Books like 'Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale'
Readers who enjoyed Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy action / adventure myths family children poc-mc fairy-tale classics retellings
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The Jolly Postman by Janet Ahlberg, Allan Ahlberg
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsNow republished in a larger format, this classic depicts amusing correspondence from one fairy tale or Mother Goose character to another, giving readers a chance to follow-up on some favorite tales. Full-color illustrations... -
![Hans Christian Andersen: Fairy Tales & Stories (With Bonus Grimm Collection) by Hans Christian Andersen, Jacob Grimm]()
Hans Christian Andersen: Fairy Tales & Stories (With Bonus Grimm Collection) by Hans Christian Andersen, Jacob Grimm
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 67 ratingsHans Christian Andersen was a Danish author of fairy tales. His fairy tales have been translated into more than 100 languages and are almost all universally known and loved. Some of Andersen’s most famous fairy tales include "The Little Mermaid", "The Snow Queen", "The Ugly Duckling", "The Nightingale", and "The Emperor's New Suit"... -
![Strega Nona: An Old Tale by Tomie dePaola]()
Strega Nona: An Old Tale by Tomie dePaola
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 40 ratingsWhen Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works... -
![Ronia, the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren]()
Ronia, the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsOn the night Ronia was born, a thunderstorm raged over the mountain, but in Matt's castle and among his band of robbers there was only joy -- for Matt now had a spirited little black-haired daughter. Soon Ronia learns to dance and yell with the robbers, but it is alone in the forest that she feels truly at home. Then one day Ronia meets Birk, the son of Matt's arch-enemy...Categorized as:
children classics coming-of-age fairy-tale family female-mc friendship historical-fiction -
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![El Cavaller que no volia Lluitar by Helen Docherty]()
El Cavaller que no volia Lluitar by Helen Docherty
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEven dragons can’t resist a good story…Even though Leo would rather sit at home and read, his parents send him out into the world in the hopes that Leo will become a famous knight... -
![Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin]()
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 47 ratingsIn the valley of Fruitless Mountain, a young girl named Minli spends her days working hard in the fields and her nights listening to her father spin fantastic tales about the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon. Minli's mother, tired of their poor life, chides him for filling her head with nonsense... -
![The Sleeping Beauty by Trina Schart Hyman]()
The Sleeping Beauty by Trina Schart Hyman
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsThe story of the beautiful princess who sleeps for a hundred years has captured the imaginations of children for an even longer period of time... -
![Peter Pan by Tania Zamorsky]()
Peter Pan by Tania Zamorsky
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratings""A""ll children grow up. All except one." "That special child is Peter Pan, and since making his debut on the stage in 1904, this eternal youth has carried boys and girls off to magical, marvelous Neverland. It's a trip that all kids want to make, and with this easy-to-read version of the classic, everyone can fly "second to the right, and straight on till morning" with Peter... -
![Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco]()
Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsOld Babushka, known throughout all of Moskva for her beautifully painted eggs, is preparing her eggs for the Easter Festival when she takes in an injured goose. She names the goose Rechenka, and they live happily together until one day when Rechenka accidentally overturns a basket, breaking all of Babushka's lovingly crafted eggs... -
![Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like by Jay Williams]()
Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like by Jay Williams
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsEveryone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like is Jay Williams' book about a dragon's mission to save a believer.Because of the road sweeper's belief in him, a dragon saves the city of Wu from the Wild Horsemen of the north. With vibrant illustrations from Mercer Mayer... -
![The Secret World of Mermaids by Jordan Quinn]()
The Secret World of Mermaids by Jordan Quinn
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsPrince Lucas discovers underwater secrets when he gets a glimpse of the mermaids’ kingdom in this eighth chapter book in the fantastical Kingdom of Wrenly series.Lucas and Clara are floating on a raft when a wave hits and throws Lucas into the sea...Categorized as:
