Children's Book Suggestions | Fairy Tales

Some of our favorite books for readers in Grades 3-7 based on fairy tales! You can view more fairy tale-themed fiction books in the library catalog. Fairy tale picture books and collections of fairy tales are in the nonfiction section in 398.2.

For readers who love mythology and folklore, check out our Mythology & Folklore book list or look for nonfiction books about ancient religions in the 290s.

Updated June 6, 2024
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County)Oregon City Public Library
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The house with chicken legs
Anderson, Sophie
Paper Book
An extraordinary retelling of the Baba Yaga myth, this debut novel will wrap itself around your heart and never let go.All 12-year-old Marinka wants is a friend. A real friend. Not like her house with chicken legs. Sure, the house can play games like tag and hide-and-seek, but Marinka longs for a...

A novel featuring one of the most famous figures from Slavic fairy tales: Baba Yaga. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

The fairy-tale detectives
Buckley, Michael
Paper Book
With the winning combination of Nancy Drew meets Shrek, this first book in the new Sisters Grimm series will entertain with a hilarious mix of mysteries and fairy tale twists.In the tradition of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events and The Spiderwick Chronicles comes a new humorous mystery...

One reviewer perfectly described this fairy tale themed mystery series as "Nancy Drew meets Shrek." (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Ella enchanted
Levine, Gail Carson.
Paper Book
This beloved Newbery Honor-winning story about a feisty heroine is sure to enchant readers new and old.  At her birth, Ella of Frell receives a foolish fairy's gift--the "gift" of obedience. Ella must obey any order, whether it's to hop on one foot for a day and a half, or to chop off...

A girl cursed at birth to be obedient finds herself a servant in her own home after falling in love with the heir to throne in this classic Newbery Honor Book. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Fairest of all
Mlynowski, Sarah.
Paper Book
A fresh, modern spin on a classic fairy tale--from bestselling author Sarah Mlynowski!The first installment of Sarah Mylowski's New York Times bestselling series!Be the bravest of them all . . . Once upon a time my brother and I were normal kids. The next minute? The mirror in our...

A girl and her brother find a magic mirror in the basement of their new house that transports them into famous fairy tales--only something has gone wrong, and it's up to them to get the stories back on track! With nearly 20 books in the series and a new graphic novel adaptation, fairy tale fans will have plenty of reading. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Grounded : the adventures of Rapunzel
Morrison, Megan
Paper Book
"Think you know Rapunzel's story? Think again, because the tower was only the beginning..." -- Jennifer Nielsen, New York Times bestselling author of The False PrinceIn all of Tyme, from the Redlands to the Grey, no one is as lucky as Rapunzel. She lives in a magic tower that obeys her every...

The first in a series of fractured fairy tales, hand this one to fans of Tangled and other Rapunzel tales. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Red : the true story of Red Riding Hood
Shurtliff, Liesl
Paper Book
From the New York Times bestselling author of RUMP, comes a spellbinding fairy tale featuring a brave heroine, a wild wolf, plenty of magical misadventures, and more! Red is not afraid of the big bad wolf. She's not afraid of anything . . . except magic. But when...

A fun take on Little Red Riding Hood with a cameo appearance by Goldilocks and some other fairy tale favorites. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Fairy tale comics
Duffy, Chris (Comic book writer)
Paper Book
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From favorites like "Puss in Boots" and "Goldilocks" to obscure gems like "The Boy Who Drew Cats," Fairy Tale Comics has something to offer every reader. Seventeen fairy tales are wonderfully adapted and illustrated in comics format by seventeen...

A collection of short fairy tale retellings highlighting some of Europe's most familiar tales. (Children's Graphic Novels 3-5)

Flunked
Calonita, Jen
Paper Book
Dive into book one of the best selling Fairy Tale Reform School series, from award-winning author Jen Calonita! What happens to the villains after happily ever after? 12 year old Gilly isn't so sure that she needs reforming for the (former) villains in Enchantasia... Gilly wouldn't call...

A young girl who lives in a shoe is sent to a school run by famous villains in this boarding school story inspired by classic fairy tales. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Beasts and beauty : dangerous tales
Chainani, Soman
Paper Book
You think you know these stories, don't you? You are wrong. You don't know them at all. Twelve tales, twelve dangerous tales of mystery, magic, and rebellious hearts. Each twists like a spindle to reveal truths full of warning and triumph, truths that free hearts long kept...

From the author of The School for Good & Evil, a collection of dark fairy tale short stories for older middle school readers. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The hero's guide to saving your kingdom
Healy, Christopher
Paper Book
Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You’ve never heard of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only as...

