...to ask for your favourite fairytales/myths/stories

[CatherineTheTiny]

Hi you all,

I am taking care of a very lovely 8-year old who loves stories of all kind and always keeps asking for another one. We make up our own "1-Sentence-Stories" (1 sentence me, one him and so on) and do lots of other things with storytelling too.
However, I am leaving in summer and as a goodbye present I want to give him his own storybook, made of our own stories, some stories I wrote myself and I want a section with myths and fairytales from all over the world. I'd really appreciate if you could just write down your (or your kids') favourite tales that are not your average Grimm's fairy tales ;)
Thank you all in advance

Autumn, damn you auto text!

I absolutely love the legend of King Arthur. Pandora's Box is a good one too

Great! I’ll ask DD tomorrow and report back.

Children of Lir and all the tales about Cuhuĺlin, the Irish warrior.

Even more lovely ideas, I really appreciate it.
@TheJoyOfSox how do you tell them apart?
@Arseface thank you so much for your research in the "relevant age group" ;)

What a lovely gift idea.

As a kid I was given a book about Ancient Greek Mythology. I hated Disney Princess type books too, still do, but loved loads of the ancient Greek & Roman stories.

I loved Theseus & the Minotaur

Hades & Persephone, though that always baffles me as pomegranate is the least tempting fruit ever, gritty messy thing the story wouldn't work with a mango I know

Odyss and the Cyclops

It surprised me when I read the original Grimm Brothers tales just how dark and disturbing they were.

@Woofy
I also heard the original Grimm's fairy tales as a child (blame my German upbringing) but Kiddo won't even give them a chance.
I love everything Greek mythology and will definitely include some.
Just out of interest, which of the original Grimm's tales do you like best?

@NoticeBored I was just about to post about the Children of Lir - always loved that story as do my kids now.... irelandofthewelcomes.com/the-children-of-lir/

I used to love stories about selkies when I was younger - an alternative to mermaids! A lot of those stories were a bit dark though (and, with the benefit of adult hindsight, contain forced marriage themes)

When I was a similar age I had a wonderful book (still do actually) that was called Myths and Legends and it was great. Mostly Greek but also a few from other cultures.

My fave Greek myth is probably the story of Arachne.

Try a book of Greek myths for children. Some of them are a bit gory but they usually have a moral to them.

Anansi the Spiderman also known as Brer Anansi is a good one. Lots of stories of him outsmarting everyone.

My 9 year old DS loves the Norse myths.

Brave Gelert
Romulus and Remus
Gog and Magog
Greyfriar's Bobby
The Beast of Bodmin
Tam O'Shanter
Dick Turpin
The Children of Lir

The vinder viper

Unsinkable Sam
Simon of HMS Amethyst
Sawney Bean
Arthurian Legends
The Flying Dutchman

Finn Maccool

Coyote the trickster

On the subject of silkies, I remember vaguely a story of about a silkie a ring and a wife beater. Does anyone know this story?

Aesops fables, Greek mythology/tales. I like the tale of Narcissus, falling in love with himself. And the old couple who were kind to Apollo, or some other God, passing through disguised as a beggar, and he rewarded them and punished the mean villagers.
I like Oscar Wilde, esp the Happy Prince, so melancholic
Hans Christian Anderson, again, so melancholic and sad.
I love the wild swans and the one about the princess and the swineherd
I used to love the Adventures of Pip, and like a pp, learned a lot about nature reading them.
Also like folktales/old legends like Springheeled Jack, Black Dogs, Beast of Bodmin, etc.

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I will spend my Sunday researching all those lovely stories and I'll definitely enjoy it.
If you want I can also upload some pictures of the finished product (whenever that will be 😂)

There are some amazing Cornish folktales and myths - have a google online. They are much more fairy/goblin/giants than princesses. They still inspire me even now.

Try looking up Jackie Morris. She is a fantastic illustrator who likes depicting myths and tales from around the world eg The seal children and The Snow Leopard. Also longer myths too. Beautiful illustrations.

I loved ‘The Little Singing Kettle’ by Enid Blyton. It was in a book of short stories that belonged to my mum. She read it over and over. There were little sketch type pictures. I can’t remember the name of the book it was in, more’s the pity.
Tootles the Taxi, a ladybird book of rhymes. I’d love to find another one.
All the original Thomas the Tank Engine books (the Rev. Awdrey ones). I’ve still got a ton of my old ones.
As an older reader, I loved The Otterbury Incident by Cecil Day Lewis (Daniel’s dad). My ex got rid of my copy in one of her vindictive moments, I was utterly heartbroken.
I love the Don Camillo short stories by Giovanni Guareschi (The Little World of Don Camillo). They are beautiful little stories, never fail to lift my spirits.