World folktales for children
Fairy tales and folk stories from around the world, freshly retold in English and Hindi with still illustrations.
33 free stories · Ten pages each
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The Travelling Musicians
Four ageing animals form an unlikely band and find a welcoming home together.
Hans in Luck
Hans keeps trading his heavy belongings as he makes his way home to his mother.
The Queen Bee
A kind young brother protects small creatures, whose help later wakes an enchanted castle.
The Elves and the Shoemaker
A shoemaker discovers two secret helpers and finds a thoughtful way to thank them.
The Golden Goose
A boy shares his lunch and discovers a golden goose that starts a very unusual procession.
Mother Holle
A helpful girl steps into a magical world where shaking a quilt brings snow to the earth.
The White Snake
A traveller who understands animals discovers how small acts of kindness can return as help.
The Four Clever Brothers
Four brothers learn different skills and combine them to bring a stranded princess home.
The Seven Ravens
A brave sister follows stars and searches a glass mountain to find her seven missing brothers.
The Three Languages
A boy learns the languages of dogs, birds and frogs, then uses them to solve unexpected problems.
The Frog-Prince
A frog retrieves a lost golden ball, and a princess learns to keep her promise to her guest.
Snow-White and Rose-Red
Two sisters welcome a winter bear and help a troublesome little man on three surprising outings.
The Three Little Pigs
Three pigs build different homes and discover the value of patient work when a wolf arrives.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Jack climbs an enormous beanstalk, meets a giant's family and learns to make a mistake right.
The Story of the Three Bears
An unexpected visitor tries the bears' porridge, chairs and beds, then helps repair the trouble.
Lazy Jack
Jack keeps applying yesterday's advice to today's job, until he learns to stop and ask questions.
Whittington and His Cat
A London boy lends his cat to a voyage that changes both their fortunes, and brings her safely home.
The Magpie’s Nest
Bird pupils leave Magpie's nest lesson too soon, then return to learn what they missed.
The History of Tom Thumb
A boy no bigger than a thumb finds enormous adventures in a spoon, a leaf and a royal court.
The Old Woman and Her Pig
An old woman asks a chain of neighbours for small favours to help her pig through a gate.
The Real Princess
A storm-soaked guest sleeps above hidden peas, and her hosts learn to listen to her discomfort.
The Emperor’s New Clothes
Two boastful weavers fool a vain emperor until one child's honest words end the pretence.
The Elderbush
A boy's ordinary evening opens into an imagined journey through an elder tree and a lifetime of memories.
The Bell
Two children take different forest paths to discover the mysterious bell heard beyond their town.
The Dream of Little Tuk
After helping a neighbour, sleepy Tuk dreams a colourful journey through the towns in his geography book.
Momotaro, or the Story of the Son of a Peach
A peach-born boy shares rice cakes with three animal friends and sails to recover his village's belongings.
The Adventures of Kintaro, the Golden Boy
A strong mountain boy helps his animal friends, then leaves home to learn how to help many more.
The Bamboo-Cutter and the Moon-Child
A child found in shining bamboo grows up in a loving home before a moonlit farewell.
The Story of the Old Man Who Made Withered Trees to Flower
A beloved white dog leads a kind grandfather to treasure and a surprising gift of cherry blossoms.
The Shinansha, or the South Pointing Carriage
A ruler builds a direction-showing carriage and finds another clever idea by watching a spider on a leaf.
The Magic Cask
A farmer's cask multiplies brushes and coins, until greed makes him forget the people he loves.
The Flower-Elves
Four flower spirits visit a scholar's moonlit garden and ask for help before a spring storm.
The King of the Ants
A scholar's quiet study becomes a tiny royal court, revealing an unexpected world beneath his feet.
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Reading these stories together
These are Neutoons retellings of folk and fairy tales, with still illustrations. Check the source note to distinguish a particular version from the wider tradition.
Notice journeys, magical helpers and acts of generosity. When comparing two tales, ask what is similar as well as what is different.
A question to start a conversation
Who offered help, and what happened afterwards?
Before you read
Are these stories free to read?
Yes. Every ten-page book is free in English and Hindi, without an account. Custom family films are a separate paid service.
How do I choose a story for my child?
Read the description and any parent note first. Age labels, where provided, are suggestions. Preview the story and choose according to your child’s interests and comfort.
Does every book have animation or narration?
The ten-page books have no audio narration. The original 18 books have animated illustrations in the page-turning reader; the additional 100 have still illustrations. Selected separate videos are available on YouTube.