Top 30 Most Popular Fairy Tale Books for Kids of All Time
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| Top 20+ World's Best Fairy Tale Books Of All Time For Kids |
Discover a captivating assortment of delightful children's fairy tale novels that will mesmerize your little ones with enchanting stories filled with humor, intrigue, magic, and adventure.
These books promise to enchant and engage, featuring both classic and beloved fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, as well as novels that introduce young readers to gentler adaptations of these timeless stories.
For years, enchanting fairytale novels have captured the hearts of young readers. Consequently, a plethora of enchanting fairytale retellings has emerged for young readers. The fairytale genre is undeniably familiar, gracing a wide array of formats, including board books, picture books, pop-ups, graphic novels, and middle school literature. Every fairy tale enthusiast understands that these stories possess a remarkable ability to be retold and transformed in distinctive ways with each narration.
Here are the 30 best fairy tale books of all time for your kids, ranked by Knowinsiders.com.
Why Fairy Tales Are Essential to Childhood
"We learn from the characters in stories, even as adults. They help us because we connect to our own lives, dreams, anxieties, and consider what we would do in their shoes. Fairy tales help children learn how to navigate life". (Bettelheim, B. Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales.)
“Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.” - G.K. Chesterton
Fairy tales illustrate modern issues within imaginative environments, where the protagonist usually triumphs. (Except in the original Grimm stories.) Children should be educated in a safe environment where they understand that unfortunate events can occur to anyone. Since, can you believe it? Everyone faces challenges in life, which is why it's essential to equip our children with the necessary skills. Should we assist our children in building their emotional strength to face challenges, or do we shelter and protect them, leaving them unprepared to handle anything that requires resilience?
Neil Gaiman writes, “We encounter fairytales as kids, in retellings or panto. We breathe them. We know how they go.”
Fairy tales like Cinderella are told in many countries, and each one adds its own unique spin to the story. After going through the various versions, it's clear that we share a common thread: the urge to tell stories that make sense of life and the hope that goodness will triumph over darkness in the end.
Fairy tales are all about picking up the basics of storytelling. They help you understand the difference between fiction and non-fiction, along with the setting, characters, and the flow of the story—like the rising action, climax, and conclusion. When a child knows how stories are structured, it makes it easier for them to guess what might happen next and understand other stories they read.
Top 30 of the World's Best Fairy Tale Books For Kids in History
1. Blackberry Blue: And Other Fairy Tales
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| Blackberry Blue - Photo: Amazon |
This collection contains six stories. A wicked witch and her wolf son face off against a lovely girl and her undying love in the Cinderella story Blackberry Blue. It's so beautiful. Abu must display tremendous bravery and resilience to free his sister from the Purple Lady's control; she is a villainous Pied Piper figure. The Golden Carp is an allegory for the sins that stem from greed and the blessings that come from generosity. Emeka the Pathfinder discovers a malevolent spell of metamorphosis that requires a unique spirit to undo. The tragic Oddboy tells the story of a lost lad who finds solace in music. Dying loves and selfless sacrifices are at the heart of The Night Princess. Although it is uplifting, it is also sad.
Their beauty knows no bounds. Gavin gives them life through elegant, simple, and evocative writing that jumps off the page. Every sense—sight, touch, and smell—is amplified by her tales. Themes are borrowed from the European tradition of Hans Christian Anderson and the Brothers Grimm, but with a more varied flavor. The protagonists and antagonists of these tales flaunt stunning dark complexion and rich, brown eyes. In her preface, Gavin says that she wanted to broaden the European image so that kids from all backgrounds could see themselves reflected in the stories. She has done an absolutely fantastic job.
Get ready to be captivated by these six enchanting tales. See Blackberry Blue emerge from the bramble patch; accompany the wayfinder Emeka as he seeks to rescue a misplaced monarch; and ride shotgun with Princess Desire as she gallop across the Milky Way.
Richard Collingridge's breathtaking illustrations will astound you, and these imaginative and lyrically written tales will captivate readers of all ages.
2. F is for Fairy Tale by Greg Paprocki
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| F is for Fairy Tale - Photo: Angus and Robertson |
This captivating collection of 26 illustrations showcases a wide variety of fairy tales and their objects. Subjects include castles, lamps, towers, and red roses, among many others. Say things like "brave" to your little ones to remind them to be courageous, "fearless" to describe the little girl who floats down a river, and "mighty" to describe the little boy who pulls a sword out of a stone, all in honor of the heroes of children's stories. Greg Paprocki's classically retro midcentury art style has been a huge success with both adults and toddlers, and it's evident in his beloved BabyLit alphabet board books.
As a full-time illustrator and book designer, Greg Paprocki keeps busy. S Is for Santa, B Is for Boo, and E Is for Easter are just a few of the BabyLit alphabet board books that he has illustrated. His other notable works include numerous Curious George books, the Little Leonardo series, and more. Lincoln, Nebraska is his home.
This stunning board book begins with the letter A for adventurous and continues through the alphabet of fairy tale scenes starring children and animals, capturing castles, dragons, jewels, a unicorn, and more.
