1 h 55 minAudiobook9 minSummaryRead it, hear it, the 15-minute summary, and print and large print at costPaperback · 6 × 9 in · printing soonHardcover · 6 × 9 in · printing soonAbout this book
What if kindness and courage matter more than strength or riches?
In The Story-Teller, Maud Lindsay brings young listeners into twelve fairy tales where wonder belongs to everyday life. Small heroes stand at the heart of this gentle world. Simple plots and clear feelings give children room to follow each story, while small lessons invite thought without weighing down the pleasure.
Lindsay draws on her work as a kindergarten teacher and her understanding of what holds a child's attention. These tales welcome the spoken word and the closeness of sharing a story. Their central themes—kindness, courage, and wonder—offer parents and children something to talk about when the telling pauses.
What you’ll discover
- Tales for the voice Discover short stories whose simple plots and clear feelings welcome the youngest listeners.
- Small heroes, quiet courage Explore a fairy tale tradition that values kindness and courage above strength or riches.
- Wonder with a gentle lesson Enjoy the pleasure of wonder, with a small lesson held lightly within each tale.
- One story at a time Leave room around each tale for questions, quiet thought, or simply enjoying the moment.
- Stories to share together Bring gentle tales to bedtime, a quiet afternoon, or the familiar classroom circle.
Who will love it
Parents and grandparents who love reading aloud, children who enjoy kings, fairies and talking animals, and anyone who likes gentle Christmas stories with songs, rhymes and a kindly voice.
What’s inside
The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary
- A singing hammer and a jar of rosemary
- Keeping a promise and obeying a clue
- Longing, wonder and a trade of kindness
- Good turns and a foolish fright
- A song that travels and a fairy's quest
- Patience, faith, and the way the tales are told
Who’s who
- The elder brotherA king's counselor who loves peace and rides through the night to carry a message of goodwill before the Christmas Eve noon bells.
- The Mighty BlacksmithThe younger brother, a strong and honest smith whose hammer sings, and who wants only to do his work well.
- The little princeA child who hunts across the city for a jar of rosemary, because his recovering mother wishes for it.
- The harperA gifted musician summoned by a king who tries to keep a promise to his wife, child and dog.
- KarlA small boy who carries pancakes to his father through the Enchanted Wood and must learn not to be led astray.
- HansA faithful king's servant who understands the speech of animals and is helped by those he has kindly treated.
- Pease-BlossomA well-loved fairy who falls asleep on guard and must find the queen's stolen nightingale.
- The old womanA cheerful baker of dumplings who trades plums for feathers, flowers and more, while hoping for one apple.
Formats and delivery
- eBook
- On your phone, tablet, computer or Kindle, with the type as large as you like.
- Large-print eBook
- The same book in bigger, clearer type, from the first page.
- Audiobook
- 1 h 55 min, complete, read by Lucas Linden.
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas in about 9 minutes, to read or to hear.
- Paperback
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Hardcover
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print paperback
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Large print hardcover
- 8.5 × 11 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
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Read and hear Le conteur in 25 languages and switch at any time. Or read two side by side, paragraph by paragraph: the way to learn a language with a book you love.
Le conteur
by Maud Lindsay · 1915
A fairy climbs a giant's chimney to save a stolen nightingale in one of twelve gentle tales.
Easy readUnder 2 hours to read25 languages
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In short
The Story-Teller is a book of twelve fairy tales by the American writer Maud Lindsay, who wrote for young children and set the book's welcome in Sheffield, Alabama. She opens by picturing an old traveling teller of tales who knocks at a cottage door with a harp at his side.
From the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1
A singing hammer and a jar of rosemary
The book opens with a short welcome. The Story-Teller arrives, the children settle, and Lindsay says that his tales of smiles and tears taught them to rejoice with the glad and mourn with the sorrowful. After this, the first story begins with two brothers who are never apart as boys.
When they grow up, the elder goes to the king's court and becomes a trusted counselor. The younger builds a smithy beside a road and becomes the Mighty, the Honest and the Master Blacksmith. He envies nobody, because his hammer seems to sing that the one who does his best is fit to serve the king. Years pass, and they do not meet.
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What is The Story-Teller by Maud Lindsay about?
It is a collection of twelve fairy tales for young readers, including The Two Brothers, The Jar of Rosemary and The Lions in the Way. Each tells of courage, kindness or faith through kings, fairies, animals and country folk.
Is The Story-Teller a book of Christmas stories?
Several of the tales are set at Christmas, including The Two Brothers, The Jar of Rosemary and The Promise. Others take place in spring or in the Enchanted Wood, so the book suits any season.
Who is the Story-Teller in the book?
He is an old traveling teller of tales who comes to a cottage or hall with a harp and a story. Lindsay uses him in her opening to picture how children once listened to tales.
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