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Heroes and Monsters

Beowulf slays the ogre Grenel
Bloody monster by Ashley
Heroes and monsters  in classic and contemporary children's books can be a potent resource for emotional growth in children.  A reading list of stories about heroes and monsters is featured on this page.  Also included are fairy tales, fantasy, sci-fi, and historic fiction appropriate for children ages six through twelve. 
On left, above:  Beowulf slays the ogre, Grendel, from a retelling by Morpurgo, M. (2006) Beowulf. Candlewick Press. Right: A bloody monster, made from a paper bag, popsicle sticks, and tempera paint by Ashley, age 6.

Heroes and Monsters: A Reading List:

  1. Crossman, R.H. Saving Cinderella: Fairy Tales and Children in the 21st Century 
  2. Rumsford, J.B. (2007). Beowulf, a Hero's Tale Retold. (6-9)
  3. Morpurgo, M. (2006). Beowulf. (retold).  Candlewick Press (9-12)
  4. Fajardo, A. (2010) Kid Beowulf. www,kidbeowulf.com
  5. D'aulaire's (1962). Book of Greek Myths.  New York: Random House. (6-12)
  6. Jendresen, E. & Greene, J. Hanuman. (based on Valmiki's RAMAYANA)
  7. Mazumdar, S. (1958) Ramayana. Calcutta: Orient Longman's
  8. D'aulaire's Norse Gods and Giants.New York: Random.  House. (6-12)
  9. Jaffrey, M. (1985) Seasons of Splendour: Tales, Myths & Legends of India. New York: Atheneum
  10. Husain, S. (1995) What Do We Know About Islam? New York: Peter Bedrick Books 
  11. Parrinder, G. (1982) Library of the World Myths and Legends: African Mythology. New York: Peter Bedrick Books
  12. Bryan, A. (1971) The Ox of the Wonderful Horns and Other African Folktales. New York: Atheneum
  13. Musgrove, M. (1976) Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions. New York: The Dial Press
  14. Carpenter, F. (1937) Tales of a Chinese Grandmother. New York: Doubleday
  15. Lee, J. (1999) I Once Was a Monkey: Stories Buddha Told. New York: Farrar, Strauss & Giroux
  16. Goble, P. (1998) The Legend of the White Buffalo Woman Washington. D.C.: National Geographic Society
  17. Fisher, L.E. 1999) Gods and Goddesses of the Ancient Maya. New York: Holiday House
  18. McCall, H. (2002) Gods ands Goddesses of the Ancient Egyptians. New York: Peter Bedrick Books
  19. Yolen, J. & Harris, R.J. (2002). Hippolyta and the Curse of the Amazons. New York: Harper Collins. (8-12)Pyle, H. (1962). The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood.  New York: Golden Press. (8-12)
  20. Shipton, P. (2004) The Pig Scrolls by Gryllus the Pig. (ages 9-12) www.candlewick.com
  21. Colum, P. (1921/1990). The Golden Fleece and Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles. New York:McMillan Publishing/Scholastic.
  22. Osborne, M.P. (2003) Tales From the Odyssey. Book 1: The One Eyed Giant. Book 2: The Land of the Dead. Book 3: Sirens and Sea Montsers. Book 4: The Gray Eyed Goddess. Book 5: Return to Ithaca. Book 6: The Final Battle. New York: Hyperion Paperback Books for Children. www.hyperionchildrensbooks.com
  23. Pullman, P. (2001). The Golden Compass.  New York: Yearling. (9+)
  24. Pullman, P. The Subtle Knife. "                     "
  25. Pullman, P. The Amber Spyglass  "   
  26. Pullman, P. (2004). The Scarecrow and His Servant.             
  27. Jeffers, S. (1991). Brother Eagle, Sister Sky: A message from Chief Seattle. New York: Dial Books. (6-12)
  28. Aiken, J. (1966) Nightbirds on Nantucket. New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc.
  29. Sutcliff, R. (1993) Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of the Iliad New York: Delacourt Press 
  30. Sutcliff, R.  The Witches Brat
  31. Piper, W. (1930/2010) The Little Engine That Could. New York: Platt&Munck/Scholastic  (It inspired me when I was small, I don't care what Betttelheim says about it!)
  32. Mayer, M. (1974) One Monster After Another. New York: Golden Press. (4-7)
  33.  Shephard, A.(2008) The Monkey King: A Superhero Tale from China Skyhook Press. Part of series; ages 6-12.
  34. Jiang, Ji-Li, ( 2002). The Magical Monkey King: Mischief in Heaven. Classic Chinese tales retold. (6-12)
