Folklore and Legends Definition
The OED defines folklore as "The traditional beliefs, legends, and customs, current among the common people." Folklore for children includes themes of celebration and elements of humor. Also, folklore in children's literature will often have a child as the main character (Children's Folklore by Brian Sutton-Smith, 1999)
Scholarly Articles About Folklore
Common Core Standards for Teachers
Common Core State Standards Initiative: Preparing America's Students for College and Career
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.2
Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.2
Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.
Scholarly Reference Resources on Folklore & Legends
Legend and Belief: Dialectics of a Folklore Genre by
Legend and BeliefDialectics of a Folklore Genre Linda Dégh An acclaimed folklorist asks "What is legend?" Legend and Belief is a descriptive and analytical study of the legend, the most prolific and characteristic form of folklore in contemporary Western civilization. Not that the legend does not have ancient roots; like the tale, the joke, the ballad, the proverb, and mummery, it was also a part of an archaic preindustrial tradition. But the legend--as old as conversation and debate, and similarly questioning the human condition--was able to survive technological innovations. It has remained contemporaneous, whereas many other genres succumbed to their own anachronism. The legend's concerns are universal and eternal, touching on the most sensitive areas of our existence. That is why stories about supernatural encounters, possessions, divine and infernal miracles, evil spirits, monsters, and prophetic dreams, as well as horror stories about insane and criminal agencies, inundate the urban/industrial world. Industrial advancement does not change the basic fragility of human life, while commercialization and the consumer orientation of the mass media have helped legends travel faster and farther. Legends are not only communicated orally, face-to-face, but also appear in the press, on radio and TV, on countless internet websites, and by e-mail to keep alive new waves of the "culture of fear." Linda Dégh, Distinguished Professor Emerita of Folklore at Indiana University, is a folklorist/ethnologist whose speciality is the analysis of personally observed creative processes of narration in both traditional and modern communities of Europe and North America. Her numerous publications include Four Lives: People in the Tobacco Belt; Folktales and Society; American Folklore and the Mass Media; and Narratives in Society. June 2001496 pages, 6 1/8 x 9 1/4, index, append.cloth 0-253-33929-4 $49.95 s / £38.00
ISBN: 9780253339294Publication Date: 2001-11-14
Engines of Instruction, Mischief, and Magic: Children's Literature in England From its Beginnings to 1839 by
When John Newbery published A Little Pretty Pocket-Book in London in 1744 he was onto something new: the writing and marketing of books devoted wholly to children. Although it was the Age of Reason and Newbery and his contemporaries believed that even the poorest young-ster could "look to his book" to achieve worldly success, there was an element of fun in the juvenile productions that soon flowed from the presses. The adventures of Dick Whittington, Giles Gingerbread, and Little Goody Two-Shoes delighted as they instructed. To read Engines of Instruction, Mischief, and Magic: Children's Literature in England from Its Beginnings to 1839 is to trace the origins of a cherished part of our cultural history. Mary V. Jackson's entertaining, lavishly illustrated book sets a new standard for the study of children's literature in England. Going beyond previous scholarship, she shows how social, political, religious, and aesthetic considerations shaped the form and content of children's books. These books have always been sensitive barometers of shifts in taste and belief, a means of inculcating in the young the prevailing values of the adult world. They brought about a revolution in publishing, as revealed in Jackson's discussion of marketing strategies and innovations. And they were indebted to adult literature and art: classics like Robinson Crusoe and Gulliver's Travels were eventually categorized as children's books, and Romantic poets and illustrators like William Blake pointed the way from Puritan piety to fantasy and freedom. This fascinating history is rich in implications for children's literature of today.
Call Number: PR990 .J33 1989ISBN: 0803275706Publication Date: 1989
Making of Modern Child: Children's Literature and Childhood in the Late Eighteenth Century by
(ebook)This booknbsp;explores how the concept of childhood in the late-18th century wasnbsp;constructed through the ideological work performed by children's literature, as well as pedagogical writing and medical literature of the era. Andrew O'Malley ties the evolution of the idea of "the child" to the growth of the middle class, which used the figure of the child as a symbol in its various calls for social reform.
