Contents (view Concise Listing)

• xiii • Acknowledgments (Favorite Folktales from Around the World) • essay by unknown
• 1 • Introduction (Favorite Folktales From Around the World) • essay by Jane Yolen
• 3 • The Old Lady in the Cave • short story by Jane Yolen
• 8 • The Talking Skull • (1937) • short story by Douglas C. Fox and Leo Frobenius
• 15 • Why We Tell Stories • (1981) • poem by Lisel Mueller
• 17 • Telling Tales • essay by Jane Yolen
• 20 • The Man Who Had No Story • (1980) • short story by
  Séamas Ó Catháin^?Seamas O Cathain
• 24 • How Spider Obtained the Sky God's Stories • short story by R. S. Rattray (variant of How Spider Obtained the Sky-God's Stories 1930)
• 27 • Helping to Lie • (1966) • short story by Kurt Ranke
• 28 • The Ash Lad Who Made the Princess Say "You're a Liar!" • [Norske Folkeeventyr • 39] • (1960) • short story by
  Peter Asbjørnsen^?Peter Asbjoernsen
  and
  Jørgen Moe^?Jorgen Moe
  (trans. of Askeladden som fikk prinsessen til å løgst seg 1844) [as by
  Peter Christen Asbjørnsen^?Peter Christen Asbjornsen
  and
  Jørgen Moe^?Jorgen Moe
  ]
• 29 • The Parson and the Sexton • [Norske Folkeeventyr • 86] • (1960) • short story by
  Peter Asbjørnsen^?Peter Asbjoernsen
  and
  Jørgen Moe^?Jorgen Moe
  (trans. of Presten og klokkeren 1871) [as by
  Peter Christen Asbjørnsen^?Peter Christen Asbjornsen
  and
  Jørgen Moe^?Jorgen Moe
  ]
• 30 • The Tall Tales • (1974) • short story by Tanya Lee
• 33 • Catherine, Sly Country Lass • (1980) • short story by Italo Calvino (trans. of La contadina furba 1956)
• 38 • The Wise Little Girl • (1945) • short story by
  Александр Афанасьев^?Aleksandr Afanasiev
  (trans. of
  Мудрая дева^?Mudraya deva
  1873) [as by Aleksandr Afanas'ev]
• 41 • Clever Answers • (1945) • short story by
  Александр Афанасьев^?Aleksandr Afanasiev
  (trans. of
  Мудрые ответы^?Mudryye otvety
  1873) [as by Aleksandr Afanas'ev]
• 42 • A Dispute in Sign Language • (1963) • short story by Dov Noy
• 44 • Leopard, Goat, and Yam • (1983) • short story by Roger D. Abrahams
• 45 • An Endless Story • (1963) • short story by Keigo Seki
• 47 • The Very Young and the Very Old • essay by Jane Yolen
• 49 • Glooscap and the Baby • (1984) • short story by Lewis Spence (variant of Glooskap and the Baby 1914)
• 50 • The Brewery of Eggshells • short story by Thomas Crofton Croker (variant of The Brewery of Egg-Shells 1825) [as by T. Crofton Croker]
• 53 • Father of Eighteen Elves • short story by Jón Arnason (trans. of Átján barna fadir i álfheimum 1862)
• 55 • The Fly • (1970) • short story by Mai Vo-Dinh
• 58 • The Two Pickpockets • (1970) • short story by Katharine M. Briggs [as by Katharine Briggs]
• 59 • The Seventh Father of the House • [Norske Folkeeventyr • 65] • (1960) • short story by
  Peter Asbjørnsen^?Peter Asbjoernsen
  and
  Jørgen Moe^?Jorgen Moe
  (trans. of Den syvende far i huset 1871) [as by
  Peter Christen Asbjørnsen^?Peter Christen Asbjornsen
  ]
• 61 • The King's Favorite • (1979) • short story by Han Fei Tzu
• 61 • Wagging My Tail in the Mud • (1979) • short story by
  莊子^?Chuang Tzu
  Zhuangzi
  Zhuāngzǐ
  Chuang-tzu
  [as by Chuang Tzu]
• 62 • When One Man Has Two Wives • short story by Inea Bushnaq
• 62 • The Old Man and His Grandson • [
  KHM (Kinder- und Hausmärchen)^?KHM (Kinder- und Hausmaerchen)
