A collection of international stories–originating from such places as Japan, Canada, Africa and Eastern Europe–all share a sense of irreverence and a taste for bodily functions, loud noises, and bad manners.
Rude Stories
Folklore and Fairy Tales
Give Up, Gecko!
“Elephant! Elephant! Heavy! Heavy! Heavy! Elephant! Elephant! STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!” Elephant was shouting and stomping. But could he stomp a hole deep enough to reach water for the thirsty animals? Maybe…maybe not. All the animals tried until tiny Gecko Gecko takes a turn. He is small…but he is determined. And he’s not going to give up! Kids will love to chant and stomp along to this Ugandan folktale.
The Magic Tree: A Tale From The Congo
Retells a Congolese tale in which an ugly and unloved twin discovers a magic tree that gives him everything he wants.
Evergreen Tales of Panchatantra
The Panchatantra is a collection of fables written in Sanskrit. It is one of the most popular collections of stories from the ancient Indian civilization. The tales, most of which are based on animals, come with a strong moral message.
The Foolish Men Of Agra
Akbar, the emperor of Agra, cannot find the proper servants to serve him and turns to his dear friend, Birbal, the wise minister, for advice and help in times of trouble and despair.
Hen-Sparrow Turns Purple
Contemporary adaptation of an Indian folk tale, retold.
The Three Little Pigs And The Somewhat Bad Wolf
In this original version of the traditional tale, the three little pigs are in their usual trouble with the somewhat bad wolf–who is really just very hungry and frustrated that the pizza parlor will not serve him.
The Well At The End Of The World
In this fairy tale, loosely based on English and Scottish lore, feisty Princess Rosamond, who prefers good books to good looks, risks her throne and all her wealth to save her father’s life.
Parzival: The Quest of the Grail Knight
A retelling of the Arthurian legend in which Parzival, unaware of his noble birth, comes of age through his quest for the Holy Grail.
The Outlaws Of Sherwood
The classic tale of Robin Hood gets a new lift as real flesh-and-blood outlaws, on the lam from the gallows and the sword, fight for the sake of justice. Robin and his merry cohorts swing through the forest in these fresh additions to the timeless stories.