Call Number: PR990 .O43 2003 EbookISBN: 0203504313Publication Date: 2004-06-01
Children's Folklore: A Source Book by
A collection of orginal essays by scholars from a variety of fields-- includng American studies, folklore, anthropology, pyschology, sociology, and education---Children's Folklore: A Source Book moves beyond traditional social-science views of child development. It reveals the complexity and artistry of interactions among children, challenging stereotypes of simple childhood innocence and conventional explanations of development that privilege sober and sensible adult outcomes. Instead, the play and lore of children is shown to be often disruptive, wayward, and irrational. nbsp;
Call Number: GR475 .C49 1999ebISBN: 0874213576Publication Date: 1999-03-01
All for the Children: Multicultural Essentials of Literature by
This innovative text addresses the most current issues in children's literature, particularly cultural diversity and multiculturalism. It seeks to define, compare, contrast and apply various genre as it can be integrated within a regular elementary curriculum setting. The emergence of children's literature that is multicultural is clearly explained while connections to theories of child development are made. Also included are various curricular applications of multicultural literature in lesson plan format, which are activity based and student-centered.
Call Number: PN1009.A1 F48 1997ISBN: 0827367945Publication Date: 1997-02-20
World Treasury of Children's Literature by Call Number: PZ5 .W832 1984ISBN: 9780316273039Publication Date: 1985-09-01
Legends for Children
The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark by
Carmen Agra Deedy?s award-winning retelling of a powerful World War II legend. Without the yellow star to point them out, the Jews looked like any other Danes. In 1940, Nazis occupied Denmark and King Christian X, beloved amongst his people, has to find some way to resist their overwhelming power. When the order goes out that all Jews must wear a yellow star on their clothes, the king has an idea that might just work. But it would take the faith and commitment of all Danes. In this retelling of a World War II legend, New York Times best-selling author Carmen Agra Deedy poignantly remind us of the power of a good, wise leader. Paired with Henri S�rensen?s arresting full-color portraits, this is a powerful and dignified story of heroic justice. Teacher?s Guide available! Bologna Ragazzi Award for Children?s Non-Fiction Christopher Award (Books for Young People) Jane Addams Peace Prize (Honor Book) ABC Children?s Booksellers? Choices (Non-fiction) Notable Books for a Global Society
Call Number: PZ7.D3587 Yg 2000ISBN: 1561452084Publication Date: 2000-09-01
Rip Van Winkle by
One autumn day, Rip Van Winkle wandered into the hills, and his life was never the same again. After encountering a group of mysterious men, he took a nap so long that upon waking, he found his gun rusty and his beard grown a foot long! Washington Irving's classic tale of the man who slept for twenty years, first published in 1819, was masterfully interpreted in 1905 by Arthur Rackham. The art for this book established Rackham as the leading illustrator of his time. This deluxe edition beautifully reproduces 31 of Rackham's exquisite watercolors, making the perfect gift for all ages.
Call Number: PZ7.I68 Ri 2000ISBN: 9781587170393Publication Date: 2000-08-01
The King of the Golden River: A Legend of Stiria by
The King of the Golden River is the magical story of a boy named Gluck, his evil brothers, and a perilous quest to find treasure lurking in the Golden River. Majestically illustrated by award-winning artist Juan Wijngaard, this classic tale by John Ruskin, the only fairy tale the celebrated English author ever penned, is compelling proof that the simplest things in life can be the most precious.
Call Number: PZ8.R897 Ki 2000ISBN: 0763608459Publication Date: 2000-01-05
African Folklore
Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky: an African Folktale by
Sun and his wife, the moon, lived on Earth and built a large house so that the water people could visit.But so many poured in that they were forced to move to the sky.
