The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde

A golden statue comes to life and, with the help of a reluctant swallow, gives away everything he has. A fierce giant forbids children to play in his garden―then realizes that only through sharing will spring ever come again. In these rich fables by Oscar Wilde, author of The Importance of Being Earnest, characters learn that kindness and giving are the greatest powers of all.

The stories included in this collection are:

1. The Happy Prince
2. The Selfish Giant
3. The Remarkable Rocket

Written by Oscar Wilde, Narrated by Stephen McLaughlin

1 CD – 63 Minutes (Unabridged)

ISBN: 978-0981903231

Price: $12.95

 

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King Midas and Pandora’s Box by Nathaniel Hawthorne

King Midas is obsessed with gold: counting it, touching it, imagining it. But when a strange young man grants his wish for a golden touch, things don’t go quite as he planned―particularly for his daughter Marigold. In these selections from classic American author Nathaniel Hawthorne’s charming retellings of Greek myths, children meet Midas and another engaging troublemaker, Pandora, and learn lessons about love and forgiveness.

The stories included in this collection are:

1. The Golden Touch (King Midas)
2. Pandora’s Box (A Paradise of Children)

Written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Narrated by Stephen McLaughlin and Tavia Gilbert

1 CD – 78 Minutes (Unabridged)

ISBN: 978-0981903255

Price: $12.95

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Tales From the Arabian Nights

To save herself from certain death, the beautiful Scheherazade must beguile a Persian sultan with her enchanting stories. In two of her most well-known tales, Aladdin and Ali Baba’s cleverness and quick-thinking save the day ― and a great treasure. Andrew Lang’s masterful version of these ancient Middle Eastern folk tales will captivate listeners of all ages, just as they did when Scherazade was the storyteller.

The stories included in this collection are:

1. Scheherazade
2. Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp
3. Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

Written by Andrew Lang, Narrated by Tavia Gilbert

1 CD – 67 Minutes (Unabridged)

ISBN: 978-0981903248

Price: $12.95

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Rip Van Winkle + The Devil and Tom Walker

Lazy Rip Van Winkle “would rather starve on a penny than work for a pound,” much to the dismay of his wife. After an afternoon in the Catskill Mountains ends in an enchanted, twenty-year sleep, Rip discovers that his children have grown up without him. He’s even slept through the American Revolutionary War! But does he learn his lesson? From nineteenth-century author Washington Irving come two cautionary tales that will broaden your vocabulary and challenge you to think.

The stories included in this collection are:

1. Rip Van Winkle
2. The Devil and Tom Walker

Written by Washington Irving, Narrated by Stephen McLaughlin

1 CD – 70 Minutes (Unabridged)

ISBN: 978-0981903279

Price: $12.95

 

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Hansel and Gretel and Other Tales by the Brothers Grimm

During the nineteenth century, brothers Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm traveled across Germany to write down the folk tales that had been told at kitchen tables, hearths, and bedsides for centuries. In doing so, they preserved a rich heritage of storytelling that connects us to the past. These favorite Grimm fairy tales showcase the evils of greed and jealousy and the redeeming power of love.

The stories included in this collection are:

1. Hansel and Gretel
2. Rapunzel
3. Snow White
4. The Fisherman and His Wife

Availability: Download Only

Price: $9.07

PlainTales Classics on Film – The Reluctant Dragon

The PlainTales Classics are famous stories that have become important parts of our language and culture. They’ve often been retold and adapted for theatre, radio, TV and movies. Many of the PlainTales Classics have been filmed throughout the years, including the Reluctant Dragon.

The Reluctant Dragon

Kenneth Grahame’s famous story the Reluctant Dragon was filmed in 1941 by Disney as a 20 minute animated movie. The Disney version is amusing but unfortunately it strays significantly from the original story and does not live up to the quality of the original.

Grahame’s more famous story, The Wind in the Willows, has been adapted for film many times, occasionally very successfully, as in the faithful made for TV animation created in 1995 featuring Vanessa Redgrave and voice talent such as Alan Bennett and Michael Palin.