The Devil's Bet
In the story that inspired Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew,” a woodsman named Jamie marries the beautiful but grumpy Nora. The Nicky Nicky Nye, a water demon, bets that Nora won’t last a week. From the collection…
Barefoot Books Podcast
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Each week, the Barefoot Books Podcast opens a treasure chest of audio for young listeners and their families. You'll find a gentle, curated mix of narrated stories and songs, all drawn from the publisher's beloved collection. As an independent creator of children's media, Barefoot Books has a knack for blending timeless tales with contemporary warmth, and that same careful craftsmanship shines through in this audio format. The selections are more than just entertainment; they're little bridges to different cultures and traditions, offering classic folktales, playful poems, and melodic tunes that carry a sense of wisdom and wonder. It’s a space for shared quiet time or imaginative play, where the rhythm of a good story takes center stage. Tuning into this podcast feels like a natural extension of curling up with a beautifully illustrated book, but for your ears. The result is a listening experience that feels both fresh and familiar, designed to spark curiosity and a love for narrative in its youngest audience while providing a moment of connection for the whole family.
Episodes
The Musicians of Bremen
A donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster decide to run away to become musicians. They find success in Bremen after using their music to scare away some robbers from a cottage. From the collection The Barefoot Book of Animal…
The Taltos Horse
In this Hungarian story, a king wishes to be reunited with his old friend. With the help of the Taltos horse, his youngest son goes on a journey to cross three bridges, slay dragons, and defeat an army of demons. From th…
The Giant with No Heart in his Body
When a giant turns six princes and their brides into stone, it's up to Ashpattle, the youngest prince, to save them. With help from a princess, a raven, a salmon and a wolf, Ashpattle is able to capture the giant's heart…
La Cenerentola
In this Italian, operatic version of Cinderella, Cenerentola falls in love with Prince Ramiro, who is disguised as his own assistant. From the book The Barefoot Book of Stories from the Opera, retold by Shahrukh Husain,…
Magic in the Rainforest
When a jaguar is tricked by a magic snake, he must seek the help of the rainforest to reverse his fate. From The Barefoot Book of Animal Tales retold and narrated by Naomi Adler and illustrated by Amanda Hall.
The Twelve Wild Geese
When the Queen of Leinster wishes to give up her twelve sons for a daughter, an old woman grants her wish, and the sons turn to geese when her new child is born. From the book Tales from Old Ireland, retold by Malachy Do…
The White Rat
A king and queen adopt a little white rat when it becomes apparent they will never have any children of their own. When a magician comes to their kingdom, the king and queen ask him to transform their beloved pet into a…
The Flower Princess
In this story that inspired Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, the King of Cecelia causes his wife to die of despair and orders for his daughter Flora to be released into the river because he is ashamed of their commonness…
The Colt Qeytas
In this Iranian story, a magical talking, flying colt called Qeytas saves a prince from his stepmother’s plot to kill him. From the book Magic Hoofbeats, retold by Josepha Sherman, illustrated by Linda Wingerter and narr…
