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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Endlessly ever after : pick your path to countless fairy tale endings! : a story of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack, Hansel, Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, a wolf, a witch, a goose, a grandmother, some pigs, and endless variations
Snyder, Laurel
Paper Book
This funny, original, choose-your-path picture book of fractured fairy tales will charm any young fan of the genre, putting the power of storytelling right in the reader's hands! Grab your basket and your coat. Put on some walking shoes. Turn the page...

A fairy tale-themed choose your own adventure picture book from a Caldecott Award-winning illustrator. (Picture Book Age 5-8)

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
Orphaned sisters Sabrina and Daphne are sent to live with their mysterious grandmother, Relda Grimm, who lives in a town in rural New York State that experiences an extraordinary number of unexplained and unusual crimes. In this book, the girls are pitted against a giant who has been rampaging...

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
Mirror, mirror, on the basement wall . . .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 basement slurped us up and magically transported...

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)

Delphine and the silver needle
Moon, Alyssa
Paper Book
To unravel any mystery, find the knot. When Delphine, a young orphaned dressmaker mouse living in the walls of Cinderella's château, stumbles upon an enormous secret, it upends everything she thought she knew: The magical tailor mice of legend really existed. ...

If your favorite part of Disney's Cinderella is the mice--and that epic dressmaking scene--this fantasy adventure featuring a courageous seamstress mouse might be your cup of tea. (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...

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 is the #1 movie now streaming on 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 many others!  The New...

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
Now a Netflix animated series! The New York Times bestselling debut by Adam Gidwitz, the Newbery Honor-winning author of The Inquisitor's Tale. "A wonderful sense of humor and narrative voice ... completely fresh and unique." -Rick Riordan, #1...

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
She's never thought she was much of a beauty. He's worried he comes across as a beast. There are two sides to every fairy tale...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...

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

The princess revolt
O'Neill, Cathy
Paper Book
Disney's Twisted Tales meets the Half Upon a Time trilogy in this "lively" (School Library Journal) first book of a new fantasy series following a young girl who discovers that fairy tale characters are real when she becomes the target of vindictive princesses who want their Happily Ever...

A group of fairy tale princesses who didn't get their happy endings cause trouble when they're transported to our world. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Once upon another time
Riley, James
Paper Book
Storybook characters collide in this first book in a new trilogy of twisted fairy tales from New York Times bestselling author James Riley, set in the world of his popular Half Upon a Time series--perfect for fans of Fablehaven and Chris Colfer's A Tale of Magic series! ...

A human-sized giant and a genie set out on a quest in this fractured fairy tale mashup. (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, while...

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
A New York Times Best Children's Books of the Year An NPR Best Book of the Year A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year From Anya's Ghost and Be Prepared author Vera Brosgol comes an instant classic graphic novel that flips every...

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)

Swan Lake. Quest for the kingdoms
Terciero, Rey
Paper Book
"A fun, unexpected, action-packed reimagining of a classic story." --Molly Knox Ostertag, author of The Witch Boy Frozen meets The Wizard of Oz in this swashbuckling adventure perfect for fans of Amulet and The Okay Witch, from the acclaimed author of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.<...

This graphic novel is a nested doll of fairy tales: a graphic novel inspired by a Russian ballet inspired by a German fairy tale. (Young Teen Graphic Novels Grades 5-7)

Princeless. Book one, Save yourself
Whitley, Jeremy.
Paper Book
Collecting the first storyline of the multiple Eisner Award–nominated and multiple Glyph Award–winning series, follow the adventures of Princess Adrienne, a princess who’s tired of waiting to be rescued. Along with her guardian dragon, Sparky, they begin their own quest in an...

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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