What happens when a stranger shows up in town with a magical backpack, a small stone and a giant, black pot? It's a lesson in sharing with 'Stone Soup,' the new episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring art by Xee Reiter and music by Francis Poulenc.

Children have delighted in the telling of Clement Moore's classic "A Visit From St. Nicholas" -- with its famous opening line, "'Twas the night before Christmas" -- for nearly 200 years. Now our popular version for YourClassical Storytime includes charming illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

Go on a magical adventure with a girl named Clara as she is whisked away by a nutcracker prince to the Kingdom of Sweets. Give the gift of classical music by sharing this classic tale ? and Tchaikovsky's unforgettable melodies ? with your little ones this holiday season.

'Run, run as fast as you can! You can't catch me. I'm the Gingerbread Man!' Who can catch this speedy pastry? Find out in 'The Gingerbread Man.' It's the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, with music by Johannes Brahms and illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

What happens when a stranger shows up in town with a magical backpack, a small stone and a giant, black pot? It's a lesson in sharing with 'Stone Soup,' the new episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring art by Xee Reiter and music by Francis Poulenc.

What happens when an impatient young apprentice tries to cast his own magic spells for the first time? It's a water catastrophe! Find out how his adventure unfolds in 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice,' the latest installment of YourClassical Storytime, featuring illustrations by acclaimed children's author Nancy Carlson.

Four friends -- a violin, viola, cello and bass -- are nervous about meeting their new owners. Will the young musicians learn to play properly and treat their string instruments with care? Find out in 'KinderLute,' the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and illustrations by Eusebius Williams.

The first day of school can be overwhelming with new friends, new places and new experiences. Especially, if you are a very special kitty. Enjoy the latest YourClassical Storytime episode 'Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten,' by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata.

Click the player above or YouTube video below to listen, or download the story to your own device for easy playback at any time.

What happens when an old man discovers a love for singing after a magical flying boat takes him on a journey of self-discovery? See what musical surprises await in the latest YourClassical Storytime episode, Old Nasuk and the Flying Song, an Inuit folk tale that features traditional Inuit throat singing and enchanting music by Claude Debussy, with John Nasukaluk Clare as the guest storyteller and original art by Xee Reiter!(See more of her illustrations in the gallery.)

YourClassical Storytime is supported by Minnesota College Savings Plan.

More: Other YourClassical Storytime adventures

Educators: YourClassical Storytime meets Common Core Standards

Available in major podcast portals!

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Our telling of Old Nasuk and the Flying Song includes excerpts from the following work:

Claude Debussy:

Images for Orchestra: No. 1 Gigues
Jun Markl, conductor
Lyon National Orchestra

Nocturnes (Nuages, Fêtes, Sirenes)
Ernest Ansermet, conductor
Suisse Romande Orchestra

Courtesy of Naxos of America Inc.

Jean Oqhena / Frank Kuptana

?Three connected songs?

?The song floats up within me?

Courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways

Donald James Ross

Throat Singing

Credits

Storyteller: John Nasukaluk Clare

Adaptation: Valerie Kahler

Illustrations: Xee Reiter

Producer: Valerie Kahler

Digital producer: Jeffrey Yelverton

Senior digital producer: Randy Salas

Program director: Julie Amacher

Gallery Xee Reiter YourClassical Storytime - Old Nasuk and the Flying Song Xee Reiter Old Nasuk did not like singing. Xee Reiter When he heard music, he would leave as fast as he could. Xee Reiter While hunting, he noticed some singing coming from the river. Xee Reiter The ship began to fly! Xee Reiter They tied his canoe to the boat. Xee Reiter Nasuk and the singers followed the river. Xee Reiter Nasuk forgot the flying song. Xee Reiter Nasuk returns to his village.

Click the player above or YouTube video below to listen, or download the story to your own device for easy playback at any time.

