In order to win the hand of his love, indolent Prince Haig learns to weave beautiful golden cloth, a craft that later saves his life.
The Golden Bracelet
Europe
Materials from Europe
Baba Yaga: A Russian Folktale
When a terrible witch vows to eat her for supper, a little girl escapes with the help of a towel and comb given to her by the witch’s cat.
Tsugele’s Broom
Despite the urgings of her well-meaning parents, a self-sufficient Polish girl insists she’ll never marry unless she meets a man who is as reliable as her broom.
The Castle of the Cats
When a farmer sends his sons on three quests to determine who will inherit the farm, Ivan, who is small and simple, finds good luck and wonderful treasures in a castle filled only with cats in fancy costumes and wigs.
Voyage to the Pharos
A young boy in ancient times embarks on an adventurous sea voyage to Alexandria, Egypt, home of the famous Pharos Lighthouse.
Nabeel’s New Pants: An Eid Tale
Ramadan has come to an end. the fast is over, and tomorrow the celebration of Eid will begin. Nabeel decides to buy each of his family members something special to wear for the holiday. But while he’s choosing, the shopkeeper persuades him also to buy a gift for himself–a pair of new pants that are too long! Nabeel asks his wife to help hem them, but she’s too busy cooking biryana. He asks his mother and his daughter, too, but no one has the time; everyone is too busy preparing for the festivities.
The Hungry Coat
After being forced to change to a fancy new coat to attend a party, Nasrettin Hoca tries to feed his dinner to the coat, reasoning that it was the coat that was the invited guest.
Paper Bird
A drawing of a bird tries without success to learn to fly, until the artist completes his original design and makes flight possible for it.
Martin and the Pumpkin Ghost
Martin is afraid of all sorts of things, until the Pumpkin Ghost from his dreams helps him face his fears.
Peter the Great
A biography of the tsar who began the transformation of Russia into a modern state in the late seventeenth-early eighteenth centuries.