Call Number: PZ8.1.D33 Wh 1968ISBN: 0395296099Publication Date: 1968-09-09
A Story, a Story: an African Tale by
Discover how an African trickster god made it possible for people to tell stories in this brightly illustrated, Caldecott Medal-winning picture book. Long, long ago there were no stories on earth for children to hear. All stories belonged to Nyame, the Sky God. Ananse, the Spider man, wanted to buy some of these stories, so he spun a web up to the sky to bargain with the Sky God. The price the Sky God asked was Osebo, the leopard-of-the-terrible-teeth, Mmboro the hornet-who-stings-like-fire, and Mmoatia the fairy-whom-men-never-see. Can Ananse capture these sly creatures and give the children of earth stories to tell?
Call Number: PZ8.1.H139 St 1970ISBN: 0689205112Publication Date: 1970-02-01
Chinye: a West African Folk Tale by
Chinye lives with her cruel stepmother and lazy stepsister, but her life changes for the better when a mysterious old woman in the forest directs her to a magic gourd.
Call Number: PZ8.1.O56 Ch 1994ISBN: 0670851159Publication Date: 1994-05-01
Asian Folklore
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by
Joseph had a little overcoat, but it was full of holes just like this book! When Joseph's coat got too old and shabby, he made it into a jacket. But what did he make it into after that? And after that?As children turn the pages of this book, they can use the die-cut holes to guess what Joseph will be making next from his amazing overcoat, while they laugh at the bold, cheerful artwork and learn that you can always make something, even out of nothing.
Call Number: PZ7.T1115 Jo 1999ISBN: 0670878553Publication Date: 1999-10-01
The Empty Pot by
The Empty Potis Demi's beloved picture book about an honest schoolboy A long time ago in China there was a boy named Ping who loved flowers. Anything he planted burst into bloom. The Emperor loved flowers too. When it was time to choose an heir, he gave a flower seed to each child in the kingdom. "Whoever can show me their best in a year's time," he proclaimed, "shall succeed me to the throne!" Ping plants his seed and tends it every day. But month after month passes, and nothing grows. When spring comes, Ping must go to the Emperor with nothing but an empty pot. Demi's exquisite art and beautifully simple text show how Ping's embarrassing failure is turned triumphant in this satisfying tale of honesty rewarded. An IRA-CBC Children's Choice. AnAmerican Bookseller "Pick of the Lists."
Call Number: PZ8.1.D38 Em 1990ISBN: 0805012176Publication Date: 1990-03-15
The Boy of the Three-Year Nap by
Lazy Taro gets his comeuppance when his wise mother uses his trick to avoid work to her own advantage.
Call Number: PZ8.1.S66 Bo 1988ISBN: 0395440904Publication Date: 1988-04-25
Lon Po Po: a Red Riding hood story from China by
This Caldecott Medal-winning, classic retelling of Little Red Riding Hood is one of the most celebrated picture books of our time. With characteristic flair and energy, award-winning artist Ed Young illustrates the ancient Chinese version of the favorite fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. Young's vibrant, yet delicate, pastels and watercolors add drama to the deftly translated story. ★ ''A gripping variation of Red Riding Hood. This is an outstanding achievement that will be pored over again and again." --School Library Journal, starred review
Call Number: PZ8.1.Y84 Lo 1989ISBN: 0399216197Publication Date: 1989-11-01
The Emperor and the Kite by
Princess Ojeow Seow, youngest and smallest daughter of the Emperor, is not thought of very much by her family--when thought of at all. So she spends her days playing with a kite made from paper and sticks. When the Emperor is captured and imprisoned in a high tower, though, it is Djeow Seow who patiently weaves a long, strong rope of her own hair, attaches it to the tail of her kite, and cleverly flies up to her father in hopes of rescuing him. Ed Young's brilliant full-color illustrations, which are based on an intricate traditional Oriental papercut technique, grace this tale by renowned storyteller Jane Yolen. Told in an easy-to-read yet sensitive and poetic style, it evokes the long-ago and far-away flavor of ancient China. At the heart of the story are the timeless qualities of love and loyalty. This newly designed edition of the classic The Emperor and the Kite joins the beauty of language and art so wondrously that readers of all ages will be enchanted.
