Around the World in Stories: A Child’s Journey Through Global Wonders

In Japan, some peaches are so perfect, they're sold in special boxes for over one hundred dollars. I remember hearing this story when I was traveling through Okayama, a place famous for its peaches. An old woman was washing her clothes in a cool, clear river. Her husband was up in the hills, gathering firewood. Suddenly, she saw something incredible. Floating down the river was a peach. But this wasn't just any peach. It was ENORMOUS. As big as a watermelon! She pulled it from the water, and together, she and her husband decided to open it for dinner.

But when they did... a baby boy popped out! They named him Momotaro, which means Peach Boy. He grew up faster and stronger than any other child in the village. He was kind, and he was very, very brave. One day, travelers came to the village with terrible news. Ogres—called Oni—were raiding the coast from their island fortress. They were stealing treasure and scaring everyone. Momotaro stood up. "I will go fight the Oni," he said. His parents were worried. But they were also proud. His mother packed him a special lunch.

Not just rice balls, but something even better: kibi dango. Sweet, chewy millet dumplings. "These will give you strength," she said. So Momotaro set off. Soon, he met a scruffy dog. "Woof! Where are you going, Momotaro?" the dog barked. "To fight the Oni!" said Momotaro. "Give me one of your dumplings, and I'll come with you!" Momotaro smiled and shared one. A little while later, a clever monkey swung down from a tree. "Ooh! Ooh! What's in the bag?" chattered the monkey. "Kibi dango," said Momotaro.

"And I'm going to Onigashima, the Island of Ogres." The monkey's eyes went wide. "Share one with me, and my cleverness is yours!" So Momotaro gave him a dumpling. Finally, a beautiful pheasant flew down. "Momotaro! Your quest is noble. A dumpling, please, and my sharp eyes will guide you from the sky!" With his three new friends, Momotaro sailed across the sea. Soon, they saw it. Onigashima. A dark island with a huge, black castle. The gates were shut tight. Inside, they could hear the booming laughter of the Oni.

The dog whimpered. The monkey shivered. How could they possibly get in? But Momotaro had a plan. "Pheasant," he said, "fly over the wall and surprise them from above." "Monkey, you are a great climber. Go over the wall and open the gate from the inside." "And Dog," he said, patting his friend's head, "you and I will charge right through the gate when it opens!" It worked perfectly! The pheasant swooped down, pecking and flapping. The monkey scrambled over the wall and, with a mighty heave, unlatched the giant gate.

And Momotaro and the dog rushed in, shouting! The Oni were so surprised, they dropped their food and stumbled over each other. They had never faced a team so brave. The chief Oni, a giant with a red face and a huge club, saw the boy, the dog, the monkey, and the pheasant, all fighting as one. He bowed his head. "We surrender!" he roared. Momotaro made him promise to return all the stolen treasure and never bother anyone again. They sailed home not just with gold and jewels, but with something far more valuable.

A story to tell. A story that proves the greatest strength isn't in your fists, but in the friends you gather along the way... and maybe, in the snacks you're willing to share.