Skønlitteratur for børn og unge: Folkedigtning

The is a very funny and famous folktale / fable / fairy tale featuring anthropomorphic pigs who build three houses of different materials. The story begins with the title characters being sent out into the world by their mother, to "seek out their fortune". The first little pig builds a house of straw, but a wolf blows it down and eats him. The second pig builds a house of furze sticks, which the wolf also blows down and eats him. Each exchange between wolf and pig features ringing proverbial phrases, namely: "Little pig, little Pig, let me come in." "No, no, not by the hair on my chinny chin chin.""Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in." The third pig builds a house of bricks. This little pig is very smart, and the end is a big surprise for everyone...

"The Story of Pretty Goldilocks" is a French tale written by the Countess d'Aulnoy. Well-known for her elegant and charming stories, the Countess is remembered today as the one who actually coined the term "fairy tale". Goldilocks is a princess so beautiful that a King falls in love with her at the mere sight of her picture; he then sends a prince to bring her back to him, so as to marry her. But the Prince, who goes by the name of Charming, will be the one winning the heart of the damsel despite himself. What follows is a tale of loyalty and perseverance; it will inspire little children around the world and teach them about the value of affection. This tale will make for a perfect bedtime story, or entertain your children at any hour of the day.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a story written by British author Beatrix Potter, for the five-year-old son of her governess. It is a cautionary tale, warning children about the consequences of disobeying their parents' instructions; but it is told in such a charming and efficient way that it soon became a nursery classic. Peter Rabbit is now one of the most widely read books of all time, and has been translated into 36 languages for the delight and instruction of children all around the world. Beatrix Potter's efficient and simple writing is a delight for children and grown-ups alike; recorded in a warm and lively voice, Peter's story will make for a perfect bedtime story, or entertain your children at any hour of the day.

Santa Claus, as a baby, is found in the Forest of Burzee by Ak, the Master Woodsman of the World (a supreme immortal), and placed in the care of the lioness Shiegra; but thereupon adopted by the Wood Nymph, Necile. Upon reaching young adulthood, Claus is introduced by Ak to human society, wherein he sees poverty and difficulties. Because he cannot reside in Burzee as an adult, he settles in the nearby Laughing Valley of Hohaho, where the immortals regularly assist him, and Necile gives him a little cat named Blinky. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus is a classic children's book, written by L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The Three Treasures of the Giants is a Slavonic fairy tale. A man had three sons. When he was dying, he told his oldest that he would inherit, but must be kind to his mother and his younger brothers; he then gave the older two more advice, and told the youngest son that while he was not clever, he had a kind heart and should follow it. After he died, the sons set out to seek their fortune; the older two wanted to leave the youngest behind, but their mother said there was nothing for him there...The imagery in fairy tales (such as personified animals, adults represented as giants and allegorical magic vegetables) allows the child to explore their fears in remote and symbolic terms. Fairy tales allow the reader to explore each virtue and path of action through the different characters' fates. The child decides their own personal stance after deliberating each consequence. Fairy tales provide answers to what the world is really like and the child's place within it.

The story tells of a prince who wants to marry a princess, but is having difficulty finding a suitable wife. Something is always wrong with those he meets, and he cannot be certain they are real princesses. One stormy night a young woman drenched with rain seeks shelter in the prince's castle. She claims to be a princess. But how can the prince ascertain she really is? This classic tale tells the story of how he put her to the test.

A peasant girl named Karen is adopted by a rich old lady after her mother's death and grows up vain and spoiled. Before her adoption, Karen had a rough pair of red shoes; now she has her adoptive mother buy her a pair of red shoes fit for a princess. After Karen repeatedly wears them to church, they begin to move by themselves, but she is able to get them off. One day, when her adoptive mother becomes ill, Karen goes to attend a party in her red shoes. A mysterious soldier appears and makes strange remarks about what beautiful dancing shoes Karen has. Soon after, Karen's shoes begin to move by themselves again, but this time they can't come off.

12 traditionnal american fairy tales and short stories : The Box of Robbers, The Glass Dog, The Queen of Quok, The Little Girl who owned a Bear, The Enchanted Types, The Laughing Hippopotamus, The Magic Bon Bons, The Capture of Father Time, The Wonderful Pump, The Dummy that Lived, The King of the Polar Bears, The Mandarin and the Butterfly. The imagery in fairy tales (such as personified animals, adults represented as giants and allegorical magic vegetables) allows the child to explore their fears in remote and symbolic terms. Fairy tales allow the reader to explore each virtue and path of action through the different characters' fates. The child decides their own personal stance after deliberating each consequence. Fairy tales provide answers to what the world is really like and the child's place within it.