3. Bound by Donna Jo Napoli
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| Bound by Donna Jo Napoli - Photo: Amazon |
Living a solitary life, Xing Xing is a Ming Dynasty Chinese nobleman. With the recent passing of her father and the childhood loss of her mother, Xing Xing now has only her half-sister Wei Ping and her father's second wife, Stepmother. Stepmother is hell-bent on marrying off Wei Ping to a respectable man, even though she doesn't have a dowry, so she binds her daughter's feet (even though she's way past the recommended age). Xing Xing, or "Lazy One" as Stepmother refers to her, is left to take care of the household chores while Wei Ping endures the agonizing pain of her binding. Xing Xing finds comfort in her penchant for composition and calligraphy, which her father encouraged her to cultivate during his lifetime, and finds solace in witnessing her half-sister's suffering and immobility within their cave. Xing Xing must rescue Wei Ping from a slow and agonizing death when her bound feet start to rot and rot. A traveling medicine man can help.
The story of Donna Jo Napoli's Bound is primarily about the roles and relationships of three women: Xing Xing, Wei Ping, and Stepmother. It has all the hallmarks of a Cinderella story, including a ball, a prince, and a lost slipper. Despite its intended audience of younger adults and middle grade readers, Bound is an incredibly well-written, complex, and subversive work that explores themes of family, women's roles, and the tension between tradition and independence.
Young women in Xing Xing's China who want to be attractive to potential suitors are expected to walk with their feet bound in a beautiful lotus shape. Wei Ping has her feet bound so she can fit in with society, but Xing Xing has her own self-binding due to her unstable family ties. Without a dowry or hope of marriage, she depends on Stepmother's generosity and the protection of her ancestors to avoid being sold into slavery, even though some women in her world, like Xing Xing, had become educated in calligraphy and other arts. Even the stepmother is a fascinating character, with her own history and place in society as a widow who failed to have a son and couldn't find a suitable husband for her daughter. A far cry from the Disneyfied caricature of "Evil"—Stepmother is a hardworking, desperate woman who is desperate to feed her family and protect their cave from a bad luck demon. Rather than being black-and-white, the relationship between the three women is a realistic web of responsibility and emotion; it is complex and believable.
What really makes this remarkable book stand out are the writing skills of Donna Jo Napoli and the themes that she raises. Bound is an emotionally engaging reimagining that should not be missed, despite its violent and gory moments and its poetically beautiful ones.
4. Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales by Nelson Mandela
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| Photo: Amazon |
Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela gets the most attention here, which makes sense. However, this collection of short fables includes writings and translations by many authors, as well as pictures by many artists. Together, the stories and the art that goes with them make a patchwork of African legends from places like Swaziland to Kenya to Morocco. There are snakes with seven heads and Zulu tricksters here, as well as different creation stories and a Kenyan lion named Simba who teaches a smart hyena a lesson.
The brightly colored birds, huge elephants, and naughty kids in the book sometimes teach vague lessons about following rules, not giving up, working together, and how strange life can be. In one story, the kids in a village in East Africa have to kill a pretty bird that will bring bad luck to the land around them. In another, a brave girl breaks a spell that turned a prince into a snake. Myths' dreamlike, unpredictable symbols and sometimes cruel morals hit home in stories like these. As Mandela put it, the "gritty essence of Africa" shines through in stories with universal themes.
This anthology is full of lively stories and includes some of the activist's favorite writings. The stories in this wonderful book come from all over the African continent. This collection of 32 stories will really take you somewhere else with its interesting characters and beautiful creation myths. An audiobook is even available that is full of well-known voices, such as LeVar Burton's.
5. Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
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| Photo: Little Book, Big Story |
"Hazel and Jack used to be best friends." Since they were six years old, they had been best friends. They spent hot summers and cold winters in Minneapolis together, dreaming of Oz and Hogwarts, superheroes and baseball. It was strange for a boy and a girl to be best friends at age eleven. They tried not to, but Hazel and Jack did fit in a way that you only read about in books. They didn't fit anywhere else either.
Then it was over one day. Jack and Hazel are no longer talking today. Girls and boys this age sometimes go through this, her mom told her, but Hazel had read enough stories to know that it's never that easy. She was right, it turned out. Jack's heart had been frozen, and a woman in white took him into the woods to live in an ice palace. Now it's up to Hazel to go after him in the woods. But Hazel finds that these woods aren't at all like the stories she's read, and the Jack she went in to save isn't the same Jack who comes out. Or even the same Hazel.
Breadcrumbs is a story about the things we leave behind and how hard it is to hold on to them. It was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen."
This is a lovely story about a girl named Hazel who has to go on an impossible journey to save her best friend and find out what she's worth. So many times on her journey, Hazel asks herself questions. She thinks that Jack is the only person who has ever made her feel like she fits in because she is always on the outside. Since Hazel's parents just got divorced, her father has a new family and no time for her or her mother. Hazel also feels alone and awkward at school because no one likes how creative she is. Hazel feels even more alone among her classmates because she was adopted from India.
