The Folktale Project

'The King of Love' is the first story in Thomas Crane's "Italian Popular Tales" and has so many pieces of other tale hidden inside it almost became a challenge to find them all!

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'Jorinda and Jorindel' is one of those fairytales that I'm quite honestly surprised that I haven't read before. True love, a wicked fairy and a magic flower - what's not to love?

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One of my favorite fairytales (and one of the very first I read way back in 2016) 'Hans in Luck' is the story of a man who gradually loses everything, but still praises his "good luck".

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'The Golden Bird' is a classic tale from the Brothers Grimm about a boy who just won't listen to the good advice from an enchanted fox, until he really has no choice.

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'The Quarrel of the Monkey and the Crab' is a story of betrayal and revenge, all over a persimmon.

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'The Sagacious Monkey and the Boar' is a story in the tradition of 'Old Sultan', one of my favorite pieces of folklore.

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I've shared a shorter version of the tale of Momotaro before, but like most great legends there's always more of their story to be shared. This is 'Momotaro, or the Story of the Son of a Peach'.

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Our final story from Sandburg's "Rootabaga Stories" is the most like the stories I used to make up to tell my daughter at bedtime. Lots of details over the course of the tale to make it longer, and t…

Today is my daughter's 10th birthday (and second Covid birthday) so she's commandeered the podcast to tell you a story about a local creature that she's fascinated by.

Note: This episode is ironicall…

Today's story from "Rootabaga Stories", 'How to Tell Corn Fairies If You See 'em' is the first tale where Carl Sandburg breaks the 4th wall, by introducing us to both the author and his young audienc…

This week we're completing Carl Sandburg's "Rootabaga Stories", beginning with a unique story of creation, shadows, and secrets - 'Sand Flat Shadows'.

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In today's final folktale from Norway we have a classic tale of a third son outwitting a Troll.

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In 'King Harald Goes West-OverSeas' the conclusion of the Norwegian saga of King Harald the great king goes west after the fleeing Vikings as they travel to the western islands.

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In 'King Harald's Wedding' Harald finally marries the saucy Gyda after ten years of battle to become the King of all Norway that she requested.

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In 'The Sea Fight', our last story of the week from "Viking Tales", King Harald faces his greatest challenge yet, to become King of all Norway.

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Today we get to meet Gyda, Harald's love interest, and find out just why Harald went out to become king of all Norway. We also learn the source of his nickname, Harald Shockhead.

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This week we get the warring exploits of the great King Harald in 'Harald's Battle' from "Viking Tales".

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In our final story from "Viking Tales" this week we see a young Harald take up the throne in 'Harald is King'.

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In today's story from "Viking Tales" we're introduced to Harald's spear, 'Foe's-fear' and get a glimpse of a young Harald in battle.

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This week we pick back up with "Viking Tales" with another story from Harald's thrall Olaf in 'Olaf's Fight with Havard'.

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