children historical-fiction myths paranormal retellings action-adventure book children-books -
![Beguiled by Jody Hedlund]()
Beguiled by Jody Hedlund
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIn a land where being the fairest maiden is a curse . . .A princess rejected and hunted by her mother, and a prince who lives as a shunned outcast.Princess Pearl flees for her life after her mother, Queen Margery, tries to have her killed during a hunting expedition. Pearl finds refuge on the Isle of Outcasts among criminals and misfits, disguising her face with a veil so no one recognizes her...Categorized as:
fairy-tale historical-fiction magic myths paranormal retellings royalty action-adventure -
![The Legend of Holly Claus by Brittney Ryan]()
The Legend of Holly Claus by Brittney Ryan
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe birth of Holly Claus, Santa's daughter, is a miracle but it also brings about a terrible curse from an evil soul. Holly's heart is frozen, and she must face her enemy, free her self, and save her father's kingdom... -
![Sleeping Beauty by K.M. Shea]()
Sleeping Beauty by K.M. Shea
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBriar Rose, a clever peasant girl, feels only pity for the mysterious Princess Rosalinda–the hidden princess who was cursed to prick her finger on a spindle and fall asleep until true love’s kiss awakens her. But her pity turns into horror when Briar learns she is the secret princess, and Isaia, her childhood friend, is really a Magic Knight sworn to protect her... -
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![The Lioness and Her Knight by Gerald Morris]()
The Lioness and Her Knight by Gerald Morris
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsLuneta is tired of living in dull Orkney with her mother and father (who happens to be the most boring knight of King Arthur’s Round Table). She prides herself on always getting what she wants, so when the opportunity presents itself, she jumps at the chance to stay at a family friend’s castle near Camelot... -
![The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo, Julie Morstad]()
The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo, Julie Morstad
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsA New York Times bestseller!“Kate DiCamillo's dazzling first title in the Norendy Tales trilogy is brimming with wit, whimsy, and heart as it follows five puppets fulfilling their thrilling shared destiny.” – Shelf AwarenessShut up in a trunk by a taciturn old sea captain with a secret, five friends—a king, a wolf, a girl, a boy, and an owl—bicker, boast, and comfort one another in the dark... -
![The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye]()
The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsAlong with Wit, Charm, Health, and Courage, Princess Amy of Phantasmorania receives a special fairy christening gift: Ordinariness. Unlike her six beautiful sisters, she has brown hair and freckles, and would rather have adventures than play the harp, embroider tapestries . . . or become a Queen... -
![Seven Daughters and Seven Sons by Barbara Cohen, Bahija Fattuhi Lovejoy]()
Seven Daughters and Seven Sons by Barbara Cohen, Bahija Fattuhi Lovejoy
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsIn an ancient Arab nation, one woman dares to be different. Buran cannot—Buran will not—sit quietly at home and wait to be married to the man her father chooses. Determined to use her skills and earn a fortune, she instead disguises herself as a boy and travels by camel caravan to a distant city. There, she maintains her masculine disguise and establishes a successful business...Categorized as:
children classics coming-of-age fairy-tale family female-mc historical-fiction journey -
![Dragon Spear by Jessica Day George]()
Dragon Spear by Jessica Day George
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsFor Creel, all is right with the world. The dragon king, Shardas, and his queen, Velika, have made a comfy home on the Far Isles, and humans and dragons seem to be at peace. It's the perfect time for Creel to plan her wedding to Prince Luka. Well, it was perfect -- until Velika gets kidnapped, and Creel and Luka set off to save her... -
![The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale]()
The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 66 ratingsShe was born with her eyes closed and a word on her tongue, a word she could not taste.Her name was Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, and she spent the first years of her life listening to her aunt’s stories and learning the language of the birds, especially the swans...Categorized as:
animals children classics coming-of-age fairy-tale female-mc friendship historical-fiction -
![O'Sullivan Stew by Hudson Talbott]()
O'Sullivan Stew by Hudson Talbott