  • 78] • (1944) • short story by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm (trans. of Der alte Großvater und der Enkel 1812) [as by Jakob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm]
• 63 • Half a Blanket • (1975) • short story by Michael J. Murphy
• 65 • True Loves and False • essay by Jane Yolen
• 68 • How Men and Women Got Together • (1984) • short story by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz
• 72 • The Little Old Woman with Five Cows • (1925) • short story by C. Fillingham Coxwell
• 78 • The Prayer That Was Answered • (1981) • short story by Audrey Hyde-Chambers and Fredrick Hyde-Chambers
• 82 • The Merchant's Daughter and the Slanderer • [
  Народные русские сказки^?Narodnyye russkiye skazki
  • 336] • (1945) • short story by
  Александр Афанасьев^?Aleksandr Afanasiev
  (trans. of
  Оклеветанная купеческая дочь^?Oklevetannaya kupecheskaya doch'
  1863) [as by Aleksandr Afanas'ev]
• 85 • What Happened to Hadji • (1914) • short story by Allan Ramsay (variant of What Happened to Hadji, A Merchant of Bezestan 1898)
• 87 • Mr. Fox • (1890) • short story by Joseph Jacobs
• 90 • The Waiting Maid's Parrot • (1979) • short story by Hao Ko Tzu
• 95 • The White Cat • (1863) • novelette by Comtesse d'Aulnoy (trans. of La chatte blanche 1697) [as by Mme. d'Aulnoy]
• 105 • Sedna • short story by Ronald Melzack (variant of The Sedna Legend 1967)
• 107 • Urashima the Fisherman • short story by Royall Tyler
• 110 • The Spirit of the Van • (1850) • short story by Anne Beale
• 112 • The Toad-Bridegroom • (1952) • short story by In-Sob Zong
• 115 • Taken • (1945) • short story by Robin Flower
• 117 • The Girl at the Shieling • (1972) • short story by Jón Arnason (trans. of Selmatseljan 1862)
• 121 • Deer Hunter and White Corn Maiden • (1984) • short story by Alfonso Ortiz
• 125 • Tricksters, Rogues, and Cheats • essay by Jane Yolen
• 128 • Tyll Ulenspiegel's Merry Prank • (1938) • short story by Moritz Jagendorf [as by M. A. Jagendorf]
• 129 • The Hodja and the Cauldron • (1914) • short story by Allan Ramsay (variant of The Khodja and the Cauldron)
• 130 • Being Greedy Chokes Anansi • (1985) • short story by Pamela Colman Smith (variant of Annancy and the Yam Hills 1896) [as by Pamela Coleman Smith]
• 131 • Quevedo and the King • (1970) • short story by Americo Paredes
• 132 • Why the Hare Runs Away • (1983) • short story by Roger D. Abrahams
• 134 • Coyote Fights a Lump of Pitch • (1984) • short story by Grenville Goodwin
• 136 • Crack and Crook • (1980) • short story by Italo Calvino (trans. of Cric e Croc 1956)
• 138 • The Master Thief • [
  KHM (Kinder- und Hausmärchen)^?KHM (Kinder- und Hausmaerchen)
  • 192] • (1944) • short story by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm (trans. of Der Meisterdieb 1843) [as by Jakob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm]
• 144 • Peik • [Norske Folkeeventyr • 101] • (1881) • short story by
  Peter Asbjørnsen^?Peter Asbjoernsen
  and
  Jørgen Moe^?Jorgen Moe
  (trans. of Peik 1871)
• 151 • The Monkey and the Crocodile • (1912) • short story by Ellen C. Babbitt
• 152 • The Race Between Toad and Donkey • (1985) • short story by Walter Jekyll (variant of Toad and Donkey 1907)
• 155 • The King's Son Goes Bear Hunting • (1925) • short story by C. Fillingham Coxwell
