The Twelve Days of Christmas
The traditional song about Christmas presents.
On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.
Posts tagged ‘Animals’
What Happened Christmas Eve
A lovely Christmas tale by Oliver Herfold.
Jessie and Fred had gone to bed very early so they might be the first to shout “Merry Christmas!” but their eyes would not stay shut.
A Kidnapped Santa Claus
A nice Christmas Story by L. Frank Baum
The seven demons are getting lonely because all the children are being so good and don’t need to visit their caves anymore. This Christmas, they have come up with a plan to make the children unhappy so that they will be naughty…
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Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse
A short story by Joseph Jacobs.
Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse do everything at the same time, but this time, it is not so. Follow the long series of events that equalisethe balance.
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There was and Old Lady
The funny nonsense rhyme.
There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.
I don’t know why she swallowed a fly. Perhaps she’ll die.
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The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids
A short story by the Grimm Brothers.
Mother Goat leaves to collect food and warns her seven kids to be wary. But who should come a-visiting but the Big Bad Wolf, hungry for some lunch. Will the kids recognise him for what he is?
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The Wolf and the Lamb
One of Aesop’s fables about animals.
Moral: The Tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.
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The Willow-Wren and the Bear
A children’s story by the Grimm Brothers.
A bear insults the young of the wren he believes is king and the wren declares war. All four footed animals prepare to fight all winged animals. Find out who are victorious.
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The White Snake
An animal story by the Brothers Grimm.
The king has a secret dish served to him everynight and the servant is so curious that he has a peak. After just one bite, his life is changed forever. Find out why!
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The Wedding of Mrs Fox
The kids story by the Brothers Grimm.
Mr Fox wants to test Mrs Fox’s loyalty to him and so pretends to be dead and watches as the suitors line up. But one day he really does die and this time Mrs Fox has her pick of all kinds of animals. Will she marry?
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The Walrus and the Carpenter
A poem from Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll
The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
Audio Length 5:33
The Travelling Musicians
A great story for kids by the Brothers Grimm.
Donkey, dog, cat and cock leave home as they are too old to work. They plan to become musicians in the town, but on the way they find a house that takes their fancy.
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The Three Sillies
A funny short story by Joseph Jacobs.
The Gentleman had never met such silly people as his fiancee’s family, so he sets off to find some even sillier than them before marrying the daughter.
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The Three Languages
A Brothers Grimm short story.
After three years of studies, his father is angry to find out how little his son has learned and so disowns him. However, these three languages are the key to the young man’s much higher purpose.
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The Three Little Pigs
The original story of the famous fairy tale by Joseph Jacobs.
The Big Bad Wolf meets his match with the third little pig who lives in a house of bricks, so he tries to lure him out earlier and earlier each day…
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The Three Bears
The original fairy tale by Joseph Jacobs.
Three Bears leave their morining porridge to cool as they take a walk in the forest. Meanwhile a naughty old woman ventures inside and helps herself to whatever she can find. What will the bears do when they get back?
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The Spider and the Fly
The cautionary poem by Mary Howitt.
Will you walk into my parlour? said the Spider to the Fly, ‘Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
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The Seven Ravens
A short story by the Grimm Brothers.
Having inadvertently turned his seven sons into ravens , the king hides their existence from his new daugther so as not to upset her. But upon hearing of them she leaves the castle in order to find and free them.
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The Salad
Another Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale.
With the help of a magic cloak and bird heart, this poor huntsman becomes wealthy and sets off to see the world. But when he meets a beautiful woman with a greedy witch mother, things change very quickly. Can he restore his wealth and keep the woman he loves?
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The Pied Piper of Hamelin
The famous poem by Robert Browning.
Into the street the Piper stept, Smiling first a little smile,
As if he knew what magic slept. In his quiet pipe the while;
Audio Length 18:41
The Owl and the Pussycat
The famous poem by Edward Lear.
The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea,
In a beautiful pea-green boat.
