Best Children's Folk Tales & Myths
Twelve-year-old Artemis is a millionaire, a genius-and above all, a criminal mastermind. But when the time comes to put his plan into action, he doesn't count on the appearance of the extrasmall, pointy-eared Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaisance) Unit--and her senior officer, Commander Root, a man (sorry, elf) who will stop at nothing to get her back. The author has let his imagination run riot by combining folklore, fantasy, and a fistful of high-tech funk in an outrageously devilish book that could well do for fairies what Harry Potter has done for wizardry. Instead, what we have here is well-written, sophisticated, rough 'n' tumble storytelling with enough high-octane attitude to make it a seriously cool read for anyone over the age of 10. However, his feisty mark, Holly, turns out to be a member of the "LEPrecon, an elite branch of the Lower Elements Police," so a wisecracking team of satyrs, trolls, dwarfs and fellow fairies set out to rescue her.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It involves clones, high tech gadgets, and takes the young reader on a journey of Fowl after his mind has been erased of memories of faries and the such."
"This book had me smiling the entire time."
"A twelve-year-old genius criminal mastermind takes on the world of Faeries. He develops a ploy to kidnap one of them and hold her for ransom for a fortune in gold. Yes, the main character is only twelve years old, but to say he acts much older would be beyond understatement. Instead, we spend a lot of our time with the faeries and see all the buffoonery that ensues in their culture."
"The 10th and final Artemis Fowl book is coming out this year, and in celebration, Disney/Hyperion is offering NetGalley members access to the previous nine books in two-book special editions. This month, Artemis Fowl is one of the two books, and rather than root through my kids' piles of books to find the first two books in the series, I got access to the first two in e-book format to see why my oldest was so addicted to Eoin Colfer and whether I should talk the boys into reading them."
"I read some future books as a kid before I read this one."
They're offered a chance to leave the Isle of the Lost, where they have been imprisoned all their lives, and go to prep school in the idyllic kingdom of Auradon with all of the "good" kids. Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) is the world's largest publisher of children's books, magazines, and apps, with over 700 million products sold each year.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great book.. already read by the person I gifted it to."
"Great book."
"she wasn't even interested in the pictures which looked like someone mass produced them for a bootleg version of a Disney book."
"Well you know how some books are better the movie in this case the book is basically exactly like the movie only in words."
"Very faithful adaption of movie."
Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. Book Description In this stunning collectors' edition of The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson's world is brought to life with eight full-color plates by the series jacket artist John Rocco. The edition comes in an elegant slipcase with a ribbon bookmark, rough edges, and cloth cover--a perfect keepsake for fans of this truly epic series. Many years later, when I became interested in illustration, I discovered the beautiful hardbound editions of these stories featuring the arresting artwork of incredible artists like N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, and Maxfield Parrish. What I love about their paintings is not just the beautiful draftsmanship, color and composition, but their ability to capture a moment that held the promise of swashbuckling adventure. My approach has never been just to describe a scene from the book, but to create an illustration that offers tension and mystery--an image that provides just enough information to leave the viewer wanting to know more. At first glance, Perseus Jackson seems like a loser (readers meet him at a boarding school for troubled youth), but he's really the son of Poseidon and a mortal woman. The gods (still very active in the 21st-century world) are about to go to war over a lost thunderbolt, so Percy and sidekicks Grover (a young satyr) and Annabeth (daughter of Athena) set out to retrieve it.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'm not really the audience for this book/series; the author's writing style is overly simplified and doesn't seem to put much excitement into the work."
"In the book, The Lightning Thief, it talks about the son of Poseidon being at school. I enjoyed this novel very much because the quests were cool and exciting!"
"I have enjoyed reading and listening to this book."
"Ends in a cliff hanger so I'm so eager to read the next book!"
"My book worm loved this book."
"I think if you didn't know anything about Greek mythology, you might not really enjoy the book as much--all the allusions would be missed--, but you would still be introduced to the basic "hero's journey," and there's nothing wrong with that."
