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
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Eagle drums
Hopson, Nasug̊raq Rainey
Paper Book
**A NEWBERY HONOR BOOK** A magical middle grade adventure about a boy in the Arctic who faces a series of challenges presented to him by a family of eagle gods. Through this, he learns important lessons about respecting nature, building compassion, and bringing a community...

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)

Anzu and the realm of darkness
Nguyen, Mai K.
Paper Book
5 Worlds meets Spirited Away in this tale of a girl fighting her way back home after getting trapped in the spirit world. Anzu has just moved to a new town during Obon, a time for families to remember and celebrate their ancestors. Ever since her obaachan died,...

A graphic novel inspired by the traditional Japanese celebration of Obon and other figures from Japanese folklore. (Children's Graphic Novel Grades 3-5)

The selkie's daughter
Brennan, Linda Crotta
Paper Book
A cozy, richly imagined fantasy where a young selkie girl must save her family from a vengeful king. Brigit knows all the old fisherman songs and legends by heart: sea goddess, warriors, and people who are not quite human. But Brigit also knows the truth. It's evident in the...

For fans of Anne of Green Gables and The Little Mermaid, a historical selkie story set in the Canadian Maritime Provinces. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The spirit glass
Chokshi, Roshani
Paper Book
Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents a standalone quest adventure based on Filipino mythology by Roshani Chokshi, author of the best-selling Aru Shah series. Corazon yearns to finally start training as a babaylan (a mystical healer and spirit guide) under her powerful...

The author of the popular Aru Shah series taps into her Filippino heritage in her second Rick Riordan Presents series. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Pahua and the soul stealer
Lee, Lori M.
Paper Book
Pahua is a lonely 11-year-old Hmong girl with the unique ability to see spirits. She spends her summer days babysitting her little brother and playing with a cat spirit no one else can see. One day she accidentally untethers an angry spirit from the haunted bridge in her neighbourhood. When her...

A young girl discovers she's a shaman warrior in this Rick Riordan Presents story inspired by Hmong mythology. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The lightning thief
Riordan, Rick
Paper Book
The #1 New York Times Bestseller Percy Jackson and the Olympians series now streaming on Disney+! The hardcover edition of the first book in Rick Riordan's thrilling middle grade series, filled with magic, Greek mythology, and plenty of monsters ...

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 an assignment to perform the Twelve Labors of Hercules in real life--and makes discoveries about friendship, community...

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)

Tales of the feathered serpent : the rise of the halfling king
Bowles, David
Paper Book
In this graphic novel series based on ancient Mesoamerican sagas, a magical boy from Maya legend takes on a giant snake, a power-hungry king, and three impossible tests. Sayam has always been different from other kids--he's very short for his age, his best friend is a monkey, and...

A graphic novel fantasy adventure inspired by Mayan mythology from Mexico. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Oh my gods!
Cooke, Stephanie
Paper Book
Oh My Gods!, the first in a new middle grade graphic novel series, reads as if Raina Telgemeier and Rick Riordan teamed up to write a comic, and offers a fresh and funny spin on Greek mythology. When an average girl moves to Mt. Olympus, she discovers her new classmates...

Percy Jackson meets Smile in this graphic novel about a modern middle school girl who move to Mount Olympus and discovers that she and her classmates are the children of Greek gods. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Ghost book
Lai, Remy
Paper Book
* "An entertaining, engaging read with echoes of Miyazaki's film Spirited Away." --Horn Book, starred review An Indie Bestseller! An Amazon, School Library Journal, and Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year! Perfect for fans of...

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)

Zeus : king of the gods
O'Connor, George
Paper Book
"The generation weaned on the Marvel Universe will find much to love in O'Connor's 12-book series." --New York Times George O'Connor's vibrant, kinetic art brings ancient tales to life in the New York Times Bestselling series Olympians. This fusion of...

The Greek gods get the superhero graphic novel treatment in this series featuring the twelve Olympians. Be sure to check out George O'Connor's new Asgardians series as well! (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)

Mabuhay!
Sterling, Zack
Paper Book
An Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (APALA) Honor Book An Eisner Award Nominee 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...

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)


Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.