Fairies

Fairies Stories, Myths & Poems for Every Reader

Few characters in literature have travelled as far or lasted as long as the fairies. They flit through Norse mythology and Breton folklore, dance through Shakespearean verse, hide inside Victorian flower gardens, and tiptoe under children’s pillows to leave a coin in place of a tooth. On Ririro you’ll find a beautifully curated collection of fairies stories, myths and poems in English — gentle bedtime tales for the youngest readers, atmospheric Halloween poetry, and longer folk tales for confident chapter-book readers. Every title is free to read online, with audio versions available on many stories and PDF downloads of selected favourites.

Fairies Myths

Before fairies fluttered into nursery books, they were creatures of myth — fierce, ancient and wild. The fairies myths below come from Norse, Breton, Japanese and Arabian folk traditions, and they reveal a side of fairy lore that is older and stranger than the storybook version.

1. The Story of the Norse About How Everything Began
E.M. Wilmot-Buxton retells the great Norse creation myth in which dragons, dwarfs, elves and fairies emerge alongside gods and giants. A wonderful starting point for older children meeting Norse mythology for the first time, this tale roots the fairies firmly in the world of Loki, Odin and the old North.

2. The Spring Fairy and the Frost Giants
A vivid Norse-inspired myth in which a spring fairy battles the frost giants to bring warmth back to the world. Eagles soar, ice cracks, and Loki schemes — a brilliant ten-minute read for fourth and fifth graders who love mythology with a magical edge.

3. Prince Hassan and the Ogre
A richly imagined Arabian folk tale by John Fortescue Brickdale, where a brave prince must outwit an ogre with the help of cunning fairies. A longer adventure ideal for upper-elementary and middle-school readers who enjoy world folklore.

4. The Ice King and His Wonderful Grandchild
William Elliot Griffis weaves Norse folklore and fairy magic into this gentle, audio-friendly story about the icy north, family, and good manners. A lovely educational read for fifth and sixth graders that pairs cultural learning with timeless fairy-tale wonder.

5. The Groac’h of the Isle of Lok
Andrew Lang retells a haunting Breton legend about an enchantress fairy who lures sailors to a magical island. Atmospheric and a touch darker than most fairy stories, it’s perfect for readers aged 8 to 11 who want fairies with real folklore weight behind them.

6. The Black Bowl
A Japanese fairy-tale folk story about kindness, sorrow and quiet magic, recounted for fifth and sixth-grade readers. The Black Bowl is one of the most moving lesser-known tales in the Ririro collection — a beautiful introduction to non-Western fairy traditions.

7. Nipon and the King of the Northland
An atmospheric folk tale about fairies and the icy realms of the North, ideal for readers in third through fifth grade. A gentle introduction to longer fairy-myth narratives, with themes of fear, forgiveness and adventure.

Fairies Poems

Fairies have long inspired poets, and on Ririro you’ll find a small but evocative collection of fairies poems — short, musical, and brilliant for reading aloud at home or in the classroom. All three of the poems below are tied to Halloween, the night when fairies, elves and goblins traditionally cross into the human world.

1. Halloween by Arthur Peterson
A lyrical autumn poem in which fairies, gnomes and goblins dance through a pastoral Halloween night. Steeped in nature imagery and themes of immortality and magic, it’s a wonderful read-aloud for older children and a beautiful classroom pick around the season.

2. Hallowe’en by Joel Benton
A short, atmospheric verse where elves, fairies and kobolds wake at harvest time. Compact and rhythmic, Joel Benton’s tale-in-verse is a perfect quick read for autumn poetry lessons or a cosy October evening.

3. On Halloween by Janet Little
A Scottish poem in which fairies appear on All Hallows’ Eve amid romance and rural supernatural lore. A lovely introduction to Scotland’s folk-poetic tradition and one of the most charming fairies poems on the site.

Fairies Bedtime Stories

For tucking little ones in, nothing beats a fairies bedtime story. The tales below are gentle, magical, and just the right length for a five- to fifteen-minute read aloud — many available with audio narration so children can listen along.

1. The Velveteen Rabbit
Margery Williams’ beloved classic about a stuffed rabbit who longs to become Real — with the help of a tender fairy. One of the most cherished bedtime tales in English literature, it teaches children about love, kindness and the magic of being truly seen.

2. The Sleeping Beauty
The Brothers Grimm’s enduring tale of christening fairies, a wicked curse, and a hundred-year sleep. Read it online for free in English or listen to the audio version — an essential fairy story for every childhood book collection.

3. Mouse Perez, the Tooth Fairy
Luis Coloma’s much-loved Spanish bedtime tale gives English-language readers the original story behind the tooth fairy — a tiny mouse who collects baby teeth for the children of Madrid. A heart-warming read for any child losing their first tooth.

4. The Fairy Queen’s Jewels
Abbie Phillips Walker’s enchanting tale of greedy elves, glittering jewels, and the wise Fairy Queen who restores order. A perfect five-minute bedtime read for kindergarten and first-grade children who love sparkle and magic.

5. The Fairy’s New Year Gift
Emilie Poulsson’s gentle New Year tale features a fairy whose blessing helps a child welcome the year with kindness. A lovely seasonal read aloud at home, ideal as a cosy January bedtime tale.

6. The Lost Fairy
A longer Walker bedtime favourite about a little fairy separated from her queen, full of curses, kindness and magical creatures. A satisfying fifteen-minute read for children who love a complete fairy adventure before lights out.

7. Jorinde and Joringel
A lesser-known but beautiful Brothers Grimm fairy tale, woven with fairies, transformations and true love. Quietly magical and deeply lyrical, it’s a wonderful pick for older children who already know Snow White and Cinderella and want something new.

Flower Fairies and the Louisa May Alcott Collection

Long before Cicely Mary Barker drew her famous flower fairies, Louisa May Alcott wrote a wonderful series of flower-fairy stories for children — and they are all collected on Ririro. If your child has fallen in love with fairies that live inside roses, tulips and sunflowers, the Alcott tales below are essential reading.

1. Little Annie’s Dream of the Flower Fairy
A young girl is visited by a gentle flower fairy who teaches her about kindness, gratitude and the quiet magic of the natural world. The defining flower fairy story in the Alcott collection and a perfect bedtime read.

2. Eva’s Visit to Fairy-Land
Eva is whisked into a glittering Fairy-Land where she meets the flower fairies in their own world. Whimsical, descriptive and full of Victorian charm, it’s a joyful longer read for children who love imagining their own fairy realms.

3. Little Bud
A tender flower-fairy tale about a tiny bud, a kind fairy, and the love that helps her bloom. Short, sweet and full of nature imagery — ideal for early-elementary readers.

4. The Fairy Box
A magical fairy box brings unexpected lessons to a little girl. A warm Alcott bedtime read that blends fairy magic with the author’s signature gentle moral storytelling.

5. The Skipping Shoes
A grumpy child receives a pair of fairy shoes that will only skip when she is good. A funny, lively flower-fairy story that’s wonderful for kindergarten and first-grade read-alouds.

Related Themes

Fairies cross paths with many of Ririro’s other themes — if you’re enjoying this collection, you’ll find plenty more magic to explore across the site.

• Fairy Tales & Magic — classic enchantment from around the world
• Elves & Gnomes — the small magical folk who often share a forest with the fairies
• Goblins & Witches — darker magical neighbours for older readers
• Fantasy & Folk Tales — deeper into the world of the otherworldly
• Flowers & Halloween — two of the seasons in which fairies most often appear