Folk and Fairy Tales

Bremen Town Musicians, and other animal tales from Grimm, by Doris "A Neal Porter book" Roaring Brook Press, 2004 The Bremen town musicians -- The hare and the hedgehog -- King of the birds -- When the birds and the beasts went to war -- The wolf and the seven young kids -- The fox and the geese. Presents illustrated retellings of six animal stories by the Grimm brothers, including the title work in which four aging animals, no longer of any use to their masters, find a new home after outwitting a gang of robbers. Reading Level: 2.4; Accelerated Reader: 4.4
Can you guess my name? : traditional tales around the world, by Judy Sierra Clarion Books, 2002 A collection of fifteen folktales from all over the world, including stories that resemble "The Three Pigs," "The Bremen Town Musicians," and "Rumpelstiltskin." Reading Level: 6.3; Accelerated Reader: 4.9
Cinderella, by Barbara McClintock Scholastic, 2005 Although mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters, Cinderella meets her prince with the help of her fairy godmother. Reading Level: 4.9; Accelerated Reader: 4.3
Clever Beatrice : an Upper Peninsula Conte, by Margaret Willey Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001 Map on end papers. A small, but clever young girl outwits a rich giant and wins all his gold. Reading Level: 4.3 Accelerated Reader: 3.8
The Elves and the Shoemaker, by Jim LaMarche Chronicle Books, 2003 A poor shoemaker becomes successful with the help of two elves who finish his shoes during the night. Reading Level: 3.8; Accelerated Reader: 4.4
Giant and the Beanstalk, by Diane Stanley HarperCollins, 2004 In this version of the traditional tale, a young giant chases Jack down the beanstalk to rescue his beloved hen and meets other Jacks from various nursery rhymes along the way. Reading Level: 3.7; Accelerated Reader: 3.9
Goldie : and the three bears, by Diane Stanley HarperCollins, 2003 In this story, loosely based on that of Goldilocks, Goldie, who has yet to find a friend to "love with all her heart," makes an unplanned visit to the house of some bears. Reading Level: 3.6; Accelerated Reader: 2.6
Goldilocks and the three bears, by Jim Aylesworth Scholastic Press, 2003 A little girl walking in the woods finds the house of the three bears and helps herself to their belongings. Reading Level: 5.3; Accelerated Reader: 4.1
Horned toad prince, by Jackie Hopkins Peachtree, 2000 In this retelling of "The Frog Prince," a spunky cowgirl loses her new sombrero and is helped by a horned toad on the understanding that she will do three small favors for him. Reading Level: 3.8; Accelerated Reader: 4.5
Hunter : a Chinese folktale, by Mary Casanova Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000 After learning to understand the language of animals, Hai Li Bu the hunter sacrifices himself to save his village. Reading Level: 3.0 Accelerated Reader: 4.3
Kate and the Beanstalk, by Mary Pope Osborne Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2000 In this version of the classic tale a girl climbs to the top of a giant beanstalk where she uses her quick wits to outsmart a giant and make her and her mother's fortune. Reading Level: 2.8; Accelerated Reader: 3.6
One riddle, one answer, by Lauren Thompson Scholastic Press, 2001 A sultan's daughter who loves numbers and riddles devises a plan to find the man who is best suited to be her husband. Reading Level: 2.6 Accelerated Reader: 3.5
Princess Stories, compiled by Cooper Edens Chronicle Books, 2004 "Princesses, both natural-born and aspiring, hasten toward matrimony in this entry in the Classic Illustrated Editions series of nicely produced volumes that pair beloved stories with vintage images from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries." (Booklist) Reading Level: 8.0
Rooster and the fox, The, by Helen Ward Millbrook Press, 2003 An adaptation of the "Nun's Priest's Tale" from Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" in which Chanticleer, a vain rooster, gets embroiled in a treacherous battle of wits with Mr. Fox. Reading Level: 5.0
The Tale of Despereaux, being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread by Kate DiCamillo Thorndike, 2004 The adventures of Despereaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin. Reading Level: 4.1; Accelerated Reader: 4.7
Three Pigs, by David Weisner Clarion Books, 2001 2002 Caldecott Medal Honor The three pigs escape the wolf by going into another world where they meet the cat and the fiddle, the cow that jumped over the moon, and a dragon. Reading Level: 2.4; Accelerated Reader: 2.3

