Korean Folktales: Cute Stuffed Toys to Knit the Japanese Way

by Kim So-un, Frances Carpenter, Setsu Higashi

Fifty-five delightful tales offering fascinating windows into the Korean psyche.

Told with wit and pathos, this lively collection of Korean fables features the ever-iconic tiger, the humble woodcutter, clueless brides, clever talking rabbits, mischievous mice and other engaging characters in situations where folly, wisdom, greed, love, reward and retribution are all found in equal measure.

Fantasy and reality merge in a world where supernatural occurrences are commonplace. A blind man can suddenly see evil spirits. A spoiled child is taught a lesson by a sassy mouse. A menagerie of creatures — too clever for their own good — possess the same foibles as humans. Amongst the many stories and characters you will

The Tiger and the Rabbit — In which a baby rabbit outsmarts a greedy, foolish tiger A Korean Cinderella Tale — Where a magical a creature or two help an oppressed but virtuous girl to win in the end The Magic Hood — About how magic, if used for ill purposes, can lead to big trouble Rice from a Cat's Fur — In which a devoted cat keeps a family from going hungry and brings them prosperity And forty other enchanting tales!
This collection is unparalleled in its scope and is the perfect introduction to Korea's rich storytelling tradition — containing classic legends and fables that will delight young and old alike!

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2024

Reviews

[Abby Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading these classic Korean fairy tales! This book was a fun way to learn more about the culture. The stories were told in an engaging and easy-to-follow manner that mirrored the experience of oral storytelling. Each fable managed to be charming while highlighting its core values in a whimsical and peaceful presentation that is accessible for any age. Would be a great read for winding down at the end of the day!

[EuroHackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable collection of folktales, reminiscent of Aesop's Fables. It is especially interesting to see what themes/motifs are universal across cultures and which are more locally centered. The Koreans apparently do not have a high opinion of tigers (or cats of any sort, really).

[Sohxpie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful collection of folktales! I love reading folktales and mythologies from other cultures and histories because it's so interesting to see how they differ from the English ones I grew up reading. I really enjoyed these Korean folktales, the first one, 'The Man Who Planted Onions' was certainly a strong opener, I genuinely don't think I can ever forget it. I liked how animals were a consistent theme, interesting to see how often tigers were portrayed as the enemy! I liked the tales of clever trickery, they are always satisfying to read. Overall, a fantastic collection!

[Mallee Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection contains many similar themes like folk tales from other nations. For example, being rewarded with riches for good deeds done to stories that explain how a situation has come about to this day.

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

A couple of the stories repeated, just with a couple different details, so that was a lil disappointing...

[selina]

there were some stories that were so similar i think they just changed the names 😭

[Katalin Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of this book is obviously incorrect. "Cute Stuffed Toys..."?
How do you even rate a collection of folktales? I don't think it is possible.
I (even though not finished yet) find them very witty.
There are some repetition in the stories and some typos so I took off 2 stars for that