Compilations of folklores or myths or nursery rhymes or urban legends?

Title. I am listening to “The Moss” by “Cosmo Sheldrake”, and in the song, he references to a lot of different folklores and tales from around the world, and constructs lyrics around those tales.

*”But have you heard the story of the rabbit in the moon?” (Rabbit in the moon, Eastern legend)*

*Or the cow that hopped the planets while straddling a spoon (English nursery rhyme)*

*Or she, who leapt up mountains, while whistling up a tune (English nursery rhyme)*

*And swapped her songs with swallows (story of Thumbelina) while riding on a broom (witches associated motif)*

*Well, we can all learn things, both many and a-few*

*From that old hunched-up woman who lived inside a shoe (Nursery rhyme)*

*Or the girl that sang by day and by night she ate tear soup (The Juniper Tree)*

*Or the man who drank too much and he got the brewers’ droop” (Rip Van Winkle)*

There is more but you can go check out the lyrics yourself. The folklore-inspired lyrics really struck me in awe as I am really keen on exploring different countries’ cultures and societies in general. Folklores are usually written or got told, and often teach us something about morality, and also reflect a country’s diversity in culture and society (like the song’s message).

That is why, in this post, I want to ask for some books’ titles whose content are focused on exploring different legends/myths/folktales from all around the world. I want to get to know more about the different stories that you might have been told once when you were a child, from each part of the globe. (hey, I’m from the East!) :D. (or basically, a compilation of stories).

TLDR: Compilations of folklores or myths or nursery rhymes or urban legends?

by iethorhomesdIIIX