"This a great book that helps to understand how important families are."
"I enjoyed the writing."
Best Children's African Folk Tales
These stories include the great myths - of Amen-Ra, who created all the creatures in the world; of Isis, seaching the waters for her dead husband Osiris; of the Bennu Bird and the Book of Thoth. He loved storytelling and was fascinated by traditional fairy tales, myths and legends from around the world.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I checked this out from the library awhile back and loved it."
"This book is well written...I read half of it in one day and felt as if I were just scanning the text!!!"
"My grandson gives it a thumbs up."
"Great stories!"
"My 6 year old daughter picked this book out and I did not think she would like it but it has been her "go to" book!"
"New favourite book on the shelf for the children."
Best Children's Folk Tales & Myth Anthologies
The stories of magic and myth gathered by the Brothers Grimm have become part of the way children—and adults—learn about the vagaries of the real world. “Everyone should possess and know Grimm’s Fairy Tales —one of the great books of the world—and no English-speaking person could do better than this edition.” —Richard Adams, The New York Times Book Review.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A beautiful book especially for the price."
"This cloth hardcover volume is 8.1 x 10.1 INCHES, 320 PAGES, with 27 STORIES (versus the flexcover 5.4 x 7.7 INCHES, 192 PAGES, 14 STORIES The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm that, at roughly 1/3rd the price and practically identical-looking in online images, people mistake for being the same!)."
"There were so many positive reviews for the Calla Edition that I began feeling swayed but ultimately I went ahead with purchasing this edition because it is the complete works of Grimms Fairy Tales whereas the Calla Edition is not the complete works."
"The darker tones in the story lines make it more fun for adults to read, and I have to say after so many years of reading fairy tales that some of the dark twists in the stories surprised me, but it was nice to read the stories and not know what was going to happen because the story was much different!"
"The daughter grew up in a life of wealth and privilege which Cummings could not have provided. Years later, after a heads up from a friend, Cummings arranged to run into his full grown daughter in New York."
"Wow is this a nice looking book! I always hate when these manufactures make a nice looking book and then ruin it with a big ugly barcode on the back."
Best Children's Arthurian Folk Tales
On the Midwinter Day that is his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton discovers a special gift-- that he is the last of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to keeping the world from domination by the forces of evil, the Dark. "When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back, Three from the circle, three from the track; Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone; Five will return, and one go alone." His task is monumental: he must find and guard the six great Signs of the Light, which, when joined, will create a force strong enough to match and perhaps overcome that of the Dark. Susan Cooper, in her five-title Dark Is Rising sequence , creates a world where the conflict between good and evil reaches epic proportions.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"All of the spoken words are crisp and clear. In the first chapters he can be a bit tentative in distinguishing among the major characters and is inclined to give short shrift to minor characters, but after that he settles into the various roles and adds a distinct and recognizable identity to each character. It is treated as the triumphant work that it is and this adds greatly to its weight and impact. Runtime is a bit under nine hours."
"I agree with the reviewers who have called this sequence well-written and imaginative, and I defer to their analyses of Susan Cooper's excellent books."
"They are based on the Arthurian legend, and combine wonderful descriptions of the Cornish countryside with fantasy and with touchstones to the development of accountability, courage, and kindliness that every teen faces."
"I have loved reading each of these books over the years, more than once."
"Excellent nearly forgotten series of books."
"I read the entire series a few times when I was a kid and I was transported every time."
"This is a great series for anyone who loves a well told and engaging story."
"The Dark is Rising stimulates students (with guidance) to make comparisons to current events as well as to other novels."
Best Children's Asian Folk Tales
Other multicultural children's books in this series include: Asian Children's Favorite Stories, Indonesian Children's Favorite Stories, Japanese Children's Favorite Stories, Singapore Children's Favorite Stories, Filipino Favorite Children's Stories, Favorite Children's Stories from China & Tibet, Chinese Children's Favorite Stories, Korean Children's Favorite Stories, Balinese Children's Favorite Stories, and Vietnamese Children's Favorite Stories . "Though more complex than the other children's books we had read about India, my daughter was fascinated with these eight tales and their beautiful illustrations—especially Ravana, the ten-headed rakshasa. Though I suspect some of the themes of the stories went over her head, it wasn't unusual for me to catch her reading this book after tucking her in for the night."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Excellent stories to read to a child (8+ to read themselves) and to learn about Hindu deities."
