Core Chinese cultural concepts such as “Animism” and “Tian Ren He Yi” (the integration of nature and humanity) resonate deeply with contemporary eco-criticism and post-humanist thoughts. In an era marked by environmental crises and technological redefining of the “human,” re-examining these cultural narratives is crucial for the next generation. Folktales serve as a rich repository of a culture’s unique values and beliefs, and shape-shifter is an undeniably crucial element in Chinese folktales. Their existence blurs the boundaries between the human and nature, challenges the social categorizations and moral status (Li, 2005). Folktales continue to play a significant role in Chinese children’s education. In schools, approximately 5% of textbook literature are folktales (Chen, 2021). Through the lenses of eco-criticism and post-humanism, this study aims to analyze how the shape-shifters in Chinese folktales foster a spirit of ecological balance among young readers and explore how these narratives shape children’s worldviews and values.