One fine morning, a minister went to Emperor Akbar’s court to tell the Emperor some bad news. His gold coins were all gone! They must have been stolen the night before! Emperor Akbar was shocked to hear this. The place where the minister lived was the safest in the kingdom. Surely no one could have… Continue reading Birbal Finds a Thief
Month: January 2022
Birbal and the Mango Tree
Ram and Sham were in a fight. Both of them said they owned the same mango tree. They went up to Birbal and asked him to decide the matter, once and for all. Who was the true owner of the mango tree? Birbal said, “There is only one way to settle the matter. First,… Continue reading Birbal and the Mango Tree
Emperor Akbar and the Half-Reward
One day, the Emperor Akbar went to the jungle to hunt, but when he followed a new trail, he got lost. He called for help but it was no use. The sun was setting. The Emperor called out, “Ah! Here I am, all alone in the woods, in the dark!” A young man named Mahesh… Continue reading Emperor Akbar and the Half-Reward
The Girl Fish
Once upon a time there lived on the bank of a stream a man and a woman who had a daughter. They never could make up their minds to punish her for her faults or to teach her nice manners. As for work — she laughed in her mother’s face if she asked her to… Continue reading The Girl Fish
Girl Who Changed Her Fate
Once there was a widow who was puzzled why no suitors came to court her three lovely daughters. One day, a very old woman who was known to understand such goings-on came to the widow’s house. The widow offered the old woman tea and sweets and asked her why no suitors came to call. “Truly… Continue reading Girl Who Changed Her Fate
The Snow Queen
ONCE THERE WAS AN EVIL WIZARD who made a mirror with his dark magic. If anything good or beautiful was put in front of the mirror, the reflection that showed back was only rotten and gray. The wizard laughed. He wanted to show his evil mirror to the whole world! He took it and… Continue reading The Snow Queen
Aladdin and the Magic Lamp
Once upon a time, a young man’s father died. Aladdin, as that was the young man’s name, took his father’s place in running the family store with his mother. One day, a stranger walked into the store. “I am your uncle,” said the stranger to Aladdin. “I have come to see you.” “But my father… Continue reading Aladdin and the Magic Lamp
The Ugly Duckling
On a farm long ago, a Mama Duck sat on her nest. “How long must I wait for my babies to hatch?” she said. “I have to sit here all alone! And no one comes to visit me.” But what could she do? A Mama duck must keep her eggs warm till they hatch. … Continue reading The Ugly Duckling
Beauty and the Beast
Once upon a time there was a very rich man who lived with his three daughters. The two older daughters laughed at anyone who did not dress as well as they did. If they were not going to a ball, they were shopping for as many fine dresses and hats as they could carry home.… Continue reading Beauty and the Beast
Pinocchio Story
Long ago in Italy there lived on old clock-maker named Geppetto. Tick-tick-TOCK! Tick-tick-TOCK! went all the clocks in his shop. When he worked, Geppetto felt happy. But when he rested, a sad feeling came over him. “Ah!” he would think. “All my life and no child to call my own!” So, one day Geppetto carved… Continue reading Pinocchio Story