Word has it that Bad King John is coming to the village of Gotham for a royal hunt. The villagers know that this greedy King will kill and eat all the wild animals in their woods. So, they come up with a cunning plan: when the King’s Herald arrives to organise the hunt for the King, he’s greeted by a bunch of ‘ninny-hammers’ or sillies. Will the villagers succeed in stopping, the King from coming? Listen to storyteller Dave Tong and find out.

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A selkie is a seal which can shape shift into human form by taking off its seal skin. Gillian Brownson relates this moving story from Ireland about a selkie who loses her beautiful skin and is trapped on land in the shape of a young woman. Will she get back to her seal family under the Irish sea? Or will she and her daughter be stuck on land forever?

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In this ‘How and Why’ story Emily Hennessey takes us back to a time when there was no vast beach near her home in the North West of England, back to a time when the sea was in danger of being swallowed up by a hungry giantess. Did the giantess succeed? Or did the sun, the moon the wind or the rain manage to stop her? Listen to Emily’s powerful story about the battle for sea and sand, and discover what part the little curlew bird had to play in the story.

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In this old Japanese legend – a fisherman, ‘Urashima Taro’ is rewarded by the Emperor of the Sea, for rescuing a small turtle. He’s taken underwater to the Palace of the Dragons where he meets the Emperor's daughter, and spends three happy years. The daughter gives Taro a box to take home with him, but makes him promise not to open it. Listen to Japanese storyteller Masako Carey, and see if he keeps his promise. (It’s a sad ending.)

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Jebro is a small boy who lives on an island with his nine older brothers in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. With the seas rising, they have to find a new island to live on, but who will be their leader? Their wise mother suggests they decide with a race. When that day arrives, Jebro has to make a decision which might well mean he loses the race. What should he do? Listen to storyteller Marion Leeper, share this thoughtful traditional tale from the Marshall Islands and find out.

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We have a legendary Welsh water monster to kick off this month’s theme of watery stories. The Afanc is described as a cross between a crocodile and a giant beaver. This enormous creature is causing floods and eating anyone who comes near. Many brave souls have tried to kill it, but its hide is so tough that no spear, or arrow can pierce it. How can the local people stop the Afanc from flooding their land? Listen to Welsh singer/storyteller Gillian Brownson and find out.

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According to this Cherokee legend, Unetlanvhi, The Great One, created little corn people to help the first woman on earth, with the chores. The corn people were very beautiful, but spent more time admiring their reflection, than helping out. The Creator was not happy, and did something dramatic to teach them an important lesson about beauty. Listen to Lisa La Rue Baker tell this traditional tale from the Cherokee Nation and discover what happened.

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Thor, the Norse god of thunder goes on a quest to ask a favour from Hymir the stone giant. The two of them embark on a fishing competition. Thor comes close to disaster when he hooks out of the ocean a ……. Listen to Jason Buck tell this entertaining Norse tale to find out what he pulls out of the sea. Will he survive to complete his quest?

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An old Japanese folktale about an inch high boy who becomes the guardian of a princess and bravely takes on a dreaded giant red ogre. Will his cunning and courage be enough to see the beast off and save the Princess? Listen to storyteller Masako Carey and find out.

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Long ago, the people in Kemmy’s village regularly fed the beautiful Rain Bird who would reward their kindness by making sure the rains always came and the food always grew. But gradually, people forgot about the beautiful bird, and then came the drought and the hunger. What could they do? Listen to Maia Ganatra tell this moving story from Southern Africa and find out.

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