"This book is ideal for young readers who want to be introduced to the wealth of mythological stories from India."
"I really wanted to give my nephews and nieces books about Indian stories but written in English."
"It is a great product - very nicely done and very colorful."
"too complicated for my 6 year old to read herself but good one to read them stories."
"Used it for a lesson at scho."
"My kids read the stories but they did not enjoy it as much as I had expected."
Best Children's Folk Tales & Myth Collections
Tolkien considered THE SILMARILLION his most important work, and, though it was published last and posthumously, this great collection of tales and legends clearly sets the stage for all his other writing. The story of the creation of the world and of the the First Age, this is the ancient drama to which the characters in THE LORD OF THE RINGS look back and in whose events some of them, such as Elrond and Galadriel, took part. Martin Shaw's reading is grave and resonant, conveying all the powerful events and emotions that shaped elven and human history long before Bilbo, Frodo, Gandalf and all the rest embarked on their quests. Beginning with the Music of the Ainur, The Silmarillion tells a tale of the Elder Days, when Elves and Men became estranged by the Dark Lord Morgoth's lust for the Silmarils, pure and powerful magic jewels.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I read "Lord Of The Rings" only once (liked it a lot), "The Hobbit" only once (liked it, but less than "Lord Of The Rings"), watched the movies, and, only now, I stared "The Silmarillion" in the eye! Let me get to some points: a. I completely understand those who not enjoy the writing style or the book itself, even thoso who KNOW that this is not a novel, but almost a history book of a fictional mythology. d. I think one should understand the following, about the writer's writing style: for Tolkien, EVERY WORD COUNTS. He is set on a mission to tell a fable, and he does so with economy of word, but with deep impact."
"Not one of the Professor's easier reads, but if you can deal with it, it is worth the time spent and will answer so many questions. Tolkien always felt that England lost it's Mythology after the Conquest where it was deleted and overridden by the French Normans. Some of the questions answered: What is this Uttermost West the Elves are sailing to. Who was Melkor?"
"This is the content that provided Tolkein with the many levels and layers of content that gives The Lord of the Rings it richness, historicity and depth."
"bought it for someone else and the receiver loves it."
"Faithful but incomplete making the true Tolkien fan wanting more."
"A must for the understanding of all the lore from LOTR."
"Tolkien's Middle-earth and want to know the history prior to. the the events of The Hobbit and the War of The Ring, then you must add this detailed. and exciting work to your collection."
"Audio is wonderful."
Best Children's Dragon Stories
Perfect for fans of Lord of the Rings, the New York Times bestselling Inheritance Cycle about the dragon rider Eragon has sold over 35 million copies and is an international fantasy sensation. The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. "This is just as brilliant as all the other books in the series and ends spectacularly, but not in the way I expected ..." Guardian "The popularity of fantasy books shows no sign of waning.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"There were a few points in the book that I thought were well done, but a few points doesn't make up for the fact that most of this book was extra fluff that could have been cut out to be more direct and to the point."
"being a writer myself, I felt the books captured all that one may imagine is happening or going to happen if the story were true; and I found that I wished it to be so. It takes alot of creative writing to keep me connected and what is interesting; as much as I read which is considerable; I found myself dreaming of the story line when I wasnt reading."
"The characters are interesting and the book is overall amazing."
"Paolini's writing has greatly evolved over the years and each book in the cycle has read differently."
"I've just finished reading these books through for my third time. The story never gets old and I have a hard time putting the book down."
