Traditional stories have endured time and are familiar to all ages. These traditional stories may be fairy tales and fables. Folktales may be more culturally specific but contain concepts and truths that transcend cultures. This list of books of fairy tales, folktales, and fables are great for foundational literacy and are a good starting point to introduce these traditional stories to your preschoolers. You may want to focus on fairy tales and fables as a specific theme for your class or weave these tales throughout your school year.
Books with Fairy Tales for Preschoolers
Red Riding Hood by James Marshall
The Gingerbread Man by Eric A. Kimmel
Jack and the Beanstalk by Carol Ottolenghi
Little Red Hen by Lucinda McQueen
The Three Little Pigs by Mei Matsouka
Goldilocks and the Three Bears by James Marshall
Cinderella by Barbara Karlin
The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
The Princess and the Pea by Hans Christian Andersen
The Ugly Duckling by Rachel Isadora
Hansel and Gretel by James Marshall
Rapunzel by Catherine McCafferty
Elves and the Shoemaker by Paul Galdone
Sleeping Beauty by Carol Ottolenghi
Books with Fables and Folktales for Preschoolers
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
The Tortoise and the Hare by Teresa Mlawer
The Boy Who Cried Wolf by B.G. Hennessy
Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott
The Ant and the Grasshopper by R.F. Gilmor
Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest by Gerald McDermott
Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg
Pecos Bill by Steven Kellogg
Paul Bunyan by Steven Kellogg
Henny Penny by Paul Galdone
Puss in Boots by Paul Galdone
The City Mouse and the Country Mouse by Eric Blair
More Book Lists for Preschoolers
