I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but fairy tales with talking animals show up all the time. I am a personal fan of this trope since I’m an animal lover in general and a lifelong fan of Beatrix Potter. So if you’re looking for a roundup of fairy tales with chatty, precocious animals, I’m your girl.
Let’s put some parameters on this list, shall we? First, I’m not looking for tales in which an animal randomly shows up and then leaves. Talking animals like to pop in to announce good news to heroines and then vanish into thin air. But we’re looking for fairy tales with talking animals who stick around and perhaps even play a lead role. Fairy tales with all-animal casts are preferred, and I will obviously prioritize stories that I personally enjoy.
Without further ado, here are thirteen delightful fairy tales with talking animals:
1. Puss in Boots
You’d better believe that my first pick stars my favorite creature of all: the not-so-humble feline. In it a poor young man inherits his father’s clever cat. The lad is far from excited about this gift, but the kitty clears the way for his master to cast aside his rags for untold riches. This tale is French in origin and written by Charles Perrault, the same dude who brought us Cinderella’s glass slippers. Read it here.
2. The Ugly Duckling
A true classic! This is a Danish fairy tale penned by the formidable Hans Christian Andersen, and there are theories that this story was actually autobiographical. In it a little duckling is the biggest and ugliest of his brood and endures taunting all his life. It isn’t until years later that he discovers he was a late bloomer—a regal swan surrounded by common ducks all along. Read it here.
3. Mrs. Fox’s Wedding
Looking for fairy tales with talking animals who are foxes? This is a delightfully obscure installment from the Brothers Grimm that has two distinct versions. In one old Mr. Fox dies, and Mrs. Fox spends the tale looking for a new suitor. In the other version, Mr. Fox has nine tails and actually fakes his death to find out just how faithful his wife is. Talk about marriage mind games. Read it here.
4. The Three Little Pigs
This has got to be the most famous choice of fairy tales with talking animals. What kid hasn’t heard it? This story of a huffing, puffing wolf preying on three pig brothers and their three houses has been around since the 1800s. There are many versions of it, but the one that’s most well-known was recorded by the famous Joseph Jacobs. It ends a bit differently than you might remember . . . Read it here.
5. The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal
A nice little tale from India with a surprising ending. Here a kind Brahman, a Hindu holy man, comes across a tiger caught in a cage. The talking tiger begs for deliverance, and although the Brahman is nervous, he eventually takes pity and lets the beast out. Of course the tiger scoffs at the man’s stupidity and threatens to eat him (no surprises there). The devout man must rely on the advice of a few inanimate objects and a foolish jackal to survive his predicament. Read it here.
6. The Three Billy Goats Gruff
This tale originates from Norway and is another one that any kindergartener can tell you. In it three brother goats cross a river to reach greener pastures. Each goat must outsmart the ugly troll under the bridge before he gobbles them whole. Under-bridge trolls are a common villain from this part of the world and feature in many Norwegian fairy tales. Read it here.
7. The Bremen Town Musicians
Of all the fairy tales with talking animals, this one has the most colorful cast: a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster. For such a jolly tale, this one has a pretty morbid premise. All four animals are old and in danger of being killed by their masters, so instead of giving in to tragedy, they travel to the town of Bremen to become musicians. Along the way, they stumble onto adventure when they encounter a group of thieves in a cottage. Read it here.
8. The White Cat
Another French fairy tale, this one is written by Madame D’Aulnoy. This tale is basically a gender-swapped Beauty and the Beast story, but instead of a terrifying beast, this princess is a sweet little cat. A young prince is on a journey to prove himself worthy to inherit his father’s crown, and he stumbles across Royal Kitty’s enchanted court of talking felines. Read it here.
9. The Enchanted Gazelle
Africa is known for its fairy tales with talking animals, and this installment is no exception. This tale is basically the African version of Puss in Boots. Here a beggar uses his only money to purchase a gazelle and shares his last bit of food to feed the creature. Turns out the gazelle is a magic talking gazelle and uses his wits to earn his master great wealth and a sultan’s daughter as his wife. Read it here.
10. Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Another perennial classic that originates from Joseph Jacobs in England. And what better a tale to teach young children not to trespass in other people’s homes? You no doubt remember the charming comparisons of the chairs, the porridge, and the beds in this tale. What you probably don’t remember is that the original ending leaves it open to interpretation whether Goldi gets away safely, breaks her neck diving out the window, or gets sent to jail. Good times, my friends. Read it here.
11. The Frog Prince
Okay, I admit this choice sticks out amongst the other fairy tales with talking animals since technically the talking frog is a human prince under a spell. But it’s so iconic that I had to include it. Did you know that in the original version of this tale the spell is broken not by a kiss but by the bratty princess hurling the frog against a wall? I’m not exactly sure what moral to glean from that . . . Read it here.
12. The Wolf and the Seven Young Kids
Not kids as in children; kids as in baby goats. This tale is a more obscure cross between The Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood. In it a wolf tricks seven little goats into letting him into their home and eats them all except one. The last kid standing and his mother must track down the wolf and cut open his stomach to rescue the others. Sound familiar? Read it here.
13. The Cat’s Elopement
I know, I know, I’ve now picked four fairy tales with talking cats in them, but I do not apologize! This obscure gem is from Japan and made its way into one of Andrew Lang’s collections. In it two beautiful cats named Gon and Koma meet under a cherry tree and fall madly in love. When their masters won’t let them live together, the star-crossed kitties run away to elope and have some unplanned adventures along the way. Read it here. ❧
