Check out the best mythology books for kids, perfect for learning everything about Greek children’s stories, myths, and tales.
I confess to a deep and abiding love for mythology. It started when I was a kid; I fell in love with Greek Mythology even without the Percy Jackson book series! I used to read Edith Hamilton’s great mythology books over and over again.
I pinned books every mythology book from around the world including the reading list from The National Mythology Exam in my Mythology for Kids Pinterest board and I’ve used this to select 10 really great books from it. Imagination Soup also has a wonderful book list on Greek Mythology.
What great mythology books for kids am I missing? Did you write a post on a mythology book for kids? Let me know via email and I’ll include it on my board. Thank you!
28 Mythology Books for Kids
10. Young Zeus by Brian Karas
In the guise of a charming picture book about Zeus as a young child is actually a well-researched scholarly account of Greek Mythology. Even though I read a lot of Edith Hamilton’s mythology as a child, I learned facts about Zeus and how he came to power that I never knew. And my son just thinks this is a great picture book. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
9. The Pharoah’s Secret by Marissa Moss
You might know Marissa Moss from her notebook Amelia series. I thought her ancient Egypt action-adventure story is similar to The Kane Chronicles but even better because it focuses on a shorter time period and is, therefore, less confusing.
There are the same elements of two siblings who have ancient powers to be discovered as well as a time travel adventure with the future of the world at stake! [chapter book, ages 8 and up]
8. Encyclopedia Mythologica by Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda
The neighbor boys next door are fortunate to have Bob Sabuda as their godfather. They said that THEY told him to do this book on mythology because Percy Jackson is so popular. He was wise to listen to them!
Sabuda’s pop-up books are legendary for imaginative, mind-blowing 3-D creations as well as information-packed factoids. It’s a book for endless discovery! [pop-up non-fiction, ages 6 and up]
7. Heroes In Training series by Joan Holub
If your child isn’t quite ready for thick chapter books like Percy Jackson, this series is perfect for those starting to read independently. The heroes in training are the Olympians at a younger age and while the mythology isn’t always accurate as to satisfy Classicists, it’s still a fun adventure.
It also sets up the reader to slide right into Percy Jackson. [easy chapter book, ages 6 and up]
6. Goddess Girls series by Joan Holub
Holub has a version of easy chapter books on Greek Mythology aimed at girls. Again purists like Grasshopper and Sensei will be frustrated by the inaccuracies in the mythology stories and the plots often turn around mean girl bullying. Still, it’s a great series for girls who have an interest in mythology. [easy chapter book, ages 6 and up]
5. Olympians series by George O’Connor
Think Marvel Comics but with Greek Mythology! Graphic novels and mythology are a marriage made in heaven for getting boys reading, especially reluctant boy readers in middle school. Try this for 6th graders who are studying Greek mythology in school but perhaps prefer a well-drawn and dramatic graphic novel!
O’Connor sneaks in many of the ancient great works like Homer’s Odyssey story in an engaging way. [graphic novel, ages 9 and up]
4. Amazing Greek Myths of Wonder and Blunder by Michael Townsend
If you need a “Todd Parr” light-hearted graphic novel approach to Greek Mythology, this one is perfect for those who want cartoon humor with their mythology. I would try this with readers who like Holub’s series. [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
3. Ancient Egypt: Tales of Gods and Pharaohs by Marcia Williams
I am very partial to Ancient Egypt and graphic novels so this was a no-brainer pick for me! Marcia Williams uses a comic strip approach to tell nine stories of Ancient Egypt including mythology and history. After all, the gods and pharaohs are related! [graphic novel, ages 9 and up]
2. D’Aulaires Greek Mythology by Ingri and Edgar Parin d’Aulaire
If you wanted one Greek mythology book for a wide age range — perhaps you have more than one child or you want this book to grow with your child — then I would pick D’Aulaires. They have an excellent series of mythology books covering Norse, Greek, and Trolls but I’d start with this one. [non-fiction short stories, ages 6 and up]
We also like D’Aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths.