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSomeone has stolen the witch of Crookhaven's horse, and there will be no peace in the village until it is returned. So bold, brassy Kate O'Sullivan takes matters into her own hands. But instead of saving the day, she manages to land herself--and her family--in trouble with the king. So Kate sets out to save their hides the only way she knows how--with a good story... -
![Beast of Rosemead by Lucy Tempest]()
Beast of Rosemead by Lucy Tempest
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFor fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses, comes the highly anticipated new installment in the #1 bestselling Fairytales of Folkshore series! A BOOKISH BEAUTY. A BEASTLY PRINCE. A DEADLY CURSE. Bonnie Fairborn’s wish to escape her small-town life for one of adventure is granted in the worst way when she’s flung along with her family into the unknown... -
![Christopher Robin: The Novelization by Elizabeth Rudnick]()
Christopher Robin: The Novelization by Elizabeth Rudnick
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCapturing the heartwarming magic of Walt Disney Studios' upcoming Christopher Robin film, this novelization pulls fans back into the world of Pooh through a book that enables them to relive the story and revisit their old pals whenever they please...Categorized as:
animals children classics family historical-fiction myths retellings action-adventure -
![Favorite Folktales from Around the World by Jane Yolen]()
Favorite Folktales from Around the World by Jane Yolen
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHere between two covers you will find an inexhaustible source of delight for children and adults alike: the world's best folktales, chosen by the internationally known storyteller Jane Yolen. Over 150 tales are compiled from Iceland to Syria, Cuba to Papua... -
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![Bubba, the Cowboy Prince: A Fractured Texas Fale by Helen Ketteman]()
Bubba, the Cowboy Prince: A Fractured Texas Fale by Helen Ketteman
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBubba is bossed around the family ranch by his wicked step-daddy and his nasty stepbrothers, Dwayne and Milton. Bubba never complains, though. He's a real cowboy - tough as leather (and cute as a cow's ear).When Miz Lurleen, the purtiest rancher in Texas, decides to throw a ball to find herself a real feller, Bubba has to stay at home... -
![The Burning Shadow by Michelle Paver]()
The Burning Shadow by Michelle Paver
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFor fans of Nancy Farmer and Lloyd Alexander comes international bestselling author Michelle Paver’s second novel in the Bronze Age adventure series. While searching for his kidnapped sister, Outsider Hylas takes a dangerous detour when he’s captured as a slave and sent to the copper mines of Thalakrea. Hylas faces brutal overseers and lethal cave-ins while evading his enemies, the Crows... -
![The Squire's Quest by Gerald Morris]()
The Squire's Quest by Gerald Morris
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhy is it, Terence wondered, that the things you know most surely are always the things you can’t demonstrate to any one else? And why is it, after all of these years, that Terence is still just a squire, offering advice on how best to scrub the rust spots from armor? But Squire Terence has more to worry about than his place on the social scale... -
![The Knight and the Dragon by Tomie dePaola]()
The Knight and the Dragon by Tomie dePaola
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWhat happens when a sheepish knight and a not-so-fierce dragon fight for the very first time? Well, it?s no ordinary battle since the knight has to go to the castle library to learn about dragon-fighting and the dragon must dig through his ancestor?s things to find out how to fight a knight!?Spontaneity of line and feeling are backed by zesty colors and a jovial, tongue-in-cheek tone to which...Categorized as:
animals children fairy-tale friendship historical-fiction myths paranormal retellings -
![Night of the New Magicians by Mary Pope Osborne]()
Night of the New Magicians by Mary Pope Osborne
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsMerlin sends Jack and Annie on a mysterious mission to Paris, France, over a 100 years ago. There they must find four magicians and give them an urgent message from Merlin himself. When Jack and Annie land in Paris, they make their way to the 1889 World’s Fair. Below the Eiffel Tower, built especially for the fair, there are thousands of exhibits from all over the world... -
![Athena the Brain by Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams]()
Athena the Brain by Joan Holub, Suzanne Williams
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsAthena has always been above average. She has never quite fit in at Triton Junior High, but who would've guessed that Athena is actually a goddess? Principal Zeus's daughter, to be exact.When she's summoned to Mount Olympus Academy, Athena thinks she might actually fit in for the first time in her life... -
![Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin]()
Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsThe moon is missing from the remote Village of Clear Sky, but only a young boy named Rendi seems to notice! Rendi has run away from home and is now working as a chore boy at the village inn...Categorized as:
animals children coming-of-age fairy-tale family friendship historical-fiction journey -
![Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George]()
Princess of the Silver Woods by Jessica Day George
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsWhen Petunia, the youngest of King Gregor's twelve dancing daughters, is invited to visit an elderly friend in the neighboring country of Westfalin, she welcomes the change of scenery. But in order to reach Westfalin, Petunia must pass through a forest where strange two-legged wolves are rumored to exist...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age fairy-tale family female-mc friendship historical-fiction magic -
![Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen]()
Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsHans Christian Andersen's fairy tales are like exquisite jewels, drawing from us gasps of recognition and delight. Writing in the midst of a Europe-wide rebirth of national literature, Anderson broke new ground with his fairy tales in two important ways. First, he composed them in the vernacular, mimicking the language he used in telling them to children aloud... -
![Storm Boy by Paul Owen Lewis]()
Storm Boy by Paul Owen Lewis
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAfter a violent seastorm, a Haida prince washes ashore in the supernatural realm of the strange and colossal killer whale people. There his spiritual journey begins. Powerful illustrations make stunning use of northwest coast Native American motifs to create a compelling atmosphere of mystery and displacement...Categorized as:
animals children historical-fiction myths outdoors poc-mc retellings action-adventure -
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![Stories for Children by Isaac Bashevis Singer]()
Stories for Children by Isaac Bashevis Singer
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThirty-six stories by the Nobel Prize winner, including some of his most famous such as "Zlateh the Goat," "Mazel and Shlimazel," and "The Fools of Chelm and the Stupid Carp."Stories for Children is a 1984 New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of the Year... -
![Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack]()
Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe adventure continues in this exciting sequel to Anya and the Dragon in which a dangerous monster lurks beneath the city and only Anya can keep him from taking her friends’ magic—and their lives. Perfect for fans of The Girl Who Drank the Moon... -
![The Marvelous Magic of Miss Mabel by Natasha Lowe]()
The Marvelous Magic of Miss Mabel by Natasha Lowe
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings“Wild fantasy, sly satire, and sharply observed family dynamics are the hallmarks of this tasty, effervescent series (along with mouthwatering recipes); this volume’s the most delectable yet.” — Kirkus Reviews“Mabel’s hijinks will appeal to readers of Roald Dahl’s Matilda and Diana Wynne Jones’s Howl’s Moving Castle …...Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family friendship historical-fiction magic paranormal action-adventure -
![Stories from Around the World by Heather Amery]()
Stories from Around the World by Heather Amery
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe stories in this book, one from each major country or area of the world, are written in a way that young listeners and young readers will find easy to understand and...Categorized as:
children classics family historical-fiction myths poc-mc action-adventure anthologies -
![The Stone Girl's Story by Sarah Beth Durst]()
The Stone Girl's Story by Sarah Beth Durst
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsExploring the power of stories and storytelling, Sarah Beth Durst presents the mesmerizing adventure of a girl made of living stone who braves unforeseen dangers and magical consequences on a crucial quest to save her family. Mayka and her stone family were brought to life by the stories etched into their bodies... -
![Cloud Tea Monkeys by Mal Peet, Elspeth Graham]()
Cloud Tea Monkeys by Mal Peet, Elspeth Graham
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCarnegie Medalist Mal Peet and his wife, Elspeth Graham, team up for a captivating, lushly illustrated tale evoking a Chinese legend.A Junior Library Guild SelectionTashi lives in a tiny village at the foot of the mountains, below the tea plantations where her mother works. When her mother falls ill, Tashi goes alone to the plantation, hoping to earn money for the doctor... -
![Rose and the Magician's Mask by Holly Webb]()
Rose and the Magician's Mask by Holly Webb
