Myths and legends
Across all cultures, myth and legend stories have been told for hundreds of years – usually told and retold to entertain and to educate. Here is a selection of the best books about, or inspired by, myths and legends from across the world.
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Old Gods New Tricks
Author: Thiago de Moraes
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+Can Trixie dos Santos trick five all-powerful gods into helping her save the world? Packed with characters from myths and legends from across the world, this is an action-packed, magical adventure.
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Goddesses and Heroines: Women of Myth and Legend
Author: Xanthe Gresham-Knight Illustrator: Alice Pattullo
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+In this gorgeous book featuring the stories of thirteen goddesses from different cultures – Sumeria (now Iraq), China, Mexico, Japan, Nigeria, Greece, Ireland and many more – Xanthe Gresham-Knight reminds us of the powerful women of myth and legend who have always had our backs.
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Kai and the Monkey King
Author: Joe Todd-Stanton
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 5+Professor Brownston recounts the story of two ancestors, whose quest to observe and document mythical phenomena leads them across ancient China. A compelling picture book, sure to captivate young readers who enjoy fantasy adventure tales.
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Oh Maya Gods
Author: Maz Evans
Publisher: Chicken House
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+Super-sporty Vesper and super-bright Aster are cousins and now reluctant partners in stopping Kizin, the Maya god of death, from killing everyone in the world. A brilliant adventure full of action and humour… and chocolate!
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The Last Mapmaker
Author: Christina Soontornvat
Publisher: Walker Books
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+Apprentice mapmaker, 12-year-old Sai, joins an expedition to sail the southern seas and chart new lands, but how much is she willing to risk in order to make her fortune? This Thai-inspired fantasy adventure is a thrilling and thought-provoking read.
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Coyote's Soundbite
Author: John Agard Illustrator: Piet Grobler
Publisher: Lantana
Interest age: 6-8
Reading age: 6+Six Earth Goddesses call a meeting to discuss what is to be done about humans inflicting catastrophic environmental damage to the planet. Coyote, disguised as his wife, joins the meeting - and feels compelled to speak out.
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African & Caribbean Folktales, Myths & Legends
Author: Wendy Shearer Illustrator: Andrea Pippins
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+In this collection you will find creation myths, trickster tales, stories about shapeshifters and gods, and many more – some funny, some thrilling. An excellent introduction to African and Caribbean folklore.
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The House With Chicken Legs
Author: Sophie Anderson
Publisher: Usborne
Interest age: 10-13
Reading age: 9+A story of death, magic and the afterlife told by Marinka, who is desperate not to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and wants to find her own destiny. Loosely based on the Slavic myth of Baba Yaga, this story is delightfully macabre and utterly engrossing.
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Myth Atlas: Maps and Monsters, Heroes and Gods from Twelve Mythological Worlds
Author: Thiago de Moraes
Publisher: Alison Green Books
Interest age: 6-10
Reading age: 7+The mythological worlds of 12 cultures from Ireland to Japan, Polynesia to the mythos of the Hindu world are explored here in a beautiful collection, which helps children to celebrate and respect the wonderful differences in the way people see the world.
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The Atlas of Monsters: Mythical Creatures from Around the World
Author: Stuart Hill and Sandra Lawrence
Publisher: Big Picture Press
Interest age: 7-11
Reading age: 8+The Atlas of Monsters takes the interesting angle of looking at each continent from the point of view of its traditional mythology, and also introduces the book itself as a mysterious source object to be investigated inside a story of strange discovery.
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Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Taking the Blame
Author: Louie Stowell
Publisher: Walker
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8-9Can Loki – god of mischief and prankster schoolboy – convince everyone that he didn’t steal Thor’s hammer? Bursting with illustrations, doodles and comic strips, this is an equally funny sequel to the hilarious Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good.
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Children of the Quicksands
Author: Efua Traoré
Publisher: Chicken House
Interest age: 9-13
Reading age: 9+A glorious mix of Yoruba myths and legends infused with the joy, adventure, culture and exuberance of Nigeria all wrapped up in a tense, magical thriller.
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Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend
Author: Lizzie Huxley-Jones
Publisher: Knights Of
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+Vivi must use her newfound powers to stop a ruthless tyrant from destroying the human world. This enthralling magical adventure seamlessly blends ancient Welsh mythology with a diverse cast of characters in a contemporary setting.
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The Táin
Author: Alan Titley Illustrator: Eoin Coveney
Publisher: Little Island Books
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 11+A gory re-telling of Ireland’s traditional battle epic, with many gruesome details of the violence that the warrior Cúchulainn inflicts on his enemies. Suitable for older children, this is a prose version of the myth that explores courage, jealousy and the futility of violence.
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Greek Myths
Author: Jean Menzies Illustrator: Katie Ponder
Publisher: DK
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+A wealth of Greek myths and legends are told engagingly and simply in this gorgeously illustrated hardback, filled with colourful, graphic illustration by Katie Ponder.
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Who Let the Gods Out?
Author: Maz Evans
Publisher: Chicken House
Interest age: 9-13
Reading age: 10+A quirky fantasy adventure in which a human boy and a Greek goddess accidentally release an immortal supervillain who is determined to take over the world - and maybe even the universe.
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Momo Arashima: Steals the Sword of the Wind
Author: Misa Sugiura
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 9+A thrilling fantasy adventure exploring the rich mythology of Japan and the intense feelings of a lonely girl.
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South Asian Folktales, Myths and Legends
Author: Sarah Shaffi
Publisher: Scholastic
Interest age: 9-11
Reading age: 8+Anyone looking to escape into a world of battling princesses, scary ogres, heroic warriors, wily animals, and even ordinary people doing extraordinary things, should take a look inside this beautiful compilation of traditional tales from across South Asia.
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Egyptology
Author: Dugald Steer and Nick Harris Illustrator: Helen Ward
Publisher: Templar Publishing
Interest age: 8+
Reading age: 8+Brimming with information about Ancient Egypt with lovely interactive features
