Wales - Children's Books

Wales is a wonderful addition to a family trip to England with much to see and in incredible amount of literature set in Wales to read.

Do you know of any other children’s books featuring Wales? Please feel free to note it in a comment below!  

Children's Books about Welsh Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, and Legends

The Four Branches of the Mabinogi: The Four Branches of the Mabinogi are the oldest and most famous legends in Wales. First written down around eight hundred years ago, they were being told for many years before that. Join us and explore these captivating stories with their unique mix of magic, romance, adventure, giants, wars and wizards.

The Seal Children: When a fisherman falls in love with a selkie - half-woman, half-seal - she gives him her sealskin as a sign of her love, and bears him two children, Ffion and Morlo, before returning to her own people. Jackie Morris is an author and illustrator, photographer and painter. She lives in a small house beside the sea in Wales. 

The Woman Who Went to Fairyland: A Welsh Folktale: Elin is warned by the old folks she lives with to take care that the fairies don't steal her away, but the temptation to play with them is great.

Slop!: A Welsh Folktale: A sweet Welsh folktale about a garden, table scraps, and the wee folk.

Welsh Fairytales: Sixteen Mysterious Myths and Legends from the Hills and Valleys of Wales: The traditional stories of Wales conjure up a world of adventure and chivalry. Knights and princesses, kings and bards, and the little people who can make the impossible happen – these are just a few of the characters in the stories featured in this book.   Drawing on ancient traditions, handed down for centuries by word of mouth, this book features sixteen of the most famous tales from the fertile plains and high mountain passes of Wales. They tell of the great hero, King Arthur, and his Knights of the Round Table. They speak of magical encounters with the fairies, who can make a castle appear out of the air, and of a shepherd high in the mountains of Caermarthen who falls in love with the Maiden from the Lake. All the tales are simply retold by Philip Wilson, with a lively introduction by folklorist Neil Philip.

The Welsh Fairy Book: A collection of 83 short fairy tales, including: Melangell's Lambs; Syfaddon Lake; The Power of St. Tegla's Well; The Men of Ardudwy; The Parti-Coloured Cow; Striking a Corpse Candle; Hu Gadarn; The Devil's Bridge; The Martyred Hound; Twm of the Fair Lies; Black Robin; Llyn Llech Owen; A Ghostly Rehersal; A Phantom Funeral; Why the Robin's Breast is Red, and many more.

Legendary Stories Of Wales: This collection, Legendary Stories of Wales is written by E. M. Wilkie, and illustrated with the stunning drawings of Honor Appleton. It contains a total of fifty-seven classic Welsh tales, ‘told through the ages’ – including those inspired by Ancient Greece and Rome, the Celtic past, King Arthur, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dante, George Eliot, and many more. As Wilkie informs his reader… ‘many of them are well known… some are out-of-the-way tales… and a few, probably, have never been written down before.’

Nine Tales From Wales: Dreigiau, Môr-forynion, & Y Tylwyth Teg [Dragons, Mermaids, & Faeries]: Told primarily for those unfamiliar with Welsh myths and legends, this is a collection of nine folk tales from the Land of Song: Three stories of Dragons, three of Mermaids, and three of faeries. Do not expect sparkles and glitter here; these are not cute cartoon characters with animal sidekicks. These are stories the Celtic people of Wales shared over generations to teach about responsibility, respect, life, and death. Not that there isn't a bit of humor involved, mind you now...  A Monster in a mountain lake, a human obsessed with a Mermaid, and wrth gwrs those pesky Fae causing all sorts of mischief... There may be a few of these tales that sound familiar - how Y Ddraig Goch became the National Symbol of Wales, for one - but in this book, they're told a bit differently.  This is a fun set of stories to read aloud, and good for intermediate readers to try on their own. There are words of Cymraeg - the Welsh language - with pronunciations and definitions at the beginning of each tale, but not so many as to be intimidating.

The Dragon's Hoard: Stories from the Viking Sagas: Meet the Vikings and enter their enchanting world full of warriors and battles, heroes and heroines, Berserkers, monsters and zombies, and of course, lots of magic. Illustrated throughout, these eleven amazing stories bring the Viking Sagas, tales they themselves told, to vivid life. A fantastic introduction to Viking mythology, these illustrated tales will have children captivated. [Mama Traveler Note: The author, Lari Don, notes where each story originates or comes from and where she found them. The stories are set in various locations, including Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, Scotland, Greenland, Norway, Wales, and North America.]

