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.

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.

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...

The Nasca Lines were created nearly 2,000 years ago by the people who lived on the southern coast of...

In this exciting adventure, you'll encounter mighty canoes crashing over ocean waves, regal hawks...

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...

While Tía Isa wants to save money for a car that will take the whole family to the beach, her niece does odd jobs for neighbors.

Amy loves to make bao with her family. But it takes skill to make the bao taste and look delicious.

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....

Surrounded by a family of successful award-winning individuals, Allie wants to be the first at...

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

Manuela had imagined that killing a manatee would be like killing a very big fish, just more...

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

On a day when Max doesn't feel like talking to anyone, a strong breeze shakes two heavy twigs to the...

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