Books for Independent Reading
VERY EASY
- Seven Blind Mice
- by Ed Young
(Multicultural)
Philomel 1992 (32p)
In this fable from India, seven blind mice encounter an elephant
and argue about what it is.
- Agua Agua Agua
- by Pat Mora
(Multicultural)
Harper 1994 (16p)
A retelling of one of Aesop's fables.
- The Three Billy Goats Gruff
- by Paul Galdone
Clarion 1973 (32p); also paper
Three goat brothers brave crossing a bridge despite the presence of
a terrible troll.
- Henny Penny
- by Stephen Butler
Tambourine 1991 (32p)
On her way to tell the king the sky is falling, Henny Penny meets a
hungry fox.
EASY
- The Mitten: A Ukrainian Folk Tale
- by Jan Brett
Putnam 1990 (32p)
Eight animals find shelter in a boy's lost mitten.
- Rockabye Crocodile
- by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey
(Multicultural)
Greenwillow 1988 (32p); also paper
In this Philippine tale, a kind boar and a selfish boar find their
actions rewarded in different ways.
- The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit
- by Susan Lowell
Northland 1994 (32p)
The story of how steady Tortoise outraces cocky Jackrabbit
is told with Southwestern flair.
- The Bossy Gallito/El gallo de bodas: A Traditional Cuban Folktale
- by Lucía González
(Multicultural)
Scholastic 1994 (32p)
In this cumulative tale, the sun sets off a chain of events that
help Rooster. In English and Spanish.
- The Chase: A Kutenai Tale
- by Beatrice Tenaka
(Multicultural)
Crown 1991 (32p)
Not knowing why they're running, all the animals chase Rabbit, who
is late for dinner.
- Hot Hippo
- by Mwenye Hadithi
(Multicultural)
Little 1986 (32p)
Hippo longs to swim all day in the cool river in this pourquoi tale.
AVERAGE
- The Tale of Rabbit and Coyote
- by Tony Johnston
(Multicultural)
Putnam 1994 (32p)
Rabbit outwits Coyote in a tale that explains why coyotes howl at the moon.
- The Three Wishes: An Old Story
- by Margot Zemach
Farrar 1986 (32p); also paper
When a woodcutter and his wife are granted three wishes, the results
are surprising. Available in Spanish asLos tres deseos: Un viejo cuento.
- The Empty Pot
- by Demi
(Multicultural)
Holt 1990 (32p)
A boy's honesty is rewarded by the emperor in this Chinese folktale.
- Borreguita and the Coyote: A Tale from Ayutla, Mexico
- by Verna Aardema
(Multicultural)
Knopf 1991 (32p)
In a contest of intelligence versus strength, a lamb continually outsmarts
a coyote.
- Moon Rope/Un lazo a la luna: A Peruvian Folktale
- by Lois Ehlert
(Multicultural)
Harcourt 1992 (32p)
A fox and a mole climb to the moon on a rope woven from straw. In
English and Spanish.
- Welcome Back Sun
- by Michael Emberly
Little 1993 (32p)
Following legend, a Norwegian family hikes up a mountain to welcome the
sun's return after the dark winter months.
- It Could Always Be Worse
- by Margot Zemach
Farrar 1990 (32p); also paper
A poor man, overrun by his family in their small hut, seeks advice
from a rabbi. Available in Spanish asSiempre puede ser peor.
- The Legend of the Bluebonnet
- by Tomie dePaola
(Multicultural)
Putnam 1983 (32p); also paper
A courageous Comanche girl makes a sacrifice to put an end to a terrible drought.
Available in Spanish asLa leyenda de la flor el conejo.
- Johnny Appleseed
- by Steven Kellogg
Morrow 1988 (32p)
A favorite American tall tale relates how John Chapman became
legendary for planting apple trees.
- Tiger Soup: An Anansi Story from Jamaica
- by Frances Temple
(Multicultural)
Orchard 1994 (32p)
Anansi tricks a tiger, eats his soup, and gets some monkeys to take
the blame.
