Fairy tales are fun to share and have tons of curricular possibilities, so it’s no wonder children’s fairy tale books are a fixture in most elementary classrooms. If you’re looking to add some fun new options to your collection, especially for better rendering, check out this list of some of our less conventional favorites.
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You are reading: Fairy tale books for 5th graders
fairy tale books for children
1. Once Upon a Time in the World series by various authors
This series of children’s fairy tale board books is a must-have for preschool, and we even love them for elementary school. they distill classic stories into a few words and bring them to life with multicultural illustrations. A little Caribbean mermaid, an Indian Rapunzel and a Japanese Snow White? yes please!
buy it: once upon a time in the world on amazon | Once upon a time there was a world in the bookstore
2. little red riding hood by tara lazar
little red girl wants to participate in the forest ice skating competition, but she needs a partner. the one she finds has unexpected features: sharp teeth, big ears, and lots of fur. many other familiar characters also make appearances. this fairy tale mashup is a crowd pleaser read aloud.
buy it: little red riding hood on amazon | little red riding hood in the bookstore
3. the three ninja pigs by corey rosen schwartz
We never tire of this martial arts-inspired interpretation of the pork classic. the three pigs decide that they have had enough of the wolf’s intimidating ways and prepare at the dojo. it’s great fun to read aloud and gives classes new topics to discuss. Check out Ninja Red Riding Hood and Hensel and Gretel: Ninja Girls, too.
buy it: the three ninja pigs on amazon | the three ninja pigs in the bookstore
4. Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. blacksmith
little redhead goes out to bring baked goods and medicine to her aunt rosie. a lion tries to foil her plans, but little red is a clever niece. we love the fun twists on the classic tale and the nods to the African culture and environment.
buy it: little red and the very hungry lion on amazon | little red and the very hungry lion in the bookstore
5. rapunzel by bethan woollvin
See Also: Ivan Doig – Book Series In Order
If you’re looking for children’s fairy tale books that defy the characterizations of the originals, you’ll want titles by Bethan Woollvin. In her version, Rapunzel is smart and brave and won’t let the witch take her over. ideal for compare and contrast lessons of story elements. also check out little red and hansel and gretel.
buy it: rapunzel on amazon | rapunzel in the bookstore
6. the princess and the pea by susan middleton elya
This family history is updated with Peruvian influences and the Spanish language included throughout. the ending is fun to compare to the classic version.
buy it: the princess and the pea on amazon | the princess and the pea in the bookstore
7. Redlocks and the Three Bears by Claudia Rueda
This creative retelling imagines what would happen if characters from two stories crossed paths. it’s fun to read as a continuation of the traditional versions of “little red riding hood” and “goldilocks and the three bears”. This one also gets students thinking about how villains have feelings, great for empathy discussions.
buy it: redlocks and the three bears on amazon | redlocks and the three bears in the library
8. goldilocks and the three engineers by sue flyss
goldilocks, the inventor gets stuck, so she uses a great strategy: she goes for a walk. Who appears in her absence? three tough-minded bears, of course! kids love this imaginative tale.
buy it: goldilocks and the three engineers at amazon | goldilocks and the three engineers in the bookstore
9. reading beauty by deborah underwood
lex, the strong and smart space princess, has to reverse an evil fairy’s curse to bring books back to her kingdom. she also takes a look at interstellar cinderella from the same author.
buy it: reading beauty on amazon | reading beauty in the bookstore
10. prince & daniel haack knight
This title and the next two help add some much-needed lgbtqia+ representation to this genre. a prince is not interested in marrying any of the princesses presented to him by her parents. When a dragon threatens his kingdom, a brave knight draws his attention.
buy it: prince & knight in amazon | prince & gentleman in bookstore
11. maiden & princess by daniel haack
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A maiden is not excited about going to a prince’s royal ball. she ends up attending anyway, and turns out to be the prince’s sister with whom she has a special connection. the illustrations are diverse, with various skin tones and body types. hooray!
buy it: maiden & princess on amazon | maiden & princess in the bookstore
12. cinderelliot: a delightful fairy tale by mark ceilley and rachel smoka-richardson
We love this narrative both for its lgbtqia+ representation and for its fun baking-themed twists. Prince Samuel organizes a bake to find his next royal baker. cinderelliot ends up baking her way into the prince’s heart.
buy it: cinderelliot: a scrumptious fairy tale on amazon | cinderelliot: a delicious fairy tale in the bookstore
13. the poison apple: a fragmented fairy tale by anne lambelet
An evil witch attempts to pass a poisoned apple to a princess in this fragmented version of “Snow White.” what the witch thought would be a simple plot turns into a fun adventure in the woods. This is a fun title to read aloud to a group and ask students to predict how all the antics will turn out.
buy it: the poison apple on amazon | the poisoned apple in the bookstore
14. endlessly forever: choose your path to countless fairy tale endings by laurel snyder
What if you have to decide how the fairy tale goes? this choose your own adventure story allows readers to choose actions in a series of familiar situations.
buy it: forever without end on amazon | endlessly forever in the bookstore
15. once upon a time there was a series of fairy tales by anna staniszewski
These school branch titles are perfect fairy tale books for elementary school children to enjoy on their own. Kara and Zed have enchanted adventures that include many classic story elements – think magic mirrors, lost slippers, and an evil queen.
buy it: Once upon a fairy tale on amazon | Once upon a time there was a fairy tale in the bookstore
16. fairy tale party series by jane yolen and various authors
These children’s fairy tale books add a new way to explore their favorite stories: through food! The original title includes familiar stories like “Snow White” and “Hansel and Gretel,” plus recipes to mix and match. other titles share stories and dishes from different cultures.
buy it: fairy tale feasts on amazon | fairytale bookstore parties
there are so many fantastic fairy tale books for children! did we miss your favourite? tell us in the comments!
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See Also: 21 Best Baking Books of All Time from Dorie Greenspan to Alice Medrich