Wonder Teller
Cover of Why the Bear Is Stumpy-Tailed: A Gentle Retelling
Folktales & LegendsPicture bookLevel 1Ages 3–5

Why the Bear Is Stumpy-Tailed: A Gentle Retelling

English · 15 pages · 189 words · 2 min read

A gentle retelling for listeners ages 3–5 of the Norwegian folktale “Why the Bear Is Stumpy-Tailed” from Asbjørnsen and Moe’s Popular Tales from the Norse, in George Webbe Dasent’s translation: the Fox, carrying stolen fish, tells the Bear to fish through the ice with his long tail and to hold on while it stings, and the frozen tail snaps off short.

Read first 3 pages
Original work by
Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe
Translated by
George Webbe Dasent
Adapted by
Wonder Teller

A look inside

The opening of Why the Bear Is Stumpy-Tailed: A Gentle Retelling, free to read.

  1. Illustration from page 2 of Why the Bear Is Stumpy-Tailed: A Gentle Retelling

    Sneak, sneak! Along came the Fox with fish on a string. Stolen fish!

  2. Illustration from page 3 of Why the Bear Is Stumpy-Tailed: A Gentle Retelling

    “Where did you get those fish?” asked Bruin the Bear. Swish went his long tail.

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