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA precious mask of unimaginable power has been stolen from the royal palace. Rose suspects that dark magicians are at work – and that danger looms...The race to stop the evil thieves will take Rose to the mysterious city of Venice, where nothing is quite what it seems..Categorized as:
children coming-of-age family female-mc friendship historical-fiction magic action-adventure -
![The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Tania Zamorsky, Howard Pyle]()
The Story of King Arthur and His Knights by Tania Zamorsky, Howard Pyle
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom the sword in the stone and the founding of Camelot to the famed Round Table and the Lake of Enchantment, the legend of King Arthur will never lose its magic. Though simpler, this version includes all the wonderful stories—such as King Arthur’s winning of Guenievere and Merlin’s tragic downfall at the hands of the evil Vivien... -
![Ella by Jessilyn Stewart Peaslee]()
Ella by Jessilyn Stewart Peaslee
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsReserved yet resilient, Ella Blakeley lives with her cruel stepmother and stepsisters, without hope of escape—until the day Prince Kenton announces a ball that changes everything. Even without mice, magic, or fairy godmothers, Ella might discover a life that’s better than she ever dreamed. This intricately woven twist on Cinderella is an enchanting book you won’t be able to put down...Categorized as:
coming-of-age fairy-tale family historical-fiction magic myths paranormal retellings -
![Princess of Shadows by A.G. Marshall]()
Princess of Shadows by A.G. Marshall
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThis is the alternate cover edition of The Princess and the Pea by A.G. Marshall with the ASIN number B01M0MKH7Q.Only a true princess can save the kingdom. Alaric wants to be king. He wants to continue the peace and prosperity his father created in Aeonia. But with enemies questioning his bloodline, he’ll have to put his heart on the line and marry a stranger to secure his right to rule... -
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![The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine by Mark Twain, Philip C. Stead]()
The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine by Mark Twain, Philip C. Stead
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA never-before-published, previously unfinished Mark Twain children’s story is brought to life by Caldecott Medal winners Philip Stead and Erin Stead. In a hotel in Paris one evening in 1879, Mark Twain sat with his young daughters, who begged their father for a story... -
![Once: Before Midnight / Golden / Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey]()
Once: Before Midnight / Golden / Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsRead happily ever after with this magical repackage that includes three enchanting, retold fairy tales.In this value-priced bind-up of three beloved retellings, readers will journey to faraway fairy tale lands. Before Midnight revisits Cinderella's story in France, Golden puts a new spin on Rapunzel's romance, and Wild Orchid reimagines the Chinese tale of Mulan... -
![A Question of Magic by E.D. Baker]()
A Question of Magic by E.D. Baker
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsSerafina was living the normal life of a village girl, when she gets a mysterious letter--her first letter ever, in fact--from a great aunt she's never heard of in another village. Little does 'Fina know, her great aunt is actually a Baba Yaga, a magical witch who lives in an even more magical cottage... -
![Paul Bunyan, a Tall Tale by Steven Kellogg]()
Paul Bunyan, a Tall Tale by Steven Kellogg
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsWho was the largest baby ever born in the state of Maine? Who dug the Great Lakes? Who gouged out the Grand Canyon? Why, Paul Bunyan, of course, America's finest, fastest, funniest lumberman and favorite tall-tale hero...Categorized as:
animals children classics fairy-tale historical-fiction myths retellings action-adventure -
![Die Schattenspinnerin by Susan Fletcher, Anne Brauner]()
Die Schattenspinnerin by Susan Fletcher, Anne Brauner
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsIn an adventure equal to any a storyteller might relate, a crippled serving girl faces the intrigues of the harem, the dangers of the streets, and the anger of the Sultan himself to find the needed ending to an incomplete story...Categorized as:
children classics coming-of-age fairy-tale female-mc historical-fiction myths poc-mc -
![Goldilocks and the Three Bears by James Marshall]()
Goldilocks and the Three Bears by James Marshall
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 24 ratings?What a sweet child,? says a newcomer in town about Goldilocks. ?That?s what you think,? a neighbor replies. For Goldilocks is one of those naughty little girls who does exactly as she pleases?even if that means sampling the three bears? porridge, breaking Baby Bear?s chair, and sleeping in his bed...
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