Buy new:
-10% $21.60
FREE delivery Tuesday, May 14 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$21.60 with 10 percent savings
List Price: $24.00

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Tuesday, May 14 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 5 hrs 30 mins
In Stock
$$21.60 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$21.60
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$8.18
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Shipped fast and reliably through the Amazon Prime program! Book may contain some writing, highlighting, and or cover damage. Shipped fast and reliably through the Amazon Prime program! Book may contain some writing, highlighting, and or cover damage. See less
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 14 hrs 15 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$21.60 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$21.60
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Best-Loved Folktales of the World Paperback – August 9, 1983

by Joanna Cole (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 150 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$21.60","priceAmount":21.60,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"21","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"60","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"33H%2Fle3a5Pzq3I4Dz0gJbT9pd11TSqUt5g5PhcVO%2BHcGroKEWPKWQivPehqCdyaMyFv7EGPLR5XKiivD4DxQ%2FyKVuCml0MSw6oq4T7y39R8eKUWQvSbXu2p8Y%2F2aAQCdg%2Fe0y9SkNOo%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$8.18","priceAmount":8.18,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"8","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"18","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"33H%2Fle3a5Pzq3I4Dz0gJbT9pd11TSqUtUzrYjaQQ6%2FbJkHbc8GgdpubuOkT1BwuHlA16%2Fgtc4cl0nFmb57K%2BljbOJyWzEIqkUGyZJCijQEuG6KigCFHkiAOZ5Rg8q9QcReeunMunSX89P%2BXieGCJ7LcHI9QZvmezqOUKIFKgbZAqNecBerGdHmWtwsSi9Bq4","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

This collection of over two hundred folk and fairy tales from all over the world is the only edition that encompasses all cultures. Arranged geographically by region—West and East Europe, British Isles, Scandinavia, and Northern Europe, Middle East, Asia, the Pacific, Africa, North America, the Carribean and West Indies, and Central and South America—and lovingly selected from the personal favorites of folklorists and writers, this book is a major anthology in its field.
Gathered together in this wide-ranging collection are familiar classics like "Snow-White" and "Sleeping Beauty," and stories that equal them from all major cultures. Together they offer magic, adventure, laughter, reflection, vivid images, and a throng of colorful characters. More important, they offer insight into the oral traditions of different cultures and deal with universal human dilemmas that span differences of age, culture, and geography. Animal fables, proverbs, ghost  stories, funny tales, and tales of enchantment provide a unique reading experience for all ages.
A category index groups the tales by plot and character, e.g., humorous, supernatural, and "pourquoi" tales, married couples, enchanted sweethearts, etc. Like all great literature, these tales can be read with fascination on many levels, making Best-Loved Folktales of the World a classic and enduring collection.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    6 - 8 years
  2. Print length
    816 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Dimensions
    5.2 x 1.7 x 8 inches
  5. Publisher
    Anchor
  6. Publication date
    August 9, 1983
  7. ISBN-10
    0385189494
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0385189491
  9. See all details
Next page
Books with Buzz
Books with Buzz
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more

Frequently bought together

Best-Loved Folktales of the World
$21.60
Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm All-New Third Edition
$19.33
Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
$11.99
Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A collection of over 200 folk and fairy tales from all over the world, this is the only edition that encompasses all cultures. Arranged geographically by region, this book also includes category index groups that list the stories by plot and character.

From the Back Cover

A collection of over 200 folk and fairy tales from all over the world, this is the only edition that encompasses all cultures. Arranged geographically by region, this book also includes category index groups that list the stories by plot and character.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Anchor (August 9, 1983)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 816 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0385189494
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385189491
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 6 - 8 years
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.42 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.2 x 1.7 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 150 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
150 global ratings
Not very good
3 Stars
Not very good
Here's the thing, I haven't read anything from the book yet. I just received it, and I'm not too pleased. Right off the bat, I noticed that the book was a bit banged up. I had ordered a "very good" copy which I expect to be almost as good as new but with some signs of usage. But this has dents in the edges and folded cover corners. But not only that, some of the inside pages have been colored. The coloring is scribbled into the chapter pages' drawings. It makes it look quite childish and messy. It seems to me that someone just checked the "very good" box to make some extra money. It seems to me that "good" would have been a more fitting word for this book copy.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

huevalueintensity
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book reflecting the ture diversity of humanity!
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2016
Verified Purchase
I had a hard cover copy of this book years ago that I lent to a family member and it was never returned to me. I am happy to get a new copy of this old classic which contains mostly short stories. Despite the length of most of the folk-tales it is still a joy to read, it covers a wide range of cultures and countries so there is something for everyone. What I find most interesting regarding the book is the different views that each folk-tale/ country holds in regards to daily struggles, happiness, dreams, and life in general. The different perspective are both appreciated and represented well in this book.
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
carrie
5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of stories
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
Excellent resource
Helpful
 Report
paperdollmom
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book!
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2009
Verified Purchase
This book is full of fairytales/folktales all catagorized by where they originated. The index in the back seperates the stories under different topics, to make it easy to find what you want to read about. It is true, that not all these stories are for young ones, but one of the topics in the index is for young children, which allows you to pinpoint just which stories are appropriate to read at bedtime! Now when it comes to yourself...you will have a great time reading through all of these fun tales before your nod off to sleep! I love this book, I seem to be reading a new story every time I open it up...
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Sara M. Urbano
5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Folktales!
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2016
Verified Purchase
I purchased this book for a college class. This anthology has all of the western classics (whose versions I recall from Disney movies) and so many more that I have never read before. Some tales are suitable for children and I have ready several to mine.

