This book gathers fifty folktales and parables from many different cultures—Sufi, Zen, Taoist, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, African, and Native American. Even though these stories come from far‑away places and different times, they all share simple truths, gentle humor, and the idea that we can learn from the wisdom of people who lived long ago.

Anyone who teaches, lead, or speaks in public has had the experience of needing to fill short...

The author grew up in the mountains of western North Carolina listening to stories that many kids in America had never heard before. He didn’t realize it at the time, but he was learning old tales that had traveled across the ocean with Scots‑Irish families long ago. In the 1950s, people in the Appalachian Mountains were still telling these stories, most of them about a clever, brave, and sometimes very lucky character named Jack. Versions of Jack appear in almost every culture, which makes him feel familiar no matter where you’re from.

Jewish folklore is full of stories that have traveled across many lands and cultures. Over hundreds of years, these tales have carried the joys and challenges of being Jewish, showing both the struggles people faced and the strength they found along the way.

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.

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 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.

Italian Americans make up one of the largest cultural groups in the United States. You may have seen Italian-American characters in books or movies, but those stories don’t always show the real lives of the people who came here from Italy and built new communities. This book shares traditions and tales collected directly from Italian-American families living in both big cities and small towns.

Moai is the Polynesian word for statue. Many archaeologist, linguists, and anthropologists from all...

What do you remember about your grandma? Let My Caribbean Grandma transport you on a delightful...

Do you know how many ways there are to enjoy delicious dumplings? Join ten families from different...

Kanzi's family has moved from Egypt to America, and on her first day in a new school, what she wants...

A young boy, recently arrived from Korea, finds a glorious plum tree in his new backyard. It reminds...

The star of this sunny picture book is a young girl who finds joy in wearing her mother’s khimar...

Lou Bulosan-Nelson has the ultimate summer DIY project. She's going to build her own "tiny house,"...

An introverted middle child must balance her daydreams and real life realities to find her place in...

Follow these identical twins to humorous outcomes in these short stories for early readers....

Ling and Ting are two adorable identical twins, and they stick together, whether they are making...

Third-grader EllRay, a "shrimpy, goof-up kid," discovers magic all around him when he and his...

Biracial Violet seeks out the African-American grandmother she's never met. "Humor, hope and clear...

Join Ellray Jakes on his journey through third grade in this new "Lively series"—Publishers Weekly

Like so many people during the Great Depression of the 1930s, Marshall Loman's dad has lost his job...

A little boy is looking for Lion, but Lion is looking for lunch; and so begins this delightful romp...

When a boy goes to the market to buy food and comes home with an old wok instead, his parents wonder what they'll eat for dinner.