6. The Dollmaker of Krakow by R.M.Romero
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| The Dollmaker of Krakow - Photo: Ko-fi |
"Karolina is a real doll whose king and queen have been thrown out." But a strange wind takes her away from the Land of the Dolls and puts her with the Dollmaker in Krakow, Poland. The Dollmaker is a man with a strange power and a dark past.
The Dollmaker has learned to keep to himself, but Karolina's brave and kind personality made him smile and even make friends with a violin-playing dad and his daughter—once he got over being shocked when he realized a doll was talking to him.
However, their newfound happiness is short-lived when Nazi troops invade Poland. Karolina and the Dollmaker become aware very quickly that their Jewish friends are in great danger. They are determined to help save them, no matter what the cost.
Karolina has run away from the Land of the Dolls. There are rats all over her home country, and Karolina was blown to Krakow, Poland, by a magical wind during the height of WWII. She finds herself in Cyryl's workshop. Cyryl is known as the "Dollmaker of Krakow." Cyryl fixes Karolina while he is alone and hurt. He and Karolina become close friends, which helps Cyryl in his life outside of the workshop. But it's not just the Land of the Dolls that has a cruel enemy; Poland does too. Karolina and Cyryl make friends with their Jewish neighbors and decide to do everything they can to protect them from the evil Nazis.
There are lots of great things about this mix of magical fantasy and historical history. Many readers will not have heard of the vivid descriptions of Polish culture and folklore before, and they are written with both accuracy and care. Karolina, the magical doll, and Cyryl, the dollmaker, are the two main characters. They cannot be more different from each other. Karolina is quick to anger, honest, direct, and determined. Cyryl is quiet and shy, and he has chosen to be alone because of his past. But she brings out the best in him. Everyone can support the main goal, which is to save the couple's Jewish neighbors from the Nazis. The settings are also very well done. Both Poland under the Nazis and the Land of the Dolls are wonderful.
7. Girls, Giant and Goddesses: Tales Of Heroines From Around The World by Lari Don
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| Girls, Giant and Goddesses: Tales Of Heroines From Around The World - Photo: Amazon |
In this book, Scottish storyteller Lari Don retells 12 stories from all over the world. She kept the wild parts of the originals, and in the very helpful source notes at the back of the book, she admits that she boosted the gore in some of the climaxes.
A very small number of the stories are likely to be well known. The Wolf in the Bed is a scary version of Little Red Riding Hood in which the wolf's human traits are emphasized. Vasillisa's trip to see Baba Yaga shows how the young women and the mistreated animals were all on the same side. It is said that in the story of Durga and the Demon, the Goddess with ten arms hurts, cuts up, and finally kills her quickly changing form opponent. The Scottish story of the Giant's Heart also has shape-shifting. The heart is said to be hidden in an egg inside a salmon inside a duck inside a stag inside a tree stump. The main character of this story tricks the giant who took her by pretending to love him into telling her where she is.
In all of the stories, bravery, creativity, and a strong will to win win, but not all of the heroines make it through their challenges alive. Being kind and polite also pays off. For example, in the Cameroonian story Mbango and the whirlpool, the heroine helps an old woman and then graciously accepts a plate of pig dung as a thank-you meal. The stories are written at a very fast pace and use very vivid images. The author talks to the reader directly in a lively way that mixes brutality with wry humor, like Angela Carter or Susan Price. They are great for reading out loud. Francesca Greenwood's lively silhouettes of characters and patterns add to the beauty of this collection.
This book is perfect for the young heroine in your life because it has bravery stories from girls all over the world. There are 11 stories, so everyone can find something they like. There is strength and determination in every story, as well as kindness and magic. A great set for people of all ages.
8. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
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| Ella Enchanted - Photo: Amazon |
The Newbery Honor book Ella Enchanted was written by Gail Carson Levine and came out in 1997. The story is an updated version of Cinderella with fairies, elves, ogres, gnomes, and giants, among other mythical creatures. Levine wrote another book in 2006 called Fairest. It was a retelling of the story of Snow White and took place in the same world as Ella Enchanted. Levine wrote Ogre Enchanted in 2018, which is a book that comes before Ella Enchanted.
A movie loosely based on the book came out on April 9, 2004. There was Anne Hathaway as Ella and Hugh Dancy as Prince Charmont in this movie directed by Tommy O'Haver. The movie got mostly mixed reviews, and it got a lot of bad press for how it changed the story. Levine said, "The movie is so different from the book that it's hard to compare them." He pointed out that new characters like Sir Edgar and Heston were added, and he suggested "looking at the movie as a separate creative act."
A gift was given to Ella by the fairy Lucinda when she was a baby. The baby's crying made the fairy decide to give her the gift of obedience. Ella and her mother get sick when Ella is about 14 years old. Eliana gets better because she drinks the soup with unicorn hairs in it while her mother dies because she takes the hairs out. Mandy, her cook, tells her that she is her fairy godmother. Mandy also gives her two gifts: a necklace made by a gnome that was made by her mother and a magic book that lets her see letters, diary entries, and fairy tales. Ella meets Char, the prince of the kingdom, at the funeral of her mother. Char tells her that he loves her mother. Her first meeting with Dame Olga and her bad daughters, Hattie and Olive, is at the wake.