"One of the things I'll do when I don't feel like finishing a task is to distract myself with a series of vaguely-related subtasks, working to perfect things that really don't matter but which are more fun or - often - which I have a better idea of how to finish than the actual task at hand. It's clear where Paolini didn't know how to continue or finish a concept, because he'd then branch off for dozens of pages on a topic that really didn't matter or that could have been summarized in a page or paragraph. Look, if you've invested all this time in reading the first three books, you'll read this one. In fact, the reason there are so many spoilers in these reviews is that most people have been waiting so long for this book that they read it as soon as it came out, before ever coming to look for reviews here, and then many of them were so disappointed that they came back to vent via reviews. There's even a lot to love about many aspects of this book."
"I loved the book's , all three of them."
"The #4, last book, was good it kept moving along. If you are looking for a series, I'd say unless you really like reading lots of detail, find another series to read."
Best Children's European Folk Tales
Everything changes when Kerri's friends are kidnapped and taken through a Gateway into an unknown land rife with danger, where shapeshifting clans threaten war, and no one can be trusted. The story revolves around Kerri, who enters a Gateway to a strange land to save her friends, and gets caught up in the conflict between creatures vying for the extremely powerful Crystal. "...full of unexpected twists and turns, a whole world to immerse yourself in... Lyrical and magical. It tackles thought-provoking themes like conflict and loyalty while taking you on a wild adventure..." 5 ★★★★★. 2nd Edition: Updated and renamed from Cats & Dogs to Shifters Alliance (Part 1) in the Changing Times trilogy.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"‘Changing Times: Cats & Dogs" is an exciting adventure that never slows, never bores, and never disappoints the reader."
"The story’s plot never takes you where you expect, the twists and turns are different from any other fantasy, and will keep you interested till the end."
"I can't wait to read what happens next to Kerri, Carter, Sonny, Sam, Naz, Vin and the rest of the characters in this book!"
"While searching for the kidnapped children, they find themselves involved in a conflict between shape-shifting clans. After meeting one of the warring shape-shifters, they find that their children were kidnapped for their ability to change so that they could help the one group in their conflict with other shape-shifters, over an item that was stolen which possesses dangerous power over anyone who touches it."
"Grab a cup of hot cocoa, curl up in your favorite reading spot, and lose yourself in the rich world of "Changing Times: Cats & Dogs"."
"This is a great read for the young adult, but also for the older adult such as myself."
"Anyone reading this will find themselves drawn to a character and wanting to see the outcome."
Best Children's Greek & Roman Myths
Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. Book Description In this stunning collectors' edition of The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson's world is brought to life with eight full-color plates by the series jacket artist John Rocco. The edition comes in an elegant slipcase with a ribbon bookmark, rough edges, and cloth cover--a perfect keepsake for fans of this truly epic series. Many years later, when I became interested in illustration, I discovered the beautiful hardbound editions of these stories featuring the arresting artwork of incredible artists like N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, and Maxfield Parrish. What I love about their paintings is not just the beautiful draftsmanship, color and composition, but their ability to capture a moment that held the promise of swashbuckling adventure. My approach has never been just to describe a scene from the book, but to create an illustration that offers tension and mystery--an image that provides just enough information to leave the viewer wanting to know more. At first glance, Perseus Jackson seems like a loser (readers meet him at a boarding school for troubled youth), but he's really the son of Poseidon and a mortal woman. The gods (still very active in the 21st-century world) are about to go to war over a lost thunderbolt, so Percy and sidekicks Grover (a young satyr) and Annabeth (daughter of Athena) set out to retrieve it.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My 9 year old daughter likes it."
"I read this as a read aloud for my 9 year old."
"My book worm loved this book."
"I think if you didn't know anything about Greek mythology, you might not really enjoy the book as much--all the allusions would be missed--, but you would still be introduced to the basic "hero's journey," and there's nothing wrong with that."
"This a great book that helps to understand how important families are."
"I enjoyed the writing."
"There is a lot to like about this book -- my third grader was interested in looking up many of the myths referenced in this book, and enjoyed how each story maintained fidelity to the originals while being updated."
"This book is so good."
