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Myths and Folktales

Heroes, villains, underdogs, pranksters, romance, betrayal, and intrigue — is it Mount Olympus or junior high school? Our list includes great books that introduce readers to the classic stories of the Greek gods, as well as less familiar tales from Native American, West African, and Asian traditions.

Why Leopard has Spots: Dan Stories from Liberia

Margaret Lippert, Won-Ldy Paye
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Fairy Tales, Folktales and Myths

Troll Fell

Katherine Langrish
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Fairy Tales, Folktales and Myths

Summerland

Michael Chabon
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Fairy Tales, Folktales and Myths, Fantasy
Published:
2016
Quicksilver by Stephanie Spinner

Quicksilver

Stephanie Spinner
Age Level:
YA, Middle Grade
Genre:
Fairy Tales, Folktales and Myths, Fiction, Short Stories
Published:
2005

The Orphan Girl and Other Stories: West African Folk Tales

Buchi Offodile
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Fairy Tales, Folktales and Myths
Published:
2001

Oh My Gods! A Look-it-Up Guide to the Gods of Mythology

Megan E. Bryant
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Fairy Tales, Folktales and Myths
Published:
2009
Illustration of Native American woman dropping ears of corn into a basket

Native American Stories (Myths and Legends)

Michael J. Caduto, Joseph Bruchac
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Fairy Tales, Folktales and Myths
Published:
1991

Mythology for Teens: Classic Myths for Today’s World

Zachary Hamby
Age Level:
YA
Genre:
Fairy Tales, Folktales and Myths

The Monkey King’s Daughter

T.A. DeBonis
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Fantasy, Fiction
Published:
2009
Pretty Pearl

The Magical Adventures of Pretty Pearl

Virginia Hamilton
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Historical Fiction
Published:
1983
Aphrodite's Blessings: Love Stories from the Greek Myths

Aphrodite’s Blessings: Love Stories from the Greek Myths

Clemence McLaren
Age Level:
YA
Genre:
Classics, Fairy Tales, Folktales and Myths, Romance
Published:
2002
The Lightning Thief

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

Rick Riordan
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Fairy Tales, Folktales and Myths, Fantasy
Published:
2005
The Sea of Trolls

The Sea of Trolls

Nancy Farmer
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Fairy Tales, Folktales and Myths
Published:
2004
Genre:
Fairy Tales, Folktales and Myths