looking for a children's book from the late 40's early 50's . It was a light green hard cover and it had a collection of "fairytale" type stories. It was written in english but all of the people though were oriental and the picture's were beautiful .Anybody have any idea what it may have been called?

I believe that you are looking for The Olive Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. The Colored Fairy Books are amazing repositories of stories from around the world, and are worth having if you have any interest in cultural mythology.

"Eight Punjabi tales, five from Armenia, 16 others. An enchanting world of flying dragons, ogres, fairies, and princes transformed into white foxes. 50 illustrations."

"A unique collection of 29 fairy tales edited by Andrew Lang. These stories, not so well-known and yet so beautifully told, are derived from Turkey, India, Denmark and others. Read about the enchanted lovers in "The Blue Parrot", the self-sacrificing love of "Little King Loc", the bunniah's comic attempt in cheating a farmer in "A Long-Bow Story", the capable wife who transforms her husband to a hero in "Samba the Coward", a gutsy princess who makes her own fortune in "Kupti and Imani", and the nightingale's stories in "The Silent Princess".

http://www.amazon.com/Olive-Fairy-Book-Complete-Unabridged/dp/0486219089/ref=pd_sim_b_img_9

thanks i'll check that out!!