Magical Thinking:
Folktales, Fairy Tales, and Fables
from Around the World

My daughter has never had an interest in Disney princesses, but homemade Halloween “princess” costumes attest to the fact that she has always had a sense of adventure, a love of magic, a fondness for cool outfits, and the words “once upon a time.” Fairy tale audiobooks were among her first favorite stories, and I get that. One of my most cherished memories is of being confined to bed with scarlet fever. It was AWESOME. I got ice cream, and was brought tote bags filled with all sorts of enchanting tales.

For all of us who still wish, on occasion, for a magic wand, a godmother who makes it all better, a noble quest, or a royal crown, here are a few family faves beyond Grimm, all with an international flair.

• Cinderella Retellings


Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters
by John Steptoe
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Steptoe’s now classic story evokes Cinderella, the story of Cupid and Psyche, and an African folktale. Both kind Nyasha and super-competitive Manyara want to be queen, and Steptoe infuses the story with Zimbabwean culture and tradition, and with glorious artwork that is truly magical.
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The Way Meat Loves Salt: A Cinderella Tale from the Jewish Tradition
by Nina Jaffe, illustrated by Louise August
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Mireleh is banished by her rabbi father when she says she loves him “the way meat loves salt” — instead of as much as jewels or precious metals. But with the help of a magic wooden stick and the prophet Elijah, she is restored.
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Cendrillon: A Caribbean Cinderella
by Robert San Souci, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
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Told from the fairy godmother’s point of view, this story features a liberal dose of French Creole language, glossary included.
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Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China
retold by Ai-Ling Louie, illustrated by Ed Young
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The generous Yeh-Shen is helped by the spirit of a fish, who is skillfully incorporated throughout the book thanks to Ed Young’s distinctive art.
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• Fairy Tale Collections


The Barefoot Book of Princesses
collected by Caitlin Matthews, illustrated by Olwyn Whelan
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This collection features Danish, Iroquois, and Nigerian tales that are entertaining read-alouds and far from the traditional pink-and-diamond princess lore.
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Indian Tales
by Shenaaz Nanji, illustrated by Christopher Corr
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This vibrant collection from various regions of India includes helpful tidbits of information about regional history, culture, and folklore.
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Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, and True Tales
by Virginia Hamilton, illustrated by Leo Dillon and Diane Dillon
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Another modern classic that includes tricksters, giants, mermaids, vampires, and Catskinella, this is a Cinderella story infused with Southern culture and tradition.
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The Magical Monkey King: Mischief in Heaven
retold by Ji-Li Jiang, illustrated by Youshan Tang
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A wonderful choice for independent readers or nightly read-alouds, this book features the funny and beloved “trickster-hero” of the title.
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Mermaid Tales from Around the World
retold by Mary Pope Osborne, illustrated by Troy Howell
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This sadly out-of-print collection is available online, in libraries, and at used bookstores. It includes stories from the well-known “Little Mermaid” to the Nigerian “The Fish Husband” and Native American-inspired “Menana of the Waterfall”.
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• Tales for Tweens


Breadcrumbs
by Anne Ursu, illustrated by Erin McGuire
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This lyrical novel was inspired by “The Snow Queen” and paints a poignant picture of the ebb and flow of friendship as Hazel and Jack come of age.
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The Jumbies
by Tracey Baptiste
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A genuinely scary story and flat out thrill-ride inspired by a Haitian folktale. Corinne La Mer is independent and brave, but needs the help of an unexpected team of loyal friends to combat the jumbie Severine.
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Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
by Grace Lin
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This award-winning Chinese folktale-inspired novel features Minli, who befriends a dragon who can’t fly and a fish who can talk on her quest to reverse her family’s fortune.
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• Tales for Teens


Ash
by Malinda Lo
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This Cinderella-inspired tale holds a grieving Ash and her relationship with the king’s huntress, Kaisa, at the center of what is ultimately a story about the power of true love.
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Zahrah the Windseeker
by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu
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Talking pet allies, a forbidden jungle, and a poisonous snakebite make this sci-fi story the stuff of classic fairy tales. In Zahrah’s world, nature is paramount, and the living vines in her hair give her the power to fly.
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City of the Beasts
by Isabelle Allende
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Latin American mythology, magic, and environmentalism anchor this story, the first in a YA trilogy that’s followed by Kingdom of the Golden Dragon and Forest of the Pygmies.
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Around the world, fairy tales tell universal truths as they feed us with magic and mystery. My little princess still gets that far away look in her eyes as soon as she hears those four words: Once Upon A Time.

And so do I.