Peter, her father, decides to send her to junior high school with two mean sisters. Before she leaves, she goes to all of her favorite spots and runs into Char again, who likes being with her. At the royal menagerie, they see a little Gnome standing too close to the Ogre pen. He is saved by Char, but she gives him to Ella. Once the Ogre tells Ella to bring the child to him, she goes toward the pen against her will. They are saved only when Char tells her to stop.
While on the way to finishing school, Hattie finds out that Ella does what she is told and takes advantage of this. Before she does anything else, she takes Ella's mother's necklace and doesn't let her eat for three days. At school, she is constantly being told what to do and told it wrong. Her new friend Areida helps her feel better. It's too much for Ella when Hattie tells her to stop being friends with Areida, so she goes to find Lucinda to break the spell. She hears about a wedding for Giants and plans to go there to find her.
Elisa finds the kingdom of Elves, who greet her warmly and give her food for the journey ahead. The next morning, she wakes up surrounded by ogres who want to eat her. She is told not to run away, which traps her. She spends the whole night practicing her persuasive Ogrese in case she needs to use it on the ogres. She is able to put them back to sleep just in time for Char and his soldiers to arrive and catch them. The men are amazed by how good Ella is. He has one of his men take Ella to the Giant wedding.
Due to her carelessness, Lucinda curses the bride and groom to be together forever. Two other fairies present scold her for ruining the happy couple's lives. Ella then learns that people who don't appreciate her gifts often end up as squirrels, so she decides to talk to her under a different name. To Lucinda, Ella says she needs more courage because she is too obedient, but Lucinda tells her to "be happy to be blessed with such a lovely quality," so Ella has to be happy because of her "gift."
9. The Happy Prince And Other Stories By Oscar Wilde
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| Photo: Penguin Books |
Oscar Wilde wrote a book of short stories for kids called The Happy Prince and Other Tales. As well as The Happy Prince, The Nightingale and the Rose, The Selfish Giant, The Devoted Friend, and The Remarkable Rocket, it has six other stories.
There are many good things about this collection, but the style and voice stand out. Oscar Wilde gets his point across with very simple language. He gets right to the point, and the fact that the style is lyrical makes this even more powerful. The simple but beautiful way this book is written makes it seem magical.
That being said, this collection isn't just for kids to enjoy. It's something that adults could also enjoy. The plots of the stories, which seem too simple and childish at first, are actually symbolic and allegorical, a lot like the episodes of Alice in Wonderland. There are subtleties in them that kids might not be able to pick up on, which is where adults come in.
This is very clear in The Happy Prince, the story from which the collection gets its name. On the very top, there is just a statue that feels sorry for the poor people in the city. To help them, he then makes a swallow, which has been separated from its other birds, pluck his valuable statue materials out of himself and gives them to the poor to sell. But even someone who isn't good at writing can tell that this story is about kindness, and that kindness always pays off in the end. There are more stories in this collection that use this style as well. A soft naivety about love and appreciation can be seen in The Nightingale and the Rose. Paper Prophet review says that it does this in such a romantic way that the voice has come to contradict itself, giving the reader an ironic idea.
10. The Firework Maker’s Daughter by Philip Pullman
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| The Firework Maker’s Daughter - Photo: Amazon |
The author of I Was a Rat! and Clockwork wrote this short story. It takes place in an unnamed kingdom and is about a girl named Lila whose father makes fireworks. He thinks that a girl's place is to get married, but she wants to be like him. At the same time, her best friend Chulak is planning to run away with Hamlet, the king's talking white elephant, which Chulak takes for a walk.
Every once in a while, Chulak tricks Lila's dad into telling him how to make fireworks. Lila went straight to the volcano where the Fire Fiend was to get the royal sulfur she needs as soon as she heard about it. Then Lalchand, who makes fireworks, tells Chulak the other part of the secret: Lila will be burned to death without magic water from the Emerald Lake Goddess. Hamlet and Chulak run away right away to get water and get it to Lila before it's too late.
The best part of the story is when Lila returns home and finds her father in jail for stealing the king's elephant. Along the way, they have some funny encounters with a group of hapless would-be pirates, etc. The king gives Lalchand a chance to live, but only if he beats three very good fireworks makers from Germany, Italy, and the United States.
The plot of this story is full of fun, mystery, suspense, and excitement. The bravery and friendship of Lila, Chula, and Hamlet are fun and inspiring, and Lila's quest may make people think and talk about important issues.
11. Princess and the Peas
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| Princess and the Peas - Photo: Amazon |
"The greatest black-eyed peas in Charleston County, South Carolina, are prepared by Ma Sally in this rendition of "The Princess and the Pea." John, her son, is a very eligible bachelor, and three local women compete with Ma's cooking skills to win his hand in marriage. A surprise competitor named Princess shows up at the door at the last minute. Although Princess and John are a good match, Princess is independent. She asks him to clean the pots and pans before she will respond after learning she has won John's hand. It turns out that she wants to take some time to get to know John before responding.
