Traditional stories have been told aloud for hundreds of years. Even though they aren’t meant to be taken literally, they stay with us because they share timeless truths about what it means to be human.

People of all ages love watching tricksters get into trouble—and wriggle right back out again. Today we laugh at characters like Bugs Bunny, the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote, Ace Ventura, and even Bart Simpson. But tricksters have been around much longer than cartoons and movies. Every culture in the world has its own clever mischief‑maker. In Africa, there’s Anansi the Spider. In the American Southwest, Coyote causes chaos. In the Pacific Northwest, Raven stirs things up. In the American South, Rabbit is always ready with a trick. Ireland has the leprechaun, and South America has the sly Fox. Josepha Sherman gathered forty of these wonderful stories from around the globe.

Have you ever heard the silly story about the woman whose beehive hairdo was sprayed so stiff that tiny creatures decided it would make a perfect home? Everyone seems to know someone who knows someone it happened to—though the details always get a little mixed up. That’s the magic of urban legends. They’re modern folktales, passed along as “totally true,” even though they always happened to a “friend of a friend.”

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 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.

The Dancing Turtle is a vibrant children's picture book that retells a classic indigenous Brazilian folktale about a music-loving turtle captured by a hunter. To escape becoming turtle stew, the clever protagonist must use her wit and the help of the hunter's children to find her way back to the rainforest.

Caldecott Medal winner Jerry Pinkney enlivens the beloved fable with cheerful and classically...

Rosie Revere is no stranger to flops and fails, kerfuffles and catastrophes.

David is excited for Christmas and is trying to be on his best behavior! But from trying to peek at hidden gift packages and struggling to behave at the Christmas dinner party, it’s proving hard to stay out trouble.

Vincent and Grandma are on their way to the beach. As they get nearer to their destination, his...

Some friends are real, some are imaginary, but all can help us find our voice. My Friend, Billy...

Now we travel back to the wilds of the African savanna. Giraffe, Kudu, and more are in danger...

In the second book of the Live Big series, the African savanna has turned dry and desolate. The...

Like a tiny bird in a big city, Frida Kahlo feels lost and lonely when she arrives in San Francisco...

Thomas Alva Edison's inventions include the phonograph, light bulb, and movie camera.

Discover the joy and meaning of Pride, a very special celebration for LGBTQIA+ people and allies all...

Bob is a pirate. Bob's friend, Yellow Jack, is also a pirate. Which means they both yearn for buried...

Learn about inspiring story of David Beckham! The much-loved British soccer player who grew up...

Little Maya has a special blanket that Grandma stitched with her own two hands. As Maya grows, her...

Early one Saturday morning, a boy prepares for a trip to The Other Side/El Otro Lado. It's close-...

As Ruffles learns about the world around him, he discovers there are lots of things he likes . ....

This collection of twenty-two poems explores the fascinating lives of North American nocturnal animals.

Aaron Slater loves listening to stories and dreams of one day writing them himself. But when it...

Hanukkah is a wonderful time filled with games, food, family, and fun.

It's also the celebration of...