• 156 • John Brodison and the Policeman • (1985) • short story by Henry Glassie
• 157 • The Rabbi and the Inquisitor • (1948) • short story by Nathan Ausubel
• 158 • The Ugly Son • short story by Royall Tyler
• 160 • Dividing the Goose • [
  Народные русские сказки^?Narodnyye russkiye skazki
  • 499] • (1945) • short story by
  Александр Афанасьев^?Aleksandr Afanasiev
  (trans. of
  Народные анекдоты (b)^?Narodnyye anekdoty (b)
  1861) [as by Aleksandr Afanas'ev]
• 161 • The Men Who Wouldn't Stay Dead • (1842) • short story by Pierre Legrand d'Aussy (trans. of Les trois Bossus 1779)
• 163 • The Story of Campriano • (1980) • short story by Italo Calvino (trans. of La storia di Campriano 1956)
• 167 • The Fool: Numbskulls and Noodleheads • essay by Jane Yolen
• 170 • The Three Sillies • (1890) • short story by Charlotte S. Burne (variant of Variant of the Three Noodles 1884)
• 173 • Nasr-ed-Din Hodja in the Pulpit • (1949) • short story by Allan Ramsay (variant of The Khoja in the Pulpit 1914)
• 174 • Lazy Jack • (1849) • short story by James Orchard Halliwell
• 176 • Those Stubborn Souls, the Biellese • (1980) • short story by Italo Calvino (trans. of I biellesi, gente dura 1956)
• 176 • Chelm Justice • (1948) • short story by Nathan Ausubel
• 177 • The Drovers Who Lost Their Feet • (1970) • short story by Americo Paredes
• 178 • The Old Man and Woman Who Switched Jobs • short story by George Blecher and Lone Thygesen Blecher
• 181 • The Two Old Women's Bet • (1948) • short story by Richard Chase
• 183 • A Stroke of Luck • (1965) • short story by Linda Degh
• 185 • The Sausage • (1901) • short story by G. Djurklou (trans. of Kórfven 1883) [as by Baron G. Djurklou]
• 187 • Nail Soup • short story by G. Djurklou (trans. of Fanten å käringa 1881)
• 191 • Old Dry Frye • (1948) • short story by Richard Chase
• 194 • "Bye-bye" • short story by Diane Wolkstein (variant of "Bye-Bye" 1978)
• 195 • The Barn Is Burning • (1985) • short story by John Mason Brewer [as by J. Mason Brewer]
• 199 • Heroes: Likely and Unlikely • essay by Jane Yolen
• 202 • The Birth of Finn MacCumhail • short story by Jeremiah Curtin (variant of The Birth of Fin MacCumhail and Origin of the Fenians of Erin 1890)
• 210 • Li Chi Slays the Serpent • (1979) • short story by Gan Bao (trans. of 李寄斩蛇 unknown) [as by Kan Pao]
• 212 • The Devil with the Three Golden Hairs • [
  KHM (Kinder- und Hausmärchen)^?KHM (Kinder- und Hausmaerchen)
  • 29] • (1944) • short story by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm (trans. of Der Teufel mit den drei goldenen Haaren 1812) [as by Jakob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm]
• 218 • The Longwitton Dragon • (1945) • short story by Frederick Grice
• 220 • The Orphan Boy and the Elk Dog • (1984) • short story by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz
• 223 • The Flying Head • (1984) • short story by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz
• 228 • Molly Whuppie • (1890) • short story by Joseph Jacobs
• 231 • The Beginning of the Narran Lake • (1953) • short story by Mrs. K. Langloh Parker (variant of The Origin of the Narran Lake 1896) [as by K. Langloh Parker]
• 235 • The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was • [
  KHM (Kinder- und Hausmärchen)^?KHM (Kinder- und Hausmaerchen)
