Everyone loves a good fairy tale! Below is our favorite fairy tale collection of stories from around the world! Learn about the popular stories from other countries that all have common morals that span across cultures. From modern fairy tales to classic, popular fairy tales, the list has something for all those who love folklore and fairy tales to enjoy!
1. Tales of the East Africa By Jamilla Okubo
This book is a collection of East African folktales. It includes 22 Kenyan, Ugandan, and Tanzanian folktales with gorgeous illustrations that help bring the stories to life. You will learn important lessons, as well as some East African humor throughout these tales!
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2. Lon Po Po by Ed Young
If you are looking for a Chinese folktale, this book is perfect! Lon Po Po tells the classic folktale of Red Riding Hood, but with an ancient folktale, Chinese spin. It is a beloved and popular title that is sure to please.
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3. The Talking Eggs by Robert D. San Suci
This book is a North American folktale from the south. The Creole tale, tells of two sisters - one good and one bad. The kind sister, Blanche helps an old woman who turns out to be magical. With humorous content and fun images, it is a great read for teaching about the power of kindness.
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4. Rainbow Bird by Eric Maddern
A delightful children's book that comes from the Aborigines, the indigenous people, in Australia. The story is about the creation of firewood. A greedy crocodile is the only one who has fire and refuses to share it. Bird Woman feels awful about this and decides to take action. She steals its fire and hides it in the trees - that is why all can burn dry wood to make fire.
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5. When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
If you enjoy Eastern folktales, then this Korean story is one for your collection. Lily goes on an adventure to help her grandmother who is ill. You see, a long time ago her gran stole something from the Tigers...and they want it back.
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6. The Wolf's Crops by Forest Davidson
An Arabic folktale that comes from Egypt, it tells the story of long ago...when animals used to not eat one another. There was a lazy wolf who didn't want to farm her crops anymore, so she tried to trick a hard-working mouse to do it. Mouse took the job, but had other plans...a trick too.
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7. The Dancing Turtle by Pleasant DeSpain
This story is told throughout much of South America but originates from Brazil. It tells the story of a flute-loving turtle. However, his music brings attention to a hunter who wants to use him to make soup. A story of wit and wisdom with colorful, wonderful illustrations of rainforest animals.
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8. Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
The book is a retelling of the original version, a European fairy tale that comes from France. It tells of some clever trickery that gets the people of a town to make soup. It teaches an important message about sharing.
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9. The Wonderful Tea kettle by Mrs. TH James
A Japanese folktale filled with silliness and fun! It tells an amazing fairy tale of a magic kettle that turns into a badger. The badger asks the owner to just be kind to him and feed him rice. In return, the kettle helps to make the poor man wealthy.
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10. Strega Nona by Tomie DePaolo
A popular and classic fairy tale from Italy, Strega Nona is a forest witch who helps out locals with their problems. In this book, Big Anthony comes to watch Strega Nona's house while she goes away. He tries to do magic on her pasta pot and causes a disaster!
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11. The Wild Swans by Hans Christen Andersen
The writer of this book is a very famous author. The Wild Swans is written by a Danish author who has also written many other popular children's tales. While this story is lesser-known, he tells a wonderful story of family, love, and selflessness.
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12. Pattan's Pumpkin by Chitra Soundar
Indian folktale that tells the beautiful legend of the flood myth of the Irula Indigenous people of south India. The farmer cares for a sick plant that grows into a huge pumpkin! When the flood rains come, his family and animals are able to seek refuge in the hollow of the pumpkin and float to safety.
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13. Grim's Fairy Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Written by the famous German authors, Brothers Grimm, these are not your ordinary happy, and beautiful fairy tales. While millions of people enjoy this collection of fairy tales, and they teach us important morals, they are not the romanticized version we are used to, but a great read!
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14. The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra by Marc Tyler Noblemen
A funny American folktale made for children about the legendary monster, Chupacabra! Chupacabra LOVES to eat goats and three goats' siblings are tired of being scared, so they go on a mission to scare the monster!
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15. Baga Yaga the Flying Witch by Susanna Davidson
Looking for a story about a frightening witch? This Russian folk tale is about a scary flying witch, Baga Yaga. A little girl is sent by her awful stepmom to go visit her, with very few supplies to survive and ecsape Baba.
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16. Little Mangy One by Forest Davidson
A Lebanese folk takes that tells about a fictional hero, who was told she could never be more than a little goat. But she doesn't listen to what others tell her and goes on to save her family!
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17. Why is the Sky Far Away? by Mary-Joan Gerson
The folktale that comes from Nigeria explains to children why the sky is so far away. A long time ago, the sky was close, but people kept being greedy and taking pieces of it.
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18. Tim O'Toole and the Wee Folk by Gerland McDermott
An Irish tale that tells of a poor man, Tim O'Toole, who goes out to look for work. Along the way, he meets a bunch of leprechauns who help him create a fortune. Until he gets outsmarted by his neighbors, the McGoons...
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19. The Orphan by Anthony Manna
This is a Greek tale that is similar to Cinderella. Rather than a fairy god mom, she has nature, which gives her blessings. When a prince comes to visit, he only has eyes for the orphan, but her greedy stepfamily would not like that...
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20. The Knight, the Princess, and the Magic Rock by Sara Azizi
This book is a Persian fairy tale. A prince from ancient times loves a girl from an enemy family and will do anything to be with her. A lovely story about two star-crossed lovers.
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