This collection of well-known and not-so-well known stories, fairy tales, folk tales, and fables from Russia to Africa to Korea and beyond includes magic tales, homey tales, and animal tales.

As Jane Yolen says in her introduction, "These are stories that are short, full of remarkable characters, infinitely retellable, and fit for children between three and five years of age. I hope--as you read them with a child on your lap, or snuggled next to you in bed, or sitting with young friends at your feet, their eager faces falling under the story's spell--I hope that you love the stories as well as they do."