  35. Nix, G. (2007) One Beastly Beast, Two Aliens, Three Inventors, Four Fantastic Tales. Great Britain: HarperCollins. www.garthnix.co.uk
  36. Sellier, Louis & Fei, (2008). What the Rat Told Me: A Legend of the Chinese Zodiac (easy reader, also gorgeous introduction to this topic for ages 6-12.) Note: Lunar New Year begins on February 2, 2011. It is the Year of the Hare. 
  37. Jacques, B. (1993). Redwall Series, including Redwall, Mossflower, and Martin the Warrior. New York: Ace Books.
  38. Lewis, C.S. (1950). The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and The Narnia Series. England: Penguin Books.
  39. O'Brien, R.C. (1971) Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh.  Canada: Mcclelland & Stewart, LTD. (9-12)
  40. Buckley, M. (2007).  The Sisters Grimm: The Fairy Tale Detectives. New York: Abrams Books. (6-12) www.sistersgrimm.com
  41. Banks, L.J. (1998). Moses in Egypt. New York: Puffin Books. ( 9-12)
  42. Creech, S. (1994). Walk Two Moons. New York: Harper Trophy. (American Indian girl, 13, and grandparents)
  43. Farmer, N. (1994). The Ear, the Eye and the Arm. New York: Puffin Books. (Sci-fi set in Zimbabwe, 9-12)
  44. Barrie, J.M. Peter Pan
  45. Seredy, K. (1935) .The Good Master
  46. Adams, R. (1972). Watership Down (10+)
  47. Snicket, L. (1999). A Series of Unfortunate Events, 13 books, including The Bad Beginning, The Austere Academy, and The Ersatz Elevator. (9+)
  48. Phelps, E.J.(ed.) (1978). Tatterhood and Other Tales. New York: The Feminist Press.
  49. Ozaki, Y. T. (1903/1967). The Japanese Fairy Book. New York: Dover Publications.
  50. Marsden, C. (2008). The Quail Club. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. (9-12)
  51. Yep, L. (1975). Dragonwings: Their Dream Was To Fly. New York: HarperCollins.
  52. Bing, G. (2002). Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism; and other titles in the Molly Moon Series. New York: HarperCollins. (8-12)
  53. Baum, L.F. (1909). The Wizard of Oz series, including: The Emerald City of Oz; Tick-Tock of Oz; Rinkitink of Oz, and The Tinman of Oz. Chicago: The Reilly & Lee Co. (6-12)
  54. Dahl, R. (1964). Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. Also: James and the Giant Peach; The BFG; Matilda, and many more. (6-12)
  55. Lindgren, A. (1985). The Brothers Lionheart. (8+); Canada: A Puffin Book. Also: The Pippi Longstocking series, (6-12)
  56. Nash, M. (1962) Mrs. Coverlet's Magicians. Boston: Little, Brown & Company. (6-12)
  57. Gurney, J. (1992). Dinotopia: A Land Apart From Time and The World Beneath. (6-12) Atlanta, Georgia: Turner Broadcasting. (6-12)
  58. Rowling, J.K. (1997) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Great Britain: Bloomsbury Publishing, and the rest of the Harry Potter series. 
  59. Yen Mah, A. (2005) Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society. New York: HarperCollins. (For ages 12+, this 229 page novel is a fantasy autobiography, set in Shanghai, 1942. Bilingual, with two pages of Chinese characters and expressions translated; historic notes including text of last letters home before execution, sent by US airmen from Japanese prison camp).
  60. Parker, A.C. (1966) Skunny Wundy: Seneca Indian Tales. Chicago: Albert Whitman & Company
  61. Carrison, M.P. (1983) Cambodian Folk Stories from the Gatiloke. Vermont: Charles E. Tuttle Company. Includes appendix with information about the people, their history, and culture, as well as a glossary and recommended reading list. 
  62. Marsden, C. (2008) The Quail Club, The Gold-Threaded Dress, and more books for ages 8-12 highligihting Thai American culture. Massachussets: Candlewick Press.
  63. Selden, G. (1960) The Cricket in Times Square. New York: Dell
  64. Grimm J. & Grimm. W. (1815/1992, Ed., Zipes) The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm. New York: Bantam Books
  65. Holland, K. C. (1998) The Young Oxford Book of Folk Tales. Oxford: Oxford University Press
  66. Calivino, I. (1956) Italian Folktales, Selected and Retold. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company