Suggested Titles

Last Updated: Mar 4, 2024 8:31 AM
Subjects: Adults, Celebrations, Children, Teens
Tags: Diverse & Underserved Populations
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Suggested Titles

Diverse Folktales

March 2024

Folklore is the creative expression of a culture: it encompasses verbal traditions, customs and practices, and the material culture of a population, reflecting their beliefs and giving shape to their cultural identity. It connects memory and history with living traditions.

We are all familiar with folktales or folk sayings from our own cultures, or ones we have been exposed to through education or social connections. We tend to view these stories as quaint entertainments from long-ago times, disconnected from our current realities. But folk tales are how cultures share wisdom, communicate values, and make sense of the world. All of these still matter, and are still evolving, in the present! Reading a folk tale from an unfamiliar culture isn’t just a fun way to pass time: it can help you gain an understanding of how they see themselves and think about the world.

With the advent of Percy Jackson, myths and folktales from around the world have been incorporated into hundreds of popular books. This list attempts to bring it all back to the sources with relatively recent books that convey stories more closely to their original forms and details (without being patronizing or misrepresenting them, as is common in some older publications). Some of them are popular and recognizable, available in many libraries: others will be unfamiliar, and harder to find. There are many more out there if you go looking! In addition to the titles on this list, look for books from the publisher Wisdom Tales, the series Discover Graphics: Global Folktales from Capstone Publishers, and Barefoot Books’ Stories from Around the World series.

Suggested Titles

Picture Books

Anansi and the Golden Pot by Taiye Selasi; Tinuke Fagborun (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780744049909
Publication Date: 2022-02-15
Award-winning author of Ghana Must Go, Taiye Selasi, reimagines the story of Anansi, the much-loved trickster, for a new generation. Kweku has grown up hearing stories about the mischievous spider Anansi. He is given the nickname Anansi by his father because of his similarly cheeky ways. On a holiday to visit his beloved Grandma in Ghana, Anansi the spider and Anansi the boy meet, and discover a magical pot that can be filled with whatever they want. Anansi fills it again and again with his favorite red-red stew, and eats so much that he feels sick. Will he learn to share this wonderful gift? This charming retelling of a West African story teaches readers about the dangers of greed, and the importance of being kind. Tinuke Fagborun's colorful illustrations bring the magic and wonder of the tale to life. When you've finished sharing the story, you can also find out more about the origins of Anansi folktales. This is a beautiful storybook that little ones will treasure forever.
Ancient Night by David Alvarez (Illustrator); David Bowles
ISBN: 9781646142514
Publication Date: 2023-03-14
Ancient Night is a twist on two Nahuatl traditions: the rabbit which the Feathered Serpent placed on the moon, and Yaushu, the Lord Opossum who ruled the earth before humans came, and who stole fire from the gods to create the sun. Award-winning author David Bowles has written a poetic text - and carefully researched backmatter - to accompany David's lush illustrations and story.
The Greedy Sparrow by Lucine Kasbarian; Maria Zaikina (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780761458210
