About this season
Access to reliable light can mean access to greater opportunities, to employment, and to education. In celebration of light and the joy of reading, Shell #makethefuture and GravityLight have collated a set of 50 classic stories from around the world.
Episodes (50)
1. Pixie Lott Reads The Hare And The Tortoise
Aired 17 October 2017
UK singer Pixie Lott reads this classic tale and discovers that sometimes slow and steady wins the race.
2. Yemi Alade Reads The Lion And The Mouse
Aired 17 October 2017
Nigerian singer Yemi Alade reads the tale of how a tiny mouse ended up saving the life of a mighty lion.
3. Steve Aoki Reads The Town Mouse And The Country Mouse
Aired 25 October 2017
American DJ Steve Aoki reads this classic story and finds out the value of the simple life.
4. The Fox and the Crow
Aired 21 November 2017
A fox tries to use flattery to take a crow’s cheese for himself.
5. The Rabbit and the Fox
Aired 21 November 2017
Tired of working in the field, a lazy rabbit ends up stuck in a well. Will the fox help him out?
6. The Sandalwood Princess
Aired 21 November 2017
The daughter of a poor family sets out to marry the Emperor’s son with the help of some sandalwood in this magical tale.
7. The Crafty Jackal
Aired 21 November 2017
A jackal looks set to become a lion’s next meal, but he has a trick in mind in this classic tale.
8. The Turtle and the Monkey
Aired 21 November 2017
A turtle and a monkey’s attempts to grow banana trees leads to a quarrel in the jungle in this classic story.
9. The Clever Rooster
Aired 21 November 2017
Can a fox outsmart a rooster? In this story one animal gets caught in their own trap.
10. The Pea Emperor
Aired 21 November 2017
Can a young man answer nine riddles and convince a king he really is the Pea Emperor?
11. The Rolling Rice Balls
Aired 21 November 2017
When an old man’s lunch makes an escape it leads to adventure in this Japanese folktale.
12. Patoranking Reads The Rich Troll
Aired 21 November 2017
Can three brothers trick the evil troll terrorising their village? Nigerian singer Patoranking finds out in this classic tale.
13. Aston Merygold Reads The Two Foxes
Aired 10 November 2017
A clever fox and a simple fox become friends after they encounter a hunter’s trap in this classic story ready by British singer Aston Merygold.
14. The Scared Hunters
Aired 10 November 2017
A father and son set off into the woods to go hunting. But what if the forest is haunted?
15. The Wise Student
Aired 10 November 2017
A young student is tired of being poor and hatches a plan to become rich. Discover how in this folk tale.
16. The Lame Dog
Aired 10 November 2017
A princess marries a lame dog with a true heart in this classic tale.
17. The Swan Queen
Aired 10 November 2017
A prince who has never loved before meets a beautiful swan queen in this old folk story.
18. The Man Who Turned the Earth to Gold
Aired 10 November 2017
In this classic story, a man decides to spend all his time trying to turn earth into gold rather than work. Luckily, his wife has a plan.
19. The Miser And The Judge
Aired 10 November 2017
When two farmers find a bag of cold coins, a judge must decide who to return the money bag back to.
20. The Forbidden Chamber
Aired 10 November 2017
21. JB Gill Reads The Merchant And The Parrot
Aired 10 November 2017
English singer JB Gill reads this story about a sea merchant and his trusty parrot, whose only wish is to fly free.
22. Vir Das Reads The Sea Hare
Aired 10 November 2017
Bollywood actor and comedian Vir Das reads this classic story about a hunter who must hide from a princess in order to win her hand in marriage.
23. The Magpie And The Fox
2.0Aired 3 November 2017
A greedy fox is no match for a cunning magpie in this classic Irish folk tale.
24. The Magic Garden Of The Poor
Aired 3 November 2017
A farmer, shepherd and student set out to help the poor with the help of a group birds in this magical tale.
25. The Dove
Aired 3 November 2017
A naughty prince gets in trouble for knocking over an old woman’s pot of beans. Thankfully, his magical beloved is on hand to help.
26. The Book Of Spells
Aired 3 November 2017
A wise man who has read every book and speaks every language heals a king, but jealous forces are at play in this mystical story.
