Barefoot Books Podcast

In this Irish folk tale, an old woman and her daughter are harassed by a hoard of mischievous spirits. From the book Grandmother's Stories, retold by Burleigh Muten, illustrated by Sian Bailey and narrated by Olympia Dukakis.

This Indian folktale tells the story of how wise Rabbit became the moon. From the book The Barefoot Book of Animal Tales, retold and narrated by Naomi Adler, and illustrated by Amanda Hall.

A kindhearted hunchback’s life is changed forever when he overhears faeries singing a strange tune. From the book Tales from Old Ireland, retold by Malachy Doyle, illustrated by Niamh Sharkey and narrated by Maura O’Connell.

In this German tale about chivalry, an evil queen is displeased when her son marries a beautiful woman of mysterious origins, and tries in vain to do away with their magical children. From the book The Barefoot Book of Knights, retold by John Matthews, illustrated by Giovanni Manna and narrated by Anthony Head.

In this West African story, a blind man teaches a hunter that a man does not need eyes to see. From the book Tales of Wisdom & Wonder, retold and narrated by Hugh Lupton, and illustrated Niamh Sharkey.

In this Swedish version of Rumpelstiltskin, a beautiful peasant girl’s dreams come true with the help of three kind seamstresses. From the book The Fabrics of Fairytale, retold and narrated by Tanya Robyn Batt, and illustrated by Rachel Griffin.

Kindness toward strangers and respect for the spirits unite two unlikely friends in this ancient Chinese story. From the book The Barefoot Book of Giants, Ghosts and Goblins, retold by John Matthews, illustrated by Giovanni Manna, and narrated by Jerry Nelson.

It takes a frightening encounter with a crafty fox for the Little Red Hen’s friends to realize how much she does for them. From the book Storytime, retold by Stella Blackstone, illustrated by Anne Wilson and narrated by Jim Broadbent.

Heroic and quick-witted Anansi competes in a fierce dance competition to rescue a beautiful princess. From the book The Barefoot Book of Dance Stories, written by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple, illustrated by Helen Cann and narrated by Juliet Stevenson.

A little girl named Beth stays up with a faery and ends up wishing she had listened to her mother and gone to bed. From the book The Barefoot Book of Faeries, written and narrated by Tanya Robyn Batt, and illustrated by Gail Newey.