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Aaron’s World of Stories | Aaron’s Home Page
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Magical tales are stories from world classics, featuring fantasy, epic heroes, and the supernatural. Many of the most important started as folktales or long oral pieces but sooner or later were written down for the benefit of generations to come.If you are a publisher or other content acquirer, please see also Aaron’s Rights & Permissions.
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Looking for something special?
Besides browsing the detailed menu below, you can use Aaron’s Indexes to find stories, scripts, and picture books by title, age, genre, theme, country or region, historical period, ethnic group, religion, mythology, holiday, or activity. Or you can just search this area or all Aaron’s pages. |
Lady White Snake: A Tale From Chinese Opera 
Retold from the Chinese opera by Tian Han. When a virtuous snake takes on human form and marries for love, her husband has no idea of her origin.
GENRE: Chinese opera, legends
CULTURE: Chinese
THEME: Prejudice, intolerance
AGES: 10 and up
LENGTH: 2300 words
The Monkey King: A Superhero Tale of China 
Retold from The Journey to the West. After gaining both immortality and magic powers, Monkey challenges Heaven itself.
GENRE: Fantasy, epics, humor
CULTURE: Chinese
THEME: Arrogance
AGES: 10 and up
LENGTH: 6900 words
The Songs of Power: A Finnish Tale of Magic 
Retold from the Kalevala. Two magical heroes vie for the hand of a sorceress’s daughter.
GENRE: Epics, fantasy
CULTURE: Finnish
THEME: Achievements vs. love
AGES: 10 and up
LENGTH: 3600 words
The Mountain of Marvels: A Celtic Tale of Magic 
Retold from The Mabinogion. When a magical lady weds a noble king, both must face a sorcerer’s revenge. For a shorter, simpler version, see “Lady of Marvels.”
GENRE: Fantasy, legends
CULTURE: Celtic, Welsh (medieval)
THEME: Loyalty
AGES: 10 and up
LENGTH: 4300 words
The Magic Flyswatter: A Superhero Tale of Africa 
Retold from the Mwindo epic. Mwindo’s father, the chief, wants to get rid of him, but Mwindo has other ideas. For a shorter, milder version, see “No Sons!”
GENRE: Epics, tall tales
CULTURE: African (Congolese)
THEME: Fathers and sons
AGES: 10 and up
LENGTH: 3500 words
Lohengrin: The Tale of the Swan Knight
Retold from the opera by Richard Wagner. In a boat pulled by a swan, a knight arrives to rescue and marry the princess of Brabant—but only if she promises never to ask his name.
GENRE: Opera, legends
CULTURE: German (medieval)
THEME: Trust vs. doubt
AGES: 10 and up
LENGTH: 3900 words
The Man Who Sang to Ghosts: A Japanese Legend
With characters from The Tale of the Heike. A blind bard meets the ghostly heroes of his own songs.
GENRE: Ghost stories
CULTURE: Japanese (medieval)
THEME: Secrets vs. getting help
AGES: 10 and up
LENGTH: 2900 words
Lady of Marvels: A Celtic Tale of Magic
Retold from The Mabinogion. When a magical lady weds a noble king, both must face a sorcerer’s revenge. For a longer, more complex version, see “The Mountain of Marvels.”
GENRE: Fantasy, legends
CULTURE: Celtic, Welsh (medieval)
THEME: Heroines, loyalty
AGES: 10 and up
LENGTH: 2500 words
No Sons!: A Superhero Tale of Africa
Retold from the Mwindo epic. Mwindo’s father, the chief, wants to get rid of him, but Mwindo has other ideas. For a longer, wilder version, see “The Magic Flyswatter.”
GENRE: Epics, tall tales
CULTURE: African (Congolese)
THEME: Fathers and sons
AGES: 10 and up
LENGTH: 1600 words
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Aaron’s World of Stories or go directly to a section: Folktales | Legends Magical Tales | Sacred Stories New Tales | Funny Stories Historical Stories | Beginner Stories |