Fables, Myths and Fairytales for Kids

 

Fable, narrative form, usually featuring animals that behave and speak as human beings, told in order to highlight human follies and weaknesses. A moral—or lesson for behavior—is woven into the story and often explicitly formulated at the end. (Courtesy of Britannica) 

The first fable was created by Aesop. He created a collection of Greek fables in his time. Horace, a Roman poet and Plutarch, a Greek biographer and Lucian, a Greek satirist followed his model. Many years later there were the works of Lewis Carroll, Kenneth Grahame, Rudyard Kipling and Beatrix Potter to name a few. But what authors of fables can we celebrate today? 

There are plenty of remakes and newly illustrated versions of Aesop’s fables and they are still pertinent and wonderful stories for kids today. Dr. Suess books have also been put in the same category as fables and we are all familiar with those books. These are the stories we love to share, and they have obviously stood the test of time. I’ve put together a diverse list of books that include fables, myths and fairytales all written in the spirit and model of Aesop. I hope you will read and enjoy these stories with your children.

 

Fables by Arnold Lobel (Cladecott Medal Winner)

Beatitales by Jared Dees (Faith)

Read-Aloud African American Stories by Susan Kantor

Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales by Nelson Mandela

Mable: A Mermaid Fable by Rowboat Watkins

Chinese Fables: The Dragon Slayer and Other Timeless Tales of Wisdom by Shiho S. Nunes

Indian Children’s Favorite Stories: Fables, Myths and Fairy Tales by Rosemarie Somaiah

Filipino Children’s Favorite Stories: Fables, Myths and Fairy Tales by Liana Romulo

Korean Children’s Favorite Stories: Fables, Myths and Fairy Tales by Kim So-Un and Jeong Kyoung-Sim

Vietnamese Children’s Favorite Stories by Phuoc Thi Minh Tran

The Blessed Bananas: A Muslim Fable by Tayyaba Syed and Melani Putri

Jumping Mouse: A Native American Legend of Friendship and Sacrifice by Misty Schroe

Natalie Portman’s Fables by Natalie Portman