Whether you love stories with the Greek gods as characters or want to learn more about Mesopotamian goddesses, you'll find something on this list that you'll love! These fiction and nonfiction books are based on beliefs and traditions from the past and present and from across the world, all trying to answer the big questions of who we are and how we got here.
On a trip to visit her grandparents in Japan, Tessa Miyata inadvertently releases the spirit of an evil samurai god who wants to destroy Tokyo, and stumbles upon a hidden part of the city where gods and mythological creatures walk among humans.
A genie informs twelve-year-old Amira and her younger brother Hamza that they are the chosen ones who must defeat a monstrous demon of Islamic folklore to save the Earth and a parallel dimension.
The first definitive collection of Igbo legends and traditions for kids, this book explores the mythological origins of the Igbo people, the ancient Nri Kingdom, and Igbo cosmology before delving into the Alusi, or the core Igbo deities. Following this introduction to the pantheon of gods and goddesses, a collection of the most popular Igbo myths, folktales, and legends will immerse kids in exciting stories of tricksters, shapeshifters, and heroes including: The Wrestler Whose Back Never Touched the Ground, Ojiugo, the Rare Gem, The Tortoise and the Birds, or The Origin Story of Sea Turtles, Ngwele Aghuli, Why the Crocodile Lives Alone, How Death Came to Be, And more! The perfect book for kids who are fascinated by Greek mythology or love the Rick Riordan series, Introduction to Igbo Mythology for Kids offers a fun look into the stories, history, and figures that characterize Igbo culture.
A magical boy from Mayan mythology faces impossible tasks and a ruthless king to save the people of Mexico.
The story of Jason and the Argonauts is one of the earliest recorded Greek myths. Here, master artist Robert Byrd has created a striking telling of the legend for a new generation of readers. Complete with explanatory notes and illustrated back matter, Jason and the Argonauts traces each step of our hero's journey, from the Golden Fleece's origin story and Jason's childhood to his triumphant return with the prize and eventual death. Deftly designed to accommodate glorious large pictures and captioned insets, the book is not only a great story, but a wealth of information about ancient Greece.
To prevent the Mayan gods from battling each other and destroying the world, thirteen-year-old Zane must unravel an ancient prophecy, stop an evil god, and discover how the physical disability that makes him reliant on a cane also connects him to his father and his ancestry.
Thirteen-year-old Sikander Aziz has to team up with the hero Gilgamesh in order to stop Nergal, the ancient god of plagues, from wiping out the population of Manhattan in this adventure based on Mesopotamian mythology.
Brilliant Egyptologist Dr. Julius Kane accidentally unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes the doctor to oblivion and forces his two children to embark on a dangerous journey, bringing them closer to the truth about their family and its links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.
When Karen leaves New Jersey to spend time with her enigmatic father on Mount Olympus, she is shocked to learn that her junior high classmates are gods and goddesses, and that one of them is turning people to stone.
Up until her twelfth birthday, Kiranmala considered herself an ordinary sixth-grader in Parsippany, New Jersey, but then her parents disappear and a drooling rakkhosh demon shows up in her kitchen, and soon she is swept into another dimension, full of magic, winged horses, talking birds (very annoying), and cute princes--and somehow Kiranmala needs to sort it all out, find her parents, and basically save the world.
A collection of Norse myths describing the exploits of the Aesir gods and goddesses, beginning with the creation of the world and ending with the day of reckoning. The companion to D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, a treasured part of so many children's libraries, has returned to print after more than twenty years. D'Aulaires once again captivate their young audience with this beautifully illustrated introduction to Norse legends, telling stories of Odin the all father, Thor the thunder god and the theft of his hammer, Loki the mischievous god of the Jotun Race, and Ragnarokk, the destiny of the gods. Children meet Bragi, the god of poetry, and the famous Valkyrie maidens protecting Odin's Valhalla, among other gods, goddesses, heroes, and giants. Textured illustrations throughout depict the wondrous other world of Norse folklore and its fantastical northern landscape. Includes color illustrations throughout.
This collection celebrates nine heroines from the Greek Myths, from magical Circe to fleet-footed Atalanta; from wise Athena to bold, brave Psyche. Full of drama and daring, beautifully illustrated and lyrically retold, the stories bring these brave and brilliant heroines to life for a new generation of readers.
Discover magical princesses, mighty dragons, mischievous monkeys and more, in this captivating collection of traditional Chinese stories, specially selected and retold for readers today.
Presents a collection of stories from nations and cultures across our two continents, the Sea-Ringed World, as the Aztecs called it, from the edge of Argentina all the way up to Alaska.
A fun, feminist take on the myth of Athena follows the adventures of the goddess of wisdom, war, and courage as she helps both gods and mortals alike.
When Hamra steals a magical fruit from a tiger hoping to cure her grandmother, she must repay her debt to the tiger by going on an extraordinary journey with him to make him human again.
From debut author Van Hoang comes Girl Giant and the Monkey King, a tale packed with magic, adventure, and middle-school woes; perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Roshani Chokshi.
