A story and a song: musical stories for children
Episodes
144 episodes
Nyangara the Python
This story comes from the Shona people of Zimbabwe and was collected by a UK storytelling friend and colleague, Helen East in her book 'The Singing Sack'. While Batt-lamb is uncertain about large snakes, this story celebrates the bravery of a g...
The Story of The Kūmara
In this episode, Batt Lamb has the seasonal sniffles. There's nothing like a story to make you feel better, epecially one about the origins of delicious kai. Tanya and Pete share a a pūrākau/a traditional Māori story from Aotearoa/New Zealand, ...
The Corn Mother; The Origin Story of Corn
Bat Lamb notices an empty plate, and Tanya shares with her and the children a sharing song about their favourite foods.Then comes the Story of The Corn Mother from South America all about where the vital and delicious food Corn came from...
Sun's Party!
In this episode of the Batt Cave Bat Lamb helps Tanya write a song about the changing season ... If Bat Lamb can write a song then we all can!!Then Tanya Tells a Nigerian Story about why Sun and Moon are so far away from each other ....
Iddlebright and The Magic Cooking Pot... A Faery Story
A gift of a magic wand led Tanya to remember a faery story that she created more than 30 years ago about a mischevious faery called Iddlebright. See how many old fairytales you can recognize in this porridgey story!
Cap O' Rushes: A Cinderella story
Cap O' Rushes is an English Cinderella variant where our heroine makes her own good fortune through hard work and cleverness! There are over 800 known versions of the Cinderella story told around the world - we hope you enjoy this one!
Molly Whuppie: a Story From Scotland
This Bat Cave starts off with Pete singing a song from the Bat show that Tanya and Pete are touring round NewZealand at the moment.Then Tanya tells the exciting story of Molly Whuppie, a 'Jack in the Beanstalk' variant where Molly and he...
The Unicorn's Wish
In this last story celebrating the New Year of the Fire Horse; Tanya and Pete tell the story of a poor man experiencing hard times who sets out to find something to feed his family with. He meets some difficult choices along the way.
Lakota Horse Origin Story
Continuing the celebration of the horse for the lunar 'fire horse' year, Tanya talks about horses in mythology such as Pegasus, Sleipnir and the horse of power from Russian folktales. Tanya and Pete share a story from the First Nations Lakota p...
Fire Horse Year!
It's the first Batt Cave of the New Year and the Batt Cave Team are Celebrating the coming Chinese New Year of The Fire Horse, beginning on Feb 17th. Batt Lamb is very excited!They also sing two songs. The first is a song to welcome a ne...
Part 2 of The Golden apple story
Fresh from the Batt Cave comes the second and final part of the Hungarian Wonder Tale about the Three Brothers and the Golden Apples.... It's a long one... so Buckle up for adventure!!
Batt Lamb's Twelve Days of Christmas
It's nearly New Year 2026.... and to celebrate the past twelve months, we've adapted the Twelve Days of Christmas, Batt Lamb - style, (with some help from Tanya and Pete) to sing about all the great stories (and songs) we've shared from a...
Two Golden Apple Stories!
For a treat today the Batt Cave has two stories to share about Golden Apples.First Tanya tells Batt Lamb all about the Ancient Greek story of Paris and the Golden Apple... of Gods and choices and all that great mythical stuff.Then...
King Midas and the Golden Touch
Tanya tells Batt lamb the classic story of King Midas who's dreams come true when the Gods grant him one wish
The Leprechaun's Pot of Gold
Pete has reached a golden milestone in November, turning 65! To celebrate, we've put together a collection of 'golden stories' to share. The first one is is from Ireland, and is aboutt a Leprechaun and his legendary pot of gold. Batt-lamb wonde...
The Pumpkin Wife
This traditional story comes from the Lotha Naga people who originate from North East India. A gentle but lonley farmer finds an exceptionally large pumpkin growing in his garden. While the other villagers are suspicious, the farmer lavis...
A Talking Vine, a Smiling Apple and a Singing Ringing Pear
Continuing with the theme of springtime in the Garden; Tanya and the Batt Crew tell a delightful musical story of a King who wants to give a gift to his three Daughters. The youngest asks for a Talking vine, a Smiling Apple and a Singing Ringin...
Pollinator Power Action Song
It's Halloween again and here in New Zealand it's springtime and that means lots of busy bees and other pollinators out and about pollinating all the flowers and plants in the garden.Tanya has lots of pumpkin seedlings to give away and w...
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Continuing The epic European adventure Our Heroes briefly pass through Norway on their way to Shetland.This is a re-telling of the Classic Norwegian story : The Three Billygoats Gruff...told with verve and panache by BattLamb and Tanya.....
The Seals/Selkies of the Vee Skerries & Papa Stour
During their big adventure, Tanya, Pete and Batt lamb were lucky enough to visit Papa Stour, one of the most westerly isles of the Shetland Islands.One of the old stories connected to Papa Stour is about a fisherman who gets strand...
Cuckoo Song and The Crow Who Stole the Seeds
At long last, Pete, Tanya and Batt Lamb are back from their epic adventure, with new stories and songs to share - this month the stories are from Thailand, Shetland and Norway.In celebration of spring, this episode begings with a Cuckoo ...
Hare brings Light - a midwinter story from Siberia
In the second half of the Batt-Cave from Sweden where the days are long and full of light, Tanya, Pete and Batt-lamb share a story from Siberia about how hare brought light to a very dark world - a story for those experiencing the souther...
Salt on a Magpie's Tail - a special podcast from Sweden
Tanya, Pete and Batt-lamb continue on their world storytelling adventure and are joined in Sweden by Greger (and Lena) who are long time fans of the Batt- Cave. This story is musical remake of a traditional Swedish folktale about making your wi...
Happy Just Where They Are - a story with Xanthe Gresham Knight
This episode was recorded in Sutri, Italy with the wonderful UK storyteller Xanthe Gresham - Knight. (Tanya and Xanthe were on their way to FEST - the Federation of European Storytellers Conference).Batt-lamb is thrilled to help Xanthe t...