Meg Hunt

Deborah Underwood

outer space

cinderella stories

mechanics

Once upon a planetoid, amid her tools and sprockets, a girl named Cinderella dreamed of fixing fancy rockets. With a little help from her fairy godrobot, Cinderella is going to the ball. But when the prince’s ship has mechanical trouble, someone will have to zoom to the rescue! Readers will thank their lucky stars for this irrepressible fairy tale retelling, its independent heroine, and its stellar happy ending.

Interstellar Cinderella

K.Y. Craft

Mahlon F Craft

This brilliant edition of a timeless story is sure to become the favorite of a generation. Readers young and old will be enchanted by the vision and mastery of Kinuko Y. Craft’s luminous paintings, inspired by the lavish artwork of late seventeenth-century France and embellished with extraordinary borders and ornamentation. Rich with radiant color and astonishing detail, here is a dream come true for anyone who has ever believed in living happily ever after.

Cinderella

Ellen Jackson

Kevin O'Malley

Cinderella and Cinder Edna, who live with cruel stepmothers and stepsisters, have different approaches to life; and, although each ends up with the prince of her dreams, one is a great deal happier than the others.

Cinder Edna

Caralyn Buehner

Mark Buehner

Fanny Agnes is a sturdy farm girl who dreams of marrying a prince, but when her fairy godmother doesn’t show up, she decides on a local farmer instead. Reprint.

Fanny's Dream

Gail Carson Levine

In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her. At birth, Ella of Frell was given the gift of obedience by a fairy. Ella soon realizes that this gift is little better than a curse, for how can she truly be herself if at any time anyone can order her to hop on one foot, or cut off her hand, or betray her kingdom–and she’ll have to obey? Ella’s quest to break the curse and discover who she really is, is both funny and poignant.

Ella Enchanted

Tomie dePaola

Hace mucho tiempo—a long time ago—there lived a beautiful young woman named Adelita. So begins the age-old tale of a kindhearted young woman, her jealous stepmother, two hateful stepsisters, and a young man in search of a wife. The young man, Javier, falls madly in love with beautiful Adelita, but she disappears from his fiesta at midnight, leaving him with only one clue to her hidden identity: a beautiful rebozo—shawl. With the rebozo in place of a glass slipper, this favorite fairy tale takes a delightful twist. Tomie dePaola’s exquisite paintings, filled with the folk art of Mexico, make this a Cinderella story like no other.

Adelita

Robert D. San Souci

Jerry Pinkney

The author of such delights as The Christmas Ark and The Enchanted Tapestry joins forces with illustrator Pinkney to resurrect a colorful folktale that captures the unique flavor of the American South. A 1989 Caldecott Honor Book.

The Talking Eggs

Ursula Vernon

Never a conventional princess, Harriet becomes an adventurer after learning she’s cursed to fall into a deep sleep on her twelfth birthday, but after two years of slaying ogres, cliff-diving, and more with her riding quail Mumfrey, things go awry at home and she must seek a prince to set things right.

Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible

Rafe Martin

David Shannon

From Algonquin Indian folklore comes one of the most haunting, powerful versions of the Cinderella tale ever told. In a village by the shores of Lake Ontario lived an invisible being. All the young women wanted to marry him because he was rich, powerful, and supposedly very handsome. But to marry the invisible being the women had to prove to his sister that they had seen him. And none had been able to get past the sister’s stern, all-knowing gaze. Then came the Rough-Face girl, scarred from working by the fire. Could she succeed where her beautiful, cruel sisters had failed?

The Rough-Face Girl

Ai-Ling Louie

“…A worthwhile addition to picture book collections.” – Booklist.”Executed with chromatic splendor–a unique combination of brilliance and restraint.” – The Horn Book”Every library will be enriched by it.” – School Library Journal.

Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China

Susan Lowell

Jane Manning

Once upon a time, there was a sweet cowgirl named Cindy Ellen, who lived with the orneriest stepmother west of the Mississippi and two stepsisters who were so nasty, they made rattlesnakes look nice! But when a fast-talkin’ fairy godmother teaches Cindy Ellen a little lesson about gumption, Cindy lassos first place at the rodeo and the heart of Joe Prince…. You may think you’ve heard the story before—but you’ll get a side-splittin’ bellyache after you’re through with this hilarious rendition told Wild West-style!

Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella

Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

Snoring Beauty is a sweetly hilarious spin on the classic fairy tale “Sleeping Beauty.” Written in bouncy rhymed verse perfect for reading aloud, this whimsical reimagining from Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen is sure to appeal to children and parents alike.

