70 Fables and Folktales from Around the World

Below I have gathered a round up of fantastic picture books to use to expose your child to some wonderful legends, myths, and other folktales from around the world!

It’s always exciting to read a folktale around the world when you are studying a particular country.

My suggestion is to first head to your local library to find these folktales around the world before you purchase any of these gems. Also, you can find a few folktales online. 

I absolutely love when my students complete a notebook page with this free folktale graphic organizer. It makes them really think deep about the folktale or fable and how it relates to them.

I also have these free reading genre posters hanging up in my classroom. They are perfect for homeschoolers, too.

Asia

• The Lost Horse: A Chinese Folktale by Ed Young
• Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
• Judge Rabbit and the Tree Spirit by Lina Mao Wall
• The Drum: A Folktale from India by Rob Cleveland
• The Jade Stone: A Chinese Folktale by Caryn Yacowitz
• The Green Frogs: A Korean Folktale by Yumi Heo
• How the Tiger Got His Stripes: A Folktale from Vietnam by Rob Cleveland
• The Archer and the Sun by Rob Cleveland
• The Five Chinese Brothers by Claire Huchet Bishop
• Grandma and the Great Gourd by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Africa

• Why the Sky is Far Away: A Nigerian Folktale by Mary-Joan Gerson
• Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky by Elphinstone Dayrell
• Koi and the Kola Nuts by Verna Aardema
• Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears by Verna Aardema
• Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa by Gerald McDermott
• Anansi and the Talking Melon by Eric A. Kimmel
• The Well of Truth: A Folktale from Egypt by Martha Hamilton
• Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe
• How the Zebra Got His Stripes by Cari Mostert
• The Heart of a Friendship: An East African Folktale by H. Arrington

Australia/Oceania

• Rainbow Bird: An Aboriginal Folktale from Northern Australia by Eric Maddern
• The Biggest Frog in Australia by Susan Roth
• What Made Tiddalik Laugh by Joanna Troughton
• Galah and Oolah: An Australian Folktale by Anastasia Suen
• The Sun and the Kookaburra: An Aboriginal Folktale from Australia by Jan Mike
• The Flower Seekers: An Australian Aboriginal Folktale by Kwan Shan Mei
• Whale’s Canoe: A Folktale from Australia by Joanna Troughton
• Why Koala Has a Stumpy Tail by Martha Hamilton
• The Bunyip: A Folktale from Australia by Steve Osborn
• How the Turtle Got Its Shell by Jeffrey Lee

Europe

• Fat Cat: A Danish Folktale by Margaret Reed MacDonald
• The Old Woman Who Lived in a Vinegar Bottle by Margaret Reed MacDonald
• The Man Who Kept His Heart in a Bucket by Sonia Levitin
• The Snow Child: A Russian Folktale by Freya Littledale
• Mr. Semolina-Semolinus: A Greek Folktale by Anthony L. Manna
• The Beautiful Butterfly: A Folktale from Spain by Judy Sierra
• Three Perfect Peaches: A French Folktale by Cynthia C. DeFelice
• The Parrot: An Italian Folktale by Raffaella Gal
• Prince of the Stable: A Hungarian Legend by Christopher Keane
• Baba Yaga: A Russian Folktale by Eric A. Kimmel

North America

• The Jack Tales:Folktales from the Southern Appalachian by Richard Chase
• The Talking Eggs by Robert D. San Souci
• How the Stars Fell into the Sky: A Navajo Legend by Jerrie Oughton
• Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest by Gerald McDermott
• The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble
• Pecos Bill by Steven Kellogg
• The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie dePaola
• Antelope Woman: An Apache Folktale by Michael Lacapa
• The Magic Hummingbird: A Hopi Folktale by Michael Lomatuway’ma
• John Henry by Julius Lester

South America

• The Dancing Turtle: A Folktale from Brazil by Pleasant DeSpain
• The Llama’s Secret: A Peruvian Legend by Palacios
• How Night Came from the Sea: A Story from Brazil by Mary Joan Gerson
• The Monkey’s Whiskers: A Brazilian Folktale by Anne Rockwell
• Chancay and the Secret of Fire: A Peruvian Folktale by Charles Donald
• Moon Rope by Lois Ehlert
• The Fox in the Moon by Franciso X. Mora
• Mariana and the Merchild: A Folktale from Chile by Caroline Pitcher
• The Search for the Magic Lake: A Folktale from Ecuador by Donna Perrone
• James the Vine Puller: A Brazilian Folktale by Martha Bennett Stiles

The Artic/Antarctic

• Kumak’s Fish: A Tale from the Far North
• The Polar Bear Son: An Inuit Tale by Lydia Dabcovich
• Aurora: A Tale of the Northern Lights by Mindy Dwyer
• The Eye of the Needle: Based on a Yupik Tale by Betty Huffmon
• Raven Brings the Light: An Inuit Folktale by Kim Howard
• The Giant Bear: An Inuit Folktale by Jose Angutingunrik
• The Dancing Fox by John Bierhorst
• The Seal Oil Lamp by Dale de Armond
• Berry Magic by Teri Sloat
• The Salmon Princess by Mindy Dwyer

What’s your favorite folktale from around the world?

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Dusty

Dusty is a stay at home, homeschooling mother of four and has been married to the love of her life, a Southern gentleman, for 8 years. She is trying to find her own path in this great wide world while devouring chocolate and leaning on the Lord. She blogs about homeschooling, homemaking, motherhood and faith at To the Moon and Back.

@Dustybug

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