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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The jumbies.
Baptiste, Tracey
Paper Book
The jumbies are coming! Corinne La Mer isn't afraid of anything. Not scorpions, not the boys who tease her, and certainly not jumbies. She knows that jumbies aren't real; they're just creatures parents make up to frighten their children. But on All Hallows' Eve...

A young girl is plagued by jumbies, monsters from Caribbean folklore, in this spooky fantasy adventure. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Marikit and the ocean of stars
Cruz, Caris Avendaño
Paper Book
A magical middle grade debut, inspired by Filipino folklore, about a ten-year-old girl who embarks on a quest in the world of gods and spirits to save her and her family from a sinister shadow god. Perfect for fans of The Girl Who Drank the Moon and When You Trap a Tiger.<...

A fantasy adventure inspired by Filippino folklore. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

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)

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)

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...

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

How to heal a gryphon
Cannistra, Meg
Paper Book
"A funny, fantastical mystery. . . Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan." --Laura Ruby, Two-Time National Book Award Finalist and author of the YORK Trilogy "I could live with these characters and in this world for a good long while. Bring on the sequel!" --New York Times...

An Italian teen must decide whether to pursue her calling to become a healer of magical animals from folklore. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The storm runner.
Cervantes, Jennifer.
Paper Book
"A perfect storm of inspiring heroes, surprising twists, and some seriously scary monsters. This hilarious, expertly-plotted adventure keeps you racing through the pages and leaves you desperate for the next book (and craving a steaming mug of hot chocolate)!" --Shannon Messenger, New York...

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)

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
"I love the adventures Pahua has in this book. I also love the sense of humor, the clever plotting, and the fantastic cast of characters. But most of all I love Pahua- her courage, her kindness, and her love for family."--NYT best-selling author Rick Riordan Winner...

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)

Sparrows in the wind
Levine, Gail Carson
Paper Book
This novel from Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine about two princesses battling against their fates in the middle of the Trojan War is a must-read for anyone who loves Greek mythology or the Percy Jackson books! Cassandra, a princess of Troy and follower of Apollo, is delighted when...

An award-winning author focuses on the oracle Cassandra in this historical fiction novel set during the Trojan war. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Lei and the Fire Goddess
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)

Ring of Solomon. [online electronic book]
Polydoros, Aden
Ebook
"Will keep you on the edge of your seat and grinning until the last page!" --Greg Howard, author of The Whispers and The Visitors This exciting and adventurous start to a middle-grade trilogy follows a queer boy and his family as they try to halt the chaotic...

An LGBTQ middle schooler finds himself drawn into a suspenseful adventure featuring figures from Jewish folklore. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The lightning thief [sound recording (CD)] /
Riordan, Rick.
Audiobook
Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school . . . again. No matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to stay out of trouble. But can he really be expected to stand by and watch while a bully picks on his scrawny best friend? Or not defend himself against his pre-algebra...

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)

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)

Oh my Gods! [graphic novel]
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)

Zeus : [graphic novel] king of the gods.
O'Connor, George
Paper Book

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)

Heroes reborn. [graphic novel]
Ogaki, Philippe.
Paper Book
In the ancient times of Gods and heroes, evil attempted to seize the world disguising themselves as six different gods. While they were spreading all their power of destruction, six heroes, each with extraordinary powers and brandishing sacred weapons, rose against these incarnations of evil. The...

Six teenagers from across the world become the modern incarnations of ancient heroes who must protect the world from the rise of their evil counterparts. (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)

Healer of the Water Monster
Young, Brian
Paper Book
American Indian Youth Literature Award Winner: Best Middle Grade Book! Brian Young's powerful debut novel tells of a seemingly ordinary Navajo boy who must save the life of a Water Monster--and comes to realize he's a hero at heart. When Nathan goes to visit his grandma, Nali...

A Navajo boy visits relatives on their reservation and must rescue a creature he recognizes from traditional stories. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)


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