Tucked in his little bed inside the castle walls, Mouse is eager to get a good night’s sleep before his wedding tomorrow. But just as he begins to drift off, he’s awoken by a tremendous roar. SNOOOOGA-SNOOOOOM! KER-SCHUPPP! Sleeping Beauty is snoring . . . again! When the handsome Prince Max arrives, Mouse thinks he’s found the perfect scheme: He’ll convince the prince to kiss Beauty and wake her up! But when Prince Max learns that Beauty is the one making such monstrous noises, will he still want to kiss her . . . or will he run away from the noisy princess, leaving her snoring for another hundred years?

Snoring Beauty

Shirley Climo

Robert Florczak

In this jewel-like version of a classic story, popular folklorist Shirley Climo tells the tale of Settareh, the Persian Cinderella.

The Persian Cinderella

Ruth Heller

This is an enchanting and magical variant of the favorite fairy tale. Like the tree planted to honor her birth, Pear Blossom is beautiful, and the pride of her elderly mother and father. But then her mother dies, and her father remarries. Pear Blossom’s stepmother resents her new daughter’s beauty. Out of jealousy, she makes Pear Blossom perform impossible chores while her own daughter, Peony, watches idly. But fortunately, Pear Blossom is not alone. With the help of magical creatures—togkabis—she can accomplish each task, and triumph over her stepmother’s cruelty.

The Korean Cinderella

Trixie Belle

Melissa Caruso-Scott

Oliver Lake

Discover the magic of Sleeping Beauty in this petite edition of the classic fairy tale, created especially for little readers with just a handful of words and bright, enchanting illustrations.

Sleeping Beauty: Les Petits Fairytales

RH Disney

This classic Disney Little Golden Book from 1958–starring Flora, Fauna, Merryweather, and Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty–is back in print! This classic Little Golden Book, originally published in 1958, features the stars of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. The three good fairies, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, are excited that Princess Aurora is coming for a visit. They want everything to be just right, but they can’t find their magic wands! This full-color classic is back to delight a new generation of children ages 2 to 5–as well as collectors of all ages!

Sleeping Beauty and the Good Fairies

E.D. Baker

Sleeping Beauty’s younger, non-magical sister, Annie, still can’t rest while trouble in the kingdom threatens her good friend, Snow White. Snow White’s evil stepmother has disappeared, and her father wants her married off right away–but who should she choose? How can she tell which prince is best? It’s Annie and her good friend Liam to the rescue! A hilarious and and fantastical romp through a fairy tale landscape from beloved author E D Baker.

The Bravest Princess: A Tale of the Wide-Awake Princess

Lynn Roberts-Maloney

David Roberts

Young Annabel lives in the 1950s and dreams of a future with jetpacks, flying cars and robots. However, little does she know that she is living under an evil spell that could mean she has no future at all… When the curse is fulfilled on her 16th birthday and she falls asleep for 1000 years, her house is overgrown by a magnificent rose tree. A young explorer called Zoe discovers the story of Sleeping Beauty, but can she find Annabel in time to lift the curse and show her what the future actually looks like?

Sleeping Beauty

Sarah Gibb

A beautifully illustrated, magical re-telling of one of the most beloved fairy tales. A wicked fairy has cast an evil spell on baby Princess Rosebud: when she is sixteen, she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die. But perhaps a good fairy can save her, even if it means that Rosebud will sleep for 100 years? A luxurious gift book for every child’s bookshelf.

Jennifer Adams

Corey Egbert

The Sleeping Beauty: My First Ballet Book retells the classic story and introduces little ones to the beautiful art of ballet. Jennifer Adams’ engaging text alongside adorable illustrations by Corey Egbert introduces little ones to The Sleeping Beauty story of kings, queens, fairies, and dancing. My First Ballet Books encourage babies to Be Creative, Be Active, and Be Brilliant through the classic art of ballet.

The Sleeping Beauty: My First Ballet Book

Teresa Heapy

Sue Heap

Very Little Sleeping Beauty is adorably re-cast as a very little precocious toddler in this modern retelling of the classic tale. Once upon a bedtime, a certain little girl isn’t very sleepy at all—tomorrow is her birthday, and she is reeling with excitement. From lullaby to stories to tickles to dancing, Daddy tries just about everything to get this little toddler to go to bed. Will Very Little Sleeping Beauty finally fall asleep to rest up for her big day? Look for all three books in this must-have read-aloud series: Very Little Red Riding Hood, Very Little Cinderella, and Very Little Sleeping Beauty.

