Maybe it’s because his mother was a teacher. Or maybe it’s because he spent so much of his life in classrooms—first as a curious first grader, then as a hopeful college student, later as a seminarian, and now as a visiting writer who travels to schools all over the country. Whatever the reason, school has always been at the heart of Donald Davis’s stories, and this book gathers his very favorite school adventures.

Richard has a lot of stories to tell—just look at the marks on his legs and feet. Each one came from a different adventure, and none of them match up. Hard to believe, but he promises it’s the truth, and just thinking about it still gives him a shiver.

Billy Edd Wheeler has been part of the country music world for a long time. He started writing songs in Nashville back in the early 1960s, so he knows country music inside and out. And as the person folks call the “Dean of Country Humor,” he knows how to make people laugh, too.

Anyone who has ever watched a great storyteller hold a whole room spellbound—without costumes, sets, or music—has probably wondered how they do it. This collection explains the secret: it all starts with a really good story. And the 40 storytellers in this book know exactly what that means. They’re some of the most beloved tellers in the country, each sharing a tale that’s been tested on even the squirmiest, most hard‑to‑please audiences.

The author grew up with two very different parents. His mom was an Irish Catholic who prayed every day that her only son would become a priest. His dad was a Navy man who liked to joke, “Son, never take a job where you have to wear a dress to work.” So Ed found a path right in the middle.

This book gathers 46 stories from many different places around the world, most of them brought to America by families who immigrated here. Together, the tales create a kind of “world tour” you can take without ever leaving your chair. Even though the stories come from far‑off places, they all share a special Jewish spirit—one that celebrates doing what’s right, using cleverness and kindness to get through tough times, and keeping a good sense of humor along the way.

This cheerful collection of church humor doesn’t make fun of faith—it simply reminds us that even the people who lead us can be wonderfully human. These stories and jokes are gentle enough to share with your pastor and clean enough to tell right in church, but they still carry an important message: good leaders serve others with kindness and humility.

Maybe it’s a king who spills a drop of honey and refuses to clean it up—until that tiny mess grows into a giant problem. Maybe it’s some sandpipers and whales who start a silly argument that nearly destroys the place they all call home. Or maybe it’s a man who thinks a weapon will make him powerful, or a troop of monkeys who follow their leader into water that’s far too deep.

Kids of all ages love listening to stories—but many grown‑ups freeze when a child says, “Tell me one!” instead of choosing a book. And when little listeners start to wiggle or drift away, it can feel even trickier. That’s where Margaret Read MacDonald steps in with a treasure chest of simple, practical tips to help anyone become a confident storyteller.

These Franco‑American tales are filled with brave princesses, clever underdogs, and mischievous tricksters. They come from a community sometimes described as “a quiet presence,” but their stories are anything but quiet. The authors share the lutin’s playful pranks on farmers, the Jack‑like adventures of Ti‑Jean, Pierre’s modern‑day chainsaw heroics, a princess who outsmarts a wicked witch, and family tales passed lovingly from one generation to the next.

People have been telling “fool stories” for as long as anyone can remember. After all, everyone has a noodlehead day now and then—a day when your brain seems to take a little vacation. As you’ll see in this collection, silly characters come in every shape and size. They might make ridiculous mistakes, mix things up, or leap before they look, but that’s what makes their adventures so much fun.

This book gathers exciting stories from almost every continent, offering short, fast‑moving tales that grab young readers right away. You’ll find funny adventures, clever trickster tales, tall tales, and stories about families—perfect for both middle‑grade readers and younger kids who love a good yarn.

More Laughter in Appalachia is the authors' fourth collection of funny tales from the Southern mountains, and it might be their silliest and most wide‑ranging book yet. It’s filled with jokes, short stories, poems, riddles, and even songs. You’ll also find some surprising treasures, like a funny old‑time sermon, a playful political speech from long ago, and even a comical arrest warrant that shows just how creative mountain humor can be.

What’s the Monster Stick? It’s Paul’s gigantic fishing pole—nine feet long and packed with miles of super‑strong fishing line and shiny, custom‑made sinkers that slide like magic. From the moment Paul gets the Monster Stick, his adventures grow wilder than anything Paul Bunyan ever dreamed up. At one point, he even manages to hook a DC‑10 airplane flown by sneaky smugglers. How he does that… well, that’s part of the fun.

In many parts of Latin America—with its mix of Indigenous, Spanish, Catholic, and African traditions—magic is part of everyday life. Momentos mágicos, or “magic moments,” can appear in all kinds of ways. For storyteller Olga Loya, the magic happens each time an old tale is passed from one person to another. The sixteen stories in this collection are filled with those special moments.

This collection opens a window into the vibrant world of Mexican‑American traditions. Inside, readers will find lively proverbs, riddles, folktales, and songs; stories about heroes like Pancho Villa and spooky urban legends; and a look at everyday customs—from family shrines and farming rituals to charreadas, the exciting Mexican‑style rodeos. There are also children’s games, home remedies, favorite foods, crafts, clothing, and so much more.

This book presents medieval tales that answers many questions in a highly entertaining format. The author offers solid historical background for each story so that young readers have a framework to enhance the significance of each story. As readers explore these action packed stories, young readers will be able to imagine themselves pulling Excalibur from the lake, untying the Gordian Knot, or fighting with Roland and the Frankish army. These adventurous stories will teach readers the importance of courage, resourcefulness and respect.

Do you know how the Teddy bear got its name? It all began when President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt went on a bear‑hunting trip in Mississippi. His friends wanted the very best guide for the president, so they chose Holt Collier. Holt had been born into slavery and had grown up to become the most skilled bear hunter in the South. He promised he would find a bear for the president—even if he had to “lasso one and tie it to a tree.”

The hills and small towns of western North Carolina in the 1950s come to life in this collection of stories by master storyteller Donald Davis. He’s shared his tales everywhere—from the World’s Fair to the Smithsonian to the National Storytelling Festival—and now he invites readers into the adventures of his own childhood. His stories follow him from his earliest school days all the way to the moment he begins to understand the big changes happening in the world, including the loss of friends during the Vietnam War.