What does it really take to be a hero? Do you need giant muscles, towering height, or endless power? Not at all. Sometimes being a hero starts with quick thinking, a brave heart, or the simple choice to help someone else. When we read about the bold characters in these stories, we can feel our own inner hero waking up, reminding us that we all have the power to do good.

This special collection of American folktales travels all across the country—from Alaska’s icy tundra to Virginia’s soft green hills, from Louisiana’s steamy bayous to the wide‑open prairies of South Dakota. The author tells each story in his gentle, welcoming style, making every tale feel like it’s being shared around a cozy campfire.

For a long, long time, Eastern Europe has been a place where many different peoples, languages, and traditions meet. Sometimes there were disagreements, and sometimes there was great cooperation—but through it all, people told stories. These folktales show just how diverse the region is, and each one shares a challenge that can be faced with clever thinking, bravery, and hope.

Discover a heartwarming collection of stories about growing up in the rural Midwest during the 1950s.

Big Doc's Girl is a classic coming-of-age story set in rural Arkansas, following a young woman named Mary as she balances her dreams of becoming a concert pianist with her family responsibilities.

Asian Tales and Tellers is a diverse collection featuring more than thirty traditional stories from across the rich Asian cultural landscape.

African-American Folktales is a lively collection of over 30 traditional stories designed to engage and entertain young readers.

Adventures of High John the Conqueror is a powerful collection of African American folktales featuring the legendary slave trickster who consistently outsmarted his oppressors.

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.

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.

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 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.

In Scared Witless: Thirteen Eerie Tales to Tell, authors Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss share a spooky and funny collection of stories perfect for kids who love a good thrill.

Have you ever stopped to really look at a spider’s web? If it’s only meant to catch flies, why does it shimmer with such delicate, beautiful patterns? Have you ever wondered what makes thunder rumble, why the ocean tastes salty, or how tigers came to wear their bold stripes? This collection gathers delightful “why” stories from many cultures and time periods—tales that imagine how animals, plants, and natural wonders came to look or behave the way they do.

Experience the legendary American folktale of John Henry, a powerful steel-driving man who became a symbol of courage and strength.

Discover the transformative power of Kindness Tales: World Folktales to Talk About, a captivating collection of over 40 folktales from global oral traditions. Award-winning author Margaret Read MacDonald curates these stories to show how simple acts of sharing and caring can make the world a gentler, safer place.

Latin America is a place shaped by many influences—Indigenous traditions, Spanish and European cultures, and the heritage of Africa. For more than thirty years, Pleasant DeSpain has traveled through this vibrant region, exploring its landscapes, meeting its people, and collecting its stories. In this collection, he shares his carefully crafted retellings of folktales, myths, and legends from countries across Latin America, including Guatemala, Haiti, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay, and Chile.

Experience the vibrant energy of Hispanic culture in FIESTA!: A Celebration of Latino Festivals, a colorful month-by-month guide to traditional holidays. This engaging picture book uses bold illustrations and spirited poetry to introduce children to diverse Latin American traditions and celebrations.

These ancient stories follow clever characters as they use their wits and courage to solve problems and overcome big challenges. It is a great book for young readers who want to learn about different cultures while finding inspiration in timeless tales of kindness and bravery.

Oprah Winfrey is known all around the world as a talk‑show host, actress, producer, and helper of many people. But her life didn’t start out easy. When she was young, she faced a lot of hard times. Instead of giving up, she used those challenges to grow stronger and kinder. Today, people admire Oprah because she shows what courage, kindness, and determination can do. She became one of the most successful African American leaders of the twentieth century, and many people call her one of the most influential women in the world.

Asha and Baz are spending the day at their community garden when their teacher presents a new challenge: use a compass rose and a map to track down pieces of a secret message hidden among the plants. But following the map’s directions turns out to be trickier than they expected. Feeling stuck, the friends look to the past for help—and suddenly find themselves transported to 1978, face‑to‑face with mathematician Gladys West.