Call Number: PZ8.1.Y815 Em 1988ISBN: 0399214992Publication Date: 1988-04-05
North American Folklore
Baby Rattlesnake by
Baby Rattlesnake wants a rattle like his older siblings have. His crying keeps the rattlesnake elders up all night so his parents give him a new rattle. Sure enough, he misuses his new rattle. When he tries to scare the chief's daughter, she steps on his rattle and crushes it. Sad and defeated, he returns to his forgiving family who give him "big rattlesnake hugs."
Call Number: E99.C55 A73 1989ISBN: 0892390492Publication Date: 2013-04-01
The People Could Fly: the Picture Book by
“THE PEOPLE COULD FLY,” the title story in Virginia Hamilton’s prize-winning American Black folktale collection, is a fantasy tale of the slaves who possessed the ancient magic words that enabled them to literally fly away to freedom. And it is a moving tale of those who did not have the opportunity to “fly” away, who remained slaves with only their imaginations to set them free as they told and retold this tale. Leo and Diane Dillon have created powerful new illustrations in full color for every page of this picture book presentation of Virginia Hamilton’s most beloved tale. The author’s original historical note as well as her previously unpublished notes are included. Awards for The People Could Fly collection: A Coretta Scott King Award A Booklist Children’s Editors’ Choice A School Library Journal Best Books of the Year A Horn Book Fanfare An ALA Notable Book An NCTE Teachers’ Choice A New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of the Year
Call Number: PZ8.1.H154 Pg 2004ISBN: 0375824057Publication Date: 2004-11-09
John Henry by
Nothing can stop John Henry-no boulder, no mountain, and definitely no steam drill. Newbery Honor winner Julius Lester writes with such power that this African-American folk hero becomes as awesome as a natural phenomenon. Jerry Pinkney received a Caldecott Honor for his exuberant, glowing watercolor paintings of the hero. The book, celebrating its tenth year in print, was also a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award winner, a Parents magazine Best Book, and an ALA Notable Book, among other honors.
Call Number: PZ8.1.L434 Jo 1994ISBN: 0803716060Publication Date: 1994-10-01
Musicians of the Sun by
In this retelling of an Aztec myth, Lord of the Night sends Wind to free the four musicians that the Sun is holding prisoner so they can bring joy to the world.
Call Number: PZ8.1.M159 Mu 1997ISBN: 0689807066Publication Date: 1997-09-01
Coyote Steals the Blanket by
In vivid browns, tans and blues befitting its desert setting, Stevens's latest retelling stars a rapscallion bent on pilfering a blanket. After all, Coyote reasons, the blankets are merely covering some big boulders--who would notice? The wise Hummingbird warns the crafty critter that he will upset the balance of things by taking what doesn't belong to him. But Coyote steals the blanket ("I would look fine dressed up in this. I could wear it as a new coat") and a mad race ensues as the offended boulder rolls after the thief, who refuses to give up his booty. Frenetic drawings with a kid-like sensibility propel the story at breakneck pace from one vigorous scene to the next--Mule Deer tries to block the boulder and gets his antlers snapped off; Big Horn Sheep is flattened by the marauding rock. No excessive violence here, however, as the overall tone is reminiscent of a Roadrunner cartoon--and the subtle lesson about respecting the possessions of others may just seep into little ones' consciousness.
Call Number: PZ8.1.S74 Coy 1993ISBN: 0823409961Publication Date: 1993-03-01
The Talking Eggs: A Folktale From The American South by
The author of such delights as The Christmas Ark and The Enchanted Tapestry joins forces with illustrator Pinkney to resurrect a colorful folktale that captures the unique flavor of the American South. A 1989 Caldecott Honor Book.
Call Number: PZ8.1.S227 Tal 1989ISBN: 0803706197Publication Date: 1989-09-29
South American Folklore
Dancing Turtle: A Folktale from Brazil by
Turtle loves to dance and play the flute. But her exuberance puts her at risk when her music attracts the attention of a hunter who brings her home for turtle stew. After she is caught, her only hope for escape is the hunter's children ... and her own wit. This folktale, first told by the indigenous people of Brazil, is now told throughout Latin America. The versions are as different as the cultures that contain them, but all of them celebrate Turtle, who carries the world and its wisdom on her ....