  • 4] • (1944) • short story by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm (trans. of Von einem der auszog, das Fürchten zu lernen 1812) [as by Jakob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm]
• 243 • Wonder Tales, Tall Tales, and Brag • essay by Jane Yolen
• 246 • Talk • (1947) • short story by Harold Courlander
• 248 • The King of Ireland's Son • (1962) • short story by Brendan Behan
• 254 • The Goose Girl • [
  KHM (Kinder- und Hausmärchen)^?KHM (Kinder- und Hausmaerchen)
  • 89] • (1944) • short story by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm (trans. of
  Die Gänsemagd^?Die Gaensemagd
  1815) [as by Jakob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm]
• 260 • The Princess on the Glass Hill • [Norske Folkeeventyr • 51] • (1859) • short story by
  Peter Asbjørnsen^?Peter Asbjoernsen
  and
  Jørgen Moe^?Jorgen Moe
  (trans. of Jomfruen på glassberget 1844) [as by
  Peter Christen Asbjørnsen^?Peter Christen Asbjornsen
  and
  Jørgen Moe^?Jorgen Moe
  ]
• 268 • The Promises of the Three Sisters • (1980) • short story by Hasan El-Shamy
• 276 • The Magic Mirror of Rabbi Adam • (1983) • short story by Howard Schwartz
• 283 • The Old Woman Who Lived in a Vinegar Bottle • (1970) • short story by Katharine M. Briggs [as by Katharine Briggs]
• 286 • The Magic Pear Tree • (1979) • short story by
  蒲松龄^?Pú Sōnglíng
  Pu Songlin
  Pu Sung-ling
  (trans. of 種梨 1740) [as by P'u Sung-Ling]
• 287 • Faithful John • [
  KHM (Kinder- und Hausmärchen)^?KHM (Kinder- und Hausmaerchen)
  • 6] • (1944) • short story by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm (trans. of Der getreue Johannes 1819) [as by Jakob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm]
• 294 • The Best Coon-and-Possum Dog • (1954) • short story by Frank E. Smith
• 294 • Hare and Hound • (1965) • short story by Michael J. Murphy
• 295 • The Maryland Dog • short story by George G. Carey
• 295 • The Split Dog • (1956) • short story by Richard Chase
• 297 • Shape Shifters • essay by Jane Yolen
• 300 • The Doctor and His Pupil • (1956) • short story by Paul Delarue
• 303 • The Swan-Maiden • (1888) • short story by Herman Hofberg (trans. of Jungfrun i svanhamn 1882)
• 305 • Sister Alionushka, Brother Ivanushka • [
  Народные русские сказки^?Narodnyye russkiye skazki
  • 260] • (1945) • short story by
  Александр Афанасьев^?Aleksandr Afanasiev
  (trans. of
  Царевичъ-козленочекъ (1st version)^?Tsarevich-kozlenochek (1st version)
  1856) [as by Aleksandr Afanas'ev]
• 308 • The Blacksmith's Wife of Yarrowfoot • (1866) • short story by William Henderson
• 310 • The Seal's Skin • (1972) • short story by Jón Arnason (trans. of Selshamurinn 1862)
• 311 • The Wounded Seal • (1850) • short story by W. Grant Stewart
• 313 • The Cat-Woman • (1960) • short story by James R. Foster
• 315 • The Serpent-Woman • (1885) • short story by Mrs. S. G. C. Middlemore (variant of The Serpent Woman)
• 323 • The Snake's Lover • (1970) • short story by José María Arguedas
• 329 • Not Quite Human • essay by Jane Yolen
• 331 • The Well-Baked Man • (1984) • short story by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz
• 333 • The Finn Messenger • (1964) • short story by Reidar Christiansen
• 335 • Vasilisa the Beautiful • (1945) • short story by
  Александр Афанасьев^?Aleksandr Afanasiev
  (trans. of
