Ages 9-12
Stories suggested for ages 9–12, with longer journeys, competing motives and difficult choices. Some contain frightening scenes or violence described in the page’s guidance. These age suggestions support selection and discussion; they do not make every traditional story equally suitable for every reader.
Celtic Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Greek Princess and the Young Gardener
A gardener’s youngest son hunts a golden bird with the help of a talking fox, and keeps landing in trouble because he can never resist a golden prize.
Celtic Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Horned Women
Late one night twelve horned witches come knocking, take over a woman’s kitchen and spin by her fire, until the Spirit of the Well tells her what to do.
Celtic Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Golden Spears
Connla and Nora save a thrush from a hawk, and in thanks it leads them after nine fairy pipers into a crystal hall, across the sunset and under the sea.
Celtic Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Field of Boliauns
Tom Fitzpatrick catches a leprechaun mending a shoe in a hedge and makes him show where his gold is buried, but the little man is cleverer than Tom.
Celtic Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Fairy Tree of Dooros
A tiny fairy drops one magic berry in Dooros Wood, is banished to the land of giants, and brings back Sharvan the Surly to guard the tree that springs up.
Celtic Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Farmer of Liddesdale
A desperate farmer hires the first stranger who knocks, a ploughman who sniffs his stakes and asks a strange wage: all the corn he can carry in one rope.
Celtic Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Enchanted Cave
Prince Cuglas chases a deer into a cave and finds himself in the realm of a fairy queen who loves him, while his true love, Princess Ailinn, waits at Tara.
Celtic Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
The Black Horse
A king’s youngest son swaps a lame old pony for a black horse that can go anywhere in the world, then must fetch a Greek princess for the Prince Underwaves.
Celtic Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Princess Finola and the Dwarf
A mute dwarf who loves the lonely Princess Finola is given back his speech by a fairy and sets out for a magic spear and shield to break her enchantment.
Celtic Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Powel, Prince of Dyfed
Powel chases a lady on a white horse whom no rider can catch, wins Rhiannon with a magic bag, and years later must learn the truth about their lost son.
Celtic Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
Paddy O’Kelly and the Weasel
Paddy O’Kelly pockets a heap of gold that a weasel has piled on a hearth, and the angry creature turns out to be far more than she seems.
Celtic Folk Tales
Ages 9-12
King O’Toole and His Goose
Old King O’Toole can no longer hunt, and his only joy is a goose too old to fly, until a stranger offers to make her new for a curious price.