The four Princes Charming, only one of whom has any real heroic skills, team up with their princesses to save their kingdoms from an evil witch. This one is a multi-age audiobook for family road trips! (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The school for good and evil
Chainani, Soman
Paper Book
THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL will soon be a major motion picture from Netflix--starring Academy Award winner Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, Laurence Fishburne, Michelle Yeoh, Sofia Wylie, Sophie Anne Caruso, Jamie Flatters, Earl Cave, Kit Young, and more!  ...

Sparkly Sophie and grumpy Agatha are shocked when they are sent to the "wrong" boarding schools for good and evil witches in this fairy tale readalike for Harry Potter. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The wishing spell
Colfer, Chris
Paper Book
The first book in Chris Colfer's #1 New York Times bestselling series The Land of Stories about two siblings who fall into a fairy-tale world! Alex and Conner Bailey's world is about to change, in this fast-paced adventure that uniquely combines our modern day world with...

Popular actor Chris Colfer kicks off this portal fantasy in which a pair of siblings who fall into a fairy tale world. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The thirteenth fairy
De la Cruz, Melissa
Paper Book
*A New York Times Bestseller* *A B&N Young Reader Monthly Pick**A Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist* Discover a new middle-grade fantasy saga perfect for fans of The Land of Stories series from the #1 New York Times bestselling creator...

A young girl finds herself pulled into a magical world in this fairy tale mashup by the author of the popular Disney Descendents tie-in, The Isle of the Lost. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

A tale dark & Grimm
Gidwitz, Adam.
Paper Book
In this mischievous and utterly original debut, Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm-inspired tales. As readers follow the siblings through a forest brimming with menacing foes, they learn the true story behind (and beyond) the bread crumbs, edible houses,...

Two siblings venture into a dark forest full of fairy tales in this suspenseful take on Grimm's fairy tales. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The rat queen
Hautman, Pete
Paper Book
From National Book Award winner Pete Hautman comes a mysterious modern-day fairy tale about developing a moral compass--and the slippery nature of conscience. For Annie's tenth birthday, her papa gives her a pad of paper, some colored pencils, and the Klimas family secret. It's...

A dark, atmospheric fantasy story inspired by the Pied Piper fairy tale. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Daughters of the lamp
Lewers, Nedda
Paper Book
Percy Jackson meets Arabian fairy tales in this stunning middle grade fantasy debut about a girl who becomes the guardian of Ali Baba's legendary treasure. Believe in fairy tales. Sahara Rashad lives by logic. Loves science. And always has a plan...

A fantasy epic story featuring Middle Eastern fairy tales from the 1001 Nights. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Beauty and the Beast: The Only One Who Didn't Run Away
Mass, Wendy
Paper Book
Wendy Mass tells the story of Beauty and the Beast, as never heard before! When you're stuck with the name Beauty, people expect a lot from you - like beauty and grace and courage and a sense of style. But what if you have none of these things? What if all you like to do is read...

Modern retellings of popular fairy tales starring middle schoolers in a realistic setting. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Goblin market
Zahler, Diane
Paper Book
One sister must save the other from a goblin prince in this rich, spooky, and delightfully dark fantasy! "TERRIFICALLY TIMELESS. . . SPLENDID." -Shelf Awareness Lizzie and Minka are sisters, but they're nothing alike- Minka is outgoing and cheerful,...

Adult fans of Christina Rosetti's poem will recognize the source material for this novel that draws on themes from Polish folklore. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Nayra and the djinn
Ata, Iasmin Omar
Paper Book
In this coming-of-age graphic novel with a fantastical twist, Nayra Mansour, a Muslim American girl, is helped on her journey to selfhood by a djinn. Nothing is going right for Nayra Mansour. There's the constant pressure from her strict family, ruthless bullying from her...

A modern middle schooler makes an ill-advised bargain with a djinn from Islamic folklore. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Plain Jane and the Mermaid
Brosgol, Vera
Paper Book
From Anya's Ghost and Be Prepared author Vera Brosgol comes an instant classic graphic novel that flips every fairy-tale you know on its head, and shows one girl's crusade for the only thing that matters--her own independence. Jane is incredibly plain....

A Portland-based Russian-American graphic novelist crafts a mermaid story inspired by classic fairy tales like The Little Mermaid and the rusalki of Slavic folklore. (Young Teen Graphic Novels Grades 5-7)

Princeless. Book one, Save yourself
Whitley, Jeremy.
Paper Book
"Funny riffs on adventure story stereotypesfill this graphic novel, and parents and educators will be delighted with thediverse characters." -AMightyGirl.com Honored as an AmeliaBloomer Project title, through theALA. Adrienne Ashe never wanted to be aprincess. She...

A princess whose father has locked her in a tower befriends her dragon guard and escapes to rescue her sisters from their towers in this fun homage to fairy tales and classic fantasy games. (Young Teen Graphic Novels Grades 5-7)


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