World of Tales
Stories for children, folktales, fairy tales and fables from around the world



Juan Gathers Guavas

Filipino folktale





One day Juan’s father sent him to get some ripe guavas, for a number of the neighbors had come in and he wanted to give them something to eat.

Juan went to the guava bushes and ate all the fruit he could hold, and then he decided to play a joke on his father’s guests instead of giving them a feast of guavas. A wasp’s nest hung near by. With some difficulty he succeeded in taking it down and putting it into a tight basket that he had brought for the fruit. He hastened home and gave the basket to his father, and then as he left the room where the guests were seated he closed the door and fastened it.

As soon as Juan’s father opened the basket the wasps flew over the room; and when the people found the door locked they fought to get out of the windows. After a while Juan opened the door, and when he saw the swollen faces of the people, he cried.

“What fine, rich guavas you must have had! They have made you all so fat!”.






Philippine Folk Tales

Folk Tales from the Russian

Notes: This book features 61 folktales from the Philippines.

Author: Mabel Cook Cole
Published: 1916
Publisher: A.C. McClurg & Co., Chicago



Book Spotlight
Bechstein book cover
The Book of German Folk- and Fairy Tales