Hello and welcome to super great kids' stories, wise tales from storytellers around the world, which will make you laugh and

sometimes cry. Recommended for ages 5 to 105. I'm Kim and I love stories. Today we have a fairy tale for you from China told by the wonderful Alton Chang. It's called

The Luminous Pearl. How are you super great kids? Are you having an okay week? There's been a lot of snow

in the US. I wonder if you've been able to get out and play in it

or have you had to watch it through the window and keep warm indoors.

No matter what the weather, it's grey, wet and muddy here in the UK,

I hope you're all finding reasons to be cheerful

and entertaining each other with stories and songs if you can't go outside.

I went to see some was sailing this weekend, which is a winter tradition

where people go in a procession to an orchard, dancing and singing,

to thank the apple trees for giving them a good harvest.

They dip bread into spiced apple cider and they hang it on the tree as a little gift.

They also bang instruments and pans to scare away any bad spirits who might just be lurking.

It was all jolly good fun and if you like apple trees then you might enjoy listening

to The Apple Tree Man Story which is on our podcast or you could read it in our new book. And if one of

the things that makes you happy is live storytelling and you're in or near London, then Super Great Kids Stories regulars Amy Douglas and

Jason Buck are holding their own event to mark the beginning of National Storytelling Week

in England and Wales. Join them in a celebration of dragons, boggots and bogals for a 45-minute storytelling session in Clark and Well in London.

There are sessions on Saturday and Sunday, January 31st and February 1st.

And if you don't live near London but want to see some live storytelling, then on February the 8th, Paul Aldebra, who told Hansel and Gretel last week,

is telling stories at our regular monthly online show with Jason and Amy on Sunday, February the 8th.

For tickets for both events, look under news on our website, supergreatkidsstories.com.

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