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"What is your favorite story?" is the question children across the country often ask professional storyteller Pleasant DeSpain. As he attempts to answer, his list grows longer and longer, until he confesses he likes them all. An untiring researcher of oral traditions, DeSpain is known for his concise versions of world folktales specifically crafted for retelling. This new, digital recording of 10 stories is excerpted from DeSpain's 22 Splendid Tales to Tell from Around the World, Volume One.

Slow but steady Turtle exhibits wisdom, perseverance, and cunning in these world folktales. Full of adventure that's sure to captivate young listeners, these tales hold meaning for all ages. Turtle is alive with possibilities. Living on land and in the water and breathing air, Turtle joins these three elements of creation, becoming symbolic of the earth itself. Always clever, always wise, and ever patient, Turtle never fails to find humor in any situation.

In this story from China, when a woodcutter finds a magic pot that makes two of everything that he puts inside of it, he thinks all of his troubles have disappeared! Or have they just doubled? Illustrated by Tom Wrenn.

People just can't live together without telling stories. We tell stories that are funny, ironic, insightful, or just simply pleasing to the tongue and ear. Stories just seem to happen. When a story happens with the force of universality, it finds its way into that pantheon of tales that is the common denominator of cultural exchange. Here are 33 such tales, collected from Brazil, China, Korea, Russia, Tibet, Africa, from America's native peoples, and other lands, and chosen for the universality…

From 20-year veteran storyteller Pleasant DeSpain, known for reducing folktales to their essence, 20 "retellable" folktales from around the world. Folktales captivate generation after generation because they remind us that our forebears overcame seemingly insurmountable odds and we can, too! Folktale characters show us the best in ourselves; our sense of humor, our perseverance, our resilience that overcomes giant hurdles, and our innate sense of fair play.

"What is your favorite story?" is the question children across the country often ask professional storyteller Pleasant DeSpain. As he attempts to answer, his list grows longer and longer, until he confesses he likes them all. An untiring researcher of oral traditions, DeSpain is known for his concise versions of world folktales specifically crafted for retelling.

Your life stories contain the pattern of your past karma unfolding in this life. Healing karma is not only possible, but probable if you are willing to enter the darkest cave to find the greatest treasure.

For the past three decades, Pleasant DeSpain has explored Latin America – its people, customs, cultures, and especially the myths and legends. The 15 tales in this collection are full of compassionate souls, tricks and humor, explanations of nature and geography – and as always, memorable characters and places. Mario Lamo-Jiménez's Spanish translation that accompanies the English version reverberates with the rich, vibrant quality that has become the bench mark for the best stories from Latin America.

This unique collection of American stories from the frozen tundra of Alaska to the lush green hills of Virginia; from the sweltering bayous of Louisiana to the windswept prairies of South Dakota is told in DeSpain's signature gentle style. Every reader will find something of interest - the stories range from practical tales of wisdom such as “Pulling the Rope” to silly and scary ones such as “The Haint that Roared” and “The Big, Smelly, Hairy Toe.” The stories' represent not only the geographic diversity of the United States but also offer a portrait of our nation's values, ...

Ten stories from Ancient Greece, Mexico, Peru, Israel, France, Persia, Poland, Mongolia, the United States, and Ireland. Folktales are among the most resilient types of lore one generation passes to another. Tales we tell today whether they are cautionary, humorous, or embedded with moral instruction date back to ancient civilizations. Storyteller, writer, and folktale enthusiast Pleasant DeSpain has an uncanny ear for those tales that transcend particular eras or cultures. This selection of classic stories from ancient cultures is full of interesting characters who learn valuable lessons ...

In this new millennium, we are faced with a critical question: are we willing to work together to ensure the survival of the planet as well as each other? In his fifth collection of tellable folktales and his third collaboration with illustrator Joe Shlichta DeSpain provides eleven ancient stories that address natural elements such as the Sun, Moon, Stars, Ocean, Wind, Fire, Mammals, Reptiles, Birds, Insects, Rocks, Trees, and Humans.

Imaginative tales of fantasy from Japan, Uruguay, the Congo and the Sioux Nation are included in this collection of classic stories for young readers. These classic adventures break the routines of our daily lives with tales about a hungry witch, a dancing skeleton, ghost wife, a talking skull and even horned women. If you are looking for timeless short stories that will wake up your imagination and make you more alert, then these flights of fantasy may be just what you're looking for.

Worshipped in some cultures, feared in others, loved as pets worldwide, cats are seen as possessing special power--athletic, supernatural, or intellectual. The nine tales included here show cats in all their glory. The cats in these stories are kind, cruel, independent, lovable - and always clever. These nine stories come from all points of the globe, including: - Sri Lanka ("The Magnificent Cat") - East Africa ("Why Cats Live with Women") - Italy ("The House of Cats") - Tibet ("The Holy Cat") PLEASANT DESPAIN is the author of numerous collections of multicultural stories, including the ...

One story always leads to the next, writes Pleasant DeSpain in his preface. And he should know. For over a generation, DeSpain has been traversing the world telling stories to teachers, librarians, and especially to children of all ages. Nine of his all-time favorite collections of stories are included in the Nine Lives series. Tales of Enchantment provides a rich selection of stories that range from leprechauns and dwarfs to miracle transformations to tricksters. If you like stories from diverse cultures that are sure to enchant your imagination, then this book is for you.

Ten stories from Russia, Ethiopia, Switzerland, China, Norway, India, Finland, Sweden, and the United States. These folktales are among the most resilient stories passed down from one generation to another. This humorous collection of stories shares a sense of irony and the absurd. Storyteller, writer, and folklorist, Pleasant DeSpain uses his uncanny ear for stories to collect tales that transcend a place, time and culture to appeal to a broad audience of young readers.

Prehistoric men and women chipped and painted their tales on cave walls. Native Americans handed down their stories in elaborate ceremonies. Today, television and films tell exciting stories of brave heroes and courageous conquerers. These classic stories give us an opportunity to see ourselves as the hero, the fool, the trickster, or the predator. Each of these heroic tales have survived through generations in many cultures from Europe to Asian to the Americas. This carefully selected collection of stories transcends our everyday routines to give us a brief look at other ways to overecome ...