Molly Teng sees things no one else can. By touching the belongings of people who have died, she gets brief glimpses into the lives they lived. Sometimes the "zaps" are funny or random, but often they leave her feeling sad, drained, and lonely. The last thing Jade remembers from life is dying. That was over one hundred years ago. Ever since then she's been trapped in the same house watching people move in and out. She's a 'hungry ghost' reliant on the livings' food scraps to survive. To most people she is only a shadow, a ghost story, a superstition. Molly is not most people. When she moves into Jade's house, nothing will ever be the same--for either of them.
Step into the magical and rich world of Chinese mythology with tales of gods, goddesses, the Monkey King, the White Snake, and more in this gorgeous, fully illustrated collection of myths and fairy tales. Do you know how the world began? Or why there is wind and rain? Have you ever felt lucky and wondered where luck comes from? Are you curious about the unseen and unknown? People have been asking these questions for thousands of years, with different cultures coming up with different answers to explain the universe. The myths in Chinese Mythology date back to ancient China, where the Jade Emperor ruled from the Heavens alongside other deities, and when the world was filled with supernatural figures, including snake-women, animal tricksters, ghosts, demons, dragons, and more. Journey through the world's creation and the rule of heaven to the powerful shaping of earth and the rise of humanity in these stunning, exciting, and mystical tales from China, written by the author of A Kid's Guide to the Chinese Zodiac and illustrated in stunning, bright, magical pictures.
After feelings for her best friend Deve become complicated, thirteen-year-old African American Birdie makes a wish with a West African trickster god that goes awry.
To free himself from an ancient curse, thirteen-year-old Shinji Takahashi must team up with a secret organization of explorers, find a magical font hidden in the jungles of Mexico, and replace a stolen idol.
You are the mighty god Odin. You dream of building new worlds, learning about magic, and gaining great knowledge and wisdom. But realizing these dreams won't be easy. You will need to face powerful giants, fearsome monsters, and make great personal sacrifices. Can you find a way overcome the obstacles, create the Cosmos, and truly become the All-father? YOU CHOOSE how your story will be told. The choices you make will lead to your glory-or your ultimate fate!
Profiles fifty Greek gods, goddess, heroes, and monsters, including Athena, Odysseus, Persephone, the Amazons, Medusa, and the Minotaur.
July Chen sees ghosts. But her dad insists ghosts aren't real. So she pretends they don't exist. Which is incredibly difficult now as it's Hungry Ghost month, when the Gates of the Underworld open and dangerous ghosts run amok in the living world. When July saves a boy ghost from being devoured by a Hungry Ghost, he becomes her first ever friend. Except William is not a ghost. He's a wandering soul wavering between life and death. As the new friends embark on an adventure to return William to his body, they unearth a ghastly truth--for William to live, July must die.
Min, a thirteen-year-old girl with fox-magic, stows away on a battle cruiser and impersonates a cadet in order to solve the mystery of what happened to her older brother in the Thousand World Space Forces.
Trojan princess Cassandra is cursed by Apollo with the gift of prophecy, and must try to find her place in a world that she knows to be perilous; years later, will her friendship with a young Amazon princess named Rin help her to avert a disastrous end to their war?
Minli, an adventurous girl from a poor village, buys a magical goldfish, and then joins a dragon who cannot fly on a quest to find the Old Man of the Moon in hopes of bringing life to Fruitless Mountain and freshness to Jade River.
A descendant of Medusa, Ava is sent to the Accademia del Forte in Venice after an altercation with a classmate, where she must learn to control her emotions, especially when she unearths a terrible secret that could change the world forever.
Twelve-year-old Anna must dig deep into her Hawaiian roots in order to save her best friend and her island from an angry fire goddess.
Retells how Bellerophon, son of the king of Corinth, secures the help of the winged horse Pegasus in order to fight the monstrous Chimera.
Seventh-grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he's going to spend on his grandparents' farm. But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up and steals Eddie's notebook. Tristan chases after it, and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to get it away from the creature, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters. Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left black American folk heroes John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?
A retelling, based on seventh-century B.C. Assyrian clay tablets, of the wanderings and adventures of the god king, Gilgamesh, who ruled in ancient Mesopotamia (now Iraq) in about 2700 B.C., and of his faithful companion, Enkidu.
Here's Where It All Starts: the beginning of everything - the world, the gods, and even humanity. Mighty Kronos, the most terrifying of all the Titans, reigns as the unchallenged tyrant of the cosmos...until his son, the god Zeus, stands up and takes on his own father in a battle intense enough to shatter the universe! Who will emerge triumphant?
Odysseus is far from home, tossed by stormy seas and cursed by an angry one-eyed giant.
FAIRY TALES, FOLK TALES, FABLES, MAGICAL TALES and TRADITIONAL STORIES. A wonderful collection of six classic Greek myths and legends, specially retold for younger readers. Includes the stories of The Wooden Horse, The Minotaur and The Odyssey, as well as a guide to the Greek gods. Beautifully bound in padded hardback, and packed with information, colour and culture, this makes a thrilling read for any child.