Call Number: PZ8.1.D453 Dan 1998ISBN: 087483502XPublication Date: 2005-12-29
Martina, The Beautiful Cockroach: a Cuban Folktale by Call Number: PZ8.1.D3782 Mar 2007ISBN: 9781561454686Publication Date: 2007- Perez and Martina: A Portorican Folk Tale byCall Number: PZ8.1.B4127 Pe 1961ISBN: 9780723260172Publication Date: 1961-01-01
- How Night Came to Be: A Story From Brazil byCall Number: PZ8.1.P212 Ho 2001ISBN: 0816739943Publication Date: 2003-03-01
The Night the Moon Fell: A Maya Myth by
When a gust from her grandfather's blowgun causes Luna to tumble from the sky and fall into the ocean, the little fishes help her rise once again, in an updated retelling of a traditional Mopan Maya myth from Belize.
Call Number: PZ8.1.M785 Ni 2000ISBN: 0888993986Publication Date: 2000-08-01
European Folklore
Letters from Father Christmas by
Every December an envelope bearing a stamp from the North Pole would arrive for J.R.R. Tolkien's children. Inside would be a letter in a strange, spidery handwriting and a beautiful colored drawing or painting. The letters were from Father Christmas. They told wonderful tales of life at the North Pole: how the reindeer got loose and scattered presents all over the place; how the accident-prone North Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmas's house into the dining room; how he broke the Moon into four pieces and made the Man in it fall into the back garden; how there were wars with the troublesome horde of goblins who lived in the caves beneath the house, and many more. No reader, young or old, can fail to be charmed by Tolkien's inventiveness in this classic holiday treat.
Call Number: PZ7.T5744 Le 2004ISBN: 0618512659Publication Date: 2004-11-15
Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato: An Irish folktale by
When his wife injures her back and can't do all the work, Jamie O'Rourke--the laziest man in all of Ireland--is sure he'll starve to death. A wiley leprechaun intervenes, and one wish later, Jamie is the proud owner of a potato as big as a house An engaging read-aloud choice for St. Patrick's Day.--Booklist. Full color.
Call Number: PZ8.1.D43 Jam 1992ISBN: 039922257XPublication Date: 1992-02-20
Saint George and the Dragon: A Golden Legend by
A Caldecott Medal-winning tale of bravery, perseverance, and peace. Saint George and the Dragon retells the segment from Spenser's The Faerie Queene, in which George, the Red Cross Knight, slays the dreadful dragon that has been terrorizing the countryside for years and brings joy to the land. This beautifully illustrated story is a lovely addition to any collection of fairytales or folk lore.
Call Number: PZ8.1.H69 Sai 1984ISBN: 0316367893Publication Date: 1984-10-30
The Merry Pranks of Till Eulenspiegel by
Hans Christian Andersen Medalist Lisbeth Zwerger cunningly illustrates 11 folktales about Till Eulenspiegel, the famous sixteenth-century German folk hero, popular in legend as a shrewd trickster. In this handsome reissue, she chronicles Till's pranks from his triple dunking at his baptism, to his funeral, at which he leaves a last trick for his mourners. Zwerger's celebrated wit and insouciant style are the perfect complements to the antics of this notorious merrymaker.
Call Number: PZ8.1.J33 Me 2000ISBN: 9781558588066Publication Date: 2000-11-01
Folklore Key Words
Africa:
- Folklore -- Africa (9 books)
- Folklore -- Africa, West (5 books)
Asia:
- Folklore -- China (15 books)
- Folklore -- India (7 books)
- Folklore -- Japan (11 books)
- Korea (5 books)
- Folklore -- Jews (6 books)
North America:
- Folklore African Americans (10 books)
- Folklore Indians Of North America (18 books) AND Folklore Indians Of North America Great Plains (8 books)
- Folklore -- United States (13 books)
- Folklore -- Indians of Mexico (4 books)
- Folklore -- Mexico (10 books)
South America:
- Folklore Aztecs (6 books)
- Folklore -- Brazil (4 books) and Folklore -- Brazil -- Juvenile literature (1 book)
- Folklore Mayas (4 books)
Europe:
- Folklore -- England (9 books)
- Folklore -- France (13 books)
- Folklore -- Germany (14 books)
- Folklore -- Russia (4 books)
- Folklore -- Ireland (5 books)
Multilanguage Folklore
Say Hola to Spanish (English and Spanish Edition) by
An irresistible introduction to reading and speaking Spanish. With verse as bouncy as a conga line, this book makes it fun for children to learn to read and speak Spanish. This playfully illustrated book of verse will tickle a child's fancy, while introducing a new language and culture. Kirkus Review Pointer. Color illus.
