Long ago, in a rich and prosperous village, everyone owned a real calf, except for one very poor man. He wanted one more than anything, so he decided to make a calf of his own. With his own hands and a good piece of wood, he carved a perfect calf, from its tiny tail to its head. He even carved a small hole for a tail, so he could put a real one in later. ...
Once upon a time, high above the clouds, there lived a magnificent eagle named Aquila. Aquila was the undisputed king of the sky. His wings were as wide as a doorway, his talons were as sharp as steel, and his eyes could pick out a field mouse moving in the grass from miles and miles away. Every afternoon, Aquila flew to the highest, sharpest cliff in the valley. He would settle upon his rocky throne, puff out his chest, and survey the wide and beautiful land below with keen and lordly eyes. ...
Two friends were walking down a path in a big forest. The sun was starting to go down, and the trees were getting really tall and spooky. They were arguing about which way to go. One friend thought he knew a shortcut, but the other friend wanted to take the longer, safer path. Suddenly, they heard a loud ROAR! A huge, grumpy bear stepped out onto the path right in front of them. Its teeth, big and sharp, were clearly visible. ...
Toby the tortoise lived in a quiet pond, shaded by tall reeds and whispering trees. But though the pond was peaceful, Toby often felt restless. “I’ve lived here my whole life,” he said one morning. “But I want to see the world beyond this water. I want adventure!” Two ducks, Dilly and Dally, who often visited the pond, heard his wish. “We can help,” said Dilly kindly. “But it’s risky.” ...
Once upon a time, deep in the middle of a warm, squelchy green marshland, there lived a great community of frogs. Now, these frogs had a wonderful life. They had no bosses, no rules, and no bedtime. They were completely free to govern themselves, which meant they spent their days swimming, catching juicy flies, and taking long naps on the lily pads. But all this freedom had spoiled them. Because they never had any real problems to solve, they grew incredibly bored. They did nothing all day but sit about puffing out their green throats and croaking in a grumpy, half-hearted way. ...
Once upon a time, in the deep blue ocean, there lived a small red fish named Finn. He was known for his bright red scales that shimmered in the water, much like the scarlet cloak worn by Red Riding Hood. Finn was a curious little fish who loved to explore the coral reefs and play among the seaweed. One day, Finn’s mother asked him to deliver a basket of kelp to his grandmother, who lived in a cave near the edge of the reef. Before Finn left, his mother warned him, “Be careful of the Shark Gang, Finn. They are tricky and dangerous. Stay close to the reef and don’t stray into the open waters.” ...
Long, long ago, the ocean was full of magic, and the creatures of the sea were very different from the way they are today. In those ancient days, dolphins were the great helpers of the ocean. They were wonderfully friendly towards people, and whenever a ship got into trouble, the dolphins would rush to the rescue. One stormy afternoon, a grand Greek sailing ship bound for the famous city of Athens was caught in a tempest. The wind howled — WHOOSH! — and the great waves smashed against the wooden hull. Then, with a loud CRACK, the ship struck a hidden rock and began to sink, just off the coast near Piraeus, the busy port town where all the ships docked. ...
Once upon a time, on a busy little farm at the edge of a green valley, there lived a dog named Buster. Buster was small and furry and had a very big attitude. He loved chasing mice, barking at the post van, and finding the cosiest spots on the farm for long, lazy naps. One chilly afternoon, Buster went looking for somewhere warm to rest. He trotted into the big wooden barn and smelled something wonderful: fresh, sweet-smelling hay. ...
Long ago in ancient Greece, music floated through the hills and valleys like a soft golden mist. And none played music more beautifully than Apollo, the god of music himself. His fingers danced across his lyre, sending out notes that shimmered in the air and made even the birds stop singing to listen. Everyone agreed: no one could match Apollo’s music. But one day, while resting under an olive tree on his island of Delphos, Apollo overheard a rumour from passing travellers. ...
Once upon a time, during a long, hot summer, a cheerful grasshopper spent his days hopping through the fields, singing his favourite songs. He loved the warm sunshine, the sweet smell of the flowers, and the delicious taste of the juicy green leaves. All around him, he saw ants busily working. They were carrying heavy grains of wheat, tiny seeds, and other bits of food back to their anthill. “Why do you work so hard?” the grasshopper asked them, laughing. “The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and there’s plenty of food everywhere! Come and sing with me!” ...