Children's books set in Wales
Wales lends itself naturally to some brilliant stories, with its incredible, varied scenery: towering mountains and tumbling hills and gasp-worthy coastline.
It's also a country of storytelling, full of myths and legend: dragons and witches and tales of King Arthur.
If you live in or are from Wales (or just going for your holidays), you may be looking for books set there to share with your child. After all, a familiar location can help them relate to the story and feel a bigger connection.
Here are just a few of our favourites for you to check out.
-
Margot and Me
Author: Juno Dawson
Publisher: Hot Key
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+A perfectly written family drama for teens, Margot and Me explores the developing relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter, who is just starting to understand that life, and love, is rarely straightforward.
-
Sweet Pizza
Author: G R Gemin
Publisher: Nosy Crow
Interest age: 11-15
Reading age: 11+In a small Welsh town, a young man gets to reconnect to his Italian roots and explore his entrepreneurial streak, as he exchanges the joys of fried chicken and chips for fresh espresso and pasta puttanesca.
-
Dragon Gold
Author: Shoo Rayner
Publisher: Dragonfly
Interest age: 7-10
Reading age: 7-9This entertaining chapter book, with comical black-and-white illustrations, combines Welsh mythology with everyday life, friendship and trust. The first in a trilogy, it is sure to captivate independent young readers.
-
Mother Cary’s Butter Knife
Author: Nicola Davies Illustrator: Anja Uhren
Publisher: Graffeg
Interest age: 7-10
Reading age: 7-9Inspired by traditional folk tales of mythical sea creatures, this other-worldly story of the savagery and beauty of the ocean will captivate readers. The ethereal illustrations, in a palette of watery blues, greens and greys, perfectly complement the poetic narrative.
-
The Four Branches of the Mabinogi
Author: Siân Lewis Illustrator: Valériane Leblond
Publisher: Rily
Interest age: 7-11
Reading age: 8+Enchanting, engrossing and beautifully illustrated, this is a wonderfully accessible retelling of the most ancient of recorded legends, and a great introduction to the ancient storytelling heritage of Wales.
-
Carrie's War
Author: Nina Bawden
Publisher: Puffin
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 10+Inspired by Nina Bawden's own experiences of living as an evacuee in a Welsh mining valley as a child, Carrie's War is now considered a modern classic. Funny, sad and thought-provoking.
-
The Owl Service
Author: Alan Garner
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+When Alison finds a curious dinner service in the attic, the discovery sets off a strange chain of events that look set to affect everyone's lives. This extraordinary and powerful story is a modern classic, blending together mystery, adventure and history.
-
Bitter Sixteen
Author: Stefan Mohamed
Publisher: Salt
Interest age: 12+
Reading age: 12+Funny, sharp and totally original, Bitter Sixteen is the beginning of a trilogy about a tremendously appealing smart-mouthed Welsh superhero (and his talking dog sidekick). Half action thriller, half coming-of-age story, with a wicked sense of humour.
-
Framed
Author: Frank Cottrell Boyce Illustrator: Steven Lenton
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Interest age: 9+
Reading age: 9+The story centres on Dylan Hughes, the only boy left in a small Welsh mountain town called Manod. This is an immensely entertaining book, about the power of art to bring about change and to redeem.
-
The Seal Children
Author: Jackie Morris
Publisher: Otter-Barry Books
Interest age: 4-9
Reading age: 6+A tender and mythical exploration of the selkie myth in a family context, with a gentle and evocative use of watercolour, this breathtakingly beautiful book is one to treasure.
