Young children are natural storytellers. They love both listening to parents telling stories and telling stories themselves. These 53 World Tales for Family Storytelling can be shared at bedtime, on journeys, at parties or around the campfire.

Children will find these ready to tell stories are short, simple, and quick to learn. They draw on traditional tales, told in the voice of a storyteller. Parents can read or tell the stories, so children can soon tell the stories themselves. Such oral storytelling builds children’s confidence in their unique voices.

‘These wonderful world tales are all selected from the highly acclaimed 147 Traditional Stories for Primary School Children to Retell, a reference book used by teachers around the globe. In this collection for home use, we focus on tales for children aged 4–6. The stories may be read, told and retold and then explored within the family. They offer a rich vein of world heritage, giving your family a doorway into the wonderful world of traditional tales. Enjoy!’–Chris Smith

Chris Smith is a storyteller, musician, educator, father and founder of Storytelling Schools, where children learn to be storytellers. He believes in the power of storytelling to help families thrive.

‘These perfectly chosen World Tales – simple, enchanting, and memorable, will transform all of us into storytellers.’–Jamila Gavin, storyteller and award-winning author of Coram Boy and the Wheel of Surya