An author's note and a recipe for Princess's Black-eyed Peas are included in the back matter.
 Top 20+ World's Best Fairy Tales (Full Text) Must Read For Kids Every Night |
12. The Goose girl by Shannon Hale
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| The Goose girl by Shannon Hale - Photo: Amazon |
Shannon Hale's fantasy book The Goose Girl, which Bloomsbury published in 2003, is based on the same-titled Brothers Grimm fairy tale. It is the first book in Hale's Books of Bayern series and her debut book. It tells the tale of Anidori-Kiladra "Ani" Talianna Isilee (later referred to as "Isi"), the Crown Princess of Kildenree, as she goes to marry the Crown Prince of Bayern, a neighboring kingdom. She is usurped by her envious lady-in-waiting while traveling, and she has to establish her real identity as the princess. The novel received mostly positive reviews. The book was published in English, Spanish, Hungarian, Dutch, Japanese, and Vietnamese and won the 2003 Josette Frank Award for fiction.
Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, the crown princess, was born and did not open her eyes until her aunt held her. The woman took on the role of nursemaid and became her constant companion. She gave her the nickname Ani and told her stories about the three types of gifts people can have: the ability to speak with animals, people, or nature. With her second gift, the aunt teaches Ani how to communicate with birds, particularly swans. Ani begins to feel more at ease by the pond than she does in the palace. Ani is forced to give up her special talent when her aunt departs. At sixteen, she dedicates her time to becoming Kildenree's next Queen, but she finds comfort in talking to her horse, Falada. Ani's mother informs her that she must go to the kingdom of Bayern and wed their crown prince in lieu of becoming queen after her father passes away. Half of the royal guards rebel during the trip, attempting to assassinate the princess and replace her with Ani's lady-in-waiting, Selia; however, Ani escapes, taking Falada with her.
Ani travels into Bayern's capital under the alias "Isi," having spent days wandering through the forest and recuperating from near starvation. She quickly finds out that Selia has adopted the persona of a princess. Ani lives with other animal workers and works as a caregiver for the king's geese. She also enjoys telling stories to them. She eventually figures out how to speak to the geese using her animal language after a few bumps in the road. During this period, she gradually learns to speak the language of nature by comprehending and eventually controlling wind. Additionally, Ani makes Geric, a royal guard, her friend, and the two quickly grow romantically involved. Enna, Ani's closest friend, finds out about her secret identity one day and promises to support her when the time comes to take back the throne. Ani learns from Geric that Falada's execution was prearranged; she tries to save him, but it's too late. Later on, he writes her to let her know that he won't be able to see her. Ani lives on as the goose girl, protecting her flock from robbers with the help of her animal and wind-speaking abilities. Then she finds out that a rumor that Kildenree is going to attack Bayern has been spread by Selia. Ani is pursued by Ungolad, Selia's most devoted bodyguard, who stabs her in the back. After barely escaping, she runs into the forest, where she recovers. Here, she finds Talone, one of her devoted guards, has survived, and he goes with her back to the kingdom. Upon her return, Enna shares Ani's secret with the other animal workers, and they all support her.
The entourage takes a ride to the castle, the site of the wedding. Here, Ani confronts Selia and discovers that Geric is, in fact, the Crown Prince of Bayern. After hearing Selia's complete confession, an eavesdropping Geric shows up with the king in tow, and before Selia and Ungolad can kill Ani alone. A battle breaks out, and Geric vanquishes Ungolad with the aid of Ani's wind-speaking. Selia is taken prisoner as well. After a few days, Ani approaches the king and persuades him that Kildenree is not planning an attack on Bayern. Ani's Bayern knowledge and this impress Geric. They confess their love for one another and joyfully rule together now that it has been established that she is his real betrothed.
13. Grounded by Megan Morrison
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| Grounded by Megan Morrison - Photo: WordPress |
No one is more fortunate than Rapunzel in all of Tyme, from the Redlands to the Grey. She reads fantastic novels in which she plays the lead role and has the longest, most beautiful hair in the world. She also lives in a magical tower that grants her every wish. And the reason she knows this is because the Witch, her cherished protector against evil princes, the perilous area beneath the tower, and even negative thoughts, tells her so. Any other life is unimaginable to Rapunzel.
Then Jack, a thief, scales her room to take one of her magic roses. He is annoying, especially when he suggests that Witch isn't telling her the whole truth. He's the first person Rapunzel has ever met who isn't entirely enchanted by her—well, the first person she's met at all, really. Rapunzel, driven by her resentment towards Jack and her own unnamed anxieties, descends to the earth for the first time and discovers a world that is more dangerous than Witch had predicted but also more beautiful, amazing, and exciting than she could have ever imagined.
14. The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
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| The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making Photo: Amazon |
"One of the most extraordinary works of fantasy, for adults or children, published so far this century."—Time magazine on the Fairyland series
A normal life used to be for September, 12, before her father went to war and her mother went to work. She lives in Omaha. One day, September's kitchen window is visited by a Green Wind in the form of a man in a green jacket. He invites her on an adventure and says that Fairyland needs her help. The new Marquess is unpredictable and changes her mind often. She is also only a few months older than September. The Marquess wants a talisman that can only be found in the magical woods. If September doesn't get it, the Marquess will make life impossible for everyone in Fairyland. September has already made some new friends, like a Wyvern who loves books and a boy named Saturday who seems mysterious.
