Witches

Stories About Witches: Fairy Tales, Legends, and Tales for Every Age

Witches have haunted and enchanted storytelling traditions for centuries — cackling in gingerbread houses, stirring cauldrons on blasted heaths, whispering curses in Russian forests, and working their mischief through Halloween rhymes. On Ririro you’ll find a carefully curated collection of stories about witches in English, spanning gentle kids books about witches for bedtime read-alouds, classic fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen, darker short stories for older readers, and poems that capture the thrill of the supernatural. Read them online for free, listen to selected audio versions, download the PDF of many titles, or browse by age group to find the perfect tale.

Kids Books About Witches

For younger readers, witches can be wicked or wonderful — sometimes both at once. The kids books about witches below blend fairy-tale magic with just the right amount of spookiness, making them ideal as a picture book read aloud, a Halloween bedtime story, or a first introduction to the witches of classic children’s literature.

1. Hansel and Gretel
Perhaps the most famous witch story in the world, the Brothers Grimm’s tale of two siblings lost in the forest and trapped by a witch in a gingerbread house is a cornerstone of children’s storybook tradition. It’s a perfect introduction to witches for young readers — tense but never overwhelming, with a triumphant ending in which cleverness defeats evil. Available on Ririro with audio, ideal for a five-minute bedtime read-aloud.

2. Rapunzel
Another Brothers Grimm classic, Rapunzel tells of a girl locked in a tower by a possessive witch — and of the love, courage, and patience that ultimately set her free. It’s one of the most-loved fairy tales featuring a witch, rich in atmosphere and quiet emotional depth, and pairs beautifully with a picture book edition at home or in the classroom.

3. The Halloween Witches
Elizabeth Frances’s short autumn tale is a lovely bedtime introduction to witches for preschool and kindergarten readers. Light on fright and heavy on seasonal charm, it’s a cosy read aloud for the Halloween season, with enough whimsy to delight without ever becoming scary.

4. Modern Witches
In this playful story by Lenore K. Dolan, witches step out of the fairy-tale past and into the modern world — with funny and unexpected results. A gentle, short tale about good manners and hard work dressed up in witches’ robes, it works beautifully as a kindergarten read aloud.

5. Dinah Cat and the Witch
Abbie Phillips Walker’s kind-hearted fairy tale follows a little cat whose friendship with a witch unfolds in surprising ways. A warm, magical story for readers aged 5 to 7, it’s available in audio on Ririro and makes a lovely pick for early-reader storybook time.

6. Thumbelina
Hans Christian Andersen’s tiny heroine begins her adventure when a witch grants a childless woman a magical flower. A much-loved fairy tale for young readers, Thumbelina is available with audio on Ririro — a beautiful, enduring English-language classic that children return to again and again.

Short Stories About Witches

For older readers, teens, and adults, the witch becomes something richer and more unsettling — a figure of prophecy, temptation, and ancient power. The short stories about witches below are short enough to read in a single sitting but resonate long after the final page.

1. Macbeth (Short Story)
This accessible retelling of Shakespeare’s darkest tragedy brings the three witches — the Weird Sisters — to vivid life. Their prophecies set Macbeth on a path of ambition, murder, and ruin, and this short-story version is ideal for high-schoolers meeting the play for the first time, or for adult readers who want Shakespeare’s witches in a single compact read.

2. The Tempest (Short Story)
Shakespeare’s late masterpiece is retold here in story form, featuring the long-dead witch Sycorax whose shadow still haunts Prospero’s enchanted island. A ten-minute read about magic, forgiveness, and revenge, this short story is a beautiful entry point into one of the most atmospheric works in English literature.

3. The Ash-Tree
M. R. James’s chilling ghost story centres on a seventeenth-century witch’s curse that reaches across generations to fall on an English country estate. One of the great English-language tales of witchcraft and dread, it’s perfect for adult readers, high-schoolers, and fans of classic horror — a slow-burn short story that lingers well after the last sentence.

Legends About Witches

Long before witches settled into storybooks, they walked through the legends and folk tales of every culture. These legends about witches come from Russia, England, and older folk traditions — each one a window into a different way of imagining magic.

1. Baba Yaga
Russia’s most famous witch lives in a hut that walks on chicken legs — and this classic retelling of her legend is the perfect introduction for children aged 7 to 9. Baba Yaga is neither wholly wicked nor wholly good, which makes her one of the most fascinating witches in world folklore. Ririro also features Vasilisa the Beauty for readers who want to meet her again.

2. Vasilisa the Beauty
This Russian folk tale sees a kind-hearted girl sent to Baba Yaga’s forest hut by a jealous stepmother — and surviving through courage, patience, and a little magical help. A longer read for children aged 7 to 10, it’s one of the most beautiful legends about witches in the Ririro collection.

3. How Old Witch Neda Stole the Moon and the Sun
Abbie Phillips Walker’s lesser-known tale is a delightful bedtime adventure about a witch who steals the sun and moon — and the heroes who set out to bring them back. Available with audio, it’s a brilliant pick for readers aged 4 to 6 who enjoy fairy-tale legends with a sprinkle of mischief.

4. St. George and the Dragon (Short Version)
This short retelling by Louey Chisholm weaves witches into the famous English legend of courage, knights, and dragons. A two-minute bedtime read that fits neatly into busy evenings, it’s a great introduction to legendary storytelling for first-grade readers.

Poems About Witches

Witches have inspired some of the most atmospheric poems in the English language. The poems about witches below are short, musical, and brilliant for reading aloud — especially around Halloween or as part of a classroom poetry unit.

1. Song of the Witches (From Macbeth)
“Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.” Shakespeare’s iconic witches’ chant is probably the most quoted witch poem in the English language — and reading it aloud is an unforgettable experience for children and adults alike. A perfect Halloween read and a lively way to meet Shakespeare’s verse.

2. The Hag
Robert Herrick’s short seventeenth-century poem conjures a witch galloping through a stormy night on her broomstick. Compact, rhythmic, and wonderfully spooky, it’s an ideal choice for a quick read aloud around Halloween — and a lovely classical companion to more modern witch tales.

Related Themes

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

• Halloween & Ghosts — spooky seasonal tales for every age
• Fairy Tales & Magic — classic enchantment from around the world
• Curses & Supernatural — darker threads for older readers
• Fantasy & Folk Tales — deeper into the world of the otherworldly

Every story on this page is free to read online in English, with audio available on many titles and PDF downloads for print-friendly storybook reading. Whether you’re a parent hunting for a Halloween bedtime tale, a teacher building a classroom unit on folklore or Shakespeare, or a reader simply drawn to the magic and mystery of witches, there’s a story here waiting for you. Start with a classic above, or use the filters at the top of the page to discover something new.