Children's travel books: Folktales, Fairytales, and Myths

Folktales, Fairytales, and Myths from around the world

World Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, and Myths

Below you will find a large variety of world fairy tales, folk tales, and myths. Most books share a story or group of stories from a specific country. You can click on any book to read more information and then find links to more books about that specific country. Enjoy learning more about your world via stories that have been told through generations.

What are Folktales?

A folktale is a story that was passed down through generations in the oral tradition. They’re usually based on something real to life and have a moral at the end of the story.

What are Fairy Tales?

A fairy tale is similar to a folk down in that the story was, likely, passed down orally through generations. There is also a lesson in the end. The difference is that instead of being based on real-life situations,  there’s a magical element. For example, the story includes dragons, unicorns, or fairies.

What are Myths?

Myths are like folktales with more meaning, often the story of the beginning, and include supernatural beings. Some can be based on actual events, but through time a great importance is connected to these stories which gives it a strong cultural connection.

What are Legends?

Legends started based on historical facts, but the story grows to include supernatural elements through time.

Please note: In many cases, these stories can overlap where they have elements of each other in them. For little kids, acknowledging those differences may not be as vital as sharing the stories that make up the backbone of a culture. Parents, however, may enjoy getting more in-depth than this post allows.

For a more in-depth look on this discussion, check out Scholastic or Myths and Legends.