The best kids’ books about Greece

If you’re planning a trip to Greece with kids, there are some great books to introduce your children to the country and its history – including Greek myths for all ages among my pick of the best kids’ books about Greece.

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Whether you’re soaking up the sun on a Greek island or heading to Athens to discover the Acropolis and the ancient Olympics, it really pays to know some of the stories of the gods and heroes behind the ruins, while a bit of gruesome Ancient Greek history always goes down well too.

There are sticker books for younger kids, and re-tellings of myths and legends for teens, plus some great fiction too (a love of Percy Jackson might even be the inspiration for a trip!) – check out my complete list of the best books about Greece for kids.

Books about Greece for toddlers and preschoolers

You’re never too young to get a taste of Ancient Greece…

My Little Golden Book About Greek Gods and Goddesses

My Little Golden Book About Greek Gods and Goddesses offers an easy introduction to Greek Mythology for younger children, aimed at kids aged 2-5.

The book introduces many of the major Greek Gods and Goddesses, including Athena, Zeus, Poseidon, Aphrodite, and Hermes, through its beautiful illustrations and simple stories. It even explains how to pronounce each God’s name, which is a great little touch.

The colourful full-page pictures make this a good option for preschoolers, although primary-school children may also enjoy reading it to themselves. 

Usborne’s Ancient Greeks Sticker Book

Usborne’s Ancient Greeks Sticker Book is a fun and engaging way to teach little ones about the lives, beliefs, and customs of the Ancient Greeks – better for older preschoolers than the youngest toddlers though.

The book is filled with colourful scenes depicting life in Ancient Greece, from busy markets to mighty battles, complete with 550+ stickers that allow kids to get hands-on and create their very own characters and stories.

British Museum 101 Stickers! Ancient Greece 

Another fun sticker option for a similar age group, this book from the British Museum takes you on a tour of ancient Greece, with 11 different scenes to decorate.

You can add your own statues to the Acropolis, position the athletes at the Olympics, brighten up everyday scenes and even curate your own museum exhibit. Aimed at kids aged 3-5.

Check out my guide to Greece with kids for more tips on travelling to the country and the Greek Islands

Kids’ books about Greece

Once your kids start reading, there are some great books to introduce them to Greek myths, ancient Greek history and more.

Usborne Book of Greek Myths

One of our own personal favourites, my daughter absolutely loves Usborne’s Book of Greek Myths, a huge book packed with exciting tales of powerful Gods, brave heroes, and terrible monsters.

The book tells many classic Greek myths and legends, such as Pandora’s Box and The Minotaur and the Labyrinth, in a simple, child-friendly way, with lots of gorgeous illustrations.

There’s even an illustrated map, a list of important characters, and a glossary of tricky words at the end, making complex Greek Mythology easier to understand for younger readers.

National Geographic’s Treasury of Greek Mythology

This beautifully illustrated treasury brings together many timeless Greek myths in an interesting and engaging format that’s suitable for older children and teens. 

Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes & Monsters features many stories of Greek Gods, heroes, and villains. It also has some useful family trees, character profiles, and illustrated maps to make Greek Mythology more digestible for all ages.

Tales of Brave and Brilliant Girls from the Greek Myths

Tales of Brave and Brilliant Girls from the Greek Myths is a beautifully empowering children’s book that re-tells the stories of many legendary Greek heroines, including the likes of Athena, Circe, Psyche, and Artemis. 

Through exciting stories and colourful illustrations, this charming book helps bring many classic Greek tales to life and shows young girls that they can be anything they dream of!

​​Who Let the Gods Out?

​​Who Let the Gods Out? follows the adventures of a young boy named Elliot as he accidentally releases Thanatos, the evil Daemon of Death, and must call on the Greek Gods from Mount Olympus to help him save the world.

It’s an entertaining and heartfelt book for kids aged 7-10 and the first in a four-part series centred around the Greek Gods, so there’s plenty more to read if they enjoy this one!

Icarus Was Ridiculous

Izzy is a young girl who just LOVES Greek Myths and can’t wait to tell all of her friends and classmates about them, albeit in a slightly silly and highly dramatic way.

Icarus Was Ridiculous is a fun and lighthearted book that was written in collaboration with the British Museum and offers entertaining takes on four iconic Greek stories, as told from a child’s perspective.

Horrible Histories: Groovy Greeks

The Horrible Histories franchise is always a sure-fire hit with kids. And their Groovy Greeks edition is no exception. 

