Once upon a time... a long, long, time ago, a story was told. Then, over time, that story was shared with many, becoming a mythical, legendary tale.

For as long as humans have existed, we have entertained and educated each other with such tales. Ancient stories that are sometimes based on fact, but other times are pure fiction, have been shared from generation to generation by word of mouth, written text, through songs and dances and even in sculptures and paintings. Celebrate these tales in this amazing collection of a year full of stories from around the world.

Tales of adventure and wonder exist in every culture. Perrault’s fairy tales, Norse sagas, Scheherazade's 1001 Arabian Nights, as well as Shakespeare’s comedies and African, North American, Innuit and Indian folk tales, come together in a glorious collection of 52 retellings of the stories that built our world. Illustrated in sumptuous watercolour by Alette Straathof.