What happens when three Billy Goats Gruff run out of food to munch on their mountainside? Will they dare go up against the evil troll, who's blocking the way to a field filled with delicious green grass and sweet clover? See what musical surprises await in the YourClassical Storytime episode The Three Billy Goats Gruff, featuring music from Bedrich Smetana and art by Nancy Carlson! (See more of her illustrations in the gallery.)

YourClassical Storytime is supported by Minnesota College Savings Plan.

More: Other YourClassical Storytime adventures

Educators: YourClassical Storytime meets Common Core Standards

Available in major podcast portals!

YouTube Watch now Playlist

Our telling of The Three Billy Goats Gruff includes excerpts from the following work:

Bedrich Smetana: Ma Vlast
Antoni Wit, conductor
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra

Courtesy of Naxos of America Inc.

Credits

Storyteller: Scott Blankenship (with Steve Seel)

Story: Steve Seel

Illustrations: Nancy Carlson

Producer: Steve Seel

Digital producer: Jeffrey Yelverton

Social media producer: Brooke Knoll

Senior digital producer: Randy Salas

Program director: Julie Amacher

Gallery Nancy Carlson for MPR YourClassical Storytime - The Three Billy Goats Gruff Nancy Carlson for MPR The three Billy Goats Gruff - small, medium and large! Nancy Carlson for MPR The Billy Goats Gruff graze on the mountain. Nancy Carlson for MPR The brothers have run out of plants to eat. Nancy Carlson for MPR The lush valley below is full of food to eat. Nancy Carlson for MPR The biggest Billy Goat warns the others of a troll down in the valley. Nancy Carlson for MPR The smallest Billy Goat isn't afraid of the troll. Nancy Carlson for MPR The smallest Billy Goat sneaks down to the valley alone. Nancy Carlson for MPR He stops when he comes to the bridge the troll lives under. Nancy Carlson for MPR The troll doesn't like to be bothered. Nancy Carlson for MPR The troll grabs the smallest Billy Goat to eat. Nancy Carlson for MPR The troll lets the smallest Billy Goat pass. Nancy Carlson for MPR The medium Billy Goat Gruff meets the troll on the bridge. Nancy Carlson for MPR The troll snatches the medium Billy Goat by the horns. Nancy Carlson for MPR The troll allows the medium Billy Goat to pass. Nancy Carlson for MPR The troll is startled by another goat crossing his bridge. Nancy Carlson for MPR The troll and the biggest Billy Goat Gruff clash on the bridge. Nancy Carlson for MPR The biggest Billy Goat tosses the troll into the river below. Nancy Carlson for MPR The three Billy Goats Gruff graze happily ever after.

Are you ready for the cutest dog ever? See what musical surprises await in 'Old Mother Hubbard' -- the new episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring art by Nancy Carlson!

Why does the king throw every person that cuts his hair into jail? What is he hiding? Find out in 'The King with Donkey Ears.' It's the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, with music by Hamilton Harty and illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

What happens when four musical animals set off an adventure together and stumble upon a gang of thieves? Find out in the hilarious tale 'The Bremen Town Musicians.' It's the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, with music by Rimsky-Korsakov, Mendelssohn and Rossini, and illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

A vain emperor gets more than he bargained for when two weavers promise to make him a suit with special powers. What happens when he puts it on? Find out in 'The Emperor's New Clothes,' an episode of YourClassical Storytime for the new year!

Harriet ends up with quite a haul after she goes trick-or-treating. But what will she do with all of those sweets? Find out in 'Harriet's Halloween Candy,' the new episode of YourClassical Storytime, with a story and art by Nancy Carlson and music by Augusta Holmes.

What happens when a magical girl comes face to face with a cunning tiger in her quiet village? Find out in the Hmong folk tale 'Yer and the Tiger,' the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring traditional music, narration by Ka Vang and illustrations by Xee Reiter.