Publication Date: 2012-01-05
Once there was a sparrow who caught a thorn in his foot. When a kind baker removes the thorn, the sparrow tricks her into giving him some bread. Each time the sparrow meets new people, he tricks them out of bigger and better things. Will the sparrow's greed get the best of him? Through this endearing Armenian folktale illustrated with mixed media, readers will learn that people who engage in dishonest or selfish behavior may end up losing whatever they gained because of that behavior.
The Green Frogs by Yumi Heo (Illustrator)
ISBN: 0395683785
Publication Date: 1996-09-23
Like most rebellious children, the green frogs in this Korean folktale love to disobey their mother. What-ever she asks them to do, they do the opposite . . . until their bad habit lands them in trouble.
How Raven Got His Crooked Nose by Barbara J. Atwater (Retold by); Ethan J. Atwater (Retold by); Mindy Dwyer (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781513260952
Publication Date: 2018-04-10
Chulyen the trickster raven loses his nose one day, but he vows to get it back. Luckily he has some special powers to help him! How Raven Got His Crooked Nose is a modern retelling of a traditional Native American fable. Part picture book and part graphic novel, this beautifully illustrated story teaches an important lesson to children through Dena'ina mythology and includes a glossary of Dena'ina words to learn.
The Legend of the Jersey Devil by Trinka Hakes Noble; Gerald Kelley (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781585368372
Publication Date: 2013-07-01
The Pine Barrens region in New Jersey has long been a place of mystery, with its dark pine groves, black swamps, and dank bogs, oftentimes shrouded in mist and fog. Reputed to be haunted by spirits, it's an unsettling place to be sure. But of all the mysterious happenings and sights to be found in the Pine Barrens, there is none so intriguing as the Jersey Devil. Since its first reported sighting in 1735, local lore has it that a "devil-like" creature with the head of a horse, the wings of a bat, and the hooves of a goat has menaced townspeople, frightened livestock, and caused all manner of trouble over the years. Is the Jersey Devil real?
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach by Carmen Agra Deedy; Michael Austin (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781561453993
Publication Date: 2007-09-04
The beautiful Martina Josefina Catalina Cucaracha doesn't know coffee beans about love and marriage, so when suitors come calling, what is she to do? Luckily, she has her Cuban family to help! While some of the Cucarachas offer Martina gifts to make her more attractive, only Abuela, her grandmother, gives her some useful advice: spill coffee on his shoes to see how he handles anger. At first, Martina is skeptical of her Abuela's suggestion, but when suitor after suitor fails the Coffee Test, she wonders if a little green cockroach can ever find true love.
Tunjur! Tunjur! Tunjur! by Margaret Read MacDonald; Alik Arzoumanian (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9780761452256
Publication Date: 2006-03-01
There was once a woman who had a little pot for a child. Tunjur! Tunjur! Tunjur!--that was the sound the pot made as it rolled everywhere. Unfortunately the pot wasn't old enough to know the difference between right and wrong. That naughty pot ran off with things that did not belong to her until she learned her lesson...the hard way! In this retelling of a Palestinian folktale, brought to life in dazzling, jewel-like illustrations, children will discover that there are consequences for taking things that don't belong to them.

