The Long Road written and illustrated by Luis Garay (1997)

This is the story of a family who is living a relatively happy and normal life in their Central American village. However, when civil war breaks out the family must flee. The family's journey north is a very difficult one, but tough times are still ahead. The family moves from place to place, hostel to refugee camp, and even when the mother finds work they still must rely on the food bank.

The Crow King by Lee Joo-Hye - Illustrated by Han Byung-Ho (2005)

In this Korean tale a man sets out on a perilous journey to rescue his beautiful bride from the evil Crow King.

The Sun Girl and the Moon Boy written and illustrated by Yangsook Cho (1997)

A Little Red Riding Hood-esque story with a twist. This story tells the tale of a mother who leaves her son and daughter at home while out to market. On the way a tiger tricks her into taking her clothes and then the tiger attempts to trick the children and access the house, however a rope comes down from the sky to lift the children up from the tree where the tiger has chased them. Their mother waits high in the heavens; she changes into the stars, her daughter becomes the sun, and her son, the moon.

Little Fingerling by Monica Hughes - Illustrated by Brenda Clark (2001)

Very similar to the previously mentioned Issun Boshi the Inchling, this is the story of Issun Boshi who is born to parents who have been wanting a child for a long time, yet their child is born about the size of a finger. This tale recount's Issun Boshi's journey through life and how he overcome's adversity.

Issun Boshi the Inchling by Momoko Ishii - Illustrated by Fuku Akino (1968)

"An Old Tale of Japan" - this story has many parallels to the story Tom Thumb or Thumbalina. This is the story of a child who is born only a few inches tall. Despite all odds the child surpasses many overwhelming obstacles and proves his worth.

The Burning Rice Fields by Sara Cone Bryant - Illustrated by Mamoru Funai (1963)

The story of an old man and his grandson who save the people of their Japanese village by setting fire to the rice field on top of the mountain.

The Brothers Grimm Popular Folk Tales by Brian Alderson - Illustrated by Michael Foreman (1997)

This is a collection of many traditional (and not so traditional) folk tales as translated and retold from the Brothers Grimm. These retellings stay relatively close to the original stories.

East of the Sun and West of the Moon by Kathleen and Michael Hague - Illustrated by Michael Hague (1980)

Based on a Norwegian folk tale, this is the story of a man who gives his daughter away to a bear in return for promised riches. But the girl does not know the bear is bewitched and it is within her power to change his life. So she unknowingly changes his fortune, and destines him to an unhappy life in a castle east of the sun and west of the moon. When she follows him, the adventure really begins.

Sirko and the Wolf by Eric A. Kimmel - Illustrated by Robert Sauber (1997)

Sirko the dog of a Ukrainian farm family is getting older and the wife of the family believes him to be no longer able to help around the farm. The wife convinces the husband to take the dog out to the forest and end his life, however the husband is unable to do so and sets the dog free. Sirko plots with a wolf to trick the family into taking him back by proving his usefulness, however the dog is eventually tricked by the wolf.

Mei Ming and the Dragon's Daughter by Lydia Bailey - Illustrated by Martin Spingett (1992)

The story is of a young girl, Mei Ming, who's village is suffering from a very serious drought. Every day she goes farther and farther to gather food for her father. One day she reaches a mountain top and finds water and vegetation, enough to save her village. She tries everything she can to dig to get the water to village, but it’s too great a feat. She sings and the animals hear her and guide her on a quest that brings the Dragon’s Daughter. The Daughter helps save her village.

The Dragon New Year by David Bouchard - Illustrated by Zhong-Yang Huang (1999)

This is the tale of a young girl who is scared from the fireworks which are used for celebrating the Chinese New Year. The girl's grandmother explains the history and legend behind the reason for fireworks, which is to ward off the sea dragon.

Beeswax Catches a Thief written and illustrated by Ann Kirn (1968)

A mischievous jackal harasses a group of animals by their pond and drinks from their pond. Since only animals who helped make the pond are allowed to drink from it, the other animals plot to capture the jackal using a beeswax trap.

Anansi The Spider written and illustrated by Gerald McDermott (1987)

Traditional Ashanti tale about a spider who goes on an incredible and difficult journey. He is marauded and threatened by numerous other animals but is saved by his sons. Anansi must now decide which of his sons to reward...

For an online reading of this book click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcKelcbas9s

Rainbow Crow retold by Nancy Van Laan - Illustrated by Beatriz Vidal (1991)

The Rainbow Crow brings fire on a burning stick from the Great Spirit in the sky to the snow-covered woodland animals. Because of the smoke he inhales as he flies back to the woodlands, he unselfishly loses his beautiful voice. No longer is he a rainbow-colored bird, but a black crow. His crackly "caw" and plain black feathers give him his freedom, however, for man, who has not yet arrived in the woodlands, will not hunt crow. Because Crow cannot sing, his feathers are black, and his meat tastes like fire and smoke, he will be free. Thus is his unselfishness rewarded. 

Sooshewan Child of the Beothuk by Donald Gale - Illustrated by Shawn Steffler (1988)

 Sooshewan is a young girl who's dying grandmother warns her about her father who has been out hunting and is in trouble. Despite the objections of the village, Sooshewan goes after her father on an epic journey.

Simon and the Golden Sword written and illustrated by Frank Newfeld and William Toye (1976)

Traditional folk tale which recounts the story of three brothers who go on a quest to fulfill the wishes of their dying father in order to take over their family farm. The youngest brother who is looked down upon by the two older brothers eventually shows up his siblings and 'wins' the farm.

Stone Soup by Ann McGovern - Illustrated by Winslow Pinney Pels (1986)

A young boy tricks an old woman into making him soup by making her believe that he has a magical stone which makes stone soup. As she attempts to make this soup, he encourages her to add numerous ingredients - eventually making a real soup.

For an online reading of this book please click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhauzTi9-BU

Heckedy Peg by Audrey Wood - Illustrated by Don Wood (2001)

This story follows the general structure of many traditional folk tales. A mother with seven children, each named for the days of the week, goes to market and tells the children to stay safe and not trust strangers. The children are tricked by a witch, Heckedy Peg, and she turns them all into food. Eventually the mother comes back and saves them by guessing which food each child has become.

For an online reading of the book please click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeq6xlhXDxU

My Mother's House, My Father's House by C.B. Christiansen - Illustrated by Irene Trivas (1990)

This is the story of a young girl who's parents are divorced but both very much still love and care for her. She describes her experiences travelling between the two houses - that of her father and that of her mother. The girl imagines her dream house as one with all three of them living happily together.

The Tunnel written and illustrated by Anthony Browne (2008)

This is the story of a brother and sister who are constantly at odds with one another. One day, the two siblings find a mysterious tunnel and the brother, despite the trepidations of his sister, decides to journey through the tunnel. When the brother doesn't return, the sister enters in search of him. The tunnel leads to a magical and mysterious forest where the brother is apparently lost. Eventually the sister finds her brother who has turned into a stone figure. After her loving hug, the boy turns back to normal and the two return home. When asked about their day, the children simply smile, knowing that they've shared something only siblings can.

For a video on Anthony Browne and his works visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zywvoPkEUX0

Ghost's Hour, Spook's Hour by Eve Bunting - Illustrated by Donald Carrick (1989)

This is the story of a young boy and his dog. The two are woken up one night by a frightening sound and go to investigate. After finding his parents missing, the boy walks downstairs with his dog to eventually find his parents asleep on the couch. All of the unexplained, frightening and mysterious things that occur are explained and all is well.

For an online reading, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fJ89HgtTA8