What child doesn't like a good fairy tale or folktale? No matter where a child lives, there will be fairy tales and folktales that instruct and entertain. These stories exist in every culture in the world and they tend to have many similarities. They appeal to us because the tell us about life and even what it means to be human, how we relate to one another. We like them because we like to see that good behavior is rewarded. We like them because they can be magical. Many of us in the Western World are familiar with the fairy tales from European cultures, such as those collected by the Grimms brothers. But we are less familiar with those from other cultures. Here are some tales from Asia and Africa. What do they have in common with European fairy tales and folktales?

1. Japanese Fairy Tales

Here are two statements from this book:

"Fairy tales never go out of style; they are the stuff of dreams and life and imagination, immortalized in the human spirit."
"Fairy tales have a rare and universal appeal that knows no logical or geographical boundaries. Their appeal is as wide and as wild as the dreams and imaginations of childhood."

This book demonstrates the truth of those statements so well. It contains 22 tales that are sure to appeal to both children and adults, as do so many fairy and folk tales, but these will also provide a window into Japanese culture. While younger children may not be able to read these stories on their own, they will certainly enjoy hearing them read aloud to them. More »

2. The Snake Prince and Other Stories: Burmese Folk Tales

"Listen, oh my children...." And so begins the old storyteller in this book. When you read these tales to your children, you will both certainly recognize the similarities in plot with the fairy tales such those collected by the Grimms. But you will also enjoy the distinctively Burmese flavor of these stories provided by the settings, characterizations, and behaviors of the characters.More »

3. The Cat and the Mouse: A Book of Persian Fairy Tales

Persian fairy tales? Where exactly is Persia? Technically, Persia no longer exists. It is now Iran. Well, sort of. It's not that the same borders existed for Persia and the country's name just changed. But Persia and Iran share the same general geographical area. This short book (60 pages) contains four Persian stories: "The Cat and the Mouse," "The Son of the Soap Seller," "The King's Treasure," and "The King and the Fisherman." These stories reflect the culture and beliefs of those who live in that region of the world.More »

4. The Girl Who Married a Lion: and Other Tales from Africa

This book contains the retelling of 40 traditional African folk tales, specifically from Zimbabwe and Botswana. The title story tells of a young woman who suspects that her husband is really a lion in disguise, but by the time she suspects him, they already have two children -- who might be cubs! The tales are full of talking animals, animals disguised as humans, and the testing of of protagonists by both good and evil spirits. As the author says, these tales remind us that "we are not the masters of nature--we are part of it." What a wonderful lesson for all of us.More »

5. Favorite Folktales from Around the World

This book includes more than just Asian and African fairy tales; it contains fairy tales from all over the world: Germany, Japan, Ireland, Australia, Mexico, Italy, Turkey, France, Russia, England, Norway...60 different cultures in all. It's not organized by culture, though. It's thematically arranged. There are different sections: Telling Tales; The Very Young and the Very Old; True Loves and False;, Tricksters, Rogues, and Cheats; Fools: Numbskulls and Noodleheads; Heroes: Likely and Unlikely; Wonder Tales, Tall Tales, and Brag; Shapeshifters; Not Quite Human; Fooling the Devil; Getting of Wisdom; Ghosts and Revenants; and Death and the World's End. That organization makes it possible to see how different cultures view these different themes. The book is probably more appropriate to young adults than to young children.More »