Story Collections
Discover our collection of stories—some original, others thoughtfully adapted from traditions around the world—all selected for their capacity to support learning, emotional growth, and meaningful connection.
Need help in finding the right stories to share with your children?
You are in the right place! Our collection of stories and story resources include some original tales and some that are adapted from storytelling traditions all around the world. They will each open up new landscapes in your heart and mind, expanding all of your family’s horizons.
Each one of these packages is going to help you turn criticism into connection and frustration into fun, all while building magical memories for everyone to treasure.
A Story a Day
A story prompt to share with your children each day of the year.
...Available for download...
A Story a Day is a year-long calendar of simple, flexible story prompts designed for parents and caregivers who value storytelling but feel too busy or exhausted to search for ideas.
This resource removes the pressure of “finding the right story” and gives you one clear prompt each day — a small, manageable invitation to connect.
The prompts span a wide range of themes: personal and family stories, cultural tales, science and nature, imaginative worlds, emotional exploration, and values such as kindness, courage, and fairness. Each prompt is crafted to support children’s curiosity, emotional literacy, and cognitive growth while strengthening your daily connection.
Daily story prompts don’t add more to your plate — they offer an easy structure that helps you build meaningful rituals without extra planning or preparation.
Over time, these brief moments of storytelling enrich family life, support your child’s creative and critical thinking, and create a record of shared memories you can keep forever.
Resources for download:
Watch: How to use the programme, A Story a Day
Printable “Create Your Own Story” Workbook
Watch: Masterclass 1: How to Share Stories with Children Every Day
Parallel Universe
Exploring science through stories when we ask 'What if?'
...Available for download now...
Both stories and science invite us to ask the question ‘What if?’ and to explore the various possibilities that arise when we approach the world with an open mind and an open heart. We acknowledge that alongside the world that exists in front of our eyes, there is another that runs parallel, which we have yet to discover. Teaching children the joy of discovery is a lesson that will last for all of their lives.
Through Parallel Universe we hope to provide free access to well-researched resources that acknowledge the power of science to ask the right questions and never give up on finding solutions. To make it easier for you to use these stories, we link them to core
components in primary school syllabi - this means that your children will already recognise some of the topics and themes and the stories will help them to associate with the characters and inspire them to take action. The audio tracks can be downloaded and listened to over and over again. The activities and experiments are entertaining and encourage engagement.
At Lignin Stories we believe that it is only through collaboration and creativity
of the most committed kind that we can supercede the challenges that we
face.
Resources for download:
Parallel Universe story links to the curriculum
Story Pack (12 stories - print & audio, 12 related science experiments)
The creation of this story pack was supported by funding from Esplora Interactive Science Center and the Erasmus Key Stage Action 2 programme.
Here Where I Belong
A collection of uplifting stories on love, friendship, and belonging.
...Available for download now...
Have you ever met a grumpy tree who couldn’t stop complaining or a great stone goddess who loves to dance? Perhaps you’ve heard the story about the witty princess who met her match, the sisters who met a blueberry-stealing king, or the dragon who fell in love with a river.
Here Where I Belong is a collection of heartwarming folk tales about how things fall into place through a surprising mix of love, wisdom, friendship, and, of course, a touch of magic. Some are classics retold for our time, others entirely new. All are drawn from the timeless well of the world’s stories.
This story pack may be downloaded here and includes:
Maya and the Blueberries by Ivanir Sibylla Hasson (Norway)
The Day the Sleeping Lady Woke by Giuliana Fenech (Malta). Listen here.
Jánoska, the Little Swineherd by Maja Bumberak (Hungary)
The Dragon and the River by Špela Kaplja (Slovenia)
Stuck Between a Pole and a Hedge by Giovanna Conforto (Italy)
More folk tale resources to listen to:
Maltese speakers can also get a taste of folk tale magic by listening to "Sansuna u s-Sigra tal-Ħarrub". Sansuna is a Maltese story, written and performed by Giuliana Fenech, about a giantess named Sansuna and a carob tree. Drawing on local folklore, with elements of prehistoric Malta, mythical characters, and local flora, the story explores themes of nature and the consequences of failing to respect it. It recounts how Sansuna’s fury after the death of the carob tree drives the people underground, until a child named Katarin courageously seeks to restore peace. Listen here.
The creation of these stories was supported by funding from the Malta Arts Council and FEST: Federation of European Storytellers.
The Secret Garden and Muxu the Tailless Cat
Exploring folklore through creativity and imagination.
...Available for download now...
Gardens are full of secrets and stories. Up among the highest branches of the tallest trees something glitters and shines. Deep down in the dark stone well, a creature wiggles and whines. What has happened to Muxu, the tailless cat, and how will he solve the mystery of the disappearing water? Everything in the garden is dying and Muxu must act fast.
You can now watch the performance and download your workbook to join into the adventure too.
Resources for download:
Watch a performance of The Secret Garden here.
Download The Secret Garden workbook here.
This project was financed by the Valletta Cultural Agency and developed into an artistic support programme for children during Covid 19. It was awarded Best Work for Young Audiences at the 2022 National Arts Awards, in Malta.
Grandma Got Steam
Intergenerational mentorship and the power of storytelling our lives, families, and work.
...Available for download...
In Grandma got STEAM, five mentors – women with families and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths – joined ten young people in a series of storytelling workshops. Throughout, they shared their journeys in life and work, discussing the opportunities they were given and the obstacles that they faced. What emerged is a rich tapestry of emotions, memories, hopes and dreams captured in the storytelling pack with settings, characters and plots that are drawn from real life.
Curated by Esplora and Spazju Kreattiv, participants worked with Giuliana Fenech (storyteller), Julian Mallia a.k.a Julinu (Illustrator) and Dragana Rankovic (photographer) to develop a pack of illustrated storytelling cards that features characters and plots drawn from the life and work experiences of the women. The pack, which functions as a storytelling tool and may be used by anyone with an interest in story and community, is now available for download here.
Resources for download:
This project was financed through il-Premju tal-President għall-Kreattività, an arts fund with a strong social and community emphasis. Il-Premju tal-President għall-Kreattività is coordinated by Arts Council Malta under the Patronage of Her Excellency, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta.
21 Stories for 21 Days
Shifting unhelpful behaviour patterns through 21 stories shared over 21 days.
...Available for purchase [please contact us for more details]...
Research shows that with intention and consistency, we can begin to shift unhelpful patterns in as little as three weeks. Small, daily practices can reorient our attention, soften habitual reactions, and create new ways of connecting — especially in our relationships with children.
21 Stories for 21 Days is a guided programme designed to support adults in strengthening their relationships with the children in their lives. Each day, you receive one carefully chosen story that helps you meet your child exactly where they are — emotionally, developmentally, and relationally.
Children often move through challenges that leave parents and caregivers feeling uncertain, tired, or unsure how best to respond. We may wish things were easier, or wish we had more capacity to understand what they need.
There is no instant fix, but there are gentle, effective supports.
Across 21 days, these stories offer daily moments of insight, co-regulation, and connection. Slowly, almost quietly, they help you shift patterns of interaction, soften tension, and create new openings for communication and trust.
By the end of the journey, many adults notice that something meaningful has changed — not because the challenges disappeared, but because the relationship has grown stronger, steadier, and more attuned.
One story a day.
One small shift at a time.
Twenty-one days of connection.
