The Simurgh and the Boy Zal
زال و سیمرغ
In The Simurgh and the Boy Zal, a boy with silver hair is raised by the great Simurgh after being abandoned by his father, ultimately learning to ask for help.
Source: Ferdowsi, Shahnameh, c. 1010
Listen to Destino
Instructions, three tour demos and a bedtime tale in English. Choose a recording and voice.
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Stories your child can hear
Rostam Chooses Rakhsh
رستم و رخش
In Rostam Chooses Rakhsh, a young hero patiently earns the trust of a wild horse named Rakhsh, forming a lifelong friendship.
Source: Ferdowsi, Shahnameh, c. 1010
The Birds Seek the Simurgh
منطقالطیر
The Birds Seek the Simurgh tells of birds embarking on a journey to find a king, discovering that their quest leads them to realize their own strength.
Source: Farid ud-Din Attar, Mantiq ut-Tayr, c. 1177
Shangul, Mangul and the Wolf
شنگول و منگول
In Shangul, Mangul and the Wolf, clever kids outsmart a wolf by recognizing his voice and paws, learning to be cautious of appearances.
The Rolling Pumpkin
کدو قلقلهزن
The Rolling Pumpkin features a clever grandmother who rolls to her granddaughter's house in a pumpkin to avoid hungry animals.
Moon-Brow
ماهپیشانی
Moon-Brow follows a girl who, after helping an old woman, is rewarded with a glowing forehead, showcasing the value of kindness.
Auntie Beetle
خاله سوسکه
Auntie Beetle tells the story of a tiny beetle who seeks a friend, choosing wisely based on how others might react in conflict.
Jamshid and the First Nowruz
نوروز
Jamshid and the First Nowruz depicts a king who teaches people to celebrate the arrival of spring, marking the beginning of the Nowruz festival.
Source: Ferdowsi, Shahnameh, c. 1010
Little Sparrow Ashi-Mashi
گنجشکک اشی مشی
Little Sparrow Ashi-Mashi shows a tiny sparrow seeking help from friends to free his tail from a thorny bush, emphasizing the importance of community.
Half-a-Boy
نیمتنک
Half-a-Boy is about a small boy who proves his worth through cleverness and bravery, showing that size doesn't determine capability.
Source: D. L. R. Lorimer, Persian Tales, 1919
Persian folktales for kids: the Simurgh, a grandmother in a pumpkin and half a boy
Persian storytelling is not only the Shahnameh with the hero Rostam and the great bird Simurgh. Beside the epic live very homely tales: a goat who tells her kids not to open the door, a grandmother who travels to her granddaughter hidden inside a pumpkin, a tiny Auntie Beetle looking for a home and a friend. A promise matters here, and a hero can be the size of half a boy — and still turn out the cleverest of all. Nowruz, the spring festival, comes from these same stories.
What your child can listen to, by age
- From birth: “Little Sparrow Ashi-Mashi” — a short tale with a song and a happy ending.
- From age 3: “Shangul, Mangul and the Wolf”, “The Rolling Pumpkin”, “Auntie Beetle” and “Jamshid and the First Nowruz” — clear characters, one twist, one plain idea.
- From age 6: “The Simurgh and the Boy Zal”, “Rostam Chooses Rakhsh”, “The Birds Seek the Simurgh”, “Moon-Brow” and “Half-a-Boy” — long roads, trials and choices.
What you won't find
Every story is written fresh for your child's age rather than read as-is from an old collection: the length, the complexity of the plot and the vocabulary all change. Frightening details are left out, and the ending brings calm — this is a bedtime story, not an epic. The plots are documented, not invented.
The story is told in English, by a ready-made voice or by mum's, dad's or grandma's own: a 20–40-second recording made in the app is enough, and that voice will read new stories even when a parent is away. The hero can carry your child's name, the length is 3, 5 or 10 minutes, and any story you've created can be replayed as often as you like without using your balance.
What children discover about this culture
- Discover the importance of friendship in Rostam Chooses Rakhsh.
- Understand the value of perseverance in The Birds Seek the Simurgh.
- Explore cleverness and caution in Shangul, Mangul and the Wolf.
- Learn about kindness and reward in Moon-Brow.
🌍 Three independent choices for your family
When living abroad, families can choose an interface language, narration language, and plot culture independently. For instance, a family abroad can maintain their home language while introducing their child to Persian traditions through stories. This approach supports cultural continuity without the expectation of language learning.
How it works
1. Record Your Voice
Capture a 20–40 second voice sample to create a personalized AI voice.
2. Select Story Preferences
Choose the culture, age, and story duration that best suits your child.
3. Enjoy and Replay
Listen to the narrated stories and replay them without using your balance whenever you want.
Enchanting tales from ancient Persia for your little ones.
Create a storyQuestions and answers
What age is this suitable for?
The stories cater to various age groups, with options for ages 0-2, 3-5, and 6-8.
Is there a cost for replaying stories?
The first story doesn't use your balance. Each later new story uses balance minutes, while replaying an existing story doesn't use your balance.
Are the stories based on documented plots?
Yes, the stories are based on well-known Persian tales that have been cherished for generations.
Can I choose different languages?
Yes, you can select an interface language, narration language, and plot culture independently.
How does pricing work?
The first story doesn't use your balance. Every later new story uses minutes, while replaying an existing story does not.
🗣 On a trip, Destino becomes a live guide
Destino does more than tell bedtime stories. When you travel with your child, the same voice walks the city with you. It is not a recording but a conversation: ask what that building is, ask for the short version, cut in mid-sentence — it answers right away. The whole family or group can listen and talk at the same time.
Your first conversation doesn't use minutes, and the balance is shared with the stories.
Try the live guide