Fairy tales, fables, folklore and trickster tales: Elementary--3rd to 5th
This guide lists children's books of fairy tales, fables, folklore, and trickster tales in Cubberley Library.
Elementary--3rd to 5th
A sliver of moon and a shard of truth: stories from India by Chitra Soundar; Uma Krishnaswamy (Ill.)
Publication Date: 2022Ages 6-9; Gr.1-4.
Clever Prince Veera and his best friend, Suku, are back in a vibrant new collection of stories riddled with surprises. When the prince's great uncle, Raja Apoorva, invites the boys to the summer festival in Peetalpur, Prince Veera and Suku are excited to compete in the games. It's no easy feat to make the peahen sing (when peahens can't sing) or defeat the country's champion wrestler, but Raja Apoorva's riddles prove the ultimate test of the boys' wit and wisdom.Kapaemahu by Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu; Dean Hamer; Joe Wilson; Daniel Sousa (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 2022Gr.3-5.
An Indigenous legend about how four extraordinary individuals of dual male and female spirit, or Mahu, brought healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii, based on the Academy Award-contending short film.- !Qhoi n Tjhoi = Skilpad en Volstruis = Tortoise and Ostrich by by Katrina Esau as told to Claudia Snyman ; illustrations by Stanley GrootboomPublication Date: 2021A delightful folk tale from the Northern Karoo, and the very first children's book to feature a story for children, in the N u language. There are only five N u speakers in the world. This tale about Ostrich and Tortoise is written in N u, Afrikaans and English.
Blancaflor: the hero with secret powers: a folktale from Latin America by Nadja Spiegelman; Sergio Garcia Sanchez (Ill.); F. Isabel Campoy (Introduction)
Publication Date: 2021Lexile measure GN540L; Ages 8-12; Gr.3-6.
A Children's Book about finally being seen. Blancaflor, a superb graphic storytelling of a classic Latin American folktale, showcases the invisible labor of women and the contributions of Indigenous cultures.
2016-2020
Tristan Strong destroys the world by Kwame Mbalia
Publication Date: 2020Lexile measure 710; ages 8-12; gr.3-7.
Tristan Strong, just back from a victorious but exhausting adventure in Alke, the land of African American folk heroes and African gods, is suffering from PTSD. But there's no rest for the weary when his grandmother is abducted by a mysterious villain out for revenge. Tristan must return to Alke--and reunite with his loud-mouthed sidekick, Gum Baby--in order to rescue Nana and stop the culprit from creating further devastation.The parrot and the merchant by Marjan Vafaeian (Ill.); Azita Rassi (Translator)
Publication Date: 2019Ages 7-12; Gr.2-6.
Mah Jahan is a rich merchant who travels far and wide to trade her goods, and keeps countless colorful birds in cages. When leaving for India, she promises to bring back gifts for all her servants, and for her favorite talking parrot. All that the parrot requests is for her to go to the jungle, greet his friends and ask if they have any messages for him.Vasilisa the Wise by Kate Forsyth; Lorena Carrington (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PR9619.3 .F59 V37 2019Gr.3-6.
These ancient tales of wonder and adventure are about learning to be strong, brave, kind and true-hearted and trusting in yourself to change the world for the better.Coyote Tales by Thomas King; Byron Eggenschwiler (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PR9199.3 .K4422 C69 2017Lexile measure 570; Ages 8-10.
Two tales, set in a time "when animals and human beings still talked to each other," display Thomas King's cheeky humor and master storytelling skills.The Dragon Slayer: Folktales from Latin America by Jaime Hernandez; Isabel Campoy (Introduction by)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PN6727 .H478 D73 2017Lexile measure 570; Ages 8-10; Gr.4-6.
A collection of three Latin American folktales retold in graphic novel form.Giants, Trolls, Witches, Beasts by Craig Phillips; Carole Wilkinson (Introduction by)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » GR74 .P55 2017Ages 7-9; Gr.2-5.
Diverse myths and legends from around the world, from Iceland to Poland to Japan, retold in easy-to-read glorious full-colour comic book form by a stunning Australian artist with an international reputation.
2011-2015
Chinese Fairy Tale Feasts by Paul Yee (Retold by); Shaoli Wang (Illustrator); Judi Chan (Contribution by); Jane Yolen (Introduction by)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » GR335 .Y44 2015Gr.3-6.
The fairy tales and folklore of China--like stories told throughout the ages everywhere--bring the fantastic world of ghosts and demons into our everyday lives. So it is not surprising that food makes an appearance here--each story is followed by a simple recipe.Vietnamese Children's Favorite Stories by Tran Thi Minh Phuoc; Dong Nguyen (Illustrator); Nguyen Thi Hop (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » GR313 .T655 2015Ages 6-9; Gr.2-4.
