultural heritage and offer a window into the traditions and beliefs of different societies.

How can children benefit from reading stories from different cultures?

Reading stories from different cultures offers numerous benefits for children. By engaging with stories from various cultures, children can learn about different customs, values, and traditions, which enhances their cultural awareness and promotes inclusivity. Additionally, these stories can spark curiosity and a lifelong interest in exploring and respecting different cultures.

What age groups are the "Around the World" stories suitable for?

We believe these stories are suitable for a wide range of age groups. The stories are crafted to be engaging and accessible from the youngest children up to the age of 10. The narratives are designed to be age-appropriate, with content that is both educational and entertaining. For older children, the stories provide a deeper understanding of cultural diversity and can be used as a starting point for further exploration of global traditions and histories.