In the world of “The Hare-Brained Crocodiles,” hares and crocodiles not only talk, but play together in the sand! Such an imaginative tale of a clever hare and dull-witted crocodile will delight readers and spark their imagination. Other funny tales, including Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Darning Needle,” “The Farmer and the Money-Lender,” and “Mother Hulda,” demonstrate Common Core language arts skills as they amuse readers. Full-color illustrations complement each tale, providing creative depictions of the silly stories’ fantastical elements.

In the world of “The Hare-Brained Crocodiles,” hares and crocodiles not only talk, but play together in the sand! Such an imaginative tale of a clever hare and dull-witted crocodile will delight readers and spark their imagination. Other funny tales, including Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Darning Needle,” “The Farmer and the Money-Lender,” and “Mother Hulda,” demonstrate Common Core language arts skills as they amuse readers. Full-color illustrations complement each tale, providing creative depictions of the silly stories’ fantastical elements.

What kind of man would convince his wife that fish live in trees and hares live in the water? One who knows his wife is a gossip and would tell about a great treasure he’d found! The story is a silly one, but “The Fish and the Hare” has a lesson, too. Other stories in this volume offer readers plenty of opportunities to use their imaginations, including “Which Was the Foolishest?”, “The Endless Tale,” and “How Mr. Rabbit Lost His Tail.” Full-color illustrations depict key scenes in each offering of funny fiction.

Through an excerpt from Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows titled “The Open Road,” readers meet talking animals and consider life on the road. High-spirited dialogue and vivid descriptions transport readers into Grahame’s world of silly Toad, Mole, and Rat. Other funny tales engage readers’ imagination, such as “The Inchcape Rock,” “The Cat and the Mouse” and “Why the Bear Is Stumpy-Tailed,” in addition to demonstrating storytelling consistent with the standards in the Common Core language arts curriculum. Full-color illustrations make each story all the more amusing and fun.

Rudyard Kipling was truly an innovative children’s author. In “How the Leopard Got His Spots,” Kipling introduces readers to animal adaptation and camouflage through the tale of a confused leopard trying to hunt for his dinner—only to find it hidden to him. Inventive and amusing language use will give readers the giggles, especially those reading out loud! “The Four Little Children Who Went Round the World,” “The Accomplished Lucky Teakettle,” and “Bruin and Reynard” add to the magical amusement. With full-color illustrations complementing each story, this volume adds a bit of whimsy into any reader’s library.

“The Blind Men and the Elephant” is more than just an amusing tale. It offers readers a final, meaningful thought—neither someone who is blind nor someone who can see well can truly judge the whole when only knowing part of it. “The Simpleton,” “The Foolish Weaver,” and “The Field of Boliauns” engage readers’ imaginations further, providing amusement as well as showcasing storytelling conventions, such as tone and creative word choice, that are part of the Common Core language arts curriculum. Illustrations complement each tale with colorful interpretations of characters and events.

Short stories on life in the Northern Territory; Account of Wargaity corroboree at Delissaville, ritual body decoration; native murders, mission histories.