Fairy Tales/ Folktales


This list contains books that deal with Fairy Tales or Folk Tales.  They could be traditional versions, or stories retold, re-imagined, or twisted.  There are even one or two that just deal with fairy tales in general, but are not related to one specific story.

Books that have a review or mini-review on this blog can be clicked on to go to that post.  Be sure to see my note at the bottom of the list about reading and age appropriate levels.

A Wolf at the Door by Ellen Datrow
(5.4) (MG) (retold fairy tales)

A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce
(5.9) (MG+) (Rumplestiltzkin retelling, mystery, curses, family relationships)

Ash & Bramble by Sarah Prineas
(5.1) (UG) (fairy tales, rebellion)

Bound by Donna Jo Napoli *
(5.4) (MG+) (China, stepmothers, Cinderella, foot-binding)

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
(4.8) (MG) (magic, friendship, fairy tales)

Breath by Donna Jo Napoli
(4.2) (UG) (Pied Piper of Hamlin)

Cloaked in Red by Vivian Vande Velde
(4.9) (MG+) (Fairy Tales retold, Red Riding Hood)

Dark Shimmer by Donna Jo Napoli
(3.6) (MG+) (Snow White retelling, 1500’s, Italy, nobility, dwarfism)

Duckling Ugly by Neal Shusterman
(5.1) (MG+) (fountain of youth)

Fortune’s Folly by Deva Fagan *
(5.3) (MG) (Middle Ages, family, fairy tales, adventure)

Red Rider’s Hood by Neal Shusterman
(4.8) (MG+) (family, werewolves)

Rose & Thorn by Sarah Prineas
(/) (MG+) (fairy tales, rebellions, Sleeping Beauty, romance, *)

Rump: The True Story of Rumplestiltskin by Leisl Shurtliff *
(4.4) (MG-) (Rumplestiltskin, friendship, orphans, identity)

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
(5.3) (MG+) (werewolves, sisters, romance)

Spinners by Donna Jo Napoli
(4.3) (MG+) (Rumplestiltskin)

Straw into Gold by Gary Schmidt
(5.9) (MG) (Rumplestiltskin retelling, mystery)

The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman
(4.0) (MG) (magic, friendship, fairy tales)

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
(5.2) (UG) (mothers & daughters, magic, fairy tales)

The Step-Sister’s Tale by Tracy Barrett *
(MG+) (Cinderella story, family relationships)

The Wager by Donna Jo Napoli
(4.3) (MG+) (Sicily, 12th century, nobility, folktales)

The Witch’s Guide to Cooking with Children by Keith McGowan
(4.7) (MG) (family, witches, Hansel & Gretel)

Zel by Donna Jo Napoli *
(4.0) (MG+) (Rapunzel story, mothers and daughters)



Note:  Lists are arranged with Title, Author, Reading Level, Age Appropriate Level, and Descriptive Tags.
(Age appropriate level denotes the youngest readers that the book is appropriate for.  That doesn't mean that older readers will not enjoy the book!)

* =  books that I thought were GREAT

UG = upper grades  (contain sex, drugs, and/or very graphic violence; deal with mature subject matter such as rape, prostitution, child abuse, etc. )
MG+ = junior high  (may contain some profanity or sexual references; may deal with subject matter too mature for younger audiences)
MG = 4th through 6th grades (nothing inappropriate for children, but may not keep the interest of younger readers)
MG- = all ages (perfect for bedtime stories or read-alouds, or for precocious readers in the lower grades)

* = LGBTQ themes - characters, situations, or references to same-sex couples

Books included in this list are all ones that I have read myself and given a rating of at least 3 out of 5 Stars (why would I recommend anything less?)  When a book is part of a series, only the first title is listed, but the reading level for all books in the series is shown.  Lists will be updated periodically as I read new books.


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