Once upon a time
there was a monster that lived in a country far, far away...
Telling children stories from other countries widens their horizons and boosts their ability to link distant things with what they see around themselves. It exposes them to experiences that can make them less fearful of the unknown, encouraging them to become more open people who don’t see monsters where monsters don't exist.
So, there you go. If you don’t have children, you might have a niece, nephew or a friend’s child. If you can’t think of any stories, check out some of our stories from around the world, or just invent one.
Through a story written by Michael Bond as part of the Simple Acts campaign, Paddington bear tells of his arrival in Britain and how a sticky paw can make the UK more welcoming for other refugees.
Read Paddington Bear's Simple Act
Now we all love a good yarn. Here's a whole load of short tales and tall stories from around the globe:
Ahmed Al-Tenbel – Iraq
All for a Pansa – India
Anansi and Turtle – Nigeria
Baba Yaga – Russia
Chapungu – Zimbabwe
Fifteen honest coins – China
Four Piastres a Day – Sudan
Freckled Boy – Kosovo
Great Hunter – Iran
Hunger and Beard - D.R. Congo
Lazy, lazy Hare – Nigeria
Mayele - D.R. Congo
The Blue Rose – Algeria
The Hidden Treasure - Sri Lanka
The Old Alchemist – Burma
The Silver on the Hearth – Afghanistan
The sparrow and his wife – Iraq
The Stubborn Child – Cameroon
The Tortoise and the Birds – Nigeria
The Unmannerly Tiger – Korea
The Wicked Girl – Turkey
The Wise Man and the Evil Man – D.R. Congo
Why Crocodile Has a Rough Back – Angola 