Very Little Sleeping Beauty

Jane Yolen

Diane Stanley

A clever twist on Sleeping Beauty for emergent readers. Princess Miserella is very beautiful outside, but inside she’s the meanest, wickedest princess around. Plain Jane, on the other hand, has a face to match her name but a sweet and loving nature that earns her three wishes from a fairy. Miserella’s horrible manners make the fairy so angry that her magic throws them all into a deep sleep. Will the handsome prince kiss the right girl?

Sleeping Ugly

Paul Galdone

Mr Richard Edward Hargreaves

“Once upon a time there was a sweet little maiden who was loved by all who knew her . . .” So begins this classic tale about Little Red Riding Hood and her encounter with the wolf one day when she is on her way to visit her sick grandmother. Paul Galdone has drawn on the Brothers Grimm version of Little Red Riding Hood, and lends beautiful, vibrant illustrations to his exciting retelling of this classic fairy tale. Small children and Paul Galdone’s older fans will cheer as the old tale comes enchantingly alive in lovely, nostalgic, full-color pictures.

Little Red Riding Hood And The Wolf Prince (Fairy Tales for Kids - illustrated)

Julia Seal

Sam Ita

Classic Fairy Tale Pop-Ups are delightfully retold favorite stories, enhanced with fresh new illustrations that have surprising pop-up features on every two-page spread. As kids turn each page, the characters come to life moving, playing, running, and adding an extra dimension to each story. In this tale, Little Red Riding Hood knows that danger lurks in the dark woods. But is she ready for the danger that awaits her at Granny’s house?

Little Red Riding Hood (Classic Fairy Tale Pop-Ups)

Sergio Martinez

Blessed Mary rewards Teresa’s good deeds with a shining gold star. Later she punishes Teresa’s unkind stepsisters, Isabel and Inez, with hideous horns and donkey’s ears that they try to hide under heavy veils! But will Teresa outshine her stepsisters at the festival? Robert D. San Souci retells this popular folktale in a lilting narrative that includes all the magic of the beloved Cinderella story and traditional elements from Spanish tales. Luminous watercolors by Sergio Martinez accentuate the beauty and goodness that radiate from Little Gold Star.

Little Gold Star: A Spanish American Cinderella Tale

Robin McKinley

“We will keep her safe.” All the creatures of the forest and field and riverbank knew the infant was special. She was the princess, spirited away from the evil fairy Pernicia on her name-day. But the curse was cast: Rosie was fated to prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a poisoned sleep—a slumber from which no one would be able to rouse her… In the tradition of Beauty and Rose Daughter, Robin McKinley “lends a fresh perspective to a classic fairy tale, developing the story of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ into a richly imagined, vividly depicted novel.” (School Library Journal)

Spindle's End

Katy Flint

Jessica Courtney-Tickle

In this retelling of the classic ballet story, bring Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty to life by pressing the musical notes on each page. Join the King and Queen as they throw a party for their new baby, Princess Aurora. But when a terrible guest arrives and places a curse on princess, the kingdom must find the one special person who can defeat it…

Read the story and then turn to the back of the book to read about the music clips. The third title in the Story Orchestra series, following on from The Four Seasons, and The Nutcracker, is for readers 4 and up.

The Story Orchestra, The Sleeping Beauty

Manuela Adreani

Brothers Grimm

The magical world of the Brothers Grimm comes alive as never before in elegant, cinematic artwork by a world-renowned artist. With their unforgettable characters, the fairy tales written by the Brothers Grimm have touched the imaginations and hearts of children everywhere. This stunning collection brings together eight of their most popular stories: The Frog Prince, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Briar Rose, Snow White, and The Six Swans. Renowned illustrator Manuela Adreani’s delicate, dramatic art will help young readers fall in love with these powerful tales.

James Riley

In the village of Giant’s Hand Jack’s grandfather has been pushing him to find a princess and get married, so when a young lady falls out of the sky wearing a shirt that says “Punk Princess,” and she tells Jack that her grandmother, who looks suspiciously like the long-missing Snow White, has been kidnapped, Jack decides to help her.

Half Upon a Time

Dave Barry

Ridley Pearson

Greg Call

Soon after Peter, an orphan, sets sail from England on the ship Never Land, he befriends and assists Molly, a young Starcatcher, whose mission is to guard a trunk of magical stardust from a greedy pirate and the native inhabitants of a remote island.

