American Folklore

Welcome to the United States of Cryptids, where mysterious monsters lurk in the dark forests, deep lakes, and sticky swamps of all fifty states. From the infamous Jersey Devil to the obscure Snallygaster, travel writer and chronicler of the strange J. W. Ocker not only uncovers the bizarre stories of these creatures but investigates the ways in which communities have embraced and celebrated their local cryptids.

In Backwoods Witchcraft, Jake Richards offers up a folksy stew of family stories, lore, omens, rituals, and conjure crafts that he learned from his great-grandmother, his grandmother, and his grandfather, a Baptist minister who Jake remembers could "rid someone of a fever with an egg or stop up the blood in a wound." The witchcraft practiced in Appalachia is very much a folk magic of place, a tradition that honors the seen and unseen beings that inhabit the land as well as the soil, roots, and plant life.

These uproarious American folk stories, retold by master storyteller Jim Weiss, will have you laughing and pondering too. You’ll hear about Paul Bunyan, taller than the trees and mightier than the rivers; Johnny Appleseed, whose gentle generosity made him a beloved legend; and Pecos Bill, whose outrageous Texas-sized exploits made him the greatest of all cowboys. There’s even one of Jim’s own tales; a tongue-twisting, hilarious tale of the Old West. The entire family will listen to this recording over and over again.

Bigfoot, the chupacabra, and thunderbirds aren't just figments of our overactive imaginations - according to thousands of eyewitnesses, they exist, in every corner of the United States. Throughout America's history, shocked onlookers have seen unbelievable creatures of every stripe - from sea serpents to apelike beings, giant bats to monkeymen - in every region.

In Fear & Folklore: Grave Robbers, delve into the sinister underworld of those who dared to disturb the sanctity of the dead. This gripping account weaves together chilling tales of wily resurrection men and audacious grave robbers who turned cemeteries into their hunting grounds across America. Meet Rufus Cantrell, the notorious body snatcher of Indianapolis, whose cunning operations supplied medical schools with freshly exhumed cadavers, turning the macabre into profit. Then, journey to Florida, where the eerie tale of Count Carl Von Cosel unfolds—a man so consumed by love that he ...

The blood of soldiers is not the only thing soaking the fields of Gettysburg. For Eli Ward, a Union sharpshooter, the battle is a grim calculus of distance and wind. But as the sun sets on the second day of fighting, the familiar horrors of war are twisted into a nightmare he could never imagine. The screams echoing in the twilight are no longer just from the wounded, but from things that hunt in the shadows, creatures born of rage and bloodlust. When Eli is forced into a desperate alliance with a Confederate soldier—an enemy he tried to kill just hours before—they uncover a terrifying ...

Listen and relive exciting tales from Highlights, now on audio! Learn about a boy at a Spanish market who knocks over a stand of avocados down a hill and makes guacamole and about a jungle that is full of terror at the thought that a monster could be lurking in the shadows, along with other stories.

Ghost Stories of the Appalachian Trail: 30 Chilling Tales of Real Hauntings and Legends The Appalachian Trail winds through some of America's most rugged and mysterious wilderness — and not everything lurking in the woods can be explained. In this spine-tingling collection, explore 30 short stories inspired by real events, ghostly encounters, and chilling Appalachian folklore. From vanished hikers and phantom lights to haunted hollows and ancient curses, each story will leave you wondering what's hiding just beyond the next bend in the trail. Whether you're a believer, a skeptic, or ...

“The People Could Fly,” the title story in Virginia Hamilton’s prize-winning American Black folktale collection, is a fantasy tale of the slaves who possessed the ancient magic words that enabled them to literally fly away to freedom. And it is a moving tale of those who did not have the opportunity to “fly” away, who remained slaves with only their imaginations to set them free as they told and retold this tale.