The tales are organized geographically; for example, Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Western Europe, etc. In the back of the book there is a list of themes like journeys and quests, ogres and trolls, and so on.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
isy
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, easy read.
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2020
Verified Purchase
Great book and an easy read.
Unfortunately, it was ordered for a four-week class and arrived during week three. I gave it to the instructor to give to a future student.
Helpful
 Report
Canadian Soup
5.0 out of 5 stars A Massive Treasury
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2013
Verified Purchase
This is one of my favorite folk tale books out there. It's a HUGE collection of stories from all over the world, all sorts of different cultures represented here (I will say, though, that a large number of the stories are from Europe, so the different regions/cultures aren't exactly equally represented). But still, I quite often find myself picking this up and reading a story or two.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Sherry Garnett
5.0 out of 5 stars Great collection of folk tales from around the world.
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2015
Verified Purchase
This book surprised me. Didn't know what to expect but I love it. We're using it for my sons curriculum this year. its been very interesting to read folk tales from around the world. Some are difficult to read... and understand. But most have been really easy to read and very enjoyable.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Mms
3.0 out of 5 stars Not very good
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2020
Verified Purchase
Here's the thing, I haven't read anything from the book yet. I just received it, and I'm not too pleased. Right off the bat, I noticed that the book was a bit banged up. I had ordered a "very good" copy which I expect to be almost as good as new but with some signs of usage. But this has dents in the edges and folded cover corners. But not only that, some of the inside pages have been colored. The coloring is scribbled into the chapter pages' drawings. It makes it look quite childish and messy. It seems to me that someone just checked the "very good" box to make some extra money. It seems to me that "good" would have been a more fitting word for this book copy.
Customer image
Mms
3.0 out of 5 stars Not very good
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2020
Here's the thing, I haven't read anything from the book yet. I just received it, and I'm not too pleased. Right off the bat, I noticed that the book was a bit banged up. I had ordered a "very good" copy which I expect to be almost as good as new but with some signs of usage. But this has dents in the edges and folded cover corners. But not only that, some of the inside pages have been colored. The coloring is scribbled into the chapter pages' drawings. It makes it look quite childish and messy. It seems to me that someone just checked the "very good" box to make some extra money. It seems to me that "good" would have been a more fitting word for this book copy.
Images in this review
Customer image Customer image Customer image Customer image Customer image
Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Christopher
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for finding just the tale you need
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 12, 2017
Verified Purchase
Whyever you need a story, you'll find one here. As a practising storyteller, I've often recommended this book to teachers and other storytellers – it contains a fair chunk of classics, such as the best of the Grimms and Asbjørnsen & Moe, alongside many other delightful tales that Joanna Cole has clearly researched painstakingly (some footnotes suggest such collected a few from other storytellers directly). But up until recently, I'd only've given it 4 stars, since the stories are grouped by country of origin – useful for sure, but sometimes you want to find stories with a common theme...

Then, last week, I was thumbing through the index when I discovered a section helping you find the stories by category! The usefulness of this already-hugely-useful book just shot through the roof. Whether you're a teacher, storyteller, priest, therapist, or writer looking for inspiration, this collection will get you on your way.
Report
Bhaswar Misra
5.0 out of 5 stars This is very wonderful book. I think as an Indian I have ...
Reviewed in India on February 10, 2015
Verified Purchase
This is very wonderful book. I think as an Indian I have purchased this book for the very first time. This rich, nearly 850-page long volume contains two hundred carefully selected folk and fairy tales from all over the world that include adventure, mystery, romance, humor, drama, fantasy and horror. You will find this book difficult to put down whether you decide to enjoy it on your own, or read from it to your children in family gatherings or at bedtime.
Organized by geographic region, from Europe to the Middle East to Asia, Africa and America, this wide-ranging collection includes some well-known stories like "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Beauty and the Beast," and not so known, but equally charming ones like ""The Forest Bride" and "The Fire on the Mountain," all of which will evoke feelings of awe and wonder at the vast wealth of traditions and mythologies of our world's cultures.
Moreover, the wonderful introduction to this volume explains the considerations that went into selecting the tales, commenting on the origins, evolution, lore, compilation and study of the world's folktales, analyzing their motifs, and even presenting interesting comparisons between them.
As a bonus, this book includes a category index to help you choose the tales according to their topic, including tales of Wise Men and Judges, tales of Giants, Ogres and Male Monsters, and tales of Ghosts and the Supernatural, among others. A thorough index by title is also available.
Overall, this is the best collection of fairy tales and folktales available in a single volume.
Get it today, and enjoy it for years to come.
2 people found this helpful
 Report
Frances L. Arsenault
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reading!
Reviewed in Canada on January 7, 2012
Verified Purchase
I never, never get tired of fairy-tales - especially fairy-tales I already know. I love to read the stories from the book every night. My favorite stories are:
· Drakestail (France),
· The Talking Cat (French Canadian),
· The Three Hares (Turkey),
· Beauty and the Beast (France),
· Cinderella (France),
· Snow White (Germany),
· The White Cat (France),
· Puss in Boots (France), and a couple of others. I really love this book! it's excellent reading
Report