  Василиса Прекрасная^?Vasilisa Prekrasnaya
  1873) [as by Aleksandr Afanas'ev]
• 342 • Bridget and the Lurikeen • (1866) • short story by Patrick Kennedy (variant of The Kildare Lurikeen)
• 343 • The Two Hunchbacks • (1980) • short story by Italo Calvino (trans. of I due gobbi 1956)
• 346 • Then the Merman Laughed • (1972) • short story by Jón Arnason (trans. of Pá hló marbendill 1862)
• 347 • Pergrin and the Mermaid • short story by John Rhys
• 348 • The Ash Lad Who Had an Eating Match with the Troll • [Norske Folkeeventyr • 6] • (1960) • short story by
  Peter Asbjørnsen^?Peter Asbjoernsen
  and
  Jørgen Moe^?Jorgen Moe
  (trans. of Askeladden som kappåt med trollet 1841) [as by
  Peter Christen Asbjørnsen^?Peter Christen Asbjornsen
  and
  Jørgen Moe^?Jorgen Moe
  ]
• 350 • How Mosquitoes Came to Be • (1984) • short story by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz
• 352 • The Departure of the Giants • (1982) • short story by Harold Courlander
• 355 • Fooling the Devil • essay by Jane Yolen
• 358 • The Peasant and the Devil • [
  KHM (Kinder- und Hausmärchen)^?KHM (Kinder- und Hausmaerchen)
  • 189] • (1944) • short story by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm (trans. of Der Bauer und der Teufel 1843) [as by Jakob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm]
• 359 • Wicked John and the Devil • (1948) • short story by Richard Chase
• 367 • The Bad Wife • (1945) • short story by
  Александр Афанасьев^?Aleksandr Afanasiev
  (trans. of
  Сказка о злой жене^?Skazka o zloy zhene
  1873) [as by Aleksandr Afanas'ev]
• 369 • Katcha and the Devil • (1920) • short story by Parker Fillmore (variant of Katcha and the Devil: The Story of a Clinging Vine 1919)
• 375 • The Lawyer and the Devil • (1975) • short story by Michael J. Murphy
• 376 • Coals on the Devil's Hearth • (1985) • short story by Henry Glassie
• 378 • The Devil's Hide • (1922) • short story by Parker Fillmore
• 386 •
  How El Bizarrón Fooled the Devil^?How El Bizarron Fooled the Devil
  • (1974) • short story by
  Samuel Feijóo^?Samuel Feijoo
• 389 • Bearskin • [
  KHM (Kinder- und Hausmärchen)^?KHM (Kinder- und Hausmaerchen)
  • 101] • (1944) • short story by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm (trans. of
  Der Bärenhäuter^?Der Baerenhaeuter
  1843) [as by Jakob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm]
• 394 • The Lad and the Devil • [Norske Folkeeventyr • 30] • (1881) • short story by
  Peter Asbjørnsen^?Peter Asbjoernsen
  and
  Jørgen Moe^?Jorgen Moe
  (trans. of Gutten og fanden 1842) [as by
  Peter Asbjørnsen^?Peter Asbjoernsen
  ]
• 395 • Wiley and the Hairy Man • (1979) • short story by Donnell Van de Voort
• 401 • The Getting of Wisdom • essay by Jane Yolen
• 403 • Truth and Falsehood • (1970) • short story by Georgios A. Megas
• 405 • Getting Common Sense • (1985) • short story by Louise Bennett (variant of Anancy an Common-Sense 1979)
• 406 • Rich Man, Poor Man • (1983) • short story by Roger D. Abrahams
• 407 • The Lost Horse • (1979) • short story by Liu An
• 408 • It Could Always Be Worse • (1948) • short story by Nathan Ausubel
• 409 • His Just Reward • short story by George Blecher and Lone Thygesen Blecher
• 411 • Djuha's Sleeve • short story by Inea Bushnaq
• 412 • King Mátyás and His Scholars • (1965) • short story by Linda Degh
