Folktales
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Aladdin and the Thief of Baghdad
From Arabian Nights hero to Disney character, Aladdin went through many transformations in the 18th and through to the 20th century.
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Story of Aladdin
Believed to be one of the One Thousand and One tales of the Arabian Nights, the story of Aladdin is an 18th-century storyteller's invention and part of a forgery.
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Tomie dePaola's Folk Tale Storybooks
Tomie dePaola has written or illustrated over 200 books, and his adaptations of world folklore are among the most fascinating.
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Jack and the Beanstalk in Movies & TV
Many folk and fairy tales have been adapted for other media including movies and TV. Jack and the Beanstalk, and the similar Jack the Giant Killer are no exceptions.
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Modern Versions of Jack and the Beanstalk Story
Like many fairy and folk tales, Jack and the Beanstalk has seen many literary adaptations. Here are some novels arranged by children, young adult, and adult categories.
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Origins of the Jack and the Beanstalk Story
Jack and the Beanstalk has its origins in the mists of antiquity. Separate stories of a passageway to the sky and giants merged to form this story of a quick-witted lad.
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Little Red Riding Hood in the Movies
Many fairy tale stories have been adapted for other media, particularly film. Little Red Riding Hood is no exception having had several movie adaptations.
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Modern Versions of Little Red Riding Hood
This tale of a young girl and a hungry wolf, like other classic fairy tales, has been the basis for contemporary interpretations. Many are not meant for young children.
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Tiddalik the Frog Retellings Book Reviews
A review comparing different picture book versions of the Australian Aboriginal Dreamtime traditional folk tale retelling the story of Tiddalik the thirsty frog.
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Recommended Leprechaun Folktale Picture Books
Leprechaun folktales for children ages 4 to 8 include funny folktales, folktales that teach a lesson, origin folktales, and retellings of traditional Irish folktales.
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Four Children's Books About Springtime
Children's books often celebrate the seasons. Spring is particularly popular for its inclusion of Easter, its symbolic qualities of renewal and its spring cleaning.
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Children's Book Teaches English and Chinese
New bilingual children's picture book teaches not only English and Chinese, but an important moral folktale as well.
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The Original Goldilocks
Like many children's bedtime stories and fairy tales, Goldilocks and The Three Bears has changed over time.
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The Split Tongue Sparrow: A Review
A journey across cultures and a lesson in kindness awaits those who explore The Split Tongue Sparrow, a traditional Japanese folktale from author Jan Hayes.
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Davy Jones
There is much about Jones that we don't know. Here we explore what we do know about him and look at what makes him so frightful.
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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of OZ is a beloved piece of literature that was turned into a popular movie. Here we look at some of the characters that are prominant in the book.
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Three Apples
A man acts on his suspisions too hastily causing him to do things for which there is no turning back.
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Snakes and Bladders
Gabriella Kalapos author of "Fertility Goddesses, Groundhog Bellies and the Coca-Cola Company discusses the folktale behind the popular holiday Saint Patrick's Day.
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Outwitting fate
A Hindu holy man outwits a god and changes the fate for the children of his mentor.
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The Ox and the Donkey
A merchant's animals transpire to get out of work but one animal ends up paying the price for sticking his nose where it doesn't belong.
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Arabian Nights
The exotic tale of the Arabian Nights is a series of stories with in a story. Shahrazad dared to face a King who out of anger was causing great harm to his kingdom.
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Rip Van Winkle
Rip Van Winkle is the story of a man who in trying to escape from a nagging wife accidently gets mixed up with some little old men and finds himself sleeping for 20 years
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Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
From grandiose beginnings as the Norse god Odin to the Symbol of a holiday Santa Clause has slowly evolved over time into the jolly old man that we know today.
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A Christmas Carol
It's amazing to think that one simple folktale shaped how we celebrate Christmas today.
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Trickster
These trickster deities add some humor and mischief to many myths. Some have good results other very grave.
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