1. Percy Jackson series and anything by Rick Riordan
What better way to get kids reading and learning about Greek, Roman, and Ancient Egyptian mythology than to crack open a book by Rick Riordan? Why not read them all? Or, if you are like my son. Read them in order and then, re-read them in backward order. Acing the 6th grade mythology unit has never been easier if you do it with Percy Jackson! [chapter book, ages 6*and up]
*Many of my son’s friends have been reading Percy Jackson since first grade. A few even read it in Kindergarten either as a read-aloud or because they were highly motivated advanced readers. I would say that it’s action-packed and with action-packed battles including the death of a few characters that the reader might be attached to. My son’s friends are not bothered by this at all but fair warning that they also play Halo and Call of Duty so they are somewhat immune to violence.
More Great Mythology Books for Kids
Bubba and Squirt’s Shield of Athena by Sherry Ellis
For kids who want short middle-grade chapter books in the vein of Percy Jackson, this is the perfect book series! Think of it as Percy Jackson-Lite! Two siblings travel back through a magical portal where they meet the Greek goddess, Athena, and the old woman known as the Oracle of Delphi. They must solve her riddles in order to defeat the monster who has captured their father. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Medusa (Myth of Monsters, book 1) by Katherine Marsh
Review by A Kid’s Book A Day:
“Fans of Rick Riordan will love this Greek mythology-inspired fantasy, which features engaging kid characters, each with an emerging superpower, and plenty of white-knuckle adventures. I loved the feminist message and the reimagining of many of the myths, although it occasionally felt a little heavy-handed. Nevertheless, it’s a fast-paced and inspiring story, and it appears that readers can look forward to at least one sequel.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Athena: Goddess of Wisdom and War by Imogen and Isabel Greenberg
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“This graphic novel showcases several stories about the ancient Greek goddess Athena. Beginning sketches introduce us to a variety of characters who appear later, and give details about their backgrounds. We learn the story of Athena’s birth from the head of Zeus, her battle with Poseidon for the sponsorship of Athens, and a story about Erichthonius, son of Hephaestus, for whom she cared for many years. The latter was a story with which I was unfamiliar, so that was an interesting inclusion. The famous story of Arachne is conveyed, as is the Medusa saga, and several chapters cover the various aspects of the Trojan War and its aftermath.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Go the Distance: A Twisted Tale by Jen Calonita
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
“Megara had a hard life before she ever met Hercules. Her mother, Thea, had to raise her alone after her father abruptly left, and a woman alone in Ancient Greece had to face many obstacles. She did instill a love of music in her daughter, and Megara actually met her boyfriend, Aegeus, while playing the flute. When he was in danger, she traded her soul to Hades in exchange for his life, and that was her situation when she met Hercules. When this story starts, Hercules has completed his labors and has returned to Mt. Olympus so will be leaving Megara behind. When Meg complains, Hera offers her a bargain– if she can complete a quest, she can join Hercules. The first part of this is to retrieve Athena’s aulos (flute), which involves riding Pegasus to Koufonisa and fighting the vampire-like empousas! After that, you’d think it would get easier, but Athena then wants her to go to the Underworld and retrieve a recently lost soul. It’s not just any lost soul, but the one belonging to Aegeus’ wife, Katerina. Meg decides that it would be helpful to get assistance from the satyr, Phil, and soon the two travel to Athens to try to get more information about Katerina from Aegeus. Meg is especially bitter since Hades shows Aegeus meeting and marrying Katerina a week after Meg left, but this is not the case. Aegeus admits that he spent two years searching for Meg before giving up. He and Katerina have a baby daughter, Cassia, whom Phil babysits, and soon Meg is off to the Underworld. At the beginning of her quest, Hercules gives Meg an orchid she could use three times to get help from him, but she eventually gets angry and refuses to use it when she feels that Hercules doubts her ability to succeed on her own. Despite having to battle the Stymphalian birds, deal with Charon and Cerberus, and deal with ghosts from her own past, will Meg be able to locate Katerina, bring her back to Aegeus, and ascend to be with Hercules on Mt. Olympus?” [young adult, ages 12 and up]
Oh My Gods! by Stephanie Cook and Insha Fitzpatrick, illustrated by Juliana Moon
Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:
Monster Education has selected Mythology Book for Kids for our website: Mythology: Oh My! Gods and goddesses.