The White Cat is an old French fairy tale written by the comtesse d'Aulnoy in 1698. It is a variation on an old German tale, Puddocky, and Cherry, another tale collected by the brothers Grimm in the nineteenth century. A King has three sons and sets them tasks to perform so that he can decide who gets the kingdom after his passing. The tasks are increasingly difficult, but the youngest Prince encounters the aid of a mysterious white cat, who seems to have been human at some time but will not tell its sad story... Madame d'Aulnoy is the first author credited to have used the term "fairytale", and has been a source of inspiration for Charles Perrault and countless other storytellers. This lesser-known tale is a charming example of her fantastic imagination and feminine elegance.

This classic adaptation of James Barrie's play tells the story of Peter Pan, a mischievous little boy who can fly, and his adventures on the island of Neverland with Wendy Darling and her brothers, the fairy Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys, and the pirate Captain Hook.

The Ugly Duckling is a literary fairy tale by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. The story tells of a homely little bird born in a barnyard who suffers abuse from the others around him until, much to his delight (and to the surprise of others), he matures into a beautiful swan, the most beautiful bird of all. It was first published 11 November 1843, with three other tales by Andersen in Copenhagen, Denmark to great critical acclaim. The tale has been adapted to various media including opera, musical, and animated film. The tale is completely Andersen's invention and owes no debt to fairy tales or folklore.

We proudly present to you 20 short stories specially selected for little girls in love with adventure, beauty and imagination. Classic tales and stories are an fundamental part of children's development, as they awaken imagination while bringing essential teachings. Little girls will delight with the feminine adventures of Goldilocks, Cinderilla, Beauty and many others essential feminine characters; they will meet characters both powerful and delicate, to help them build their own personality with joy and love. This specially designed compilation includes classic folk tales, famous stories by Hans Christian Andersen, Charles Perrault and fairy tales: The Three Bears; The Mouse and the Sausage; The Wren and the Bear; The Fox and the Cat; Snow White and Rose Red; Snowdrop and the Seven Dwarves; The Fairies, by Charles Perrault; Little Red Hood, by Charles Perrault; The Three Brothers; The Story of Pretty Goldilocks; The Three Little Pigs; The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods, by Charles Perrault; Cinderilla, by Charles Perrault; Beauty and the Beast; Hansel and Gretel; The Little Shepherd Boy; Why the Bear has a Stumpy Tail; The Straw, the Coal and the Bean; The Sweet Soup; The Rats and their Son-in-Law.

Fairy tales and stories ignite imagination, fuel our dreams and delight us with their wonderful adventures. The classic stories in this compilation have been specially selected for their ability to let us dream, by sending us into fantastic worlds, full of lively characters and endless possibilities. Discover or let your children discover these essential fantastic stories and share the pleasure of narration. This compilation includes folk tales from Japan and India, for their evocative power and exoticism; classic tales by Charles Perrault and Hans Christian Andersen, and stories from the Arabian Nights, narrated in a warm and lively way. Collected for your pleasure: The Surprizing Adventures of Baron Münchausen; The Alligator and the Jackal; The Enchanted Horse; The Story of Peter Pan, by James Barrie; Tom Thumb; The Snow Man, by Andersen; Rapunzel; Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves; The Story of the Youth who went forth to discover what Fear was; Sinbad the Sailor; The Jellyfish and the Monkey; The Story of Caliph Stork; The Battle of the Monkey and the Crab; The Fairies, by Charles Perrault; and Riquet with the Tuft.

"The little match seller" or "The little match girl" is a very famous fairy folk tale, written by Hans-Christian Andersen. On a cold New Year's Eve, a young, poor girl tries to sell matches in the street. She is already shivering from cold. She shelters in a nook and sits down. The girl lights the matches to warm herself. In their glow she sees several lovely visions, including a Christmas tree and a holiday feast. The girl looks skyward and sees a shooting star; she then remembers her grandmother saying that such a falling star means someone is dying and is going to Heaven. As she lights the next match, she sees a vision of her grandmother, the only person to have treated her with love and kindness. She strikes one match after another to keep the vision of her grandmother alive for as long as she can...