Do you know how the smooth-backed camel who said nothing but "Humph!" got its hump? Find out in the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring music by Alexander Borodin and original illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

Do you know what a 'tall tale' is? Well, it's a story that's just a little bit bigger than real life. And here's part of one of the biggest, tallest tales of all time: the story of Paul Bunyan and his best buddy, Babe the Blue Ox. It's the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring narration by MPR News great Gary Eichten, music by Erich Korngold and original illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

Do you like apples? Find out about the real man who loved apples so much that he traveled the country to share the fruit with everyone he met in 'Johnny Appleseed.' It's the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring music from Dvorak's 'New World Symphony' and original illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

What happens when a quiet boy named Ronan attends an orchestra concert for the first time? Find out in Todd Boss' amazing story, based on a real event that rocked the classical music world. It's 'The Boy Who Said Wow,' the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring music by Mozart and original illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

Where does your food come from? Farmers, of course! Hear a famous poem about the hard work of growing food in 'A Farmer's Tale,' the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring traditional Chinese folk tunes and original illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

Once upon a time, in Ireland, there lived a 'gloomery' little girl named Nora. Restoring her smile would take a magical adventure and the intervention of woodland fairies. Listen to the Irish folk tale 'Nora Mavourneen and the Fairy Queen,' the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring Irish music plus original illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

Harriet loves ballet class, but when her teacher announces a recital, she comes down with a bad case of stage fright. Will Harriet overcome her fears before the big performance? Find out in "Harriet's Recital," the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring an original story and illustrations by Nancy Carlson and music by Tchaikovsky.

Welcome to YourClassical Storytime! Today's story is all about a young woman who has many names all around the world, but you probably know her best as Cinderella. Our classical version is based on Rossini's famous opera and features illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

Once upon a time, a brother and sister named Hansel and Gretel were abandoned deep in the forest. They were taken in by a wicked witch, who planned to cook the children for dinner. Find out what happened next in 'Hansel and Gretel,' the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring music by Engelbert Humperdinck and Richard Strauss, with original illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

There once was a hare who loved to brag about his speed. The hare also loved to tease other animals, until one day, when the slowest animal in the forest challenged him to a race. Who won? Find out in 'The Tortoise and the Hare,' the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring music by Alexander Borodin and original illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

Casey steps up to the plate for the Mudville Nine, but can he save the day for the woeful baseball team? Find out what happens in 'Casey at the Bat,' the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring Americana classical music and original illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

Disney pitched 'Beauty and the Beast' as a 'tale as old as time,' but we're retelling the 18th-century French story with a classical twist as the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime ? featuring music by great French composers and enchanting illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

YourClassical Storytime meets 15 Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Reading, and Literature in grades K-5. The standards offer a focus for instruction each year and help ensure that students gain adequate exposure to a range of texts and tasks.

Once upon a time, there was a happy-go-lucky dog named Apollo. He seemed to have a lot going for himself, but he wanted more -- especially when it came to food. Find out what happened to our greedy pup in 'The Dog and the Bone,' the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring music by Edward Elgar and original illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

Once upon a time, there was a mouse named Minerva who was captured by a lion. He let her go, not realizing that the tiny creature would soon be a big help. 'The Mouse and the Lion' is the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, featuring music by Gustav Mahler and original illustrations by Nancy Carlson.

In the latest episode of YourClassical Storytime, cellist Amit Peled tells the enchanting tale of how he came to play a 300-year-old cello once favored by legendary performer Pablo Casals.

What happens when an adventurous girl discovers a house in the woods owned by bears and filled with classical recordings? Find out in 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears,' the latest installment of YourClassical Storytime -- featuring illustrations by acclaimed children's author Nancy Carlson. Share the power of classical music with your little ones today!

Welcome to the latest installment of YourClassical Storytime, classic stories with a classical music twist. Today we share our version of 'The Three Little Pigs.' Listen or download now to find out what happens when our favorite piglets venture out on their own.

You might know 'The Little Mermaid' as a Walt Disney movie, but the story is much older than that. And classical composers have been fascinated by the tale, too. Hear how our version goes in the latest production of YourClassical Storytime -- classic tales with a classical twist.