“When Karen’s mother gets an exciting work opportunity, Karen has to go live with her father, Zed, whom she only really sees on holidays. Still, she’s excited for her mother, so packs her bags and gets ready to start middle school on Mt. Olympus. Her father has an enormous house and is not only the mayor of the community but also her school principal. The students are friendly enough, but everyone seems heavily into mythological LARPing, which strikes Karen as odd. The curriculum is also different from what she’s used to, and she gets help from a classmate in the school library. One day, they hear a scream and find that a student has been turned to stone. Karen learns that she is, in fact, in the world of Greek mythology, but instead of being something ancient and gone, her classmates have reinvented themselves as teens. When her friend, Pol (Apollo) is turned to stone, Karen and her classmates work to find out who did this to him so that they can reverse the damage.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
I Am Hermes! Mischief-Making Messenger of the Gods by Mordicai Gerstein
This is fun because the story of Hermes is told in a comic book graphic novel format with short chapters telling individual stories of Hermes’ escapades, many details that are not widely known such as precisely how he invented the lyre. The drawings are loose and “sketchbook-like” with an attractive color scheme.
Kids who like Percy Jackson will connect with this. Pair it also with George O’Connor’s graphic novel series (above). [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]
Gods and Heroes: Mythology Around the World by Korwin Briggs
“If you are looking for a good, all-around introductory book about the world’s most popular gods and heroes for a middle grader, look no further than this comprehensive book.
Altogether, there are 75 entries representing 23 cultures, and not only are gods, goddesses, and heroes included, but so are mythological creatures and underworlds. Each entry gives the traditional name of the character, their home, and other names they may be known by. Readers will also learn some fun facts and other interesting tidbits from the world of mythology. Author Briggs is a cartoonist and so each entry has whimsical, colorful illustrations that never manage to lose important characteristics.” [nonfiction chapter book, ages 9 and up]
T is for Thor: A Norse Mythology Alphabet by Virginia Loh-Hagan, illustrated by Torstein Nordstrand
Rhyming verses featuring Norse mythology are the core of the alphabet picture book but there are also lengthy side panels with several paragraphs of smaller print text that provide the backdrop to each term. This is helpful for anyone reading Rick Riordan’s Magnus Chase series. I found the rhyming text to be less compelling than the informative side panels. [advanced picture book, ages 7 and up]
The Song of Orpheus: The Greatest Greek Myths You Never Heard by Tracy Barrett
I really enjoyed reading about these lesser-known Greek myths by author and scholar Tracy Barrett. It’s the perfect book for Percy Jackson fans who have read every Greek mythology book they can get their hands on but still want more (like my son).
Barrett’s book is told from the point of view of Orpheus — the guy who tried to bring his wife back from Hades but wasn’t allowed to check if she was following him — who must tell seventeen stories before sundown in order to get a second chance to see his wife.
The stories will either be new to most readers or have additional twists and details; all are fascinating stories! I wish the margins around the pages were larger because that is the only off-putting aspect of this book. [mythology short story chapter book, ages 8 and up]
Número Uno by Alex Dorros and Arthur Dorres, illustrated by Susan Guevara
Here’s a clever Latino take on Hercules versus Socrates. Who is the most important person in their village? A young boy has an idea and devises a test. Sending them both away, the villages work on the bridge that they are building and see who they miss more.
With Spanish words sprinkled into the story
Welsh Monsters & Mythical Beasts by C.C. J. Ellis
This is such a beautifully illustrated book with fascinating mythical beasts including a wealth of different types of dragons! But it doesn’t stop there! The mystical beasts get weirder and weirder, in a good way! Give this to anyone who loves dragons. It will expand their world of myths and monsters! [nonfiction picture book, for ages 8 and up]
Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton
I confess that I am partial to this book of short stories that I loved as a child. Edith Hamilton was a pioneer in her time both as The Classicists Classicist and as a female scholar in this field. Since each story is short, it makes a great bedtime book! [non-ficiton stories, ages 9 and up]
Stickman Odyssey, Book 1: An Epic Doodle by Christopher Ford
I would try this with reluctant boy readers who only like Diary of the Wimpy Kid. It has that same goofy protagonist feel but it’s also a graphic novel with stickman-drawn doodles. I think there is definitely a book on this list that can entice any kid to give mythology a chance.
