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?