Audio Length 1:56
The Old Woman and Her Pig
A funny short story by Joseph Jacobs.
This woman goes to great lengths to get her pig home; requesting the help of a host of strangers who all need a little persuasion.
Audio Length 5:42
The North Wind
The Anonymous Rhyme.
The North wind doth blow and we shall have snow,
And what will poor robin do then, poor thing?
Audio Length 0:32
The New Vestments
A very funny poem by Edward Lear.
There lived an old man in the kingdom of Tess,
who invented a purely original dress;
Audio Length 3:24
The Mouse, the Cock and the Cat
A cautionary tale by Richard Scrafton Sharpe.
A Silly young Mouse, Ventur’d out of the house,
In spite of his mother’s advice;
Audio Length 2:32
The Miser in the Bush
The short story by the Brothers Grimm.
A poor peasant goes on his travels with just three pennies. But he offers them to a bird who rewards him with three wishes. Find out how he makes use of them!
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The Lobster-quadrille
The funny poem by Lewis Carroll.
Will you walk a little faster? said a whiting to a snail,
There’s a porpoise close behind us, and he’s treading on my tail.
Audio Length 1:19
The Lion and the Mouse
Another of Aesop’s Fables
Moral: It is possible for even a mouse to confer benefits on a lion.
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The Goose-Girl
Another short story for children by the Brothers Grimm.
Her maid has stolen her horse and clothes and arrives at the prince’s castle looking like the bride. But the poor princess, wearing the maid’s clothes, is offered a job looking after the geese. It is lucky that she has some magic as this alerts the king to his son’s false bride. Find out how.
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The Happy Prince
A wonderful classic for children from Oscar Wilde.
This statue is of the late Prince who was always happy. But now he sits outside the castle walls and sees hardship and suffering and it makes him sad. A sparrow takes shelter on him and they become friends, doing good deeds all over the town.
Audio Length 25:20
The Frog Prince
The famous tale by the Brothers Grimm.
A frog fetches a princess’ ball out of the pond, but she doesn’t keep her side of the promise. So he finds her castle and insists on eating and sleeping there for three nights, as agreed.
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The Fox and the Horse
An animal story by Brothers Grimm
Having been sent away by his master for being too old to work, the horse wanders into a wood where he meets a fox…
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The Fox and the Cat
A short story by the Brothers Grimm.
Honoured to meet Fox, Cat starts a polite conversation, only to be belittled and embarrassed. But then, fate steps in to make a point.
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The Fly-Away Horse
A lovely bedtime poem for children by Eugene Field.
Oh, a wonderful horse is the Fly-Away Horse -
Perhaps you have seen him before;
Audio Length 3:55
The Fisherman and his Wife
A funny lesson from the Brothers Grimm.
When the fisherman tells his wife of the enchanted fish-prince he released, she demands he returns to request a favour in return. Granted her wish, her greed grows and grows.
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The Duck and the Kangaroo
A great poem for kids by Edward Lear.
Said the Duck to the Kangaroo, ‘Good gracious! how you hop!
Over the fields and the water too, As if you never would stop!’
Audio Length 2:17
The Dog and the Sparrow
Another story from the Brothers Grimm.
A sparrow and a dog become good friends, but one day a tragic event leaves the sparrow angry for revenge. This dark tale follows his trail of punishment till the very end.
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The Dog and the Shadow
A wonderful telling of the Aesop fable; a poem by Richard Scrafton Sharpe.
A hungry dog some meat had seized,
And, with the ample booty pleased,
Audio Length 1:42
The Daddy Long-Legs and the Fly
A funny poem by Edward Lear.
Once Mr. Daddy Long-legs, Dressed in brown and gray,
Walked about upon the sands, Upon a sumer’s day;
Continue reading ‘The Daddy Long-Legs and the Fly’ »
The Cock and the Jewel
Another of Aesop’s Fables.
Moral: The disharmony between needs and possessions.
