Modern Fairy Tales for 5-8 Year Olds

Cloud Tea Monkeys

Enjoy some of our favourite retellings of classic fairytales for 5-8 year olds

These clever and often humorous books will engage children with their witty takes on old tales. 

  • Revolting Rhymes

    Author: Roald Dahl Illustrator: Quentin Blake

    Interest level: 5+

    Reading age: 7+

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  • Revolting Rhymes

    Author: Roald Dahl Illustrator: Quentin Blake

    Interest level: 5+

    Reading age: 7+

    This is an hilarious collection of some well-loved fairy tales, cleverly reinvented by Roald Dahl.

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  • Gotcha!

    Author: Clotilde Perrin Translator: Daniel Hahn

    Interest level: 6-8

    Reading age: 6+

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  • Gotcha!

    Author: Clotilde Perrin Translator: Daniel Hahn

    Interest level: 6-8

    Reading age: 6+

    Look out! Three fearsome monsters are coming to gobble you up! Hide inside the houses of the three little pigs, Hansel and Gretel …

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  • Once Upon a Wild Wood

    Author: Chris Riddell

    Interest level: 4-7

    Reading age: 6+

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  • Once Upon a Wild Wood

    Author: Chris Riddell

    Interest level: 4-7

    Reading age: 6+

    A brand-new fairytale character, Little Green Rain Cape, sets off through the wild woods on her way to Rapunzel’s birthday party.&…

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  • Me and You

    Author: Anthony Browne

    Interest level: 7+

    Reading age: 6+

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  • Me and You

    Author: Anthony Browne

    Interest level: 7+

    Reading age: 6+

    The resolution of this story about a girl and three bears will challenge perceptions and provoke much thought in those who read it…

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  • Previously

    Author: Allan Ahlberg Illustrator: Bruce Ingman

    Interest level: 6+

    Reading age: 6+

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  • Previously

    Author: Allan Ahlberg Illustrator: Bruce Ingman

    Interest level: 6+

    Reading age: 6+

    Using just the word 'previously' various fairytales are retold – starting with their endings and working back to their begin…

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  • Hansel & Gretel

    Author: Bethan Woollvin

    Interest level: 5-7

    Reading age: 5+

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  • Hansel & Gretel

    Author: Bethan Woollvin

    Interest level: 5-7

    Reading age: 5+

    Willow is a good witch, and it’s the horrendously naughty Hansel and Gretel who wreck her house and her magic spells. A delig…

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  • Cloud Tea Monkeys

    Author: Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham Illustrator: Juan Wijngaard

    Interest level: 5+

    Reading age: 7+

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  • Cloud Tea Monkeys

    Author: Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham Illustrator: Juan Wijngaard

    Interest level: 5+

    Reading age: 7+

    Tashi's mother is an impoverished tea-picker, and when she becomes ill, the little girl tries to continue her mother's job.

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  • Spellbound

    Author: Siobhan Parkinson

    Interest level: 6+

    Reading age: 6+

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  • Spellbound

    Author: Siobhan Parkinson

    Interest level: 6+

    Reading age: 6+

    A fascinating selection of folk and fairy tales.

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  • Cinderella of the Nile

    Author: Beverley Naidoo Illustrator: Marjan Vafaeian

    Interest level: 5-8

    Reading age: 6+

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  • Cinderella of the Nile

    Author: Beverley Naidoo Illustrator: Marjan Vafaeian

    Interest level: 5-8

    Reading age: 6+

    Rhodopis is a rarity in the north of Greece, with her red hair and blue eyes. Soon, she is kidnapped and turned into a slave. When…

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  • The Cherry Pie Princess

    Author: Vivian French Illustrator: Marta Kissi

    Interest level: 5-8

    Reading age: 7+

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  • The Cherry Pie Princess

    Author: Vivian French Illustrator: Marta Kissi

    Interest level: 5-8

    Reading age: 7+

    When a bad fairy plots to kidnap the baby prince, Princess Peony must act fast to save her brother. Engaging characters, plenty of…

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  • Spinderella

    Author: Julia Donaldson Illustrator: Sebastien Braun

    Interest level: 3-6

    Reading age: 6+

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  • Spinderella

    Author: Julia Donaldson Illustrator: Sebastien Braun

    Interest level: 3-6

    Reading age: 6+

    Spinderella is a spider who lives with her spider mum and brothers and sisters on top of a ceiling light at a school. A story…

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  • The Eel Question

    Author: Nicola Davies Illustrator: Beth Holland

    Interest level: 7-10

    Reading age: 7+

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  • The Eel Question

    Author: Nicola Davies Illustrator: Beth Holland

    Interest level: 7-10

    Reading age: 7+

    A mythic-feeling story about a girl who lives on the flat marshes, fishing for eels, and soon befriends an otter that will help he…

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