• 412 • The Missing Axe • (1979) • short story by
  列子^?Lièzĭ
  Liezi
  Lieh-Tzu
  Lieh Tzu
  [as by Lieh Tzu]
• 413 • What Melody Is the Sweetest? • (1963) • short story by Dov Noy
• 414 • The Peddler of Swaffam • short story by Jane Yolen
• 415 • The Beduin's Gazelle • short story by Inea Bushnaq
• 417 • The Happy Man's Shirt • (1980) • short story by Italo Calvino (trans. of La camicia dell'uomo contento 1956)
• 419 • Ghosts and Revenants • essay by Jane Yolen
• 422 • Orpheus and Eurydice • (1855) • short story by Thomas Bulfinch
• 423 • The Spirit-Wife • (1984) • short story by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz
• 428 • One Night in Paradise • (1980) • short story by Italo Calvino (trans. of Una notte in Paradiso 1956)
• 430 • A Pretty Girl in the Road • (1952) • short story by Vance Randolph
• 432 • The Dream House • (1970) • essay by Augustus Hare
• 433 • The Peasant and the Fiend • (1925) • short story by C. Fillingham Coxwell
• 435 • The Tinker and the Ghost • (1936) • short story by Ralph Steele Boggs and Mary Gould Davis
• 439 • Hold Him, Tabb • (1958) • short story by uncredited
• 440 • Drinking Companions • (1979) • short story by
  蒲松龄^?Pú Sōnglíng
  Pu Songlin
  Pu Sung-ling
  (trans. of 王六郎 1740) [as by P'u Sung-Ling]
• 444 • The Ostler and the Grave Robbers • short story by Katharine M. Briggs (variant of Burke and Hare-Tale II 1970) [as by Katharine Briggs]
• 445 • Death and the World's End • essay by Jane Yolen
• 448 • The Duration of Life • [
  KHM (Kinder- und Hausmärchen)^?KHM (Kinder- und Hausmaerchen)
  • 176] • (1944) • short story by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm (trans. of Die Lebenszeit 1840) [as by Jakob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm]
• 449 • Woman Chooses Death • (1984) • short story by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz
• 451 • Jump into My Sack • (1980) • short story by Italo Calvino (trans. of Salta nel mio sacco! 1956)
• 457 • Youth Without Age and Life Without Death • (1896) • short story by Petre Ispirescu (trans. of
  Tinerețe fără bătrânețe și viață fără de moarte^?Tinerete fara batranete si viata fara de moarte
  1882)
• 465 • Goha on the Deathbed • (1980) • short story by Hasan El-Shamy
• 466 • Death of a Miser • [
  Народные русские сказки^?Narodnyye russkiye skazki
  • 370] • (1945) • short story by
  Александр Афанасьев^?Aleksandr Afanasiev
  (trans. of
  Смерть скупаго^?Smert' skupago
  1861) [as by Aleksandr Afanas'ev]
• 466 • Godfather Death • [
  KHM (Kinder- und Hausmärchen)^?KHM (Kinder- und Hausmaerchen)
  • 44] • (1944) • short story by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm (trans. of Der Gevatter Tod 1812) [as by Jakob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm]
• 469 • The Hungry Peasant, God, and the Devil • (1947) • short story by Frances Toor
• 471 • The Word the Devil Made Up • (1935) • short story by Zora Neale Hurston (variant of How the Devil Coined a Word)
• 472 • A Paddock in Heaven • (1965) • short story by Katharine M. Briggs [as by Katharine Briggs]
• 472 • How a Man Found His Wife in the Land of the Dead • (1910) • short story by Annie Ker
• 474 • The End of the World • (1984) • short story by Richard Erdoes
• 477 • Notes (Favorite Folktales from Around the World) • essay by Jane Yolen