Where's Halmoni?


Julie Kim - 2017
    Two young children pay a visit to Halmoni (grandmother in Korean), only to discover she's not home. As they search for her, noticing animal tracks covering the floor, they discover a pair of traditional Korean doors, slightly ajar, new to their grandmother's home. Their curiosity gets the best of them, and the adventure begins when they crawl through and discover an unfamiliar, fantastical world. As they continue to search for their grandmother and solve the mystery of the tracks, they go deeper into the world of Korean folklore and experience their cultural heritage in unexpected ways, meeting a number of Korean-speaking characters along the way. Translations to Korean text in the story and more about the folktale-inspired characters are included at the end.

King Midas and the Golden Touch


M. Charlotte Craft - 1999
    When a mysterious stranger offers to reward Midas for a kindness, the king does not hesitate: He wishes that all he touches would turn to gold. To his delight, his wish is granted and he soon sets about transforming his ordinary palace into a place of golden beauty. But to his dismay, when he accidentally turns his beloved daughter into a golden statue, Midas learns that what at first seems a blessing can also become a curse.

Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls


Jane Yolen - 2000
    These thirteen folktales have one thing in common: brainy, brawny, brave heroines--and not one damsel in distress! From Bradamante, the fierce female medieval knight, to Li Chi, the Chinese girl who slays a dreaded serpent and saves her town, these heroines use their cunning, wisdom, and strength to succeed. Drawing from diverse cultures around the world, renowned author Jane Yolen celebrates the smart, strong, and sassy heroines of legend and lore in a collection that will encourage bravery in every girl.

Old Turtle


Douglas Wood - 1991
    Simple yet profound, it has since brought hope and inspiration to children and adults around the world.

Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems


Marilyn Singer - 2013
    Now a second book is here with more witty double takes on well-loved fairy tales such as Thumbelina and The Little Mermaid.Read these clever poems from top to bottom and they mean one thing. Then reverse the lines and read from bottom to top and they mean something else–it is almost like magic!A celebration of sight, sound, and story, this book is a marvel to read again and again.

Goldy the Puppy and the Missing Socks


Kim Ann - 2020
    They disappear from the hamper, from the bedside, from anywhere and everywhere! Is there a sock monster afoot?

The Treasure


Uri Shulevitz - 1978
    Feeling a little foolish perhaps, but determined to see for himself if the dream is true, Isaac sets out on his long journey. What he finds makes a surprising and heart-warming ending to this retelling of a well-known folk tale. In a few words, Cadelcott Medal winner Uri Shulevitz draws a man who is innocent enough to have faith in a dream, and wise enough to understand the greatest reward of all.Isaac's solitary journey, his arrival at hte vast city, and his discovery there are all enriched by Mr. Shulevitz's beautifully detailed illustrations, which masterfully capture the spirit of the original tale while keeping it simple enough for the very youngest reader.The Treasure is a 1980 Caldecott Honor Book and a 1979 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year.

Goldilocks Returns


Lisa Campbell Ernst - 2000
    She wants to do something nice for the bears. What if she stops by one day, replaces the icky porridge with Rutabega Breakfast Bars and all her favorite foods, fixes Baby Bear's broken chair, and cleans the house until it gleams? Perfect! When the bears return home, they'll hardly recognize their home! They'll LOVE it! (Or will they?)

The Gigantic Turnip


Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy - 1910
    One fine spring morning, they decide that it is time to sow the vegetables. Throughout the summer the seeds turn into ripe, juicy vegetables and the time comes for them to harvest their crop. Soon there is just one turnip left at the end of the row. It looks very big -- in fact, it looks gigantic!This hilarious retelling features simple vocabulary and has lots of repetition. It is perfect for reading aloud and will soon have young readers joining in. Niamh Sharkey's quirky illustrations also provide plenty of counting practice for small children.

How Chipmunk Got His Stripes


Joseph Bruchac - 2001
    Brown Squirrel doesn't believe him, so the two wait all night to see if the sun will rise. Sure enough, the sky reddens and the sun appears. Brown Squirrel is so happy to be right that he teases Bear. What happens when a little brown squirrel teases a big black bear? Brown Squirrel gets stripes and is called chipmunk from that day forward . . . Joseph and James Bruchac join forces to create this buoyant picture book, based on a Native American folktale.Illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey.

Martha in the Middle


Jan Fearnley - 2008
    She gets squashed between her siblings when they argue. She never gets called "big and sensible" or "cutesy-wootsy." Sometimes she even feels invisible. One day she gets so fed up, she decides to run away. Luckily, Martha meets a wise frog who points out that the middle is the best bit — the tasty seeds in the sunflower, the sweet peas in the pod, the juiciest part of a watermelon. With beguiling warmth and humor, Jan Fearnley reassures children that being in the middle of things is a choice spot after all.

The Boy of the Three-Year Nap


Dianne Snyder - 1988
    Lazy Taro gets his comeuppance when his wise mother uses his trick to avoid work to her own advantage.

Mary's Penny


Tanya Landman - 2010
    Which of his children — Franz, Hans, or Mary — could fill the house with something that cost a mere penny? Did straw do the trick? Were feathers sufficient? Or did it take something a little more creative? Tanya Landman’s retelling of a traditional tale, illustrated with Richard Holland’s stylish artwork, reminds us that sometimes the greatest value can be had for only a penny.

The Lizard


José Saramago - 2019
    With a clear and precise style, the fable offers a multitude of senses, reaching audiences of all ages. "The Lizard" is a short story included in A Bagagem do Viajante (1973), a volume that brought together the Saramago chronicles for the newspaper A Capital and the weekly Jornal do Fund�o between 1971 and 1972. Translated by Nick Caistor and Lucia Caistor, The Lizard, is an illustrated version of the chronicle by J. Borges.

Juan Bobo Goes to Work: A Puerto Rican Folk Tale


Marisa Montes
    Although the tasks are simple and the directions couldn't be clearer, he always find a way to bungle things up as only a character whose name means "Simple John" could!