Continue reading ‘The Cock and the Jewel’ »
The Cat That Walked By Himself
Another sacred story from Rudyard Kipling about the beginnings of things.
In times when all animals were wild, the woman set about making them all tame, so that they could all work together. But the cat is having none of it.
Audio Length 33:57
The Boy Hunting Locusts
One of Aesop’s Fables.
Moral: Carelessness has consequences.
Continue reading ‘The Boy Hunting Locusts’ »
The Beginning of the Armadillos
A wonderful Just-So story by Rudyard Kipling.
The hedgehog and the tortoise have avoided being ‘lunch’ for the young jaguar as he just can’t tell which is which. Until now. They must learn each others skills if they are to further confuse him and avoid being eaten.
Audio Length 20:11
The Bat and the Weasels
An animal fable by Aesop.
Moral: It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.
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The Golden Goose
The fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.
Dummling is the youngest son and is not as strong or clever as his brothers. But he is kinder and this trait leads him on a journey his brothers could only dream of.
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Spring
A lovely seasonal poem by William Blake.
Sound the flute! Now it’s mute!
Bird’s delight, Day and night,
Audio Length 1:11
Robin Redbreast
A Christmas Poem by William Allingham.
Goodbye, goodbye to Summer!
For Summer’s nearly done;
Audio Length 2:04
Old Sultan
A great story of friendship by the Grimms Brothers.
The wolf helps Old Sultan win the love of his family, only to request help of his own. But Old Sultan cannot help and their friendship takes a knock. Thank goodness the three-legged cat turns up!
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Mr and Mrs Spikkey Sparrow
A lovely poem by Edward Lear.
On a little piece of wood,
Mr. Spikky Sparrow stood;
Audio Length 3:40
Mouse and Mouser
A play by Joseph Jacobs.
It seems some friendships are never meant to be; as the Mouse and the Cat show here.
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Little Red Cap
The story of Little Red Riding Hood by the Brothers Grimm.
Little Red Cap is taking some treats to her grandmother when she meets the hungry wolf. Running late, she arrives at the house to find a nasty surprise.
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Lily and the Lion
A magical story from the Brothers Grimm.
The daughter fulfills her fathers promise by going to where the lion lives, only to find him an enchanted prince! But the spell on him becomes deeper and her journey begins in earnest.
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Lazy Jack
A story by Joseph Jacobs.
Jack’s mother is fed up with his laziness and sends him out to get work. Each day he finds work and each night manages to ruin his reward.
Audio Length 5:10
Jorinda and Jorindel
A fairy tale from the Grimm Brothers.
Poor Jorinda is trapped as a bird in the fairy’s castle. Her fiance, Jorindel must find a way to approach the castle without being turned to stone. Can he free her?
Audio Length 10:18
Jack and His Golden Snuff-Box
A fairy tale by Joseph Jacobs.
Never having met any other than his own parents, Jack heads off into the world and before long meets a lovely girl whose father offers her hand if he can pass three tasks. But when one goes awry, he has one year to set things straight, with a little help from his friends.
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How the Leopard Got its Spots
The Just-so Story from Rudyard Kipling.
The leopard and the Ethiopian go off in search of their run-away food. They come across the jungle and learn to adapt to their new surroundings.
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How Jack Went to Seek his Fortune
A funny story by Joseph Jacobs.
Jack accumulates animal friends on his journey to seek his fortune. Needing a place to rest, he makes a plan to see off some robbers living in a house.
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How doth the Little Crocodile
The funny poem by Lewis Carroll.
How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail,
Audio Length 0:34
Cat and Mouse in Partnership
A story by the Brothers Grimm.
This Cat and Mouse partnership seems to be going well, until Mouse finds out that thier food reserve is all gone. An accusation returns this relationship to a more conventional one.
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A Dog’s Tale
A Children’s Classic by Mark Twain.
The tale of wonderful collie who learns all that is important from her cultured mother. When moved to a lovely family a long way off, she has everything she could dream of. One night, a fire breaks out in the house…