Celtic Folk Tales: Timeless Tales from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the British Isles: Introducing "Celtic Folk Tales," a captivating collection of seven timeless folk tales from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the British Isles. This enchanting children's book is filled with magical creatures such as leprechauns, fairies, selkies, hedgehogs, foxes, elves, and more.  Immerse your child in the rich culture and folklore of the British Isles with stories that have been passed down for generations. Each tale is beautifully illustrated and will transport your child to a world of fantasy and wonder.

Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales: Perilous quests, true love, and animals that talk. The traditional stories of Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales collected in this extraordinary volume conjure forgotten realms and rare magical creatures in vivid prose, transporting us to the fantastical world of Celtic folklore. These timeless tales brim with wit and magic, and each one is brought to life with elegant silhouette art in this special illustrated edition.

Saint David: Patron Saint of Wales: Just who was St. David? When and where did he live? And how did he come to be Wales' patron saint? This useful little book covers all these topics, providing background information that all patriotic youngsters will be interested to know.

Children's Books about Stories in Wales

How Wales Beat the Mighty All Blacks: The most famous win in Welsh rugby history: Fully illustrated picture book which will appeal to children (8+) and rugby-loving adults alike!  This is the story of Wales' heroic defeat of the All Blacks on their first tour to the northern hemisphere, in which they trampled all other opponents into the dust!

A Child's Christmas in Wales: A reminiscence of Christmas, from the viewpoint of a young boy, that has been a holiday favorite for decades.  In rich, humorous, magical prose, poet Dylan Thomas recalls the church-going, the tree-trimming, the food, the carols and games of his childhood Christmases. And, of course, Mrs. Prothero and the firemen. It is one of Thomas’ most popular works.

King of the Sky: In this tale of a young boy, an old man, and a dauntless pigeon, a lyrical text and extraordinary illustrations offer a gorgeous meditation on loneliness, belonging, and home.  A young Italian boy has moved to the Welsh hills with his family. He feels isolated and unhappy, a stranger in a strange land. It is only when he makes an unlikely friend, an old man who lets him fly one of his pigeons in a race, that he learns how he can belong. Nicola Davies’s beautiful story — an immigrant’s tale with powerful resonance in our troubled times — is illustrated by an artist who makes the world anew with every picture.

Elen's Island: When Elen is sent to stay with her gran on a remote Welsh island for the summer she is furious. But then she finds a friend, a puffin and a treasure map and the holidays start to look up.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: In an unforgettable novel that mixes spine-tingling fiction with haunting photography‚ a horrific tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob on a remote island off the coast of Wales‚ where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned rooms‚ it becomes clear that Miss Peregrine's children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. And somehow ― they may still be alive.

The Owl Service: Winner of both the Guardian Award and the Carnegie Medal, this is an all-time classic, combining mystery, adventure, history and a complex set of human relationships.  It all begins with the scratching in the ceiling. From the moment Alison discovers the dinner service in the attic, with its curious pattern of floral owls, a chain of events is set in progress that is to effect everybody’s lives.  Relentlessly, Alison, her step-brother Roger and Welsh boy Gwyn are drawn into the replay of a tragic Welsh legend – a modern drama played out against a background of ancient jealousies. As the tension mounts, it becomes apparent that only by accepting and facing the situation can it be resolved.

Howl's Moving Castle: This entrancing classic fantasy novel is filled with surprises at every turn. An international bestseller, this much-loved book is the source for the Academy Award nominee for Best Animated Feature.  Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle.  To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl—and herself—than first meets the eye. [When Diana Wynne Jones published her novel, Howl’s Moving Castle, in 1986, it was set in two countries. One was Ingary, the fantasy land where most of the action takes place, the haunt of wizards, witches, fire demons and mermaids. The other was Wales. Howl is a proud Welshman and rugby fan as well as a wizard, and even visits his sister’s house in Wales in one chapter, travelling between our world and Ingary by means of a magic portal. Source]

For even more young adult fiction books set in Wales, check out this list of 200+ titles on GoodReads.

Children's Books about Travel to Wales

My First Book - Wales: All About Wales For Kids (My First Book - World Edition): The culture, the beauty, the landmarks, the food - it is simply fascinating. In this book, we cover all of those magical elements about WALES in a digestible and engaging way!  Combining fun and education, we use real-life images to help your child learn about the country.

All About Wales (Discovering The United Kingdom): Discovering the United Kingdom looks at the history, landscapes, people and culture of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. These books are filled with fascinating facts and pictures to help explore the different elements that make the United Kingdom a great place to live, visit, and learn about.

Wales Coloring Book For Kids: A fun and interesting coloring book for kids offering creative and imaginative coloring pages that are sure to keep your child entertained and engaged. Our coloring pages will help your child improve their creativity and fine-motor skills, while stimulating their young mind with interesting facts about Wales. This book is also great for developing your child's cognitive thought processes and boosting their concentration.