A talking fox, a mischievous sprite, a witch in disguise—fairy tales and fables are the stories that fuel the imagination. These beloved tales of old and new hold the attention of young readers while translating life lessons into enchanting adventures. After all, the very act of reading is magic.
If fairy wings and wizard wands fill your child’s toy chest, then these titles will offer inspiration and a few moral lessons during playtime. Our favorite fables paint pictures of mystical deserts, architect pigs, and even choose-your-own woodland adventures for a basketful of enchanted escapades. Cast a spell of bewitched engagement on your sorcerer-in-training with our best fairy tale books for kids.
Endlessly Ever After
Three little pigs, meet Snow White! Throw on your jacket (or red riding hood) and venture into Laurel Snyder’s twisty-turny fable world—where you make the magic happen. In this hilarious and vividly illustrated book, classic fairy tale characters mish-mash into a make-your-own adventure. As your child writes the plot of a fable all their own, they’ll learn the power of narrative along the way. The endless story possibilities mean your author-in-training will never get bored—the type of books for third graders the whole family can appreciate.
Puss in Magical Motocross Boots (Far Out Fairy Tales)
Get ready for a tale of brotherhood, self-acceptance, and a touch of magical cat-titude. Puss in Magical Motocross Boots brings our favorite talking feline into the modern world—with a few new biker skills up his boots. Hank Miller, a disabled and talented mechanic, inherits a few oddities from his father’s passing: his old motocross bike, and…a cat named Gus? Hank is frustrated by these mediocre gifts—until Gus turns meows into human words! With the help of some other magical hand-me-downs, Gus and Hank take the motocross world by storm. Between its riveting action and touching dialogue, this classic update will leave your fantasy lover warm and fuzzy (or should we say, furry?).
Jack and the Beanstalk: An Interactive Fairy Tale Adventure
Sure, you could climb the beanstalk like Jack. But what if you could wear the shoes of the giant? Or watch chaos unfold through his mother’s eyes? In this choose-your-own-adventure book, readers get to explore this classic tale from every character’s point of view. Watch your 8- to 12-year-old learn the power of perspective, empathy, and narrative building as they empower their own path. But be careful—one wrong page turn, and they may fall off the beanstalk! (Don’t worry. We’ve got more fantasy books waiting for them if they do.)
Interrupting Chicken
If your little one loves bedtime stories (and makes their excitement audibly known—a lot), then they’ll bond right away with one of the best fairy tale books for kids: Interrupting Chicken. Before bed, the little red chicken adores a good story. But when Papa tries to read one, she can’t help but add her two clucks! Ultimately, she learns that attention is a gift worth giving and receiving. With gorgeous painting-like illustrations and poetic prose, this Caldecott winner is one of the best fairy tale books for readers ages 2 to 5.
The Sandman: The Story of Sanderson Mansnoozie
Enter the Sandman—or should we say, Sanderson Mansnoozie. Newly recruited by the Man in the Moon (yes, that one), Sanderson must guard all sleeping children against the Nightmare King when the moon is less than full. But can the sleepy Sandman handle the job? Building a magical and breathtaking universe of hazy purples and desert oranges, The Sandman: The Story of Sanderson Mansnoozie is the soothing sunset any 4- to 8-year-old needs to drift off to sleep with pleasant dreams and newfound plot-deducing skills.
Enchant Your Child’s Learning with Literati Book Clubs
Whether you know a budding fairy princess or dragon rider in training, fairy tales harness your child’s wonderful imagination as a powerful learning tool. Watch your little one absorb poetic language, moral lessons, and narrative structure with these best fairy tale books for kids. These enchanting tales may even cast our favorite love spell—a lifelong love of books.
At Literati, we help children of every reading level carve a path to literary fondness. From the nursery to middle school halls, our Literati Kids Book Club collections can help them feel confident along their educational journey. Start with our personalization quiz to help us find titles that suit your child’s needs, and watch their eyes light up with joy.