This colorfully illustrated multicultural children's book presents Vietnamese fairy tales and other folk stories--providing insight into a rich literary culture. Vietnamese Children's Favorite Stories is a charming collection of fifteen tales as told by prominent storyteller Tran Thi Minh Phuoc.Who Is King? by Beverley Naidoo; Piet Grobler (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » GR350 .N25 2015Ages 7-9; Gr.2-4.
All kinds of animals feature in these ten sparkling stories from all over Africa, by an award-winning author and illustrator. Find out what happens to Lion when he challenges Elephant and discovers who is the real king of the savannah; laugh along with Tortoise as he bewitches the animals in Leopard's work-party with his irresistible music; find out why Hippo has no hair, how Elephant got his trunk, and why Cockerel crows.Jouanah: a Hmong Cinderella by Jewell Reinhart Coburn; Anne Sibley O'Brien (Illustrator); Tzexa Cherta Lee
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » GR308.5 .H67 C63 2014Lexile measure 850; Ages 7-10.
Despite a cruel stepmother's schemes, Jouanah, a young Hmong girl, finds true love and happiness with the aid of her dead mother's spirit and a pair of special sandals.The fox and the crow by Manasi Subramaniam (Adapted by); Culpeo S. Fox (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 2014PrK-gr1.
In this timeless Aesop's fable, a fox and a crow vie for a piece of bread. The crow has it, but can the fox get it?Chinese Fables by Shiho S. Nunes; Lak-Khee Tay-Audouard (Ill.)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PN989 .C5 N86 2013Ages 8-12; Gr.3-6; Aesop Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature, 2014.
For thousands of years, Chinese storytellers have delighted listeners with stories about the value of virtues like honesty, respect, courage and self-reliance.Chinese Fables collects nineteen of these fantastic tales, some of them dating back to the third century BCE, and retells them in contemporary English for a modern audience.Whiskers, tails, and wings : animal folktales from Mexico by Judy Goldman; Fabricio Vandenbroeck (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 2013Lexile measure 930; Ages 7-11; Gr.4-7.
Judy Goldman retells animal folktales from five indigenous groups in Mexico--the Tarahumara, Seri, Huichol, Triqui, and Tseltal. Each story is followed by information about the featured culture, enriching readers' understanding of the diverse peoples who make up Mexico.The knight, the princess & the magic rock : a classic Persian tale by Sara Azizi (Retold by); Alireza Sadeghian (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 2012Lexile measure NC870L; Ages 6-10; Gr.3-5.
Brings to life the story of Bijan, a brave young knight from the ancient land of Persia, and his star-crossed lover, Manijeh, princess of an enemy kingdom.The Arabian nights by Wafa' Tarnowska; Carole Hénaff (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 2011Lexile measure 920; Ages 8 and up; Gr.4-8.
From Lebanese writer Wafa' Tarnowska and Spanish artist Carole Hénaff, this magnificent new edition of The Arabian Nights brings together famous and less familiar tales from A Thousand and One Nights and includes the frame story of Shahrazade and Shahriyar.I Saw a Peacock with a Fiery Tail by Ramsingh Urveti (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PR9499.4 .U78 I83 2011Ages 7 and up; Gr.2 and up.
This 17th century British poem is a form of trick verse. Here, the very design of the book brings clarity to the verse, as whimsical die-cuts in each page reveal the poem's nuanced meaning. Read straightforwardly, the poem sounds interestingly surreal. But if the lines are broken up in the middle, then everything falls into place.The Parade: a stampede of stories about Ananse, the trickster spider by K. P. Kojo; Karen Lilje (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PR6111 .O39 P37 2011Ages 8-11; Gr.3-6.
Here are seven Ananse stories from Ghana pulsating with mischievous animals, a touch of moral message and, peeping out wickedly above them all, Ananse the trickster spider.
2001-2010
- The rabbit in the moon by retold by Indrani Krishanaier ; pictures, Harsha Nagaraju ; translation, Vidhu PurkayasthaPublication Date: 2010Children's story on a herd of elephants and rabbits; based on a story from the Panchatantra, ancient Indian fable.