- Strega Nona
- by Tomie dePaola
Simon 1975 (32p); also paper
In this tale from Italy, Big Anthony finds himself in trouble when he
uses Strega Nona's magic pasta pot.
CHALLENGING
- Screen of Frogs: An Old Tale
- by Sheila Hamanaka
(Multicultural)
Orchard 1993 (32p)
A frog teaches a lazy Japanese man to respect hard work and nature.
- Puss in Boots
- by Charles Perrault
Farrar 1990 (32p)
A clever cat makes his master rich in this magnificent interpretation
of a classic tale. Available in Spanish asEl gato con botas.
- Coyote Steals the Blanket: A Ute Tale
- by Janet Stevens
(Multicultural)
Holiday House 1993 (32p)
Coyote finds himself in trouble after he steals a blanket from a spirit rock.
- The Boy of the Three-Year Nap
- by Dianne Snyder
(Multicultural)
Houghton 1988 (32p); also paper
A Japanese tale of a mother who tricks her lazy son into working.
- Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China
- by Ed Young
(Multicultural)
Philomel 1989 (32p)
A wolf threatens three young sisters after claiming to be their grandmother.
- The Flying Tortoise: An Igbo Tale
- by Tololwa Mollel
(Multicultural)
Clarion 1994 (32p)
This Nigerian tale tells why the tortoise has a cracked shell.
- The Paper Bag Princess
- by Robert Munsch
Firefly 1986 (24p) paper
A princess sets out to rescue her prince from a fiery dragon. Available
in Spanish asLa princesa vestida con una bolsa de papel.
- Iktomi and the Buzzard: A Plains Indian Story
- by Paul Gobel
(Multicultural)
Orchard 1994 (32p)
Iktomi gets in trouble with Buzzard after ridiculing him.
- Zomo the Rabbit
- by Gerald McDermott
(Multicultural)
Harcourt 1992 (32p)
Zomo the Rabbit tries to earn wisdom by performing three impossible
tasks for Sky God.
- Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story
- by Ai-Ling Louie
(Multicultural)
Putnam 1988 (32p); also paper
Fish bones transform the orphan Yeh-Shen into the most beautiful girl
in the kingdom.
Books for Teachers to Read Aloud
- Misoso: Once Upon a Time Tales from Africa
- by Verna Aardema
(Multicultural)
Knopf 1994 (88p)
Twelve stories from various parts of Africa.
- Traveling to Tondo: A Tale of the Nkundo of Zaire
- by Verna Aardema
(Multicultural)
Knopf 1991 (32p); also paper
Bowane and his foolish friends get sidetracked on their way to Bowane's wedding.
- The Gold Coin
- by Alma Flor Ada
(Multicultural)
Atheneum 1991 (32p); also paper
A thief learns a valuable lesson in giving. Available in Spanish as La moneda de oro.
- Crocodile! Crocodile! Stories Told Around the World
- by Barbara Baumgartner
(Multicultural)
Dorling 1994 (45p)
Seven traditional animal tales from India, Appalachia, Puerto Rico, and
other places.
- The Turnip
- by Walter de la Mare
Godine 1992 (32p)
A farmer becomes rich and famous after he grows a giant turnip.
Books for Shared Reading
- Tukama Tootles the Flute: A Tale from the Antilles
- by Phillis Gershator
(Multicultural)
Orchard 1994 (32p)
A boy, captured by a two-headed giant, uses the music from his flute to escape.
- The Old Woman and Her Pig: An Old English Tale
- by Rosanne Litzinger
Harcourt 1993 (32p)
A cumulative tale about a woman's attempt to get her pig over a stile.
- Nine-In-One, Grr! Grr!: A Folktale from the Hmong People of Laos
- by Blia Xiong
(Multicultural)
Childrens 1989 (32p)
Bird tricks Tiger to prevent the country from being overrun by tigers.
- Baby Rattlesnake
- by Te Ata and Lynn Moroney
(Multicultural)
Childrens 1989 (32p); also paper
Baby Rattlesnake causes trouble when he gets a rattle before he's ready for it.