The Wolf and the Fox is a German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm. The story involves a greedy, gluttonous wolf living with a fox. The wolf makes the fox do all his work and threatens to eat him if he doesn't otherwise comply. The fox, in turn, devises a scheme to rid himself of the wolf.

This classic adaptation of James Barrie's play tells the story of Peter Pan, a mischievous little boy who can fly, and his adventures on the island of Neverland with Wendy Darling and her brothers, the fairy Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys, and the pirate Captain Hook.

The Princess on the Glass Hill is a Norwegian fairy tale. It recounts how the youngest son of three obtains a magical horse and uses it to win the princess...The imagery in fairy tales (such as personified animals, adults represented as giants and allegorical magic vegetables) allows the child to explore their fears in remote and symbolic terms. Fairy tales allow the reader to explore each virtue and path of action through the different characters' fates. The child decides their own personal stance after deliberating each consequence. Fairy tales provide answers to what the world is really like and the child's place within it.

The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood (French: La Belle au bois dormant, "Sleeping Beauty") is a classic fairy tale written by Charles Perrault, which involves a beautiful princess, a sleeping enchantment, and a handsome prince. Once upon a time, when the Queen gave birth to a baby princess, Angels came down and gave the infant blessings. However one evil Angel set a curse that would make the princess prick her finger on a spindle of a spinning wheel and die. Another Angel set a magic on the princess that she would sleep, instead of dying, for a hundred years until a prince comes and awakes her from her sleep. At the age of 16, the princess gets her finger pricked by the sprindle, and falls asleep. After 100 years, a prince hears about a beautiful princess sleeping in the castle....

The Ridiculous Wishes or The Three Ridiculous Wishes is a French literary fairy tale by Charles Perrault. A woodcutter complained of his poor lot. Jupiter granted him three wishes. The woodcutter went home, and his wife persuaded him to put off the wishing until the next day, after he had thought, but while sitting by the fire, he wished for sausages. His wife taxed him for his folly, and angry, he wished the sausages on her nose. Finally, they agreed to use the last wish to take the sausages off her nose, leaving them no better off than before...Collection « Best classic fairy tales ».

The Fables of Jean de La Fontaine were issued in several volumes from 1668 to 1694. They are classics of French literature. The Fables supply delights to three different ages: the child rejoices in the freshness and vividness of the story, the eager student of literature in the consummate art with which it is told, the experienced man of the world in the subtle reflections on character and life which it conveys. The Fables were regarded as providing an excellent education in morals for children, and the first edition was dedicated to the six-year old Dauphin, the Eldest Son of the King. Eventually the fables were learned by heart for such entertainments and afterwards they were adopted by the education system, not least as linguistic models as well. Most famous Fables are « The raven and the fox », « The frog that whished to be as big as the ox », « The city rat and the country rat », « The wolf and the dog », « The lion going to war », for example.

The Nightingale (Danish: "Nattergalen") is a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about an emperor who prefers the tinkling of a bejeweled mechanical bird to the song of a real nightingale. Well received upon its publication in Copenhagen in 1843 in New Fairy Tales, the tale is believed to have been inspired by the author's unrequited love for opera singer Jenny Lind, the "Swedish nightingale". The story has been adapted to opera, ballet, musical play, television drama and animated film.

Beatrix Potter is the world-renowned author of the Tale of Peter Rabbit, a cautionary tale told in such a charming and lively way that it soon became a nursery classic and is now one of the most widely read books of all time. Beatrix Potter's efficient and simple writing is a delight for children and grown-ups alike. This album is a compilation of her best tales, recorded by Katie Haigh: The Tale of Peter Rabbit; The Tale of Benjamin Bunny; The Tale of the Flupsy Bunnies; The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle; The Story of Miss Moppet; The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher; The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes; The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck, a farmyard tale; The Tale of Two Bad Mice.

