Jaatak stories were written in 3rd century BC and thus may be regarded the oldest folk tales of India when people used to tell tales around the fire or in bed to their children. These stories are found in Greek, Arabic, Latin, Persian and in most European languages. The Greek version of Jaatak tales was adapted from and are ascribed to  Aesop who as a great storyteller. Many stories are given by him in the West. First these stories were used to entertain children, but then they educated them too.

A "Guild of Jataka Translators," under Professor EB Cowell, professor of Sanskrit in the University of Cambridge, brought out the complete edition of the Jaatak between 1895 and 1907. It is from this source that "Jataka Tales" and "More Jataka Tales" have been retold.