A multicultural collection of traditional tales contributed by more than forty of America's most experienced storytellers, with tips for telling the stories.

The three dolls (India) / David Novak -- Those three wishes (based on an American short story) / Carol Birch -- Fox's sack (England) / Bill Harley -- The lion's whisker (East Africa) / Len Cabral -- The king's child (Jewish) / Judith Black -- The story of the half blanket (Northern Ireland) / Maggi Kerr Peirce -- Lazy Jack (England) / Gay Ducey -- The magic pot (China) / Pleasant DeSpain -- Trouble! (African-American) / David Holt and Bill Mooney -- Strength (West Africa/Limba) / Margaret Read MacDonald -- Urashima Taro (Japan) / Rafe Martin -- The magic gifts (Cajun) / J.J. Reneaux. La muerta: godmother death (Mexico) / Doug Lipman -- Jack and the haunted house (Appalachia) / Elizabeth Ellis -- The storekeeper (American South) / Doc McConnell -- Rabbit and possum hunt for a wife (Native American/Cherokee) / Gayle Ross -- The black prince (Egypt) / Laura Simms -- The horned animals' party (Antigua/British West Indies) / Diane Ferlatte -- The mischievous girl and the hideous creature (American) / Beth Horner -- What he could have been (Jewish) / Steve Sanfield -- Is it deep enough? (African-American) / David Holt and Bill Mooney. The old giant (England) / Jon Spelman -- Little Hare and the pine tree (Native American/Winnebago) / Joseph Bruchac -- The dead mule (American Midwest) Jim May -- The golden arm (England) / Jackie Torrence -- The twelve labors of Hercules (ancient Greece) / Barbara McBride-Smith -- How the turtle cracked his shell (Native American/Cherokee) / Robin Moore -- The magic mortar (Japan) / Jay O'Callahan -- The electricity elixir (American South) / Chuck Larkin -- Panther and rabbit (French Cameroon) / Michael Parent -- The time Jack got the silver sword (Appalachia) / Donald Davis. Little burnt face (Native American/Micmac) / Milbre Burch -- The magic pomegranate (Jewish) / Peninnah Schram -- Santa visits the Moes (Appalachia) / The folktellers -- The talking skull (West Africa) / Heather Forest -- Honey bunny (African-American) / Ed Stivender -- The wise judge (Japan) / Susan Klein -- The wreck of the sea rover (Eastern Seaboard) / Bill Mooney -- Jack and the magic beans (England) / Bobby Norfolk -- Sweet Harmony Chapel (based on a Appalacian short story) / Gwenda LedBetter -- The freedom bird (Thailand) / David Holt.