Middle Grade and Young Adult

Crowned by Kahran Bethencourt; Regis Bethencourt; Salamishah Tillet (Foreword by)
ISBN: 9781250281388
Publication Date: 2023-05-23
Filled with visual magic and storytelling wonder, these stories reimagine our favorite and most beloved childhood fairy tales and folktales to encourage creativity, empower imagination, and foster self-esteem. With a Foreword by Pulitzer Prize winner Salamishah Tillet Revisit beloved classics, but with a twist, such as The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, Red Riding Hood, The Poisoned Apple, and find new favorites with stories created especially for the collection: Anansi and the Three Trials, Aku the Sun Maker, How the Zebra Got Its Stripes, The Legend of Princess Yennenga, and John Henry, the Steel-Drivin' Man. A gift that will keep giving, CROWNED is a joyous celebration of Black beauty, determination, and imagination and a must-have for children and parents everywhere.
Folktales for a Better World by Elizabeth Laird; Mehrdokht Amini (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781623717971
Publication Date: 2023-02-14
Seven stories celebrating peace, kindness, and forgiveness from seven countries that have all suffered from wars and conflicts in recent times told by an award-winning author. Will two clans in Ethiopia make peace by throwing their most precious possessions in the river? Can a poor Palestinian shepherd show a rich sultan the value of true kindness? Or will an angel in Afghanistan find a way to turn the selfish Emir into a caring ruler? Buried treasure and an act of forgiveness reunite a father and daughter in Sudan while a camel is the key to choosing a kind and fair ruler for the kingdom of Yemen. Hear the Syrian story of the woodcutter and the lion to discover the meaning of friendship, and then follow nine courageous Uighur princesses of Kashgar, as they bring peace to their kingdom - without any fighting. The importance of peace and kindness in our lives shines through these timeless, inspirational stories from seven countries, beautifully told and illustrated with empathy and humor.
Legends and Lore by Michael Scott
ISBN: 9780593381786
Publication Date: 2021-05-04
Myths, legends, and magic are woven together in a collection of enthralling Irish folktales from the New York Times bestselling author of the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series. A competition to become King of the Leprechauns... A trick designed to fool the Queen of the Fairies... A terrifying lake monster confronted by the unlikeliest of heroes... Nine Irish legends come to life in these timeless, action-packed folktales about mythological creatures and epic heroes. A master of Irish mythology, bestselling author Michael Scott has crafted stories guaranteed to enthrall young readers who love magic, legends, and lore. And don't miss the companion collection of Irish fairy tales, Magic & Myth!
The Night Marchers and Other Oceanian Tales by Kate Ashwin (Editor); Sloane Leong (Editor); Kel McDonald (Editor)
ISBN: 9781945820793
Publication Date: 2021-04-20
Ghostly warriors, angry gods, and monstrous tyrants? That's just the start of this collection of folklore from the Pacific, retold in comics! The fourth volume of the "Cautionary Fables and Fairytales" graphic novel series is a thrilling, funny, and totally new take on stories spanning the entirety of the region, with loads of lesser known myths and legends from the Philippines, New Zealand, Hawaii, and beyond.
Not One Damsel in Distress by Jane Yolen; Susan Guevara (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781328900203
Publication Date: 2018-07-10
These fifteen folktales have one thing in common: brainy, bold, brave women--and not one damsel in distress! There is Bradamante, the fierce medieval knight; Li Chi, the Chinese girl who slays a dreaded serpent and saves her town; Makhta, a female warrior who leads her Sioux tribe into battle; and many more women who use their cunning, wisdom, and strength to succeed. Drawing from diverse cultures around the world, renowned author Jane Yolen celebrates the female heroes of legend and lore in a collection that will empower every reader. This new edition features two brand-new stories from Azerbaijan and Indonesia, and enhanced illustrations.
The Shark King by R. Kikuo Johnson (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781935179160
Publication Date: 2012-04-10
From the islands of Hawaii comes the electrifying tale of Nanaue, who has to balance his yearning for Dad's guidance with his desire for Mom's nurture.
Stories of the Islands by Clar Angkasa
ISBN: 9780823449781
Publication Date: 2023-10-31
Once upon a time. . . A princess was cursed to live as a snail, Two sisters were trapped by their father's wrath, And a mother and daughter faced a hungry giant. No one is coming to save them. Will they get their happily ever after? In this collection of reimagined Indonesian fairy tales, the girls are the ones with power. The power to fight evil, to protect others, and to grow as people. Because why should girls in folktales always need saving? What if they save themselves instead? Based on graphic novelist Clar Angkasa's favorite childhood stories and gorgeously illustrated with a dedicated color palette for each tale, this retelling of "Keong Mas," "Bawang Merah Bawang Putih," and "Timun Mas" is filled with spectacular landscapes, deep emotions, and a firm belief in the power of girls' stories.

