What are some interesting aspects of Peabody's Old Greek Folk Stories?

They have provided a wealth of source material. Many modern authors draw inspiration from the characters and plots in these stories. For instance, Rick Riordan uses Greek mythology extensively in his Percy Jackson series.

One interesting character is Odysseus. He is known for his long and arduous journey home in 'The Odyssey'. Another is Pandora. She opened the box that released all the evils into the world. And there's also Perseus, who slayed the Gorgon Medusa.

An old folk story is 'Rumpelstiltskin'. A miller's daughter was forced to spin straw into gold by the king, with the help of a strange little man. There are also many Native American folk stories. For example, stories about how the coyote was a trickster figure, creating and changing things in the world through his cleverness or foolishness.

A famous Japanese old folk story is 'Issun - Boshi'. He was a boy who was only one inch tall but had a big heart. He set off on an adventure and with his wits and a magic needle given to him by a goddess, he managed to defeat a demon and win the heart of a princess. These folk stories often carry moral lessons, cultural values, and a sense of wonder that has been passed down through generations in Japan.

One interesting old folk tale is 'Cinderella'. It's about a young girl who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters but, with the help of her fairy godmother, goes to the ball and wins the prince's heart. Another is 'Little Red Riding Hood', which warns children about the dangers of talking to strangers in the form of a wolf in the woods. And 'Jack and the Beanstalk' is also great, where Jack climbs a beanstalk to a giant's lair and outwits the giant to bring back treasures.

One famous Chinese old folk story is 'The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl'. It's about a love story between a cowherd and a fairy weaver girl. They fell in love but were separated by the Milky Way. Only on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month can they meet by crossing a bridge made of magpies. It shows the Chinese people's yearning for true love.

One well - known old German folk story is 'Hansel and Gretel'. It's about two children who are left in the forest by their stepmother. They find a house made of gingerbread, which is owned by a wicked witch who wants to eat them. Another is 'Rumpelstiltskin', where a little man helps a girl spin straw into gold in exchange for her first - born child. There's also 'The Pied Piper of Hamelin' who lures the rats away from the town with his music and then, when not paid, takes the children as well.

One interesting old folk tale is 'The Tortoise and the Hare'. It teaches the lesson that slow and steady wins the race. The hare, being overconfident, takes a nap during the race while the tortoise keeps moving forward steadily and ultimately wins.

One old folk love story is 'The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl'. In this Chinese story, the Cowherd was a poor but kind man, and the Weaver Girl was a fairy. They fell in love and got married. However, their love was opposed by the Goddess of Heaven. As a punishment, they were separated by the Milky Way and could only meet once a year on the Qixi Festival.

A great old Greek children's story is 'The Odyssey'. It follows Odysseus' long journey home after the Trojan War. There are encounters with monsters like the Cyclops and the Sirens. As for Italian stories, 'The Adventures of Tom Thumb' is also quite popular among children. It's about a tiny boy who has many exciting escapades in a big world.