With beautiful drawings by famous artist Ana Juan, Fairyland lives up to the buzz it made when author Catherynne M. Valente first put it online as a serialized novel. Anyone of any age who likes the magic of Alice in Wonderland and the heart of The Golden Compass will love this book. It is a unique reading experience that will stay with you forever.
There is a beautiful black-and-white picture book called The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente. It is the first book in the Fairyland series. The Fairyland series by Catherynne M. Valente is a New York Times bestseller for kids. Valente has also written many books for adults, such as Radiance.
As seen in The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There (Volume Two), The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two (Volume Three), The Boy Who Lost Fairyland (Volume Four), and The Girl Who Raced Fairyland All the Way Home (Volume Five), the adventures keep going. A place or group of people hasn't been so full and interesting since Oz. There are extras in this deluxe paperback edition, such as interviews with the author and the illustrator.
15. Beasts and Beauty: Dangerous Tales
A book that takes readers to a place where it can be hard to tell the difference between beautiful looks and beastly natures.
Here are 12 well-known European fairy tales, folktales, and classic stories told in new ways that bring back memories of the originals, but with slightly different characters and a focus on certain parts of their original forms. Some of the characters in the stories have dark skin and the ironic name "Snow White." Others are South Asian siblings who are left in the forest by their father and stepmother and try to find a trail of rosewater and saffron sweets. Finally, there is a beautiful brown-skinned prince who is cursed to turn into a beast and a Chinese girl who moves into his castle to save her father's life. The two of them become close through books. The entries are well-written and show a deep understanding of the source material. They are also updated with feminist ideas, queer relationships, and a range of racial and ethnic backgrounds. Chainani's writing is honest about what it shows on the page, which is perfect for going over these well-known and loved stories again that may have left readers with unrealistic expectations or unhappy endings. Chainani makes his retellings useful while still bringing out the magic, terror, and wonder of fantasy worlds. The final drawings have not been seen.
16. Nightingale’s Nest by Nikki Loftin
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| Nightingale’s Nest by Nikki Loftin - Photo: Amazon |
It's not often that magical realism shows up in children's books. It does happen, but when authors of children's books want to write fantasy, they do. If they want the truth, they write it. It's harder to pull off a mix of the two that could be awkward. Books for kids often have ambiguity, but it's really hard to write. Why go through all that trouble? Just because of that, we don't see it in kids' books very often. Kids are interested in real things. There are good guys and bad guys. What is real and what is a dream? But an author who knows their young readers well and respects their intelligence can surprise them without giving up on the story. Nikki Loftin, the author of The Nightingale, turned Hans Christian Andersen's story into a middle grade contemporary novel. She did this on purpose, making the book a work of magical realism. Loftin takes a calculated risk, and it pays off. Nightingale's Nest is a sad story about sacrifice and song that hits you deep in the end. A very good book that is even better because of the unique choices it makes.
To have such a strong sense of guilt as Little John does at the age of twelve doesn't seem right. Some people feel responsible for the death of their little sister, and it's hard to let go of those thoughts. Not helping matters is the fact that John has to spend the summer clearing brush for the town's richest man, who is so showy that people just call him "The Emperor." On one of these jobs, John meets Gayle, who lives next door to The Emperor and gets to know her. Gayle is a foster child who is about the same age as his sister when she died. She loves to sit in trees in her own nest more than anything else. John starts to notice strange things about the girl as they become close friends. There's something magical about her voice when she sings that you have never heard before. It seems like her voice could even heal people. Not for long does The Emperor learn about the treasure that is surrounding him. He will do anything to get Gayle's unique voice. John has to decide what he values more: the way his family makes a living or the sweet song of a little girl?
17. Reflection by Elizabeth Lim
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| Photo: Amazon |
This book is another Disney Twisted tale is a retelling of Mulan. It twists the original Mulan story by taking us a journey of What if Mulan had to travel to the Underworld?
Fa Mulan is under disguise in China’s army. She is known as Ping, and everyone thinks she is a boy fighting in the regime. No one knows who she is except for Mulan (and her guardian and cricket) that she has disguised herself to save her old, sickly father from having to fight.
In a deadly battle against the Huns, Mulan/Ping saves her comrades, but in the process, her Captain, Li Shang, takes a fatal hit that should’ve struck Mulan/Ping. The guilt of watching Li Shang suffer is more than she can bear. It is why she decides to venture down to the Underworld, known as Diyu, to try to save him.
With the help of ShiShi, the lion guardian of the Li family, Mulan faces the ruler of the Underworld, King Yama. To save Li Shang, Mulan must survive the depths of the Underworld, battling demons and ghosts out to take her life. But first, she must convince Li Shang she is really who she says he is and allow him to decide to fight to live on his won, according to Heyits Carly Rae.