Some legends don’t want to stay hidden—and some secrets won’t stay buried. When a Navajo girl vanishes in the high desert of Arizona, Lux Branson is asked to help, even though this time the stakes are deeply personal. Her old friend Jackson believes his girlfriend was taken by a Skinwalker—an evil shapeshifter from Navajo lore. Skeptical but determined, Lux joins the search. The deeper they go into the red rock canyons and sacred lands, the more disturbing the evidence becomes. Something ancient is watching. And it doesn’t want them to leave. With time running out and local ...

An extraordinary compilation of legends and rituals about nature's ever-present signs. From the birds that soar above us to the insects beneath our feet, Native American healer Bobby Lake-Thom shows how the creatures of the earth can aid us in healing and self-knowledge.

The air hangs heavy in the Deep South, thick with the perfume of magnolia and the stench of the grave. In the murky waters of the bayou and the decaying halls of forgotten plantations, the past is never truly past. It waits, patient and hungry. This chilling anthology of fifteen unsettling tales will drag you into a world of Southern Gothic dread. Witness a desperate fisherman follow a spectral bride into the heart of the swamp, where the only treasure is a tomb. Listen to a voodoo drumbeat that is not a drum at all, but a parasitic heart that feeds on the unwary. Stand vigil on a haunted ...

The story tells of the making of the very first ball of fire. Trinidad wavers between the British and the French and SouCou is a slave, stolen from her beloved homeland. Born a Sharman in Africa she is a prized possession because of her talents, she finds love then heart break but through it all she wants her daughter to be free. She refuses to believe that her new owner Governor Yant will keep any of his promises and instead bargains with the God of Fire, Shango to grant her, her heart’s desire in exchange for her very soul ... but SouCou’s rage is so powerful that she does not die, ...

What if the local legends were true? What if the whispers from the past never faded? In the quiet corners of New England, where history holds a grudge, some stories are best left untold. From a lonely Vermont trail where a mysterious lantern lures hikers to their doom, to a historic Salem house where a 17th-century diary is not a journal but a trap, this collection unearths the terrifying truths behind the region’s most unsettling folklore. Venture to a salt-scoured lighthouse on the coast of Maine where the dead keeper still stands watch, walk the silent grounds of a Harvard graveyard ...

Unravel the Meaning Behind Ancient Native American Myths Long before the written word, Indigenous tribes across North America passed down powerful oral traditions—stories of mighty Thunderbirds, trickster spirits, and dark omens that shaped their understanding of the world. But these myths are more than just stories—they reveal deep spiritual insights, survival wisdom, and the forces that shaped Native cultures. In Native American Myths: Stories & Their Hidden Meanings, explore not only the myths themselves but also the deeper symbolism, history, and impact they have had on Indigenous ...

In the deep hollows where the modern world fades to a whisper, the old ways still hold power. The land is alive, the water holds memories, and ancient things slumber under the hills. For generations, quiet families have served as the keepers of these secrets, their lives bound to a sacred trust. This anthology of ten short stories opens a doorway into this hidden country. Inside, you'll discover: A botanist whose arrogance pits him against a forest with a will of its own. A woman whose gift allows her to hear the ghosts of a creek, a power she must wield to save her valley. A logger whose ...

Native Americans have a long tradition of storytelling. Now, you can easily introduce your children to these rich cultures with a compilation of powerful tales from multiple tribes like the Cheyenne and the Lenape.

The dark gods of my people are back, and they’re hunting the shadow-winged — like me. Being a bush pilot is the third most dangerous job in the world. I’m Piper Tikaani, and I take that in stride. As an Inupiaq Raven Clan shapeshifter—flying is second nature, whether in my supernatural form or tackling the skies in my Super Cub. Strong winds, rugged terrain, and rough clients are all the excitement I need. But when a family friend is found dead on the roof of his wilderness cabin, I find myself caught in a world of hidden treasure and a new, dark reality. Now the people I love hide ...

Explore captivating Native American myths.

Drawing on the expertise of twenty-four renowned practitioners, this book features contemporary folk traditions from all over North America. Diverse as the landscapes they thrive on, these authentic practices will expand your worldview and inspire you to enrich your own spirituality. Explore the history, tools, and spiritual beliefs of many different paths of folk magic from Mexico, the United States, and Canada.