The frog in the well by Irene Y. Tsai (Retold by); Pattie Caprio (Illustrator); Joyce Lin (Translator)
Publication Date: 2008A frog hops into a shallow well. He likes his life in the well and is content until one day when a sea turtle crawls to the well, the frog invites him to come into the water to play a splashing game. The sea turtle turns down his invitation because he says there is a huge ocean of water waiting to swim in and that would be more fun. The frog is shocked that his wonderful world in the well is considered too small.Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon Hale; Dean Hale; Nathan Hale (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PN6727 .H246 R36 2008Lexile measure GN500L; Ages 10-14; Gr.4-7; Guided reading U
Rapunzel is raised in a grand villa surrounded by towering walls. Rapunzel dreams of a different mother than Gothel, the woman she calls Mother. She climbs over the wall and finds out the truth. Her real mother, Kate, is a slave in Gothel's gold mine. In this Old West retelling, Rapunzel uses her hair as a lasso and to take on outlaws--including Gothel.Glass slipper, gold sandal: a worldwide Cinderella by Paul Fleischman; Julie Paschkis (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 2007Lexile measure 700; Book level 4.4; Ages 4-9; Gr.2-4.
Once upon a time, in Mexico... in Ireland... in Zimbabwe... there lived a girl who worked all day in the rice fields... then spent the night by the hearth, sleeping among the cinders.Her name is Ashpet, Sootface, Cendrillon... Cinderella. Her story has been passed down the centuries and across continents. Now Paul Fleischman and Julie Paschkis craft its many versions into one hymn to the rich variety and the enduring constants of our cultures.The Legend of Hong Kil Dong by Anne Sibley O'Brien
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PN6727 .O27 T36 2006Lexile measure 680; Book level 4.7; Ages 7-12; Gr.4-7.
In this classic tale from early seventeenth-century Korea, Hong Kil Dong, the son of a powerful minister, is not entitled to a birthright because his mother is a commoner. After studying the martial arts, divination, swordplay, the uses of magic, and the wisdom of the I Ching, the Book of Changes, Hong Kil Dong sets off on a quest for his destiny.Solomon and the ant: and other Jewish folktales by Peninnah Schram (Commentaries by, Introduction by); Sheldon Oberman (Retold by)
Publication Date: 2006Book level 6.4; Ages 8 and up
A treasure trove of forty-three religious, wisdom, riddle, and trickster Jewish folktales that have been told near the hearth, at the table, and in the synagogue for centuries. Sheldon Oberman, a master storyteller, retells the tales with simplicity and grace, making them perfect for performing and reading aloud.al-Liftah al-ʻamlāqah = The giant turnip by Henriette Barkow (Adapted by); Richard Johnson (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 2004The children in Miss Honeywood's class grow the most enormous turnip that anyone has ever seen. But how can they pull it out? Tariq suggests using a crane, Kieran a helicopter. Samira suggests using a rope to pull it out. First the boys and then the girls try but the turnip will not move. They all try together but the turnip still will not budge. Can Larry save the day? As seen on CBBC's Tikkabilla.A Wolf at the Door by Ellen Datlow (Editor); Terri Windling; Tristan Ellwell (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PS648 .F22 W65 2001Guided Reading Level P; Lexile measure 790; Ages 8-10; Grade level 4.9
Did you ever wonder how the dwarves felt after Snow White ditched them for the prince? Do you sometimes wish Cinderella hadn't been so helpless and petite? Are you ready to hear the Giant's point of view on Jack and his beanstalk? Then this is the book for you.
1991-2000
Aesop's Fables by Jerry Pinkney
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PA3855 .E5 P56 2000Lexile measure 760; Ages 5-9; Gr.3-5; Guided reading P
In this elegantly designed volume, more than sixty of Aesop's timeless fables have been carefully selected, humorously retold, and brought gloriously to life by four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Jerry Pinkney.Woodcutter and tiger brother by Nami Rhee (Illustrator, Retold by)
Publication Date: 1999Gr.3-4.
A woodcutter outwits the horrible tiger by making him believe that he is the woodcutter's older brother who used to be a human. The tiger shows his dutifulness to his human mother by bringing gifts to her backyard and later follows her into death.Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky (Illustrator, Retold by); Wilhelm K. Grimm; Jacob Grimm; Brothers Grimm
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PS3576 .E4448 R36 1997 FLexile measure AD700;Ages 5-8; Gr.3-5; Guided reading P
A retelling of a folktale in which a beautiful girl with long golden hair is kept imprisoned in a lonely tower by a sorceress. Includes a note on the origins of the story.Prietita and the Ghost Woman by Gloria Anzaldúa; Maya Christina Gonzalez (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Stacks » PS3551 .N95 P75 1995Lexile measure AD520L; Reading level 4.5; Ages 7-12; Gr.3-6; Guided reading O
Ever since she can remember, Prietita has heard terrifying tales of la llorona -- the legendary ghost woman who steals children at night. Against a background of vibrant folk paintings, Gloria Anzaldua reinterprets, in a bilingual format, one of the most famous Mexican legends.Cinder-Elly by Frances Minters; G. Brian Karas (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PS3563 .I477 C56 1994Ages 5-8; Gr.3-5; Guided reading P
In this rap version of the traditional fairy tale, the overworked younger sister gets to go to a basketball game and meets a star player, Prince Charming.Dwarf Nose by Wilhelm Hauff; Lisbeth Zwerger (Illustrator); Anthea Bell (Translator)
Publication Date: 1994Ages 4-11; Gr.3-5
A tale rich in unforgettable characters and fantastic settings and events, Dwarf Nose tells the story of a little boy whose complaining so angers a wicked fairy that she casts a spell on him. Zwerger's illustrations evoke all the magic, mystery, and drama of this German classic.The Mermaid's Twin Sister by Lynn Joseph; Donna Perrone (Ill.)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PS3560 .O7754 M47 1994Gr.4-7; Americas Award for Children & Young Adult Literature, Winner, 1994.