How? Tales and Stories to Answer Questions

Armadillo tattletale, by Helen Ketteman Scholastic Press, 2000 Armadillo's habit of eavesdropping and then misreporting what he hears makes the other animals so angry that they find a way to keep him from overhearing their private conversations. Reading Level: 3.1; Accelerated Reader: 4.1
Barefoot Book of Tropical Tales, retold by Raouff Mama. Barefoot, 2000 Beninese storyteller Mama brings together myths from the tropics. Features resourceful animals and memorable characters, complemented with rich, vibrant and witty artwork. Reading Level: 6.9; Accelerated Reader: 5.9
Beautiful Blackbird, by Ashley Bryan Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2003 In a story of the Ila people, the colorful birds of Africa ask Blackbird, whom they think is the most beautiful of birds, to decorate them with some of his "blackening brew." Reading Level: 4.0; Accelerated Reader: 3.7
Head, body, legs : a story from Liberia, by Won-Ldy Paye Holt, 2002 In this tale from the Dan people of Liberia, Head, Arms, Body, and Legs learn that they do better when they work together. Reading Level: 3.2; Accelerated Reader: 2.3
How the cat swallowed thunder, by Lloyd Alexander Dutton Children's Books, 2000 Warned not to get into his usual mischief, Mother Holly's cat tries to tidy up all the mess he has made while she is away. Reading Level: 3.4; Accelerated Reader: 2.9
How the Whale Became, and Other Stories, by Ted Hughes. Orchard Books, 2000 A collection of creation stories explaining why owls hunt at night, why the dog was chosen to guard farm animals, why polar bears live at the North Pole, and how the elephant came to accept its unique and wonderful qualities. Reading Level: 4.6; Accelerated Reader: 4.7
Just So Stories, by Rudyard Kipling. Illustrated by Barry Moser Morrow, 1996 How the whale got his throat -- How the camel got his hump -- How the rhinoceros got his skin -- How the leopard got his spots -- The elephant's child -- The sing-song of old man kangaroo -- The beginning of the armadilloes -- How the first letter was written -- How the alphabet was made -- The crab that played with the sea -- The cat that walked by himself -- The butterfly that stamped. A collection of stories about animals, explaining such mysteries as why camels, leopards, elephants, and armadillos look the way they do. Reading Level: 8.0; Accelerated Reader: 6.4.

Tall Tales

American Tall Tales, by Mary Pope Osborne Knopf, 1991 A collection of tall tales about such American folk heroes as Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind, Pecos Bill, John Henry, and Paul Bunyan. Reading Level: 5.5; Accelerated Reader: 6.0
Big Jabe, by Jerdine Nolen Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 2000 Momma Mary tells stories about a special young man who does wondrous things, especially for the slaves on the Plenty Plantation. Reading Level: 4.6 Accelerated Reader: 4.5
John Henry, by Julius Lester Dial Books, 1994 Retells the life of the legendary African American hero who raced against a steam drill to cut through a mountain. Reading Level: 4.6; Accelerated Reader: 4.0
Love and Roast Chicken: a trickester tale from the Andes Mountains, by Barbara Knutson Carolrhoda, 2004 In this folktale from the Andes, a clever guinea pig repeatedly outsmarts the fox that wants to eat him for dinner. Reading Level: 4.2; Accelerated Reader: 3.1
Thunder Rose, by Jerdine Nolen Harcourt, 2003 Unusual from the day she is born, Thunder Rose performs all sorts of amazing feats, including building metal structures, taming a stampeding herd of steers, capturing a gang of rustlers, and turning aside a tornado. Reading Level: 4.9; Accelerated Reader: 5.4

Trickster Tales

Bruh Rabbit and the tar baby girl, by Virginia Hamilton; Paintings by James E. Ransome Blue Sky Press, 2003 In this retelling, using Gullah speech, of a familiar story the wily Brer Rabbit outwits Brer Fox who has set out to trap him. Reading Level: 3.7; Accelerated Reader: 3.2
Just a minute : a trickster tale and counting book, by Yuyi Morales Chronicle Books, 2003. In this version of a traditional tale, Senor Calavera arrives at Grandma Beetle's door, ready to take her to the next life, but after helping her count, in English and Spanish, as she makes her birthday preparations, he changes his mind. Reading Level: 3.8
Stockings of Buttermilk: American Folktales, edited by Neil Philip. Clarion Books, 1999 A collection of sixteen American folktales, each with a notation of its state of origin. Reading Level: 5.0; Accelerated Reader: 4.7