Books like 'The Secret River'
Readers who enjoyed The Secret River by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical fantasy historical-fiction outdoors children family classics animals myths magical-realism
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Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsA Caldecott Honor and Reading Rainbow book, this memorable retelling of Cinderella is perfect for introducing children to the fairy tale as well as the history, culture, and geography of the African nation of Zimbabwe.Inspired by a traditional African folktale, this is the story of Mufaro, who is proud of his two beautiful daughters... -
The Confusion, Part I by Neal Stephenson
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIn this compelling adventure, Stephenson brings to life a cast of unforgettable characters in the late 1600s on the high seas. It is a time of breathtaking genius and discovery for men and women whose exploits define an age known as Baroque...Categorized as:
historical-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism adult audiobook book fiction historical -
Frederick by Leo Lionni
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsIllus. in full color. "While other mice are gathering food for the winter, Frederick seems to daydream the summer away. When dreary winter comes, it is Frederick the poet-mouse who warms his friends and cheers them with his words."--Wilson Library Bulletin... -
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... -
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One Snowy Night Miniature by Nick Butterworth
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsPercy the park keeper always feeds the animals in the park where he lives. But one cold winter’s night Percy discovers that his little friends need more than food, and he must think of a way to help them find a warm place to sleep for the night. Percy’s hut is nice and warm, but he discovers that if you invite one animal in you’ll have to invite them all in... -
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... -
The Aesop for Children by Aesop
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsAccording to Herodotus, Aesop was a slave who lived in Samos in the 6th century B.C. His moral animal fables have delighted young and old for centuries. This fabulous full-color edition of the classic Aesop features the original illustrations of Milo Winter...Categorized as:
animals children classics historical-fiction myths retellings ancient-civilization anthologies -
The Wrath of an Emperor by K.M. Munshi
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsKanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi's versatility and achievements were in a way unique. He was an eminent lawyer, one of the framers of India's Constitution and a seasoned statesman... -
Flower Fairies of the Summer by Cicely Mary Barker
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsExperience the beauty and the magic of Cicely Mary Barker's famous Flower Fairies, with a new edition of Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies of the Summer.The magic and loveliness of Cicely Mary Barker's Flower Fairies is being reissued with an updated, contemporary look that is a perfect gift for Flower Fairies fans and a new generation of readers... -
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet Ahlberg, Allan Ahlberg
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsViking is proud to reissue a special 25th anniversary hardcover edition of Each Peach Pear Plum, Janet and Allan Ahlberg's engaging and beloved adaptation of "I spy." A true classic, this book starring a cast of familiar nursery rhyme characters is the winner of the 1978 Kate Greenaway Medal (the U.K. equivalent of the Caldecott Medal) and an American Library Association Notable book... -
The People Could Fly: The Picture Book by Virginia Hamilton
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratings“THE PEOPLE COULD FLY,” the title story in Virginia Hamilton’s prize-winning American Black folktale collection, is a fantasy tale of the slaves who possessed the ancient magic words that enabled them to literally fly away to freedom... -
As Brumas de Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsColeção Completa: As Brumas de Avalon [4 volumes]A Senhora da Magia, A Grande Rainha, O Gamo-Rei e O Prisioneiro da Árvore são os quatro volumes que compõem As Brumas de Avalon - a grande obra de Marion Zimmer Bradley -, que reconta a lenda do rei Artur através da perspectiva de suas heroínas.Guinevere se casou com Artur por determinação do pai, mas era apaixonada por Lancelote... -
Magic Tree House: #1-28 [Magic Tree House Library] by Mary Pope Osborne
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsOffers Jack and Annie's first twenty-eight time-traveling adventures... -
The Legend of the Bluebonnet by Tomie dePaola
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThick clusters of vivid blue flowers, which resemble old-fashioned sunbonnets, cover the Texas hills in the springtime every year. These lovely wild flowers, known by the name of bluebonnet, are the state flower of Texas.This favorite legend based on Comanche Indian lore, tells the story of how the bluebonnet came to be... -
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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...Categorized as:
children friendship family magical-realism historical-fiction animals myths retellings -
King Midas and the Golden Touch by M. Charlotte Craft
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 27 ratings"There once lived a very rich king called Midas who believed that nothing was more precious than gold."So begins this imaginative and breathtaking retelling of the myth of the man with the golden touch. When a mysterious stranger offers to reward Midas for a kindness, the king does not hesitate: He wishes that all he touches would turn to gold...Categorized as:
children classics family historical-fiction myths retellings ancient-civilization book -
Oceanology: The True Account of the Voyage of the Nautilus by Dugald A. Steer
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFollow the fascinating journey of Captain Nemo and explore the ocean’s wonders, both real and imagined ... or are they?What if a sixteen-year-old assistant traveled aboard the storied Nautilus, the narwhal-shaped submarine of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea? And what if he were the sole survivor of the ill-fated voyage and went on to relay his adventures to a certain . .Categorized as:
animals children historical-fiction myths retellings action-adventure book children-books -
Raj Kahini by Abanindranath Tagore
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings<span><span>An unforgettable historical novella that leads you to the flowing sand dunes of Rajasthan, the clash of swords, to the courtyard of kings and queens. The book captures the spirit of a heroic past that never fails to move readers even today... -
Flower Fairies of the Garden by Cicely Mary Barker
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCelebrates and introduces children to the flowers and plants that grow in the garden by making them magical... -
Flower Fairies of the Trees by Cicely Mary Barker
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFor the first time in over 10 years all eight Original Flower Fairies Books[trademark] are being re-designed. Inspiration has been drawn from the original publishers' connections with The Glasgow School of Art to produce an exquisite new cover... -
A Girl Called Rumi by Ari Honarvar
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA Girl Called Rumi, Ari Honarvar's debut novel, weaves a captivating tale of survival, redemption, and the power of storytelling.Kimia, a successful spiritual advisor whose Iranian childhood continues to haunt her, collides with a mysterious giant bird in her mother's California garage...Categorized as:
magical-realism historical-fiction myths family low-fantasy retellings fiction fantasy -
Flower Fairies of the Spring by Cicely Mary Barker
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSuitable for all Flower Fairy enthusiasts, this title celebrates the annual rejuvenation of the natural world at spring and introduces children to the season's flowers by making them magical... -
The Little King December by Axel Hacke
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDecember II, the little pot-bellied king, is about three inches tall and so fat that he can't button up his tiny red velvet coat. He lives in a tiny room in a hole in the wall, its shelves piled high with countless colourful boxes, full of his dreams. And when you're with him you see things your eyes won't normally see... -
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 -
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Babushka Baba Yaga by Patricia Polacco
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsBaba Yaga is a witch famous throughout Russia for eating children, but this Babushka Baba Yaga is a lonely old woman who just wants a grandchild?to love."Kids will respond to the joyful story of the outsider who gets to join in, and Polacco's richly patterned paintings of Russian peasant life on the edge of the woods are full of light and color... -
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... -
Aesop's Fables by Jerry Pinkney
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn this elegantly designed volume, more than sixty of Aesop's timeless fables have been carefully selected, humorously retold, and brought gloriously to life by four-time Caldecott Honor-winner Jerry Pinkney. Included are the Shepherd Boy and The Wolf, the Lion and the Mouse, the Tortoise and the Hare, plus many other charactersand moralsthat have inspired countless readers for centuries... -
Little Bear's Trousers by Jane Hissey
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsLittle Bear has lost his trousers. All the toys have seen them and used them in some way - Rabbit as a skiing hat, Duck as a flag and Dog as a holder for his bones. From the author of Little Bear Lost.https://openlibrary.org/works/OL84760..Categorized as:
animals children classics friendship action-adventure book children-books female-author -
The Dictionary of Imaginary Places: The Newly Updated and Expanded Classic by Alberto Manguel, Gianni Guadalupi
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsFrom Atlantis to Xanadu and beyond, this Baedeker of make-believe takes readers on a tour of more than 1,200 realms invented by storytellers from Homer's day to our own. Here you will find Shangri-La and El Dorado; Utopia and Middle Earth; Wonderland and Freedonia. Here too are Jurassic Park, Salman Rushdie's Sea of Stories, and the fabulous world of Harry Potter... -
The Three Little Javelinas by Susan Lowell
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsEveryone knows the story of the three little pigs, but now you're going to meet the three little javelinas (pronounced ha-ve-LEE-nas)--loveable, wild, southwestern cousins of pigs. Living in homes built out of tumbleweeds and saguaro ribs (from the fallen giant cacti), the first two javelinas are soon running from the hungry coyote, who had hoped to eat them with red chile sauce... -
Babushka's Doll by Patricia Polacco
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsBabushka's doll was special. She had played with it only once, when she was a little girl like her high-spirited granddaughter, Natasha. Now Babushka is going to the store and it's Natasha's turn to take the little doll down from the high shelf... -
Karna: The Great Warrior by रणजित देसाई
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 14 ratings'Who am I?' It was a question that had troubled him all his life. His whole life had seemed entangled in the answer. His dignity, his destination, his ambitions - they all seemed linked to that entanglement. The irony was that the truth, instead of liberating him, had made him rudderless. In the Mahabharata, Karna is known to be the only warrior who could match Arjuna... -
Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 16 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...Categorized as:
children classics historical-fiction myths retellings anthologies children-books fairy-tale -
Moonlight on the Magic Flute by Mary Pope Osborne
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsJack and Annie head to 18th-century Austria, where they must find and help a musician by the name of Mozart. Decked out in the craziest outfits they've ever worn--including a wig for Jack and a giant hoopskirt for Annie!--the two siblings search an entire palace to no avail. Their hunt is further hampered by the appearance of a mischievous little boy who is determined to follow them everywhere...Categorized as:
animals children family historical-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism action-adventure audiobook -
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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 family friendship historical-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism myths -
The Saggy Baggy Elephant by Kathryn Jackson, Gustaf Tenggren
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsThis classic Golden story, enjoyed by generations, is now available in a collectible hardcover edition at a very affordable price. No home library should be without this charming tale of the elephant who is trying to find his place in the jungle... -
Croatian Tales of Long Ago by Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsIn this collection of six tales, Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić masterfully fuses her original narrative plots with ancient Slavic folk mythology. The result is a rich, fantastic world often compared to those of Hans Christian Andersen or J. R. R. Tolkien... -
The Time Garden by Edward Eager
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 29 ratings"Anything can happen when you have all the time in the world" says the frog-like Natterjack in old relative Mrs Whiton's thyme garden. Cousins Roger, Ann, Eliza and girl-crazy Jack ride for American rebels, bow to Queen Elizabeth I, and even rescue their own parents when they were children...Categorized as:
children classics family historical-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings -
Journey through Ash and Smoke by Kate Messner
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsRanger, the time-traveling golden retriever with search-and-rescue training, goes to Viking age Iceland!Ranger is a time-traveling golden retriever with search-and-rescue training. In this adventure, he goes to Viking age Iceland, which proves to be tough terrain for Ranger to navigate...Categorized as:
animals children family friendship historical-fiction action-adventure book children-books -
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... -
Disney's Princess Storybook Collection: Love and Friendship Stories by Sarah E. Heller
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFollowing up the best-selling Disney's Storybook Collection, this new collection celebrates princesses and the joy and fun of friendship and romance... -
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... -
Walter the Lazy Mouse by Marjorie Flack
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe classic 1937 tale by award-winning author Marjorie Flack is back in print for the first time in decades!Walter is a lazy mouse. He is so lazy that he always misses school and spends all his time in bed. He is so lazy that eventually his family forgets about him and moves away…without him. Alone and scared, Walter heads out into the world to search for his family... -
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 action-adventure anthologies children-books -
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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... -
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse by Helen Ward
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA gorgeously illustrated and poetically written classic, set in a 1930s-era city at ChristmastimeRediscover the tale of the simple country mouse, magically retold by Helen Ward. Beguiled by his cousin’s amazing tales, the country mouse visits the electric city. Unfortunately the town mouse forgot to mention that the city has a lot of noise, tall buildings . . -
The Cat Who Walked a Thousand Miles by Kij Johnson
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe heroic quest of a single cat. When a fire destroys her home and scatters her colony, Small Cat sets out to find the home of her ancestor, the Cat From the North, and to make her own name along the way... -
A Wolf for a Spell by Karah Sutton
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe Girl Who Drank the Moon meets Pax in this fantastical tale of a wolf who forms an unlikely alliance with Baba Yaga to save the forest from a wicked tsar.Since she was a pup, Zima has been taught to fear humans—especially witches—but when her family is threatened, she has no choice but to seek help from the witch Baba Yaga...Categorized as:
animals children friendship historical-fiction low-fantasy magical-realism myths retellings -
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...Categorized as:
children classics historical-fiction myths retellings action-adventure book children-books -
The Faithful Friend by Robert D. San Souci
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA friendship is tested by love and magic in this beautiful, Caldecott Honor–winning retelling of a traditional tale from the French West Indies.Clement and Hippolyte are best friends who live together on the lush tropical island of Martinique. They set off together toward the woman Clement loves so he can propose, but her uncle—a quimboiseur, a wizard—doesn’t approve of the match...
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