How the Elephant Got Its Trunk
A Kenyan Folktale of a Curious Calf and a Cunning Crocodile
Top Folktale Stories on GatherTales
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The Humpbacked Flute-Player
An Ethiopian Folktale of a Musician Whose Melody Brings Rain to Parched Lands
Why Bats Fly at Night: A Nigerian Folktale
A tale of a broken vow under the moon and the wisdom that follows
The Story of the Lightning and the Thunder
A Nigerian Folktale of Quarreling Spirits That Spark Lightning
Anansi and the Pot of Wisdom
How a cunning spider tried to hoard knowledge but ended up sharing it with all of humanity
The Lion and the Jackal of the Savannah
How a clever jackal’s playful pranks taught a proud lion the meaning of humility
The King's Magic Drum
A Nigerian Legend of Greed, Loss, and the Power of Generosity
The Man Who Never Lied
A Nigerian farmer uses perfect honesty to outwit a powerful king and teach the value of truth.
The Monkey and the Crocodile: A Tale of Cleverness and Adaptability
An ancient Indian folktale of quick thinking, friendship, and the art of survival on the riverbank
The Lady of Stavoren: A Tale of Greed and Ruin
A Dutch legend of unchecked avarice that sank a proud city beneath shifting sands
The Girl Who Married a Lion
A Zimbabwean girl weds a stranger who is secretly a lion, leading her to learn courage, trust, and devotion.
How the Birds Got Their Colors
An Ancient Australian Folktale of Rivalry, Wisdom, and the Birth of Brilliant Plumage
The Elephant and the Tortoise: A Cameroon Humility Tale
When pride meets cunning, even the mightiest learn humility in the heart of Cameroon’s sunlit forests
The Crocodile and the Monkey: A Tale of Wit and Survival
A timeless American folktale where a clever monkey uses intelligence to outsmart a hungry crocodile along a misty riverbank
The Magic Drum of Ijebu Village
A tale of a magical drum that brings endless feasts but sparks envy and conflict in a Nigerian community
The Lion's Whisker: A Tale of Courage and Healing
A brave stepmother ventures into the highlands to pluck a lion’s whisker and mend her stepson’s broken heart
The Tortoise and the Birds: A Skyward Feast
A Nigerian folktale where a crafty tortoise lures birds with sky-high promises, only to discover that fairness and trust outweigh any feast
Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock
A clever spider uses a mystical mossy stone to outwit unsuspecting animals in a lush Ghanaian forest.
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter: Nature’s Transient Beauty in Japanese Folklore
An ancient Japanese folktale weaving bamboo’s delicate beauty, lunar mystery, and life’s fleeting grace.
Where Love Is, God Is
A humble Russian cobbler rediscovers faith through acts of kindness in a time of hardship
The Lime Tree
A Russian folktale in which a poor cottager’s endless wishes before a magic lime tree reveal the true value of contentment.
Mullah in the Turkish Bath
A comical tale of anticipation, surprise, and the true nature of reward in an ancient Persian hamam
Luck of a Child
A humble couple in a 19th century American town finds hope when the prophet Elijah crosses their path.
The Harvest Birds: How One Man’s Dream Brought a Field to Life
A tale of grit, hope, and the quiet magic of hard work blooming on American soil.