Staff Picks
Read All About It: Asian Folklore Titles for Youth
- Jocelyn T.
- Friday, June 10, 2022
Collection
Read and celebrate the amazing Asian folklore stories about grand heroes, exciting adventures, and fantastical places below!
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Monkey King Wreaks Havoc in Heaven
Published in 2001
A mischievous monkey with godlike powers creates havoc in heaven as he challenges warriors in magical competitions. Based on an episode from the sixteenth-century Chinese novel about the stone monkey.

The Sun Girl and the Moon Boy
Published in 1997
A hungry tiger tries to trick a brother and sister into opening their door by pretending to be their absent mother.

A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts
Published in 2009
According to Chinese tradition, those who die hungry or unjustly come back to haunt the living. Some are appeased with food. But not all ghosts are successfully mollified. In this chilling collection of stories,Ying Chang Compestine takes readers on a journey through time and across different parts of China. From the building of the GreatWall in 200 BCE to themodern day of iPods, hungry ghosts continue to torment those who wronged them. At once a window into the history and culture of China and an ode to Chinese cuisine, this assortment of frightening tales?complete with historical notes and delectable recipes?will both scare and satiate!

A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts
A Collection of Deliciously Frightening Tales
Published in 2009
Presents and eight-course banquet of ghost stories centering around Chinese cooking and culture. Each story is followed by a recipe and historical notes.

The Chinese Emperor's New Clothes
Published in 2017
A young emperor, whose advisors have taken advantage of him, enlists the help of honest tailors to reveal their misdeeds in this retelling of the classic fairy tale. Includes historical notes and instructions for making a robe.

Many Lands, Many Stories
Asian Folktales for Children.
Published in 2012
This collection of multicultural children's fairy tales from Asia presents 15 classic stories that kids and parents will love. Each country has its own set of interesting stories, and it is especially enjoyable to discover tales that one may not have heard before. The fifteen folktales collected in this book, representing five countries of Asia, are stories that the author has heard directly from friends and acquaintances from those lands, or that are found in the classic literature of the countries. From India we read of snakes and mongooses, and of lions and rabbits that can talk. From Japan comes The Crane's Gratitude, one of the most beloved stories of that land. The tales from China are fantastic yarns of magic about people who paint pictures that come to life, or who fly away into the sky and live happily ever after. Some stories tell us how things came to be (like How the Sea Became Salty, from Japan) and why things are the way they are (such as Why Cats and Dogs Don't Get Along, from Korea). Others teach a lesson, as in the tale from Thailand in which a jeweler learns the importance of not being greedy.


Piecing Earth & Sky Together
A Creation Story from the Mien Tribe of Laos
Published in 2001
While she and her grandmother work on their embroidery, Mei Yoon listens to an old Mein tale about the creation of the earth and the sky.

The Donkey and the Rock
Published in 1999
In this version of a tale with many Asian variations, a wise king, who rules a town full of foolish people in the mountains of Tibet, puts a donkey and a rock on trial to settle the dispute between two honest men.

Grandma and the Great Gourd
A Bengali Folk Tale
Published in 2013
On her way to visit her daughter on the other side of the jungle, Grandma encounters a hungry fox, bear, and tiger, and although she convinces them to wait for her return trip, she still must find a way to outwit them all.

Brother Rabbit
Published in 1996
A crocodile, two elephants, and an old woman are no match for a mischievous rabbit.


Filipino Children's Favorite Stories
Published in 2000
"A collection of well-loved myths and tales from the Philippines. Many of the tales have been told by mothers to children over the centuries and cover classic childhood themes, such as the forces of good versus evil, children versus adults, the weak versus the strong, and others. While some of the stories have been retold and printed in many variations, others have never been published before"--Jacket.

Filipino Children's Favorite Stories.
Published in 2012
This colorfully illustrated multicultural children's book presents Philippine fairy tales and other folk stories providing insight into a rich oral culture. Filipino Children's Favorite Stories presents thirteen well-loved myths and tales from the Philippines. These stories will enchant six to ten year old readers around the world with their wit and charm. Many of the tales have been transmitted from mother to child over centuries, and cover classic childhood themes such as the forces of good triumphing over evil, children rebelling against adults and the weak prevailing over the strong. Narrated with an international audience in mind and illustrated with whimsical watercolors by award-winning artist Joanne de Leon, this is a must-have collection of tales for anyone interested in the Philippines. Featured Filipino stories include: o Why Mosquitoes Buzz Around Our Ears The Magic Lake o The Deer and the Snail o Why the Cock Crows o The Prince's Bride o The Children's Favorite Stories series was created to share the folktales and legends most beloved by children in the East with young readers of all backgrounds in the West.


Counting Crocodiles
Published in 1997
In this rhymed retelling of a traditional Asian tale, a clever monkey uses her ability to count to outwit the hungry crocodiles that stand between her and a banana tree on another island across the sea.

Vietnamese Children's Favorite Stories.
Published in 2015
This colorfully illustrated multicultural children's book presents Vietnamese fairy tales and other folk stories-providing insight into a rich literary culture. Vietnamese Children's Favorite Stories, is a charming collection of fifteen tales as told by prominent storyteller Tran Thi Minh Phuoc. In it, Tran-Minnesota's first Vietnamese librarian and an active member of the Vietnamese-American community-recounts cherished folktales such as "The Story of Tam and Cam" (the Vietnamese version of Cinderella), "The Jade Rabbit," and "The Legend of the Mai Flower." With beautiful illustrations by veteran artists Nguyen Thi Hop and Nguyen Dong, children and adults alike will be enchanted by Tran's English retellings. Stories in which integrity, hard work and a kind heart triumph over deception, laziness, and greed-as gods, peasants, kings and fools spring to life in legends of bravery and beauty, and fables about nature. The Children's Favorite Stories series was created to share the folktales and legends most beloved by children in the East with young readers of all backgrounds in the West. Vietnamese Children's Favorite Stories will keep Vietnam's folktales alive for them and the legions of young readers who enjoy multicultural children's books and stories set in faraway lands.

Vietnamese Children's Favorite Stories
Published in 2015
The tales chosen for this book share the Vietnamese five great virtues: Nhan (Compassion), Le (Rituals), Nghia (Righteousness), Tri (Wisdom), and Tin (Trust). The author notes that her parents used traditional stories to teach children values and morals. Now the author, who is a story teller, uses the same tales to help Vietnamese children learn their traditional culture and values.