If all the other books failed, try this one! [graphic novel, ages 9 and up]
The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales told by Virginia Hamilton, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon
Enslavement suppressed the African cultures that were forcibly brought to America but, like the wily Br’er Rabbit, stories that preserved memories of the old country surfaced as a body of folk tales meant to entertain and instruct. In these stories, the less powerful often prevailed.
This collection of stories shows the richness of American Black Folktales and that the harsh reality of enslavement could not extinguish the imaginations, hopes, or dreams of those oppressed. [nonfiction folk tale anthology, ages 8 and up]
The Golden Age: Ovid’s Metamorphoses, retold for children by Heinz Janisch, illustrated by Ana Sender
The Metamorphoses by Ovid is considered his greatest work and covers the Roman gods, starting from the creation of the world and humans. Pair this with D’Aulaires’ Greek mythology books for a similar vibe. This book has the timeless quality of an ancient book that is still relevant today. [middle grade, ages 8 and up]
Great Mythology Resources for Kids
How Ancient Greek Statues Really Looked
The National Mythology Exam (yes, kids take this for fun!)
The National Mythology Exam Book List
The Golden Lyre original interactive 1 man actor performance for grades K-2 and Chariots of the Sun for middle school.
It was a dragon-like monster called the Gorgon who stole the lyre (pronounced liar) and turned the King’s daughter to stone. The only way she can be changed back is by hearing the music of the lyre, but no one knows where the Gorgon’s cave is located.
It’s only when a young man named Alex shows up at the palace that things take a dramatic turn. Like CHARIOT OF THE SUN, the show uses a combination of poetry, masks, and mime, as well as call-and-response, where students make a host of fantastic sounds to move the story along.
p.s. Related posts:
The National Mythology Exam: Take the Exam or Just Learn Yourself
Easy Chapter Book Mythology Series for Girls
Mythology & Folk Tale Book Lists
Mythology for Kids: D’Aulaires and The National Mythology Exam
Wonderful Comprehensive Pop-Up Mythology Book: Encyclopedia Mythologica (for ages 5-15)
Percy Jackson + Chinese Mythology = The Monkey King’s Daughter
Riordan-Like Hindu Mythology Adventure Series!
Greek Mythology Picture Book today, Percy Jackson in a few years!
Harry Potter + Greek Mythology = Percy Jackson Series (ages 8-14)
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“Young Zeus” sounds great! I was also intrigued by “Stickman Odyssey”, but our library doesn’t seem to have a copy. I miss the Massachusetts library system!
Hi MaryAnne,
We are still reading Young Zeus quite a bit! The graphic novels are fun too!
Great post! We have the D’Aulaires book and have read the Brian Karas one. Didn’t know about the Zabuda one, will have to look for that. I have suggested the girls mythology series to my daughter but I think she is too much of a purist too. I am impressed with anyone reading Percy Jackson in kindergarten! My daughter still hasn’t attempted them. I will look out for the Edith Hamilton one also!
Hi Ann,
The Sabuda one is great if your kids like pop up books (which we do a lot!!!).
We’ll have to check out Young Zeus- it’s never too early to introduce mythology to kids- the only book we’ve got on this list is the D’Aulaires book, but it’s such a good one!
Hi Jeanette,
D’Aulaires is a good one! We really never seem to tire of Young Zeus either!
Young readers might also be interested in our Greek Myth books, called “Early Myths”.
We have three books to date:
Odysseus
Perseus
Jason & the Golden Fleece
Perseus won a prize at the Moonbeam Children’s Awards at the end of last year.
Our multimedia books are available on the iPad, iPhone, Kindle, and we also have versions as audiobooks and paperbacks.
More details available on earlymyths.com
Hi Dr. Simon Spence,
Thanks for the heads up on your great Greek Mythology books for young readers. My son can not get enough of Greek mythology after falling in love with Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series.
Thank you so much for this list. I think mythology might be the key to unlocking my eight-year-old’s interest in reading.