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18. The Isle of The Lost by Melissa De La Cruz
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| The Isle of The Lost by Melissa De La Cruz - Photo: Amazon |
All of the evil villains were exiled from the kingdom of Auradon twenty years ago and forced to live in near-captivity on the Isle of the Lost. A magical force field encircling the island keeps the villains and their offspring securely imprisoned and isolated from the mainland. The island's way of life is gloomy and dark. It is a filthy, abandoned location that has been forgotten by society and allowed to rot.
The dragon's eye, however, is concealed within the enigmatic Forbidden Fortress and holds the key to true darkness as well as the villains' only means of escape. It can only be found by the cunningest, meanest, tastiest little villain...Who is going to be it?
19. The Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste
Corinne La Mer is fearless. Definitely not scorpions, not the boys who tease her, and for sure not jumbies. They’re just made-up tricksters that parents use to scare their kids. So, one night, Corinne ends up chasing an agouti right into the forbidden forest. Those bright yellow eyes that trailed her to the edge of the trees, they just couldn’t be from a jumbie. Maybe they could?
As Corinne catches sight of a stunning stranger chatting with the town witch at the market the next day, she can’t shake the feeling that something surprising is on the horizon. So, when this stunning beauty named Severine shows up at Corinne’s place, whipping up dinner for Corinne’s dad, Corinne can’t shake the feeling that something’s off. She quickly realizes that charming her dad, Pierre, is just the beginning of Severine’s scheme to take over the whole island for the jumbies. Corinne has to dig deep and rally her friends while discovering some ancient magic she never knew she had, all to take down Severine and protect her island home.
The Jumbies features a strong and brave heroine, beautiful storytelling, and a creative take on the classic Haitian folktale ‘The Magic Orange Tree.’ It’s sure to be a hit with readers who enjoyed Breadcrumbs, A Tale Dark and Grimm, and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.
20. Fairy Tale Comics by Chriss Duffy
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| Photo: Goodreads |
A lovely collection of fairytales by your favorite children’s comics are compiled in this visually stunning collection. Perfect for the young comic book reader in your life, this collection is a fresh take on the classics. Included are Jamie Hernandez’s take on Hansel and Gretel and Brett Helquist’s version of Rumplestiltskin. There’s a lot to love about this collection.
21. Seven Wild Sisters
In this lovely follow-up to The Cats of Tanglewood Forest, the main character from the first book, Lillian, still lives in a simple house in the hills, in a hollow that is far away from everything else. Sarah Jane lives in the closest town with her mother and six sassy sisters. She is very independent, but she loves the woods and quickly becomes friends with Lillian, who has amazing stories about the fairies that live there. After Sarah Jane saves the life of a tiny ginseng fairy that was hit by many tiny arrows, she finds herself in her own fairy tale. It looks like the sangmen and the bee fairies are at odds with each other. Soon, the two groups of angry fairies take Sarah Jane's sisters hostage, hoping to trade them for the small man. The drawings by Vess go well with the story, and de Lint gives real life to both main and minor human characters, as well as mythical beings like the Apple Tree Man, Lillian's fairy love. A modern setting is mixed with a fairy tale that sounds like it came from a very different time and place in the lyrical story. 8–12 years old.
22. Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible
Experience a delightful spin on the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty with a lively, furry twist in this uproarious new comic series from the mind behind Dragonbreath.
Harriet Hamsterbone breaks the mold of the conventional princess. While she might be a true beauty in the world of rodents (you'll just have to take her word for it), she doesn't quite excel at wandering the palace with an air of ethereal grace or indulging in dramatic sighs. She considers the royal life to be quite . . . unexciting. One day, Harriet’s parents reveal to her the curse placed upon her at birth by a rat, foretelling that on her twelfth birthday, she will prick her finger on a hamster wheel and succumb to a deep, enchanted slumber. For Harriet, this is absolutely fantastic news: It signifies she’s invincible until she turns twelve! Indeed, every effective curse finds its purpose. Thus commences an extraordinary journey filled with excitement alongside her loyal riding quail, Mumfrey…until the arrival of her twelfth birthday brings forth the curse in an astonishingly unforeseen manner.
This hilarious new comic hybrid series is a must-read for fans of Babymouse and Chris Colfer’s Land of Stories, flipping your perceptions of princesses upside down.
23. ADELITA: A Mexican Cinderella Story
Fans of Cinderella will enjoy dePaola's (26 Fairmount Avenue) original take on the story, which is filled with Mexican warmth and color. There is no pumpkin coach or glass slipper in sight, though. Adelita's father died suddenly, and now her mean stepmother and stepsisters are taking care of her. Adelita's kind nanny and housekeeper acts as her fairy godmother, making sure the girl has something to wear to the party a wealthy family in the area is throwing for their gay son Javier. Adelita makes a lasting impression at the gala wearing a dramatic red shawl that belonged to her mother. She tells Javier where to find her the next day by waving the shawl.
