Folklore, Fairy Tales & Fables

Some of these are familiar favorites, while some may be lesser known. All have earned their place at the heart of children’s literature. We love these versions of Stone Soup and The Mitten the very best. Ages 4 — 9.

These are the best versions of these old folk tales, including a lesser-known Yiddish tale, and a modernized, absolutely endearing Spanish version of The Princess and the Pea, set in Peru. Some have entranced readers and listeners for hundreds of years, and we hope they capture the imagination of your young one too. Ages 4 — 8.

Finally we find out what happened to Humpty Dumpty after his fall! These decidedly modern twists on fairy tales are creative and also very funny. Little Red takes a stand, The Princess and the Pea is set in Africa and is not the story you remember. Ages 4 — 8.

Yes! Even more great fables and folktales. Some of these are our favorite renditions of familiar old classics, while a couple are newer and strong enough to stand with the rest. Demi’s The Empty Pot was a great find, with a profound message that is very relevant today. Ages 3 — 10.

More classic folk tales that are strong enough to stand the test of time. The illustrations in these versions of familiar stories The Boy Who Cried Wolf and The Emporer’s New Clothes make these our favorite picks. Reinforce your home library with these reliable classics. Ages 3 — 8.

This collection is for kids who have a thing for monsters…silly monsters, gross monsters, and frankly, important monsters. Frankenstein making a sandwich is just as delightful as it sounds, and I Need My Monster is another great way to bring up the idea of being a little frightened of monsters in a silly, tongue-in-cheek way. These allow children to laugh or even love them. Ages 4 — 8.

In this collection, we’ve found the most beautifully illustrated and arranged versions of your favorite fairy tales. These are so lovely that your little one will probably pick them up and look at the pictures even when it’s not reading time. Ages 5 — 10.

These five folk tales, although written recently, are timeless. In the tradition of ancient folk tales, each one carries with it a message wrapped up in a magical tale that will be remembered. The Rainbabies is a story of the magic and wonder of tiny babies from the rain who visited a loving couple who had no children of their own. Issun Boshi is a classic Japanese story of finding your place in the world. Fiona’s Luck is an Irish tale of girl power that is surprising and delightful. We think you’ll enjoy the illustrations in all five of these as much as the stories. Ages 4 — 8.

We’ve narrowed down our Elsa Beskow favorites to five very best picks. A Swedish author whose work was created in the early 1900’s, Beskow wrote tender stories with a strong connection to nature and paired them with endearing illustrations. This winning combination made her a beloved author here in the United States, especially among Waldorf families. Ages 3 — 8.

When children are familiar with the characters and stories in traditional fairy tales, which carry with them timeless messages and lessons, sometimes it’s fun to shake it up a little bit and have some fun. Here are five very clever and well done fairy tales that have been “twisted” in one way or another, either to truly bring a new perspective, or simply to bring a laugh-out-loud story to share together. Ages 4 — 10.