Best Children's Multicultural Folk Tales
As the magical barrier protecting the kingdom of Alaris from dangerous outsiders begins to fail, and a fomenting rebellion threatens to divide the country in a civil war, the three wizards are thrust into the middle of a power struggle. " The first book of the Alaris Chronicles series brings a refreshing take on magic and politics in fantasy. As mentioned before, the world our characters inhabit borrows from already established fantasy folklore; from Lord of the Rings to the Wheel of Time series. Mike brings the story and characters to life and makes you feel as though you are a part of the story, that they are your friends, your enemies and it is your home at stake. Shelton does a great job juggling the characters and theirown stories, while moving forward with the main plot... The story has many characters apart from the three protagonists and the author has been able to seamlessly include these characters, who greatly contribute to the story's development. Each character is a diamond in the rough and the further into the story one reads, the more one will uncover the facets of those characters. Best Seller Lists:#1 Teen& Young Adult> Fairy Tales &Folklore > Anthologies#1 Children's eBooks > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales &Myths > Arthurian#1 Teen & YoungAdult > ScienceFiction& Fantasy > Fantasy > Myths &Legends > Arthurian#1 Children's eBooks > Science Fiction, Fantasy &Scary Stories > Fantasy & Magic > Sword & Sorcery#1 Children's eBooks > Fairy Tales, Folk Tales &Myths > DragonsTop 10 Teen &YoungAdult > Science Fiction&Fantasy > Fantasy > Sword & Sorcery Teen &YoungAdult > Science Fiction& Fantasy > Fantasy > Wizards& Witches Teen &YoungAdult > Science Fiction&Fantasy > Fantasy > Epic Teen &YoungAdult > Science Fiction&Fantasy > Fantasy > Myths & Legends Children's eBooks > Action & Adventure > Fantasy & Magic.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Review: THE DRAGON ORB by Mike Shelton. (The Alaris Chronicles Book 1). THE DRAGON ORB is the first in a new series which I categorize as YA fantasy (based on the ages and maturity levels of the three protagonists)."
"Fun books with lots of twists and turns."
"This is really quite good."
"one of my favorite authors couldn't stop reading awsome story line lots of action luv the way the story and characters evolves."
"The Dragon Orb is an exciting, magical adventure that both young adults and adults alike can fall in love with. Mike brings the story and characters to life and makes you feel as though you are a part of the story, that they are your friends, your enemies and it is your home at stake."
"There is a conspiracy thriving to push the kingdom into turmoil, and this is closely linked to a barrier which has separated the Elvyn land and the kingdom for 150 years, but which is now coming down. I really enjoyed this novel, it has everything you can wish for, but there is one thing that made me. subtract a star: this story would be very unsatisfying as a stand-alone, and although it doesn't end in a complete cliffhanger, it is clear that it needs more books to fully explain the goings-on."
"I liked Bakari and Alli a lot as well as Kharlia, I do hope she is still in future books...crosses fingers!"
"Definitely one of the best edited books I have ever read by an indie author and it's obvious the author put a lot of thought into his plot and characters."
Best Children's Norse Folk Tales
Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision. Gr 5 Up—Fans of Percy Jackson and "Kane Chronicles" (both, Disney-Hyperion) books will not be disappointed in Riordan's newest series, which is based on Norse mythology. With an epic plot, engaging (and diverse) characters, and tons of wisecracking humor, Riordan's latest is a page-turner. VERDICT Ravenous Riordan fans are likely to begin lining up for this on the publication date; be prepared for long holds lists on this one.—Patrick Tierney, Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School, Providence, RI "Norse myths are in right now, and Riordan has the magic touch. "With an epic plot, engaging (and diverse) characters, and tons of wisecracking humor, Riordan's latest is a page-turner.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"For those who are not familiar with Rick Riordan’s writings, this is a perfectly fine book to jump into Riordan’s fantasy world, there is no benefit gained in having read his other books that deal with heroes from Greek, Roman, or Egyptian mythology. As a result of this lineage, there are obligations that Magnus is thrust with, and the story is a modern day interaction of Magnus through components of Norse mythology, ranging from characters to weaponry of the ancient belief system. Know that the structure is similar to the books in the past, the characters who are introduced throughout this book are unique in their own ways, especially Magnus’s new companions and, I especially enjoyed the history and sense of honor associated with the Valkyrie corps, especially Samirah al-Abbas, who identifies from a Muslim family."
