I highly recommend, at minimum, exposing your students to Greek & Roman mythology and Norse mythology, as these are the most referenced in our Western culture. Currently Usborne has some of the best anthologies for children. Ingri and EdgarD’Aulaire’s retellings are good as well, though the illustrations are an older style. Aesop is the most well-known fable writer. As with mythology, many excellent anthologies of his fables exist for children. You can also access a comprehensive collection of his fables posted online by the Library of Congress at www.read.gov/aesop .