Childsplay International (CPI) publishes a global for children storytelling book for children! Foreword by Andrea Davis Pinkney, New York Times bestselling author.
Lions, Dolphins, Tricksters, and Lazybones is a global storytelling book for children, created by Childsplay International and its local partners to share the voices and creativity of young people from communities around the world.
This beautifully illustrated collection features tales from Peru, Haiti, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Turkey, Uganda, and the DRC—many of them told to children, and in some cases, by them.
The stories—funny, scary, uplifting, and full of life—were told to children, and in many cases, by them in CPI’s storytelling programs. Rich with imagination and cultural insight, they offer a vibrant window into the traditions and hopes of children from around the world.
Through CPI’s storytelling method, children process trauma, celebrate cultural identity, and imagine new possibilities. This book is both a tribute to their creativity and resilience, and an invitation for young readers and listeners everywhere to connect with the world through the transformative power of story.
CPI partners in over a dozen countries have implemented our global storytelling program to support child development. The resulting book is filled with multicultural stories that foster emotional growth, spark curiosity, and introduce children to diverse cultures, countries, and traditions.
New York Times bestselling author and Vice President, Scholastic writes:
“Welcome to the joy and power of storytelling!
Yes, dear reader, prepare yourself. This special gift is yours—to behold, embrace, and share…
A beautiful horizon unfolds on each and every page of this special book.
The Childsplay International mission of illuminating tales and traditions is a gift to all of us who believe deeply in the transformative power of stories…
When stories are passed on, they flourish.
When stories are planted, all of us blossom.
When stories take hold, peace follows.
Dearest reader, our common humanity starts with once upon a world.”
Andrea’s stirring words remind us why storytelling matters—especially for children who face displacement, hardship, or conflict. Her full foreword appears at the beginning of the book and sets the tone for a collection rooted in empathy, imagination, and hope.
Sneak peek inside “Lions, Dolphins, Tricksters and Lazybones “— where children’s drawings speak louder than words.
This global storytelling book features illustrations and stories from kids in places like Zambia, Ghana, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Peru, and many more countries. Every page is a window into their imagination.
100% of proceeds support our storytelling programs for vulnerable children.
Buy a copy today! Link here.
534 W. 112 Street,
P.O.Box 250765
New York, NY 10025
CPI is a nonprofit tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S, Internal Revenue Code.
Registered Charity: EIN 85-0677829
Link to CPI’s Annual Report 2024 here
© 2025 Childsplay International (CPI). All rights reserved. Anyone may distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon any material in this website, in any format, provided that such use is consistent with CPI’s objectives, and provided that it includes the following statement: “This material originates with Childsplay International and its website.”
