Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Special features are available for most of the stories. These can include
reader’s theater scripts, printable color posters, photo features, audio
recordings, extended author notes, fun writing exercises, and alternate story
versions. To find these features, follow links to Aaron’s Extras. For info on
children’s books adapted for these versions, follow “About the Book” links or
click or tap on the book covers.
For more stories, see Aaron’s World of Stories. For email notice of new stories,
subscribe to Aaron’s Update.
A cowboy with a huge smile, a gun that shoots bolts of light, and a hankering
for lemonade takes on Evil-Eye McNeevil’s outlaw gang.
GENRE: Fables (original), tall tales, humor
CULTURE: American (Western frontier)
THEME: Peacemaking
AUDIENCE AGES: 4–12, adult
LENGTH: 8 minutes
Slappy is the world’s biggest, fastest, bestest sign painter, but he’s too good—
his pictures keep coming to life.
GENRE: Tall tales, folktales
CULTURE: American
THEME: Pursuit of excellence
AUDIENCE AGES: 5–12, adult
LENGTH: 10 minutes
(10 minutes)
GOS #3 ~ The Princess and the God: A Tale of Ancient India
The princess Savitri must use all her wit and will to save her husband from the
god of death.
GENRE: Myths, folktales, legends
CULTURE: Asian Indian (ancient), Hindu
THEME: Heroines, determination
AUDIENCE AGES: 7 and up
LENGTH: 10 minutes
(17 minutes)
Wali Dad, a humble grasscutter, never asked for wealth—so why can’t he give
it away?
GENRE: Folktales
CULTURE: Asian Indian, Pakistani
THEME: Generosity
AUDIENCE AGES: 7 and up
LENGTH: 10 minutes
Aaron’s Extras
The prayers of a lonely woman are answered when her gourds change into
children.
GENRE: Folktales
CULTURE: African, Tanzanian
THEME: Name-calling
AUDIENCE AGES: 4–9
LENGTH: 8 minutes
Aaron’s Extras
The invisible hunter at the end of the village is sought as husband by every
village maiden—but will Little Scarface even dare to try?
GENRE: Folktales, Cinderella tales
CULTURE: Native American, Canadian
THEME: Self-esteem, heroines
AUDIENCE AGES: 7 and up
LENGTH: 8 minutes
Aaron’s Extras
When Leif goes to work for the troll, only the advice of a remarkable young
woman can save him from his foolishness—if only he’ll listen!
GENRE: Folktales, tall tales
CULTURE: Norwegian
THEME: Stubbornness, heroines
AUDIENCE AGES: 5 and up
LENGTH: 12 minutes
About the Picture Book
Aaron’s Extras
A poor musician is invited to play in the Sea King’s palace, where he’s offered
more than riches.
GENRE: Legends, folktales, epic ballads
CULTURE: Russian (medieval)
THEME: Making choices; value of arts
AUDIENCE AGES: 10 and up
LENGTH: 10 minutes
The mandarin’s daughter did not really see the boatman who sang from the
river, but she’s sure he’s her destined love.
GENRE: Folktales
CULTURE: Vietnamese
THEME: Kindness, false imagining
AUDIENCE AGES: 7 and up
LENGTH: 10 minutes
When a young man’s wife makes him pose as a fortuneteller, his success is
unpredictable.
GENRE: Folktales
CULTURE: Iranian (Persian), Middle Eastern
THEME: Pretension
AUDIENCE AGES: 7 and up
LENGTH: 10 minutes
(13 minutes)
GOS #15 ~ The Magic Brocade: A Tale of China
To save his mother’s life, a young man must retrieve her weaving from the
fairies of Sun Palace.
GENRE: Folktales
CULTURE: Chinese
THEME: Following dreams; creative process
AUDIENCE AGES: 4 and up
LENGTH: 12 minutes
Hans has never in his life been frightened—but a night in a haunted castle
should finally give him his chance.
GENRE: Folktales, tall tales, ghost stories
CULTURE: German, European
THEME: Fearlessness
AUDIENCE AGES: 4–12
LENGTH: 10 minutes
Aaron’s Extras
GOS #18 ~ The Princess Mouse: A Tale of Finland
When a young man seeks a wife by way of family tradition, he finds himself
engaged to a mouse.
GENRE: Folktales
CULTURE: Finnish
THEME: Kindness, humility, integrity
AUDIENCE AGES: 4–12, adult
LENGTH: 12 minutes
Peter is notorious for telling wild stories—so who will believe him now, with
his crazy claims about cats?
GENRE: Folktales, tall tales, ghost stories
CULTURE: British (English)
THEME: Credibility
AUDIENCE AGES: 4–12, adult
LENGTH: 10 minutes
Asia
Mouse Deer is small, and many animals want to eat him—but first they have to
catch him!
GENRE: Folktales, trickster tales
CULTURE: Indonesian, Malaysian
THEME: Wits vs. power
AUDIENCE AGES: 4–9
LENGTH: 18 minutes (1 + 7 + 4 + 6)
A prince must choose whether to heed his father’s last words or take revenge
on the king who has killed both parents.
GENRE: Legends, fables, sacred stories
CULTURE: Buddhist, Asian Indian
THEME: Forgiveness
AUDIENCE AGES: 10 and up
LENGTH: 10 minutes
Aaron’s Extras
GOS #25 ~ Mop Top: A Tale of Norway
A wild princess must get back her sister’s head from a gang of troll girls.
GENRE: Folktales, tall tales
CULTURE: Norwegian
THEME: Heroines
AUDIENCE AGES: 5–12
LENGTH: 10 minutes
Aaron’s Extras
GOS #26 ~ When the Twins Went to War: A Fable of Far East Russia
The war-loving men of the Beldy clan are once more off to battle—but why are
the wise young twins going with them?
GENRE: Folktales, fables, legends
CULTURE: Russian (Far East, native)
THEME: Militarism
AUDIENCE AGES: 7–12
LENGTH: 10 minutes
Aaron’s Extras
Frog helps a young man who wants to marry the Sky Maiden.
GENRE: Folktales, myths
CULTURE: African, Angolan
THEME: Inventiveness, determination
AUDIENCE AGES: 3–9
LENGTH: 8 minutes
Aaron’s Extras
Aaron’s Extras
Aaron’s Extras
S u b s c rib e F in d It
R e a d Ab o u t Aa ro n ’s Kid B o o ks
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