Children's Book Suggestions | Mythology & Folklore

Thanks to The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, young readers are obsessed with mythology. This list features some of our favorite fiction books for young readers that incorporate mythological themes. You can view more mythology and folklore-themed fiction in the library catalog.

Our definition of mythology for this list is fairly broad. In addition to ancient polytheistic religions that are no longer widely practiced, we included other ancient religions still being practiced today (like Hinduism and Indigenous religions) as well as folklore and traditional tales passed down through oral storytelling traditions. Fairy tales, including written European folklore popularized by the Grimm brothers and Middle Eastern tales from the 1001 Nights, are covered in our Fairy Tale book lists.

For nonfiction books on mythology and world religions past & present, check out the 290s.

Updated June 6, 2024
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County)Oregon City Public Library
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City of the plague god
Chadda, Sarwat
Paper Book
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents an adventure based on ancient Mesopotamian mythology by Sarwat Chadda, author of the Ash Mistry series. "An epic worthy of Gilgamesh. Chadda brings attention to the less well-recognized mythology of ancient Mesopotamia with engaging...

A modern teen from LA finds himself enmeshed in a tale inspired by the Mesopotamian epic of Gilgamesh. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Kiki Kallira breaks a kingdom
Mandanna, Sangu
Paper Book
For fans of the Aru Shah and Serpent's Secret series, this action-packed fantasy-adventure sees a girl's drawings of Indian mythology spring to vivid life--including the evil god who seeks to enter the real world and destroy it. Kiki Kallira has always been a worrier. Did she...

A fast-paced fantasy adventure inspired by southern Indian folklore. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Eagle drums
Hopson, Nasug̊raq Rainey
Paper Book
**A NEWBERY HONOR BOOK** A magical middle grade debut about the origin story of the Iñupiaq Messenger Feast, a Native Arctic tradition. With beautifully hand-drawn full color art throughout! As his family prepares for winter, a young, skilled hunter must...

An Inupiaq author retells a traditional story about a young hunter's quest up the mountain to collect obsidian in this great readalike for fans of Hatchet and other survival stories. (Children's Nonfiction Age 8-12)

Loki's wolves
Armstrong, Kelley.
Paper Book
Calling all fans of myths, action-adventure, and the Percy Jackson series - don't miss this first book in the Blackwell Pages trilogy from bestselling authors K.L. Armstrong and Melissa Marr. While thirteen-year-old Matt Thorsen has always known he's a modern-day descendent of...

A modern descendant of the Norse gods encounters them in the present day in this suspenseful fantasy adventure saga from award-winning authors. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Serwa Boateng's guide to vampire hunting
Brown, Roseanne A.
Paper Book
For most kids, catching fireflies is a fun summer activity. For twelve-year-old Serwa Boateng, it's a matter of life and death. That's because Serwa knows that some fireflies are really adze, shapeshifting vampires from the forests of Southeastern Ghana. Adze prey on the blood of innocents,...

Vampires from Ghanaian folklore takes center stage in this Rick Riordan Presents series opener. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The storm runner
Cervantes, J. C.
Paper Book
Zane would much rather explore the dormant volcano near his home in New Mexico than go to school with kids who bully him for his limp. But what Zane doesn't know is that the volcano is a gateway to another world, a world he's thrust into with his dog, Rosie, and the new girl at school, Brooks -...

A middle school boy discovers his disability is linked to his heritage as the son of a Mayan god. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Rea and the blood of the nectar
Doshi, Payal
Paper Book
It all begins on the night Rea turns twelve. After a big fight with her twin brother Rohan on their birthday, Rea's life in the small village of Darjeeling, India, gets turned on its head. It's four in the morning and Rohan is nowhere to be found. It hasn't even been a day and Amma acts like Rohan's...

A girl from Darjeeling ventures into a magical realm in this story inspired by northern Indian folklore. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Lei and the fire goddess
Maunakea, Malia
Paper Book
"Lei and the Fire Goddess blends preteen angst and beloved Hawaiian moʻolelo in a way that hasn't been done before." -Auliʻi Cravalho, actress and voice of Disney's Princess Moana Curses aren't real. At least, that's what twelve-year-old, part...

A Hawaiian girl discovers that her grandmother's stories about the ancient Hawaiian gods are true when she accidentally angers the volcano goddess, Pele. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The lightning thief
Riordan, Rick
Paper Book
The #1 New York Times Bestseller | Now a series on Disney+ 12-year-old Percy Jackson discovers he is the son of Poseidon in the opener to the hilarious, fast-paced adventure fantasy series for young readers ages 10 and up The paperback edition of the...

The OG mythology-inspired fantasy adventure series! Percy Jackson discovers he's actually the son of a Greek god and is sent to a camp for other half-human demigods. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The labors of Hercules Beal
Schmidt, Gary D.
Paper Book
From award-winning author Gary D. Schmidt, a warm and witty novel in the tradition of The Wednesday Wars, in which a seventh grader has to figure out how to fulfill a seemingly impossible school assignment--and learns about friendship, community, and himself along the way....

An insightful teacher tasks a modern day kid with completing the labors of Hercules in this contemporary fiction story with strong ties to Greek mythology. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor
Zhao, Xiran Jay
Paper Book
Percy Jackson meets Tristan Strong in this hilarious middle grade "edge-of-your-seat adventure" (James Ponti, New York Times bestselling author of City Spies) that follows a young boy as he journeys across China to seal the underworld shut and save the mortal realm. ...

A Chinese American middle schooler must cross the underworld to save the mortal realm in this story featuring figures from Chinese folklore. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Ghost book
Lai, Remy
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Spirited Away, Coco, and Ghosts comes a spooky fantasy graphic novel about the friendship between a girl who can see ghosts and a boy who is stuck between the worlds of the living and the dead. An Indie Bestseller! An Amazon,...

A living girl and a spirit boy go on adventure inspired by Chinese folklore during Hungry Ghost Month, when the veil between the worlds is thin. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Mabuhay!
Sterling, Zack
Paper Book
*Nominated for the 2024 Eisner Awards for Best Publication for Kids* From rising star Zachary Sterling comes a humorous and heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel that celebrates food, family, and folklore. Can two kids save the world and work their family food...

Two normal kids who don't want to work at their family's Filippino food cart slowly notice they're being haunted by creatures from Filippino folklore. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)


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