DePaola changes just the right things to make his version unique. He also uses a lot of Spanish words and phrases (which are translated into English in the text) and cultural references that teach as well as entertain. He also winks at readers in a funny way by having his characters talk about the classic story ("All Doña Micaela and her two daughters could talk about was "the mysterious Cenicienta" [Cinderella] who had shown up at the fiesta and then disappeared, just like the fairy tale"). His bright acrylic paintings have elements of folk art and old household items in them. The jazzy design has backgrounds made of mosaic-like tiles in different colors that frame smaller panels and portraits all over. (ages 5 and up)
24. The Girl Who Married the Moon: Tales from Native North America
Bruchac and Ross collaborate on a companion volume to Bruchac's Flying with Eagle, Racing with Great Bear, which features a collection of Native American tales centered around boys' rites of passage. In this collection, young women take center stage in 16 captivating stories designed to resonate with the daughters and granddaughters of tomorrow.
The journey of womanhood and the pursuit of the right marriage are prevalent motifs: courageous and clever heroines evade monsters and captors, cleverly sidestep unions with the mischievous Owl, or face tragic fates alongside their spouses. Among the distinctive choices are "The Beauty Way," which narrates an Apache rite of passage; "Stonecoat," where women triumph over a formidable medicine man by harnessing the strength of their "moontime"; and the title story, featuring a girl who not only weds the moon but also collaborates with him in his duties.
The stories are introduced by comments that set the stage for each of the four sections of the book: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest. Each section features tales from four distinct nations, such as the Penobscot, Seneca, Passamaquoddy, and Mohegan in the Northeast. This valuable resource for storytelling and multicultural learning concludes with an afterword and source notes. 10 to 13 years old
25. Brothers of the Knight (Picture Puffin Books)
A modern retelling of the old story "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" by Debbie Allen, with pictures by Kadir Nelson!
Rev. Knight doesn't get why his twelve sons' sneakers are always torn apart in the morning and they don't say a word. They know that dancing all night wouldn't fit with how people in the community see their dad. Sunday is a pretty new nanny who is good at solving mysteries around the house. Maybe she can solve the case. This cool, new take on the old story "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" is full of bright pictures and lively text that's as lively as the twelve Knight brothers' tap-dancing feet.
26. Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
“Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur…and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway.
One day—for no particular reason—they decided to tidy up their house, make the beds, and prepare pudding of varying temperatures. And then—for no particular reason—they decided to go…someplace else. They were definitely NOT setting a trap for some succulent, unsupervised little girl.
27. The Little Mermaid (Pop-Up Classics)
“A beloved under-the-sea tale is now a pop-up masterpiece, from expert craftsman Robert Sabuda.
Come along on a magical journey under the sea in this stunning pop-up adaptation of the beloved fairy tale ‘The Little Mermaid,’ expertly crafted by renowned paper engineer Robert Sabuda. Amazing three-dimensional paper structures pop off each page, bringing this classic underwater adventure to life. This visually stunning tale of adventure, true love, and sacrifice is sure to become a favorite in any story-lover’s library.”
28. Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion
“Yum! The lovely Alex serves up a sweet treat fairy tale. A hungry lion. A little girl. A box of doughnuts…? Gorgeous proof that a perfect picture book can look even more tempting than a sweet shop window. Worried about wolves? Don’t make Little Red laugh. She’s not even scared of hungry lions. After all, why would this furry chap want to gobble her up? She’s sure he’d rather have a doughnut. Right, Mr Lion? A sassy heroine, beautiful artwork, jungle animals, a funny twist on a tale you adore. Once again, the World Book Day artist gets us all eating from his hand.”
29. Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China
“Not for the faint-hearted, Lon Po Po (Grandmother Wolf) is a tale of a menacing danger and courage. (Young’s) command of page composition and his sensitive use of color give the book a visual force that matches the strength of the story and stands as one of the illustrator’s best efforts.” —Booklist
30. Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood
"Big Bad Gator" Claude will wear a duck bill, flippers, and frilly underwear to get a taste of Petite Rouge. But the brave heroine and her smart cat TeJean are better than him. They teach Claude a lesson he will never forget with some strong Cajun hot sauce! This is a very creative retelling of the classic fairy tale, with funny rhymes and over-the-top art. There is a pronunciation guide or glossary that goes with a fun dialect that begs to be read out loud or acted out over and over. "This is Little Red Riding Hood like you've never seen her before: Cajun and ducky." In this funny new comic series from the person who made Dragonbreath, Sleeping Beauty gets a wild and furry makeover.
That's not how Harriet Hamsterbone is like most princesses. Believe her when she says she's beautiful in the realm of rodents, but don't expect her to look very ethereal or sigh a lot as she walks around the palace. She thinks that being a royal is kind of... dull. But one day, Harriet's parents tell her that a rat put a curse on her when she was born that she will prick her finger on a hamster wheel when she's twelve and fall asleep. This is great news for Harriet because it means she can't be hurt until she's twelve! It's true that no good curse is wasted. So begins a wonderful life of adventures with Mumfrey, her trusty riding quail, until her twelfth birthday, when the curse shows up in the strangest way.
This funny new comic mixture will make you question everything you thought you knew about princesses. It's perfect for people who liked Babymouse and Chris Colfer's Land of Stories.
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