Adult Selections

How the Wise Men Got to Chelm by Ruth von Bernuth
ISBN: 1479828440
Publication Date: 2016-10-18
How the Wise Men Got to Chelm is the first in-depth study of Chelm literature and its relationship to its literary precursors. When God created the world, so it is said, he sent out an angel with a bag of foolish souls with instructions to distribute them equally all over the world--one fool per town. But the angel's bag broke and all the souls spilled out onto the same spot. They built a settlement where they landed: the town is known as Chelm. The collected tales of these fools, or "wise men," of Chelm constitute the best-known folktale tradition of the Jews of eastern Europe. This tradition includes a sprawling repertoire of stories about the alleged intellectual limitations of the members of this old and important Jewish community. Chelm did not make its debut in the role of the foolish shtetl par excellence until late in the nineteenth century. Since then, however, the town has led a double life--as a real city in eastern Poland and as an imaginary place onto which questions of Jewish identity, community, and history have been projected. By placing literary Chelm and its "foolish" antecedents in a broader historical context, it shows how they have functioned for over three hundred years as models of society, somewhere between utopia and dystopia. These imaginary foolish towns have enabled writers both to entertain and highlight a variety of societal problems, a function that literary Chelm continues to fulfill in Jewish literature to this day.
The Japanese Yokai Handbook by Masami Kinoshita
ISBN: 9784805317280
Publication Date: 2023-11-14
This book is your ultimate guide to Japan's scariest creatures! Yokai come in every imaginable shape and form--from frightening ghosts and cruel demons to cute fairies and enchanted animals. They can be evil monsters, harmless tricksters or prophets of doom, depending on their inclination. Yokai expert Masami Kinoshita has been documenting Yokai in folklore, and in real life, for many years. This book presents her most interesting findings and has over 175 full-color illustrations that vividly depict the appearances of these weird creatures.
On the Turtle's Back by Camilla Townsend; Nicky Kay Michael
ISBN: 9781978819146
Publication Date: 2023-09-15
The Lenape tribe, also known as the Delaware Nation, lived for centuries on the land that English colonists later called New Jersey. But once America gained its independence, they were forced to move further west: to Indiana, then Missouri, and finally to the territory that became Oklahoma. These reluctant migrants were not able to carry much from their ancestral homeland, but they managed to preserve the stories that had been passed down for generations. On the Turtle's Back is the first collection of Lenape folklore, originally compiled by anthropologist M. R. Harrington over a century ago but never published until now. In it, the Delaware share their cherished tales about the world's creation, epic heroes, and ordinary human foibles. It features stories told to Harrington by two Lenape couples, Julius and Minnie Fouts and Charles and Susan Elkhair, who sought to officially record their legends before their language and cultural traditions died out. More recent interviews with Lenape elders are also included, as their reflections on hearing these stories as children speak to the status of the tribe and its culture today. Together, they welcome you into their rich and wondrous imaginative world.
The Secret History of Bigfoot by John O'Connor
ISBN: 9781464216633
Publication Date: 2024-02-06
From the shrouded forests of the Pacific Northwest to off-the-wall cryptozoological conventions, one man searches high and low for the answer to the question: real or not, why do we want to believe? Bigfoot is an instantly recognizable figure. Through the decades, this elusive primate has been featured in movies and books, on coffee mugs, beer koozies, car polish, and CBD oil. Which begs the question: what is it about Bigfoot that's caught hold of our imaginations? Journalist and self-diagnosed skeptic John O'Connor is fascinated by Sasquatch. Curious to learn more, he embarks on a quest through the North American wilds in search of Bigfoot, its myth and meaning. Alongside an eccentric cast of characters, he explores the zany and secretive world of "cryptozoology," tracking Bigfoot through ancient folklore to Harry and the Hendersons, while examining the forces behind our ever-widening belief in the supernatural. As O'Connor treks through the shrouded forests of the Pacific Northwest, listens to firsthand accounts, and attends Bigfoot conventions, he's left wondering--what happens when the lines between myth and reality blur? Perfect for fans of Bill Bryson and Douglas Preston, and with sharp wit and an adventurous spirit, this heartfelt exploration of a cornerstone of American folklore unpacks why we believe in the things that we do, what that says about us, and how it shapes our world.

List Created By

Aviva Rosenberg, Ridgefield Free Public Library

Resources

What is Folklore? A project of the American Folklore Society
The American Folklore Society is a membership organization dedicated to supporting the individuals and organizations engaged in the study and advancement of folklore and expressive cultural traditions throughout the world.

Suggested Titles

Suggested Titles

Diverse Folktales

March 2024

Suggested Titles

List Created By

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