Once upon a time, the crocodile was king of the animals. He was holding court one day. He sat majestically on his throne as he received petitions from his subjects and issued orders. A large crowd had gathered at the court on that day. His large size alone elicited awe. His large teeth elicited fear.…

A long time ago, on the island of Java, there were no rice plants. The people only grew cassava for their daily food, as rice was reserved for heaven. At that time, rice was considered the food of the gods. At that time, man was permitted to visit heaven by walking on the clouds. The…

Like the other farmers, Taro also grew rice, wheat, and vegetables, living in peace and contentment. However, things never remain the same. One time, there was no rainfall, and the drought-like conditions parched the fields and dried the wells. Gradually, food became very scarce, and they feared the day when there would be no food…

The Black and white swallow flew high up in the clear, blue sky, wheeling and diving, his fast, pointed wings carrying him at a great speed. Swallow loved flying and never returned to his nest on the cliff-side until the warm sun was low in the West and the long, evening shadows were merging. The…

Once upon a time, there was a girl of enchanting beauty. Her name was Nyanjira. She had soft, smooth skin and a very sweet smile that was always just a little intriguing. What particularly caught people’s attention, however, was her lower teeth. Not because they were as white as milk or particularly well aligned, but…

Once upon a time, there was a leopard. He had a huge walnut tree that was full of nuts. Stingy as he was, however, he forbade anyone to touch the nuts and threatened to kill them if they did so. The tortoise was also aware of the ban, but when he saw the ripe nuts,…

A long time ago, a young woman gave birth to a child armed with strings and arrows, as if fate had predestined him to become a hunter. When he grew up, he showed great skill in archery and in making snares and traps. Everyone admired him, and luck was on his side. One day a…

A man had two sons. Their names were Rafiki and Tambu. One day he decided to teach them a lesson. He called them early in the morning and sent them to a village some distance away. “Go and visit the people – he said – But be careful: along the way, you will occasionally pull…

As the sun sets over the stony plateau of Mexico, a beautiful white flower opens its corolla among the blade-like thorns of the Cereus Nycticalis: it is called the Princess of the Night. When the king of Michoacan sent out the town criers to the villages and districts, all the maidens came out from their…

At that time Viracocha, the creator God, looked down upon the earth. He saw it was bare, shrouded in impenetrable darkness, for daylight did not yet exist. Taguapac, his woman, and her children, the only human creatures, had found refuge under a rock in the heart of the Andes. They led a life of hardship,…

Vusi was an honest man and a hard worker. He had cleared a large piece of moorland and turned it into a beautiful fertile field. He had married Duduzile and a beautiful child was born, to whom they gave the name Thembelihle. For some years they lived happily. They wished to have a son, who…

There was a man who had an only son. When the man died, the son was left all alone in the world. There were not many possessions – just a cat and a dog, a small piece of land and some orange trees. The boy gave the dog to a neighbour and sold the land…