Books by genre
Top 16 folk tales from around the world
Folk tales are the oldest stories that kids still enjoy. The best picture-book versions are illustrated in the style of the culture the tale comes from. Retellings vary, so read the author's note when one is included.
Titles were chosen from award winners, ALSC notable lists and long-running library favorites, then each title and author was checked against Open Library in Oct 2026. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.
Stone Soup
Marcia Brown · Ages 3-8
Soldiers trick a village into feeding them by making soup from a stone. Caldecott Honor.
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Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
Verna Aardema · Ages 3-8
A West African tale of how a lie leads to a day without morning. Caldecott Medal.
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Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters
John Steptoe · Ages 4-8
A Zimbabwean tale of two sisters and a king. Caldecott Honor.
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Lon Po Po
Ed Young · Ages 4-8
A Chinese Red Riding Hood in which three sisters outwit the wolf. Caldecott Medal.
Watch for: The wolf is scary.
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The Empty Pot
Demi · Ages 4-8
A Chinese emperor tests the honesty of children with seeds.
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Yeh-Shen
Ai-Ling Louie · Ages 4-8
A Chinese Cinderella tale from the ninth century.
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The Rough-Face Girl
Rafe Martin · Ages 5-9
A Native American Cinderella story.
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Tikki Tikki Tembo
Arlene Mosel · Ages 3-7
A boy with a very long name falls into a well.
Watch for: Critics note it is not from a real Chinese folk tradition.
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Abiyoyo
Pete Seeger · Ages 3-7
A boy and father with a ukulele and a magic wand defeat a giant. Based on a South African lullaby.
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Zomo the Rabbit
Gerald McDermott · Ages 4-8
A trickster rabbit completes three impossible tasks for the sky god. West African tale.
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The Talking Eggs
Robert D. San Souci · Ages 4-8
A Louisiana Creole tale of two sisters. Caldecott Honor.
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Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
Verna Aardema · Ages 3-7
A cumulative rhyming tale from Kenya.
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Seven Blind Mice
Ed Young · Ages 3-7
Seven mice each feel part of an elephant. Caldecott Honor.
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The Mitten
Jan Brett · Ages 3-7
A Ukrainian tale of animals crowding into a lost mitten.
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Favorite Folktales from Around the World
Jane Yolen · Ages 8-14
A collection of 160 tales by region.
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The People Could Fly
Virginia Hamilton · Ages 8-14
American Black folktales, including tales of enslaved people and escape.
Watch for: Slavery.
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