Myths and legends for children and young adults: Elementary
This guide lists selected myths and legends for children and young adults in Cubberley Education Library.
Elementary
The Serpent Rider by Yxavel Magno Diño
Publication Date: 2024Ages 8-11; Gr.4-6.
Tani dreams of fulfilling her destiny as a Serpent Rider, fighting alongside an elemental serpent to defend her village against monsters. More than anything, she wants to protect her little sister Ligaya, the village princess who's tasked with memorizing their community's history, including the tale of Great Bakunawa, the most powerful and feared sea serpent that swallowed six of the world's seven moons. After a devastating monster attack, Tani can no longer wait patiently for her bakunawa egg to hatch. She makes a desperate deal with a stranger who promises her a serpent of her own. But when her gamble puts her sister in major danger, Tani must find a way to save Ligaya before she's lost forever.Benita y las criaturas nocturnas by Mariana Llanos; Cocoretto (Ill.)
Publication Date: 2023Lexile measure 350; Ages 4-9; Prk-Gr.4.
Benita loves to read in bed but keeps getting interrupted by a whistling Tunche, a scary Supay and other spooky creatures from Peruvian lore. To the creatures' disbelief, Benita is so absorbed by her book that she's not the least bit scared of them. This humorous celebration of bedtime reading puts a global twist on taking the "scary" out of monsters, now in Spanish!The skull: a Tyrolean folktale by Jon Klassen
Publication Date: 2023Gr.1-4.
Jon Klassen's signature wry humor takes a turn for the ghostly in this thrilling retelling of a traditional Tyrolean folktale. In a big abandoned house, on a barren hill, lives a skull. A brave girl named Otilla has escaped from terrible danger and run away, and when she finds herself lost in the dark forest, the lonely house beckons. Her host, the skull, is afraid of something too, something that comes every night.The labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt
Publication Date: 2023Ages 8-12; Gr.4-6.
From award-winning author Gary D. Schmidt, a warm and witty novel in which a seventh grader has to figure out how to fulfill an assignment to perform the Twelve Labors of Hercules in real life--and makes discoveries about friendship, community, and himself along the way.The truth about dragons by Julie Leung; Hanna Cha (Ill.)
Publication Date: 2023Lexile measure AD910L; Ages 4-8; K- Gr.2; Caldecott award honor, 2024.
Brought to life with lavish and ornate illustrations, The Truth About Dragons follows a young child on a journey guided by his mother's bedtime storytelling. He quests into two very different forests, as his two grandmothers help him discover two different, but equally enchanting, truths about dragons. Eastern and Western mythologies coexist and enrich each other in this warm celebration of mixed cultural identity.The North Wind and the Sun by Philip C. Stead
Publication Date: 2023Ages 4-8; PrK-Gr.3.
This thought-provoking, gorgeous story portrays the many different definitions of strength, as told through the powerful bond of three sisters. Together they face The North Wind, a mighty wintry gale bent on destroying the sisters' old patchwork coats with his harsh words and powerful blustering. But these gray-haired sisters stand firm, bracing against the hateful Wind and his taunts, facing his negativity with practicality, resilience, grit, and gut. Their coats will not be blown off by force. It isn't until the Sun tries her own methods-generosity, warmth, and waiting-that the sisters make their own decision- it is time to remove their coats.Pahua and the soul stealer by Lori Lee
Publication Date: 2021Ages 8-12; Gr.4 and up.
Pahua Moua has a bit of a reputation for being a weirdo. A lonely eleven-year-old Hmong girl with the unique ability to see spirits, she spends her summer days babysitting her little brother and playing with her best friend, a cat spirit no one else can see. One day Pahua accidentally untethers an angry spirit from the haunted bridge in her neighborhood--whoops. When her brother suddenly falls sick and can't be awoken, Pahua fears that the bridge spirit has stolen his soul. She returns to the scene of the crime with her aunt's old shaman tools, hoping to confront the spirit and demand her brother's return. Instead, she summons a demon.Aru Shah and the nectar of immortality by Roshani Chokshi
Publication Date: 2022Ages 8-12; Gr.3-7.
The Pandavas only have until the next full moon to stop the Sleeper from gaining access to the nectar of immortality, which will grant him infinite power. But how can Aru, Mini, and Brynne hope to defeat him without their celestial weapons? The Sleeper and his army are already plundering the labyrinth, and the sisters can't even enter. Their quest to get in will have them calling on old friends, meeting new allies, and facing fearsome trials, like...performing in a rock concert?Feathered serpent and the five suns: a Mesoamerican creation myth by Duncan Tonatiuh
Publication Date: 2020Ages 5-9; K-Gr.4; Toma s Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award, 2021.