Tantie has chosen Amber to be the family's next storyteller, and Amber is waiting for a story to come to her. Meanwhile, she listens in a new way to the stories that others tell. Filled with the color and tradition of life in Trinidad and the sounds of island speech.Zlateh the Goat and Other Stories by Isaac Bashevis Singer; Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PJ5129 .S49 A2 1994Lexile measure 850; Book level 5.2; Gr.3-5.
Nobel laureate Isaac Bashevis Singer introduces readers to the village of Chelm in this Newbery Honor Book. Chelm is a village of fools. The most famous fools--the oldest and the greatest--are the seven Elders. But there are lesser fools too: a silly irresponsible bridegroom; four sisters who mix up their feed in bed one night; a young man who imagines himself dead.Sukey and the Mermaid by Robert D. San Souci; Brian Pinkney
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PS3569 .A46698 S85 1992Lexile measure 820; Book level 4.8; Ages 5-8; Gr.3-5.
Unhappy with her life at home, Sukey receives kindness and wealth from Mama Jo the mermaid.The Frog Prince, Continued by Jon Scieszka; Steve Johnson (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PS3569 .C5748 F76 1991Lexile measure 600; Book level 3.2; Ages 5-10; Gr.3-5; Guided reading K
It seems that the Frog Prince doesn't think life is a bowl of duckweed--all the Princess does is nag, nag, nag. So it's off to the deep dark woods to look for a witch willing to help him out.
Before 1991
Further Tales of Uncle Remus by Julius Lester; Phyllis J. Fogelman (Editor); Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PZ8.1 .L434 F87 1990Ages 9-12; Gr.3-5.
A retelling of the classic Afro-American tales relating the adventures and misadventures of Brer Rabbit and his friends and enemies.- Jump on Over! by Joel Chandler Harris; Barry Moser (Illustrator)Publication Date: 1989Five tales that center on Brer Rabbit's family.
Dear Mili: an old tale by Wilhelm K. Grimm; Maurice Sendak (Illustrator); Ralph Manheim (Translator); Jacob Grimm
Publication Date: 1988Ages 7 and up.
The story of dear Mili was preserved in a letter Wilhelm Grimm wrote to a little girl in 1816, a letter that remained in her family's possession for over a century and a half. It tells of a mother who sends her daughter into the forest to save her from a terrible war. The child comes upon the hut of an old man, who gives her shelter, and she repays his kindness by serving him faithfully for what she thinks are three days.Eric Carle's treasury of classic stories for children by Aesop, Hans Christian Andersen, and the Brothers Grimm by Eric Carle; Wilhelm K. Grimm; Hans Andersen (Based on a story by); Jacob Grimm (Based on a story by); Aesop Aesop (Based on a story by)
Publication Date: 1988Lexile measure 640; Ages 4-9; Gr.3-5.
An illustrated retelling of twenty-two folktales, fairy tales, and fables.The Tales of Uncle Remus by Julius Lester; Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PZ8.1.L434 T34 1987Lexile measure 760; Ages 9-12, gr. 3-5.
Pinkney's lively and humorous illustrations are a perfect match for Lester's contemporary approach, which expertly introduces a modern sense of humor to these 48 tales while paying homage to their roots as traditional American folklore. Illustrations.The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton; Leo Dillon (Illustrator); Diane Dillon (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » GR103 .H36 1985Guided Reading Level W; Lexile measure 480;; ages 5-12; book level 2.9
"The well-known author retells 24 black American folk tales in sure storytelling voice: animal tales, supernatural tales, fanciful and cautionary tales, and slave tales of freedom.- Folk Tales from Asia for Children Everywhere by Asian Cultural Center for UNESCO StaffCall Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » GR265 F65 1975 BK.2The second volume in a collection of folk tales from 18 Asian countries.
- Last Updated: Oct 3, 2024 10:17 AM
- URL: https://guides.library.stanford.edu/fairy_tales
- Print Page