Peter and the Starcatchers

Shannon Hale

Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, spends the first years of her life listening to her aunt’s stories and learning the language of the birds, especially the swans. As she grows up Ani develops the skills of animal speech, but is never comfortable speaking with people, so when her silver-tongued lady in waiting leads a mutiny during Ani’s journey to be married in a foreign land, Ani is helpless and cannot persuade anyone to help her. She becomes a goose girl and must use her own special, nearly magical powers to find her way to her true destiny. From the Grimm’s fairy tale of the princess who became a goose girl before she could become queen, Shannon Hale has woven an incredible and original tale of a girl who must find her own unusual talents before she can lead the people she has made her own.

Goose Girl

Emily Gravett

can stand him on a stool! 
I can dress him in a bow…
I can ride him like a horse but 
WOLF WON’T BITE!

Come along on a wild circus adventure about three little pigs who have captured a wild wolf. They can make him do all sorts of tricks, but don’t worry—he would NEVER bite.

From award-winning and beloved creator Emily Gravett, Wolf Won’t Bite! contains charming text that begs to be read aloud, and quirky humor fills every page of this playful take on “The Three Little Pigs.”

Wolf Won't Bite

Ursula Jones

There once was a princess without a kingdom. All she had was a pony and cart and a red umbrella to keep her dry from the rain. Though she lacked worldly possessions, she made up for it in kindness, cleverness, and beauty—qualities that made all the rich princes with kingdoms want to marry her. A wise and witty modern-day fairy tale brought magically to life through Sarah Gibb’s exquisite art.

The Princess Who Had No Kingdom

Timothy Basil Ering

Kate DiCamillo

A brave mouse, a covetous rat, a wishful serving girl, and a princess named Pea come together in Kate DiCamillo’s Newbery Medal–winning tale.

Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into each other’s lives. What happens then? As Kate DiCamillo would say: Reader, it is your destiny to find out. 

With black-and-white illustrations and a refreshed cover by Timothy Basil Ering.

The Tale of Despereaux

Scott Nash

Betsy is finally old enough to take cupcakes to Grandma all by herself—with the company of her faithful sheep, of course. And although wolves aren’t good for grandmas, Betsy lets her best friend, Zimmo, come along too. But will Zimmo’s wolfish instincts make Grandma the tasty treat instead? In her second picture book starring the feisty young shepherd Betsy, Newbery Honor author Gail Carson Levine teams up once again with Scott Nash to put a hilarious twist on an old favorite. This reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood is sure to delight readers from little lambs to cupcake-loving grandmas.

Betsy Red Hoodie

Allan Ahlberg

Janet Ahlberg

This gorgeously illustrated, full-color classic celebrates a time before email by depicting amusing correspondence between fairy tale and Mother Goose characters. What could possibly be in a letter from Goldilocks to the Three Bears? Who would write to the Wicked Witch? Open this book, take out the letters, and discover what favorite characters would write to each other–and reimagine best-loved tales together.

The Jolly Postman

Daniel Egneus

Illustrator Daniel Egnéus recreates the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale in this unique graphic edition. Evoking the sensuous, romantic, and stunningly creative imagery that captivated audiences of Twilight and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Egnéus’ arresting visual interpretation of the Red Riding Hood story will stir the imagination of every reader inspired by tales of magic and adventure.

Little Red Riding Hood

Margie Palatini

Howard Fine

Gritch the Witch is grouchy, grumpy, and very hungry. The only thing that could make her happy is something extra special for lunch, and that is: Piggie Pie! Gritch zooms off on her broomstick to find eight plump piggies – where else? – on Old MacDonald’s Farm. Cleverly disguised pigs impersonate ducks, chickens, a cow, and Old MacDonald himself, as this uproarious, quick-paced story builds to an ironically surprising conclusion. Wacky, hip, and illustrated with bold, bright paintings, “Piggie Pie” adds a new twist to an old fairy-tale scene.

Piggie Pie!

Rebecca Solnit

Arthur Rackham

In her debut children’s book, Rebecca Solnit reimagines a classic fairytale with a fresh, feminist Cinderella and new plot twists that will inspire young readers to change the world, featuring gorgeous silhouettes from Arthur Rackham on each page.

In this modern twist on the classic story, Cinderella, who would rather just be Ella, meets her fairy godmother, goes to a ball, and makes friends with a prince. But that is where the familiar story ends. Instead of waiting to be rescued, Cinderella learns that she can save herself and those around her by being true to herself and standing up for what she believes.

