listen: 1001 stories
We aim to collect 1001 stories and story ideas for children to enjoy at school or home - and it's all free. Our 1001 stories site contains audio and video recordings by leading storytellers of tales from around the world.
a treasure trove of tales for you to enjoy...
1001 stories allows you to choose a story in whichever way suits you best:
- by them
e - by origin
- by age group
...again and again
- listen or watch stories as often as you like - they are all free
- retell the stories, with simple texts or pictures to prompt you
Oral stories come from many sources and evolve as they pass from teller to teller. If a storyteller has been influenced by a particular retelling we mention this. And if we know of a particularly good written version we include a reference.
keep visiting
Come back again, because we're adding more all the time.
Copyright: Creative copyright in each of these unique tellings belongs to the storyteller. The recordings are Crown Copyright.
Created with support from The Transformation Fund and The Barcapel Foundation.
age guidelines
The age groups are approximate minimum ages for children, particularly in a school setting, but do feel free to explore stories for other ages. Older children enjoy revisiting simple stories and rhymes. Younger children enjoy more mature stories in the company of an adult.
other story listening sites
story bee, US volunteer-run website with retellings for different ages, free
story arts, 70 folktale retellings by US storyteller, Heather Forest, download fee payable
mythstories, a selection of stories in English and French, free
Tim Sheppard's storytelling links for storytellers