Call Number: PZ73.E49 Sa 1996ISBN: 1880000296Publication Date: 1996-03-01
Jambo Means Hello: a Swahili Alphabet Book by
Presents a word, with English translation, for each of the twenty-four letters in the Swahili alphabet. Brief explanation of each word introduces an East African custom.
Call Number: PL8701 .F4 1974ISBN: 9780803743465Publication Date: 1985-06-03
The Cat in the Hat by
Translated by Carlos Rivera.
Call Number: PZ73.S477 Gat 1995ISBN: 0394816269Publication Date: 1967-04-12
A Place Where Sunflowers Grow by
While she and her family are interned at Topaz Relocation Centre during World War II, Mari gradually adjusts as she enrols in an art class, makes a friend, plants sunflowers and waits for them to grow.
Call Number: PZ49.31 .L44 2006ISBN: 0892392150Publication Date: 2006-05-25
Der Kleine Prinz by
The German edition of The Little Prince. Black-and-white illustrations by the Author. Translated by Grete and Josef Leitgeb.
Call Number: PZ34.S14 Li 1973ISBN: 0156252856Publication Date: 1973-10-24
Hairs = Pelitos by
This jewel-like vignette from Sandra Cisneros's best-selling The House on Mango Street shows, through simple, intimate portraits, the diversity among us. A Dragonfly Book in English and Spanish. A Parenting Magazine Best Children's Book of the Year ----------- Un excelente constructor de vocabulario, con nombres de objetos en Ingl y en Espal, acompados por ilustraciones, agrupados por ticos como colores, juguetes, animales y herramientas. From the Trade Paperback edition.
Call Number: PZ73.C53 Ha 1994ISBN: 0679861718Publication Date: 1994-09-10- Die Briefe vom Weihnachtsmann by Translation of: The Father Christmas letters. In German.Call Number: PZ33.T5744 Fat 1978ISBN: 3129079904Publication Date: 1978
- ISBN: 9789956763139
Vidokoni: Folktales from Mzimba, Malawi by
This book makes a rare contribution towards the preservation and promotion of ukhaliro wa bene Malawi (Malawian culture) that is fast waning. This dilution of culture was put in motion by the British colonial masters and got exacerbated with the inception of democratic governance in 1994. There is need for concerted efforts amongst various practitioners and stakeholders, led by the government itself, if the situation is to be put under control. Otherwise, sooner or later, it will simply be remote history that �long time ago, there was a unique culture in Malawi�. The book is a collection of twenty short stories that generally promote such themes as nkharo yiwemi (good behaviour); uheni wa chigolo na sanje (the bad side of selfishness and jealousy); kulimbikira pa vinthu (hard working spirit); and uheni wa mitala (the folly of polygamy), among others. The strength of the book lies in the fact that there is room for the reader to draw their own lessons based on their understanding of a particular story, in addition to the lesson already highlighted there-in. The book is a must read for all, young and old, especially those interested in understanding the societal values, not only about Malawi, but of Africa as a whole.
Call Number: PZ8.1.L468 .C453 2016 EbookISBN: 9789956763139Publication Date: 2015-12-13- Chʻin ai ti Han-hsiu hsien sheng by In his letters to his favorite author, ten-year-old Leigh reveals his problems in coping with his parents' divorce, being the new boy in school, and generally finding his own place in the world.Call Number: PZ10.831.C5418 De 1992Publication Date: 1992