Cinderella Liberator

Chloe Perkins

Sandra Equihua

The classic story of Cinderella gets a fresh twist in this vibrant Mexican spin on the beloved fairy tale! Once upon a time, there was a girl who lived in a little cottage with her stepmother and two stepsisters… The classic tale of Cinderella gets a fresh twist in this debut title of a brand-new board book series, Once Upon a World. With Mexico as the backdrop, and vibrant artwork from Mexican illustrator Sandra Equihua, Cinderella is still the same girl with a fairy godmother and a glass slipper—but she’s totally reimagined. Once Upon a World offers a multicultural take on the fairy tales we all know and love. Because these tales are for everyone, everywhere.

Trina Schart Hyman

On her way to deliver a basket of food to her sick grandmother, Elisabeth encounters a sly wolf.

Jon Scieszka

Lane Smith

You thought you knew the story of the “The Three Little Pigs”… You thought wrong.

In this hysterical and clever fracture fairy tale picture book that twists point of view and perspective, young readers will finally hear the other side of the story of “The Three Little Pigs.”

“In this humorous story, Alexander T. Wolf tells his own outlandish version of what really happens during his encounter with the three pigs…. Smith’s simplistic and wacky illustrations add to the effectiveness of this fractured fairy tale.”
—Children’s Literature

“Older kids (and adults) will find very funny.”
—School Library Journal

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs

A little girl on her way to visit her grandmother meets a hungry wolf in the forest, in a version of the classic tale retold with a single word or brief phrase and an accompanying illustration on each spread.

Joanna Cole

Dirk Zimmer

When a terrible witch vows to eat her for supper, a little girl escapes with the help of a mirror and comb given to her by the witch’s cat and dog.

Bony-legs

Miriam Bos

Push, pull, and slide the scenes to bring the classic story of The Jungle Book to life.

Meet Mowgli the man-cub, he’s wild as wild can be! First Stories: The Jungle Book is a perfect introduction to this classic tale. Push, pull, and turn mechanisms bring the story to life and introduce all the main characters: Mowgli, Baloo, Shere Khan, and Father Wolf. This well-loved fairytale is beautifully imagined for a new generation by illustrator Miriam Bos.

First Stories: The Jungle Book

Marilyn Singer

Josee Masse

Once upon a time, Mirror Mirror, a brilliant book of fairy tale themed reversos–a poetic form in which the poem is presented forward and then backward–became a smashing success. Now a second book is here with more witty double takes on well-loved fairy tales such as Thumbelina and The Little Mermaid.

Read these clever poems from top to bottom and they mean one thing. Then reverse the lines and read from bottom to top and they mean something else–it is almost like magic!

A celebration of sight, sound, and story, this book is a marvel to read again and again.

Follow Follow

Eva Montanari

We all know the story of the Big Bad Wolf and the three little pigs … or do we? Meet the great-great-great-great-grandson of the original Big Bad Wolf, also hot on the trail of some little pigs. Is he also up to no goodor is he trying to make friends at last? A hilarious twist on the original Three Little Pigs story, with stunning illustrations from acclaimed artist Eva Montanari.

A Wolf's Tale

Lily Toy Hong

When old Mr. Haktak digs up a curious brass pot in his garden, he has no idea what use it can be. On his way home, Mr. Haktak decides to carry his coin purse in the mysterious pot. But when Mrs. Haktak’s hairpin accidentally slips into the pot and she reaches in to retrieve it, the magic of the pot is revealed. Not only are there two hairpins inside, but there are also two purses!

Two of Everything

Anna Kemp

Sara Ogilvie

Bored of your run-of-the-mill princesses? Tired of traditional princess-finds-her-prince tale? Looking for a princess with a bit more bite? Then this is the book for you. Forget about pretty dresses, fairytale wedding and grand balls, Princess Sue is all about adventure, mischief and making unusual friends. She really is the worst princess!

The Worst Princess

This enthralling modern fairy tale from Caldecott and Newbery Honor winner Tomie dePaola and debut illustrator Doug Salati celebrates the greatest power of all: love.

In a small kingdom along an ancient road, a bell rings out. The beloved king has died, leaving his magnificent and powerful Imperial Robe to his heir, the young prince.

But when the prince’s jealous older half-brother steals the Imperial Robe, slashing it to bits, the prince can no longer rule—and the small kingdom is in great danger. Now the young prince must find another source of power and of strength—and he finds it in a surprising place.

Top 10 Fairy Tales Books