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.

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.

In the tradition of Calvino’s Italian Folktales, Greg Sarris, author of the award-winning novel Grand Avenue, turns his attention to his ancestral homeland of Sonoma Mountain in Northern California. In 16 interconnected original stories, the twin crows Question Woman and Answer Woman take us through a world unlike yet oddly reminiscent of our own: one that blooms bright with poppies, lupines, and clover; one in which Water Bug kidnaps an entire creek; in which songs have the power to enchant; in which Rain is a beautiful woman who keeps people’s memories in stones.

Troy Turner is a writer living in a secluded cabin in the Rocky Mountains. He believes his new home in the peaceful valley, miles away from the busy resort town of Hawthorn, is the perfect setting for his work. When two of Troy's closest friends join him on a hunting trip, they are caught in an unexpected snowstorm. Eager to reach the safety of the cabin, they are suddenly and viciously attacked by a terrifying creature they never believed existed. Separated from his friends and badly injured, Troy tries to leave the mountain to seek help. The winter storm made the drive down the mountain ...

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.

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.

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.

In Hear My Sad Story, Richard Polenberg describes the historical events that led to the writing of many famous American folk songs that served as touchstones for generations of American musicians, lyricists, and folklorists. Those events, which took place from the early 19th to the mid-20th centuries, often involved tragic occurrences: murders, sometimes resulting from love affairs gone wrong; desperate acts born out of poverty and unbearable working conditions.

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.

Jackson and Dustin have faced horrors together that would break lesser men, saving each other’s lives more times than they can count. Their bond, forged in blood and fear, is unshakable. When Jackson’s girlfriend, Doli, vanishes during a visit to Black Mesa, he knows he needs Dustin’s help. Rumor has it that a skinwalker—a creature of legend and nightmares—has taken her. Even though Dustin’s wife, Ash, is eight months pregnant, he leaves her in the care of Lux and his mother to stand by Jackson’s side once again. Ben, grateful to Jackson for saving Lux’s life back in ...

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 ...

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.

A mix of memoir, spiritual teachings, and practices from Afro American traditions, Jambalaya offers a fascinating introduction to the world of nature-based spirituality, goddess worship, and rituals from the African diaspora. More relevant today than it was 36 years ago, the wisdom of Jambalaya reconnects us to the natural and spiritual world, and the centuries-old traditions of African ancestors, whose voices echo through time, guiding us and blending with our own.

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 ...

Deep within the cold, primordial forest and the Algonquin people's consciousness lives the Wendigo: a towering, emaciated being with translucent skin draped over its skeletal frame like a veil of mortality. Its hollow eyes gleam like fiery coals, emanating a malevolent crimson glow that mirrors its unquenchable craving for human flesh. An extraterrestrial shifter, stranded on our planet millennia ago, assumes the forms of not only humans but also hideous creatures in order to survive. The story of the Wendigo spans millennia, entwining native folklore with modern-day mysteries.

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.

They said it was a bear. They said it was the wind. But from the Pacific Northwest to the swamps of the South, hundreds have whispered another name… Bigfoot. Bigfoot Unleashed dives into America’s most chilling and violent sightings, compiling real encounters, shocking local legends, and brutal face-to-face experiences from deep in the woods. Some survived. Others… disappeared without a trace. Are they hoaxes? Hallucinations? Or something ancient that never left? Read the evidence. Hear the screams. Decide for yourself.

Dunbar-Ortiz adroitly challenges the founding myth of the United States and shows how policy against the Indigenous peoples was colonialist and designed to seize the territories of the original inhabitants, displacing or eliminating them. And as Dunbar-Ortiz reveals, this policy was praised in popular culture, through writers like James Fenimore Cooper and Walt Whitman, and in the highest offices of government and the military.

Join Christopher Fee, co-editor of An Encyclopedia of American Myth, Legend, and Folklore, for an entertaining and revealing look at our nation’s folkloric imagination. In this compelling 24-lecture audio series, you’ll meet figures such as Daniel Boone and John Henry, and learn the stories of characters such as Water Jar Boy and the Woodcutter and the Fairy. Specters also abound, and you’ll encounter frightening figures ranging from the Headless Horseman to La Llorona.

Explore captivating Native American myths.