"This story takes place in the present time with vivid trips into the realm of "the gods" where he must fight and die many times for the delaying of Armegedon."
"Just like the former series Greek Roman & Egyptian mythologies, he creates a world that is both imaginative and has some scientific plausibility."
"When I heard that Rick Riordan was starting a new mega adventure ride with Norse mythology at its centre, I was on board before you can say Yggdrasil (the world tree – how do I pronounce it?). On the successful wave of Marvel’s Thor movies and the ultra popularity of Loki, this seemed to be a gold mine, because while the named characters are known, Norse mythology itself isn’t that widespread in all its glorious details. I loved the insight into Norse mythology, all the big and small details, the nine worlds, famous and less known figures, legends, connections, diverse beings, magic, the dividing of the gods to nature and war gods, the two so called “afterlives”, etc, etc, and especially Ragnarok. Norse mythology is a lot more grimmer and fatalistic that it’s Greek counterpart, but it’s none the less fascinating and rich with imaginative stories. From the important mythological characters, Loki was confusing -- is he evil or just misunderstood? Apparently, he’s the most similar to Chris Hemsworth, so obviously, I was drawn to him… I, overall, found it funny how Magnus compared everyone to the images we are used to from Thor movies. The connection to the Heroes of Olympus series was also quite intriguing due to Annabeth being the cousin of Magnus. I did, however, notice that compared to the latter books, the new series story had a lot of info-dumping, which I didn't feel to the extent in the previous series. Further recommendations: The anime (based on the manga of the same name) Mythical Detective Loki Ragnarok (2003) was one of my favourites some years back and it focuses on a cursed, but cute as a button and physically little boy, Loki, a quirky wannabe detective girl student and Loki’s children – Fenrir the adorable doggy was soooo squichy (I loved how he said “daddy” to Loki all the time)."
Best Children's United States Folk Tales
Twelve-year-old Artemis is a millionaire, a genius-and above all, a criminal mastermind. But when the time comes to put his plan into action, he doesn't count on the appearance of the extrasmall, pointy-eared Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaisance) Unit--and her senior officer, Commander Root, a man (sorry, elf) who will stop at nothing to get her back. The author has let his imagination run riot by combining folklore, fantasy, and a fistful of high-tech funk in an outrageously devilish book that could well do for fairies what Harry Potter has done for wizardry. Instead, what we have here is well-written, sophisticated, rough 'n' tumble storytelling with enough high-octane attitude to make it a seriously cool read for anyone over the age of 10. However, his feisty mark, Holly, turns out to be a member of the "LEPrecon, an elite branch of the Lower Elements Police," so a wisecracking team of satyrs, trolls, dwarfs and fellow fairies set out to rescue her.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It involves clones, high tech gadgets, and takes the young reader on a journey of Fowl after his mind has been erased of memories of faries and the such."
"This book had me smiling the entire time."
"A twelve-year-old genius criminal mastermind takes on the world of Faeries. He develops a ploy to kidnap one of them and hold her for ransom for a fortune in gold. Yes, the main character is only twelve years old, but to say he acts much older would be beyond understatement. Instead, we spend a lot of our time with the faeries and see all the buffoonery that ensues in their culture."
"The 10th and final Artemis Fowl book is coming out this year, and in celebration, Disney/Hyperion is offering NetGalley members access to the previous nine books in two-book special editions. This month, Artemis Fowl is one of the two books, and rather than root through my kids' piles of books to find the first two books in the series, I got access to the first two in e-book format to see why my oldest was so addicted to Eoin Colfer and whether I should talk the boys into reading them."
"I read some future books as a kid before I read this one."