Walton Burns

How Babik Cheated Death Walton Burns

This humorous Romani folk tale, adapted for beginner readers, tells the story of Babik, a clever man who uses his wits to trick Death, trap the Devil, and outsmart the angels!

Illustrations, large font-size, and minimal text on each page make it easy for language learners and young readers to improve reading skills. There is also an introduction to Romani culture (and why the word "gypsy" is a slur), comprehension and discussion questions, a map of the Romani diaspora, and a link to a simple article on the country, with a prompt to research and present on the culture.

The World Folktales Graded Readers bring stories from around the world into the ESL classroom. Traditional tales interest people of all ages who love folk stories, as well as learning and sharing wisdom from around the world. Inspire students to share stories from their own culture as they improve reading speed and fluency!