The stolen smell
The stolen smell
When a stingy baker insists that his poor neighbor pay for the smells he has been enjoying, a clever judge rules in his favor and determines exactly the right fine
Children's Picture Books: Folklore Category
Books featuring tales, proverbs, songs, nursery rhymes, lullabies, legends, and/or myths that transmit the knowledge, traditions, practices and rituals, mythologies, and values of a particular group of people. These do not include religious, foundational, or origin stories, or indigenous traditional or sacred stories (see Beautiful Life).
The woodcutter’s gift / El regalo del leñador
The woodcutter’s gift / El regalo del leñador
When a violent thunderstorm knocks down the giant mesquite tree in the town square, some of the villagers see it as only worth firewood. The woodcutter, however, sees it as material for carving a beautiful gift for the children of the town.
Tikki Tikki Tembo
Tikki Tikki Tembo
When the eldest son fell in the well and most of the time getting help was spent pronouncing the name of the one in trouble, the Chinese, according to legend, decided to give all their children short names
Anansí and the Pot of Beans
Anansí and the Pot of Beans
"A timeless trickster tale from Africa about silly spider, Anansì. Did you ever wonder why spiders have no hair? After reading Anansí and the Pot of Beans, you too will know the answer. This classic folktale from Africa, written by Bobby and Sherry Norfolk, tells the story of when Anansí goes to help his grandmother. Upon arrival he finds her steaming, hot pot of beans, which he can't resist. This is where the fun begins. Anansí and the Pot of Beans is a charming story that is entertaining while also teaching important life lessons in character values about responsibility and trust. While author, Bobby Norfolk was visiting the town of Kumasi in Ghana in the summer of 1993, a woman told him, "At four-thirty every afternoon, we try to gather together and have Anansi time." Norfolk attended the afternoon break and heard elders tell stories of Anansi, the tireless trickster of Ghanian tradition. Anansi Appears in these stories in his most playful and creative guises. The Norfolks' adaptations brim with action, energy, and humor." -- publisher
Bamboo
Bamboo
When Bamboo, a young Chinese farmer, finds himself beset by poverty and travels to the New World to find fortune, his sister-in-law, Jin, makes life difficult for his wife, Ming, until magic intervenes
How Tiger Got His Stripes
How Tiger Got His Stripes
"Many years ago, the proudest animal in the jungle was not the peacock but the tiger. In this timeless folktale from Vietnam, we see how Tiger's pride leads him to covet wisdom and how, with the help of a wise farmer, he earns his stripes. Winner of the Storytelling World Honor Award This humorous folktale from Vietnam, retold by Rob Cleveland, tells the story of Tiger, who was once the proudest animal of the jungle. He was even prouder than the peacock. Of course what Tiger was most proud of was his beautiful golden coat. But unfortunately for Tiger, he did not have wisdom and was jealous that only Man seemed to possess it. So Tiger approached Man and demanded that he give Tiger his wisdom. Man then uses his wisdom to outsmart Tiger when he finds himself tied to a tree with a rope. While trying to escape, Tiger burns his coat on the rope, leaving permanent stripes on his beautiful golden coat. This wisdom story will teach readers the importance of courage, caring and resourcefulness. This award-winning story is a "pourquoi" tale from Vietnam. Pourquoi tales are origin stories that explain why an animal or plant looks or acts the way it does. This is one of many stories told across Asia that deal with the origin of the tiger's stripes. Rob Cleveland is storyteller-in-residence at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta, Georgia and is the author of several Story Cove books." -- publisher
Juan Bobo goes to work
Juan Bobo goes to work
Although he tries to do exactly as his mother tells him, foolish Juan Bobo keeps getting things all wrong
The Drum
The Drum
A retelling of the Indic folktale of a poor young boy who dreams of owning a drum and when he receives a magic stick, is able to create his own good luck
The stranger and the red rooster / El forastero y el gallo rojo
The stranger and the red rooster / El forastero y el gallo rojo
One day in a small California barrio, a scary-looking stranger with an ugly scar on his face arrives. Silence falls on the streets. Normally raucous children stop playing, and their fearful mothers quickly beckon them inside. Everyone peeks out of windows and doors to watch the stranger walk down Main Street. Later in the week, the stranger again appears in town. And a few days later, on a pleasant Sunday morning, the man shows his frightening face yet again. But this time, he's not alone. Cradled in the stranger's arms is a big, red rooster with a yellow ribbon tied around its neck. When the rooster sets off after a bug with the stranger hanging on to the ribbon "like a cowboy who had lassoed a wild bull," the townspeople are finally able to look past the long, ugly scar on the stranger's face. Echoing the oral tradition common to so many Latinos, acclaimed author Victor Villasenor shares with young readers one of his father's favorite stories.
Why the stomach growls
Why the stomach growls
When the eyes, mouth, arms, legs, and stomach are created they all want to be the boss, but with a little help from their Creator they learn to work together. Based on a West African myth.--publisher