The Song That Exposed the Tyrant King is a powerful folktale set in the ancient kingdom of Dagestan. It tells the story of a cruel ruler and a fearless poet whose song reveals the suffering of the people. Through courage and truth, the story shows how an honest voice can challenge tyranny and change the fate of a nation.
Long ago, in the kingdom of Dagestan, there ruled a king who was widely feared for his cruelty and arrogance. Under his reign, the people lived in constant misery, burdened by injustice and oppression. One day, a haunting song began to spread across the land. The song openly condemned the king’s tyranny and revealed the suffering of the people. Adults and children alike sang it with deep emotion, and soon it echoed through towns and villages everywhere.
The Cocoon of Change is a short moral tale by Valentin Berestov, a Russian writer known for his stories for children. Through the simple journey of a caterpillar that hides itself from the world, the story explores self perception, promises, and personal transformation. In a clear and gentle way, it reminds readers that true change comes with time and growth, not from fear or hiding.
A caterpillar believed that it was very beautiful. Every morning, it looked at its reflection in drops of dew. It carefully studied its flat face and slowly arched its fuzzy back so it could admire the bright yellow stripe along its sides. The caterpillar felt proud and thought that anyone who did not see it was missing something special.
The Story of Aioga is a Nanai folktale about a beautiful but vain and lazy girl. Obsessed with her own appearance, she refuses to help her mother with chores. Her pride and laziness lead to unexpected consequences, transforming her into a swan and teaching a timeless lesson about humility, hard work, and true beauty.
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful Nanai girl named Aioga. Everyone in her village admired her beauty, and many said no one could match her looks. Aioga was very proud and spent hours admiring herself, sometimes in a polished copper basin and sometimes in the clear river water, feeling more pleased each time she saw her reflection. She was extremely lazy and obsessed with her own appearance, refusing to help with chores. One day, her mother asked her to fetch water. Aioga immediately made excuses, fearing she might fall in, scratch her hands, or tear her gloves. Despite her parents offering solutions, from sewing the gloves to wearing leather mitts, Aioga stubbornly refused, choosing instead to continue admiring herself.
The Little Bird by Lev Tolstoy tells the story of a young boy named Seryozha who receives a bird trap for his birthday. Excited to catch a bird, he learns important lessons about kindness, responsibility, and the consequences of his actions. The story explores a child’s curiosity, innocence, and the growth that comes from understanding the value of life.
Seryozha was excited for his birthday. He received many gifts, including a toy wolf, a horse, paintings, and more. But the gift he loved the most was a bird trap sent by his cousin. The trap worked like this: a small wooden plate held some seeds outside the cage. When a bird landed on it to eat, the plate would tip, and the cage would snap shut. Overjoyed, Seryozha ran to show his mother. She frowned. “That toy isn’t good. Why catch birds? Why hurt them?” she asked. Seryozha replied confidently, “I will put the bird in a cage and take care of it. I’ll let it sing.”
Once upon a time, in a small coastal village, there lived an old fisherman and his wife in a humble little hut by the sea. Every day, the old man would go out to the ocean to cast his nets and catch fish to sustain their simple life. One day, despite casting his nets several times, he caught nothing. The first haul brought up only mud, and the second contained nothing but seaweed. On his final attempt, however, he caught a tiny golden fish.
On a quiet afternoon, a small old man with a long gray beard sat on a park bench, drawing strange shapes in the sand with the tip of his umbrella. A young boy named Pavlik came running up, his face red with frustration. “Move over,” he demanded. The old man shifted to the side and looked at the boy curiously. “You seem upset,” he said kindly. Pavlik hesitated, then admitted, “I just ran away from home.”
Once upon a time, there was a lovely little girl who owned a handsome rooster. Every morning, the rooster greeted her with a cheerful crow: “Cock-a-doodle-doo! Good morning, little mistress!”. It would peck happily at the grains of rice from her hand, then leap up onto the fence. In the sunlight, its feathers shimmered like velvet, and its bright red comb glowed like a flame. It was truly a magnificent rooster.
Long ago in Russia, near a thriving port city, there lived a wealthy merchant whose ships sailed across the oceans, bringing back goods and gold from every corner of the world. He owned many rare treasures, but none were as valuable to him as his prized horse, a magnificent stallion so fast and graceful that it seemed to ride on the wind. He named the horse Windrunner, and only he dared to ride it. He loved Windrunner more than anything else he owned and refused to part with it under any circumstances.
The sun was growing brighter each day. The snow had melted, and the silver streams hummed cheerful songs as they flowed through the forest. Spring had truly arrived, filling the land with warmth and color. Flowers bloomed in every direction, and everything seemed alive again. In the middle of all this, a young rabbit named Purine stood among the blossoms, smiling to himself. "Aha," he thought, "the cruel winter has finally left the forest!"