27. The Wicked Woman
Aired 3 November 2017
While the men leave their tribe to go hunting, a wicked woman hatches a plan to steal their children.
28. Judge Rabbit
Aired 3 November 2017
When a man helps a tiger out of a pit, it falls to a passing rabbit to make an important decision. Discover what happens next in this classic tale.
29. The Twelve Brothers
Aired 3 November 2017
Envy turns eleven brothers against their father's favourite son, but when a drought hits, fate brings the family back together.
30. Lenay Chantelle Reads The Hogs In The Mud
Aired 3 November 2017
Singer Lenay Chantelle reads this classic story of a crafty man who is always coming up with new ways to trick wealthy travellers.
31. Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Reads The Tiger’s Mistake
Aired 3 November 2017
All is not what it seems in the jungle at night, as a tiger finds out in this classic story read by Malaysian astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor.
32. Binky Felstead Reads The Dragon and the Shoemaker
Aired 30 October 2017
Television star Binky Felstead reads the classic story about a shoemaker's apprentice who sets out to defeat a mighty dragon.
33. The Orphan And The Man In The Moon
Aired 30 October 2017
In this folk tale a mysterious man from the moon comes to the help of a poor orphan boy.
34. The Lazy Son
Aired 30 October 2017
A lazy son learns to be more like his hardworking brother when he spends his father’s money and ends up sleeping with the pigs.
35. The Fox And The Blanket
Aired 30 October 2017
Two rabbits think they’re in luck when a fox offers to mend their blanket, but they find out you should never make a deal with a fox!
36. The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Aired 30 October 2017
Discover the classic tale of a shepherd boy who raised false alarm one too many times.
37. The Monkey Builder
Aired 30 October 2017
Watch this story of a mischievous monkey builder with a big appetite.
38. Mehreen Syed Reads The Lost Ring
Aired 30 October 2017
Pakistani model and actress Mehreen Syed reads this classic story and discovers how a king gets back his bride’s lost ring.
39. Ivet Lalova-Collio Reads The Girl Who Stopped Winter
Aired 30 October 2017
Bulgarian athlete Ivet Lalova-Collio reads this classic story about a girl and her fight to bring back spring.
40. Jamal Gaddafi Reads How The Heron Got The Bend In Its Neck
Aired 30 October 2017
What happens when a heron gets in the way of a hungry jackal? Kenyan TV presenter Jamal Gaddafi finds out in this classic tale.
41. Amy Willerton Reads The Three Roses
Aired 25 October 2017
British model Amy Willerton tells the story of how three roses led a young girl to befriend a beast.
42. Daniela Andrade Reads Diamonds and Snakes
Aired 25 October 2017
Canadian singer Daniela Andrade reads this classic tale of two sisters who have very different encounters with a fairy.
43. Thapelo Mokoena Reads The Mice, The Cat And The Bell
Aired 25 October 2017
Some clever mice try to deal with a new cat in this classic tale, read by South African actor and presenter Thapelo Mokoena.
44. Dawn Richard Reads The Mantis And The Ostrich
Aired 25 October 2017
American singer-songwriter Dawn Richard reads this classic Namibian tale about a clever mantis.
45. Edith Bowman Reads The Giant And The Hairpin
Aired 25 October 2017
Watch and listen as UK radio DJ Edith Bowman reads the story of how one little girl takes on a hungry giant.
46. Alyssa Sutherland Reads The Golden Swan
Aired 25 October 2017
A greedy old woman gets a nasty surprise when she takes advantage of a friendly golden swan. Australian actress and model Alyssa Sutherland reads this classic tale.
47. Dougy Mandagi Reads The Emperor And The Peach
Aired 25 October 2017
Temper Trap singer Dougy Mandagi reads this story of a bored emperor who gets a surprise in the middle of winter.
48. Cathy Zimmermann Reads The Enchanted Cat
Aired 25 October 2017
Austrian presenter Cathy Zimmermann reads the magical story of an evil empress and a cat’s lucky escape.
49. Kimberly Wyatt Reads The Snake Bride
Aired 25 October 2017
A daughter learns to take her mother’s advice in this magical story from Bhutan, read by American singer Kimberly Wyatt.
50. The Lost Bean
Aired 21 November 2017
When no one will help a sparrow find her missing breakfast an ant finds a way to convince the king.