2026 Reading Challenge

Listopia > Folktale Book Lists

American Gods by Neil GaimanDaughter of the Forest by Juliet MarillierGood Omens by Terry PratchettThe Once and Future King by T.H. WhiteElla Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Myth and Folktale Retellings
628 books — 580 voters
Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. JoosseSleep Well, Siba and Saba by Nansubuga Nagadya IsdahlHush! A Thai Lullaby by Minfong HoDragon Dancer by Joyce ChngSing to the Moon by Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl
Multicultural Children's Books
207 books — 63 voters

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna AardemaMufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John SteptoeAnansi the Spider by Gerald McDermottBringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna AardemaSleep Well, Siba and Saba by Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl
Picture Books on Africa
361 books — 48 voters
The Goddess of Nothing At All by Cat RectorAmerican Gods by Neil GaimanThe Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil GaimanGoblin Market by Christina RossettiThe Little Country by Charles de Lint
Must-read Mythic Fiction Novels
80 books — 44 voters

The City of Brass by S.A. ChakrabortyThe Kingdom of Copper by S.A. ChakrabortyThe Empire of Gold by S.A. ChakrabortyThe Tale of Iśva Raman by Najeev NadarajahThe Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
Middle Eastern - South Asian fantasy
49 books — 38 voters
The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales by Jacob GrimmThe Original Folk and Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm by Jacob GrimmThe Complete Fairy Tales by Hans Christian AndersenTales of Virtuous Stepmothers by Georgina WarrenThe Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann
Classic Fairytale Books
209 books — 26 voters

The Crow Folk by Mark StayThe Giant Under the Snow by John GordonThe Owl Service by Alan GarnerThe Dark Is Rising by Susan CooperYaxley's Cat by Robert Westall
Folk Horror Junior
93 books — 21 voters
De Rerum Natura by David HillstromMillionaire Janitor by Lorn BergstresserTHE CONJUROR'S BOX by Ann LawrenceHow Many Miles to Babylon? by Violet NeedhamMore Tales in the Land of Nursery Rhyme by Ada M. Marzials
Juvenile Fiction based upon a Nursery Rhyme, Poem or Folk Song
13 books — 20 voters

Persephone by Kaitlin BevisThe Memory Eater by Matthew HanceAsh by Malinda LoThe Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. TolkienThe Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
What to read before Mythcon 43
42 books — 18 voters
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne JonesUprooted by Naomi NovikThe Blue Sword by Robin McKinleyThe Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinleyDaughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier
The Queenly & Eerie Ones
115 books — 16 voters

Cupid and Psyche by M. Charlotte CraftThe Lady of Ten Thousand Names by Burleigh MutenGoddesses by Burleigh MutenLooking for Lord Ganesh by Mahtab NarsimhanThe Seven Gods of Luck by David Kudler
Picture Books About Gods and Goddesses
157 books — 15 voters
The Raven Boys by Maggie StiefvaterThe Dream Thieves by Maggie StiefvaterBlue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie StiefvaterThe Raven King by Maggie StiefvaterGhost Riders by Sharyn McCrumb
Fantasy Novels Set in Appalachia
37 books — 12 voters

Every Tongue Got to Confess by Zora Neale HurstonHer Stories by Virginia HamiltonThe Book of Negro Folklore by Langston HughesThe People Could Fly by Virginia HamiltonMules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston
Myths, Legends, and Folklore of African-Americans
102 books — 12 voters
Vintage Smoking Stands - Uncovering an American Folk Art Trea... by Cheryl AlpertCunning Folk by Adam L.G. NevillFishes of Fancy by Robinson PhilThe Otherworld in Myth, Folklore, Cinema, and Brain Science by Jim KlineNovel Folklore by Jason Reza Jorjani
"Folks!" Don't Stand Around Crying... Let's All Do The Charleston While We're Dying
235 books — 12 voters

Circe by Madeline MillerClytemnestra by Costanza CasatiThe Song of Achilles by Madeline MillerThe Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine ArdenSpinning Silver by Naomi Novik
Myth and Fairytale Retellings for Adults
57 books — 12 voters
Latin American Folktales by John BierhorstNorwegian Folktales by Peter Christen AsbjørnsenArab Folktales by Inea BushnaqThe Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales by Jacob GrimmThe Witch and the Wildwood by Sarah Robinson
Pantheon Fairy Tale & Folklore Library
27 books — 7 voters

Doctor Ouch by Korney ChukovskyTchaikovsky by Ann RachlinFrog Bride by Antonia BarberThe Turnip by Harriet ZiefertThe Golden Cockerel by Elaine Pogany
Russia: children's books (part 2)
112 books — 6 voters
The Boy Who Drew Cats by Arthur A. LevineYoshi's Feast by Kimiko KajikawaThe Seven Gods of Luck by David KudlerMomotaro the Peach Boy by M.J. YorkPeach Girl by Raymond K. Nakamura
Asian Folktale-Picture Books
9 books — 5 voters

Fergus and the Night-Demon by Jim MurphyBlachart by Christina EngelaOdd and the Frost Giants by Neil GaimanThe Marvelous Mustache by Violet EmberstoneMustache! by Mac Barnett
Folk/Fairy Tales for Older Kids
40 books — 4 voters
Silver on the Tree by Susan CooperThe Box of Delights by John MasefieldThe Merry Wives of Windsor by William ShakespearePagan Themes in Modern Children's Fiction by Peter BramwellThe Moon of Gomrath by Alan Garner
Herne the Hunter, Horn Dance, Stag Chase & related folklore
34 books — 3 voters

The Swan Maiden by Heather TomlinsonThe Swan's Daughter by Roshani ChokshiFeather by Demelza CarltonIn Search of the Swan Maiden by Barbara Fass LeavySwan Maiden by Howard Pyle
Swan Maiden, Crane Wife, and other similar fairy tales
18 books — 2 voters
Bust It Like A Mule by Caleb MannanSlim by William Wister Haines
New American Folktales
2 books — 1 voter

A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann LiangThe Night Ends with Fire by K.X. SongDaughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn TanGoddess of the River by Vaishnavi PatelHera by Jennifer Saint
Retellings of Myths and Legends
5 books — 1 voter

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