In the spirit of Tonatiuh's celebrated book The Princess and the Warrior, this pre-Columbian creation myth tells the story of Quetzalcoatl, or the Feathered Serpent, one of the most important deities in ancient Mesoamerica. When the other gods grow tired in their attempt to create humankind, only one does not give up: the Feathered Serpent. He 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.The cursed carnival and other calamities: new stories about mythic heroes by Rick Riordan
Publication Date: 2021Ages 8-12; Gr.4-8
All but one of the heroes in these 10 new stories previously starred in a popular book from Rick Riordan Presents. You'll be reunited with Aru Shah, Zane Obispo, Min the fox spirit, Sal and Gabi, Gum Baby, Nizhoni Begay, Paola Santiago, Sikander Aziz, and Riley Oh. Who is the new hero? Read Rick Riordan's short story to find out!
2016-2017
Artemis : wild goddess of the hunt by George O'Connor
Publication Date: 2017Ages 9-14: gr.4-6.
Shunned even before she was born and destined to live a life of solitude, Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, finds power through her skilled hunting ability and mighty bow. She slays those who wish to do harm to the innocent and takes care of the young and helpless.The Five Forms by Barbara McClintock
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PS3563 .C34153 F58 2017PrK-Gr.2.
When a young girl finds a mysterious, discarded book of martial arts poses, she ignores the warning printed in bold inside its cover: DO NOT ATTEMPT THESE FORMS WITHOUT AN EXPERIENCED TEACHER! She decides to attempt them herself . . . but is shocked to find that doing so conjures real animals right into her home!Apollo: the brilliant one by George O'Connor
Publication Date: 2016Ages 9-14: gr.4-6.
Mighty Apollo is known by all as the god of the sun, but there's more to this Olympian than a bright smile and a shining chariot. In the latest volume of Olympians, New York Times bestselling author George O'Connor continues to turn his extensive knowledge of the original Greek myths into rip-roaring graphic novel storytelling.Echo Echo by Marilyn Singer; Josée Masse (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PS3569 .I546 E24 2016Lexile measure 670; Ages 8-12.
A new book of unique reversible poems based on Greek myths from the creator of Mirror Mirror. What happens when you hold up a mirror to poems about Greek myths?First light, first life : a worldwide creation story by Paul Fleischman
Publication Date: 2016Lexile measure 620; Ages 6-9; Gr.1-4.
In the beginning there was only darkness... There was fire and ice... There was a single drop of milk. Combining elements of the creation story from different traditions, this narrative weaves together one complete picture of how the world began. It is a celebration of the many and varied peoples of the earth, of their commonalities and their differences. It is a celebration of life.I Am Pan by Mordicai Gerstein
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » BL820 .P2 G46 2016Lexile measure GN520L; Ages 8-10; Gr.1-4.
Mischievous from the moment he emerges howling and screeching from his mother's womb, Pan, god of the wild, creates pandemonium wherever he goes.The Princess and the Warrior by Duncan Tonatiuh
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » F1219.3 .F6 T66 2016Lexile measure 770; Ages 6-9; Prk-gr.2; Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor, 2017.
Award-winning author Duncan Tonatiuh reimagines one of Mexico's cherished legends. Princess Izta had many wealthy suitors but dismissed them all. When a mere warrior, Popoca, offered to love her and stay always by her side, Izta fell in love. Also available electronically at https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/13701909.
Before 2011
Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman; Brett Helquist (Illustrator)
Publication Date: 2009Lexile measure 820; Ages 6-10; Gr.3-6
The thrilling, wintry Nordic tale by Neil Gaiman, who weaves a magical story of legend and adventure that will enchant readers from beginning to end. Odd, a young Viking boy, is left fatherless following a raid. In his icy, ancient world there is no mercy for an unlucky soul with a crushed foot and no one to protect him. Fleeing to the woods, Odd stumbles upon and releases a trapped bear...and then Odd's destiny begins to change. The eagle, bear, and fox Odd encounters are Norse gods, trapped in animal form by the evil frost giant who has conquered Asgard, the city of the gods.The Closet Ghosts by Uma Krishnaswami (Text by); Shiraaz Bhabha (Illustrator)
Call Number: Education Library (Cubberley) » Curriculum Collection » PS3611 .R558 C56 2006Prk-Gr.2.
Moving to a new place is hard enough without finding a bunch of mean, nasty ghosts in your closet. This looks like a job for Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god, who can change shape in the blink of an eye and chase goblins and demons away with his thundering voice.Kingdom of the sun: a book of the planets by Jacqueline Mitton; Christina Balit (Illustrator); S. Mitton
Publication Date: 2001Ages 5-7.
An introduction to the planets of the solar system describes the unique characteristics of each planet and compares them to the ancient gods and goddesses who are their namesakes.
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