Tales of powerful female figures have been told since the beginning of time and this collection brings together 50 stories from around the world. There are loving creators, wise leaders, fearsome warriors, gentle healers and mystical protectors, and they can each inspire you to find strength within yourself. Beautifully written by cultural historian and broadcaster, Dr Janina Ramirez, and stunningly illustrated by Sarah Walsh, this amazing book contains goddesses, guides, spirits, saints, witches, demons and many more female figures that have played an important role in shaping belief today. Based on original sources and with photographs from the British Museum collection, this incredible introduction to goddesses throughout history will entertain, engage and empower readers everywhere. Divided into thematic chapters, but connected by the power of the female, there are important stories of creation and love, action-packed stories of war and death, and heroic stories of great adventure and strength. Each gorgeously illustrated spread is a celebration of girl power in its many forms.
Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson learns he is a demigod, the son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea. His mother sends him to a summer camp for demigods where he and his new friends set out on a quest to prevent a war between the gods.
Magnus Chase, a homeless boy living in Boston, finds out he is the son of a Norse god.
When a powerful desert spirit kidnaps her sister, Cece Rios must learn forbidden magic to get her back. Living in the remote town of Tierra del Sol is dangerous, especially in the criatura months, when powerful spirits roam the desert and threaten humankind. But Cecelia Rios has always believed there was more to the criaturas, much to her family's disapproval. After all, only brujas--humans who capture and control criaturas--consort with the spirits, and brujeria is a terrible crime. When her older sister, Juana, is kidnapped by El Sombrern̤, a powerful dark criatura, Cece is determined to bring Juana back. To get into Devil's Alley, though, she'll have to become a bruja herself--while hiding her quest from her parents, her town, and the other brujas. Thankfully, the legendary criatura Coyote has a soft spot for humans and agrees to help her on her journey. With him at her side, Cece sets out to reunite her family--and maybe even change what it means to be a bruja along the way.
Spanning the globe and thousands of years, Queer Mythology highlights the legends and tales of LGBTQIA+ gods, heroes, spirits and more. Myths and legends tell our stories. They connect us and show us not only who we are, but also reflect the people during the time the stories were first told. And LGBTQIA+ people have been a part of every community since the dawn of storytelling. From Tu'er Shen, the Chinese rabbit god who protected those who felt a love that was not accepted in the world, to Ghede Nibo, the Haitian spirit who performed drag on the runways in the realm of the dead, the twenty myths told in this collection capture one irrefutable fact-even as labels, language, and definitions have changed, LGBTQIA+ people have always existed. Some of these myths are not widely known. Others are myths that you may think you know, but over time the inherent queerness has been erased. Queer Mythology offers fresh retellings, paired with beautiful illustrations, to give new life and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ representation in some of humanity's earliest tales.
Danni is twelve years old and struggling to get over the loss of her dog, Pirate, when a new teacher and an old school book reveal to her the world of Greek mythology. Danni stumbles across an illustration that looks familiar enough for her to leave the house in the dead of night and seek out what she thinks could be the gate to Hades, the Greek Underworld, and perhaps a way to bring her dog back to the land of the living. What she didn't expect was her younger brother, Sammy, to tag along or that once in the Underworld she'd need a guide... and two 21st century kids on a quest to save their dead dog was the last thing Odysseus was expecting. Adventuring in the Underworld since the fall of Troy he's the last of his kind - a true Hero - but with enemies leaping on them at every turn and monsters and gods to overcome this may be his toughest odyssey yet!
After one prank too many, trickster god Loki has been banished to live as a kid on Earth. If he can show moral improvement within one month, he'll be allowed to return to Asgard. If not? Eternity in a pit of angry snakes. School, fake "parents," and an eleven-year-old Thor's farts are pure misery. But when a bigger threat than Loki's mischief comes to Earth, Loki will have to decide whether he's really a villain, or if he might want to do the right thing for once.
This pre-Columbian creation myth tells the story of Quetzalcoatl, one of the most important deities in ancient Mesoamerica, and his quest to create humankind. The gods tried to make humans during each sun, or age, but each time failed. So when they grew tired, only one did not give up: Quetzalcoatl, also called the Feathered Serpent. Determined, the Feathered Serpent embarks on a dangerous journey full of fearsome foes and harsh elements, facing each trial with wisdom, bravery, and resourcefulness before confronting his final challenge at Mictlan, the underworld. With his instantly recognizable, acclaimed art style and grand storytelling, Tonatiuh recounts a dazzling creation tale of epic proportions.
Mott's life becomes complicated when the abandoned puppy she found turns out to be a mythical Norse wolf who is partly responsible for bringing about the end of the worlds.
Seventh-grader Tristan Strong tumbles into the MidPass and, with allies John Henry and Brer Rabbit, must entice the god Anansi to come out of hiding and seal the hole Tristan accidentally ripped in the sky.
After his augmented reality gaming headset is possessed by the spirit of the First Emperor of China, twelve-year-old Chinese American Zack Ying is compelled to travel across China to steal an ancient artifact, fight figures from Chinese history and myth, and seal a portal to prevent malicious spirits from destroying the human realm.