The Adventures of a Jackal is a classic children's short story : « In a country which is full of wild beasts of all sorts there once lived a jackal and a hedgehog, and, unlike though they were, the two animals made great friends, and were often seen in each other's company. One afternoon they were walking along a road together, when the jackal, who was the taller of the two, exclaimed: 'Oh! there is a barn full of corn; let us go and eat some.' 'Yes, do let us!' answered the hedgehog. So they went to the barn, and ate till they could eat no more. Then the jackal put on his shoes, which he had taken off so as to make no noise, and they returned to the high road. After they had gone some way they met a panther, who stopped, and bowing politely, said: 'Excuse my speaking to you, but I cannot help admiring those shoes of yours. Do you mind telling me who made them?' 'Yes, I think they are rather nice,' answered the jackal; 'I made them myself, though.' 'Could you make me a pair like them?' asked the panther eagerly...

The Goose Girl is a German fairy tale in which a widowed queen sends her daugther to her bridegroom in a faraway land, only accompanied by a waiting maid and a magical talking horse. But the evil maid rebels and forces the princess into trading clothes with her and swearing secrecy, effectively taking her place until they arrive at a foreign palace. There, the princess is made into a common goose girl while the maid is wooed as a princess herself. Bound by secrecy, the real princess seems helpless, unless magical powers come at her aid. This lesser-known tale from the collection of the Brothers Grimm is read by Katie Haigh.

« The enchanted horse » is a story that belongs to the Thousand and One Nights. "Once upon a time, there lived a Sultan in the land of Persia, who had two beautiful children who grew up to be the Prince and Princess of Persia. One day during a celebration, an Indian approached the Sultan about an enchanted horse he owned that would take the Sultan anywhere he wished in a very short period of time. The Sultan, doubtful about the contraption, sent his son to investigate this horse. When the Prince mounted the horse, he quickly pressed the button that took him high into the air. Wishing to see the country of Bengal because he had never been there, he directed the horse towards that kingdom. He arrived in the dead of the night and landed directly over the Princess of Bengal’s chambers at the palace... ».

The Fair One with Golden Locks is a fairy tale by Madame d'Aulnoy. It has also been translated under the title "Pretty Goldilocks", which is not to be confused with the Story of the Three Bears. A princess is so beautiful and has such golden hair that she is known as Pretty Goldilocks. A neighboring king falls in love with her from her description and sends his servant to plead his cause. Much to his disappointment, the princess only agrees if a series of near-impossible tasks is completed for her. Luckily for the King, his faithful servant is wiser and more resourceful than he is; the girl will be conquered, but there does not lie the end of the story. This charming fairy tale is read by Katie Haigh.

A very ancient folk tale, often copied and translated, found in Grimm's compilation of fairy tales. This is a moral tale about a poor shoemaker who receives unexpected help when he thinks he won't be able to make it: elves come into his house and shoulder his work for him.

The brave tin soldier also called "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a tin soldier's love for a paper ballerina. On his birthday, a boy receives a set of 25 toy soldiers all cast from one old tin spoon and arrays them on a table top. One soldier stands on a single leg, as having been the last one cast there was not enough metal to make him whole. Nearby, the soldier spies a paper ballerina with a spangle on her sash. She too is standing on one leg and the soldier falls in love. That night, a goblin among the toys in the form of a Jack-in-the-box angrily warns the soldier to take his eyes off the ballerina, but the soldier ignores him. The next day, the soldier falls from a windowsill (presumably the work of the goblin) and lands in the street. Two boys find the soldier, place him in a paper boat, and set him sailing in the gutter...

These Tales for Tiny Tots are ageless and varied very short stories, aimed at those who are just nascent at reading, to provide them with delight and inch them towards a broader understanding of the world. Each tale contains a wise moral brought forth by colorful imagery: there you will find the Tale of Peter Rabbitt, by Beatrix Potter, Little Red Hen, Dolly Dimple, The visit to Santa Claus Land, and many more read by Katie Haigh.

12 stories from all over the world : Lovely Ilonka, Lucky Luck, The Hairy Man, Little Wildrose, Paperarelloo, The Gifts of the Magician, The Strong Prince, The Crab and the Monkey, The Cottager and his Cat, The Stone-Cutter, How The Wicked Tanuki Was Punished, The Colony of Cats, Clever Maria, The Magic Kettle. The imagery in fairy tales (such as personified animals, adults represented as giants and allegorical magic vegetables) allows the child to explore their fears in remote and symbolic terms. Fairy tales allow the reader to explore each virtue and path of action through the different characters' fates. The child decides their own personal stance after deliberating each consequence. Fairy tales provide answers to what the world is really like and the child's place within it.