Using its trademark witty humour, gruesome (but still kid-friendly) stories, and comical illustrations, this book offers a fun and engaging insight into Ancient Greece that will entertain both kids and adults. 

Groovy Greeks covers a wide variety of topics, including Greek Gods, myths, war, theatre, poetry, the Olympic Games, and more, offering a well-rounded introduction to Greek history. There’s even a new newspaper version for the most horrible historic headlines.

So You Think You’ve Got It Bad? A Kid’s Life in Ancient Greece,

So You Think You’ve Got It Bad? A Kid’s Life in Ancient Greece is another fun and educational book that compares modern-day life to the life of Ancient Greeks through the eyes of a child. 

Using engaging stories and humorous illustrations, it brings to life many aspects of daily life in Ancient Greece, including clothing, food, pets, school, play activities, and more. 

Backed by plenty of historical facts and stories, this book helps kids imagine what the lives of their peers looked like thousands of years ago.

You Wouldn’t Want To Be A Slave In Ancient Greece

Part of the ‘You Wouldn’t Want to Be…’ series, there are several books to help bring life in Ancient Greece to life.

You Wouldn’t Want to Be A Slave in Ancient Greece looks at the bits of history that don’t get celebrated today (thumbs up to democracy and philosophy, not so much to slavery…) There’s also You Wouldn’t Want to be a Greek Athlete for the more gruesome side to the Olympics, although it’s a bit harder to find copies of.

See Inside Ancient Greece (Usborne Flap Books)

Another great lift-the-flap book from Usborne, See Inside Ancient Greece offers an interactive adventure into Greek history for primary school aged kids.

The book takes kids on a journey through Ancient Greece, from the earliest Minoan civilization on Crete to the empire of Alexander the Great. It looks at many aspects of Greek life through lively illustrations, digestible facts, and – of course – liftable “flaps” that offer extra surprises.

Find Tom in Time: Ancient Greece

This fun puzzle book (think Where’s Wally with added history) challenges you to find Tom and his cat Digby as well as more than 100 other things to find in the pages of Find Tom in Time: Ancient Greece.

Along the way you can learn some great trivia and ancient Greek facts, and learn about everything from philosophy to the origins of the Olympics. Great for kids aged around 6-9 who prefer activities to reading.

Greeking Out: Epic Retellings of Classic Greek Myths

Greeking Out: Epic Retellings of Classic Greek Myths is the tie-in book to National Geographic Kids’ extremely popular Greeking Out Podcast.

The award-winning book features a collection of classic Greek myths and legends retold in an engaging and accessible way for younger readers, with plenty of fun and colourful illustrations.

The book even includes a guide to all of the main characters with name pronunciations and a map showing the main locations, offering a valuable resource for kids.

Books about Greece for teens and tweens

If you want something more than books of myths and history (however entertaining), there are also some really fun fiction books for older kids.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

You may have already watched the movies or the new Disney+ series, but you can’t beat the original collection of best-selling Percy Jackson books?

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a series of fantasy-adventure novels by Rick Riordan that follow the adventures of Percy Jackson, a young modern-day demigod, as he navigates the world of Greek mythology and the many trials and tribulations that come with it.

The Percy Jackson books are best suited for older children (9+) and tweens, although some teens may also enjoy them for an easy and entertaining read.

Maria’s Island

Moving away from Ancient Greece (briefly), Maria’s Island is a children’s book set within the same world as the best-selling book “The Island” by Victoria Hislop (which is a great option for older teens, especially if you’re visiting Crete).

The book offers a glimpse into life on the Greek island of Crete in the ’40s and ’50s through the story of a young girl called Maria. It takes place in the Cretan village of Plaka, which sits just across the water from the island of Spinalonga – Greece’s former leper colony. 

The heartfelt book explores the themes of stigma, shame, and the treatment of those who are different, while also offering a glimpse into the heritage and beauty of the Greek Islands. 

For more tips on things to do in Crete with kids, check out my top picks

Wings of Olympus 

Wings of Olympus is a charming two-part book series that follows the story of a poor young orphan called Pippa and her winged horse, Zephyr, on an epic quest through Ancient Greece.

Set against the backdrop of Mount Olympus, Pippa and Zephyr must defy the odds and win the hardest race in ancient Greece in order not to be separated forever. An epic tale of heroism, bravery, and – of course – flying horses – what’s not for kids to love?

Mark of the Cyclops

If your kids love mysteries and detective stories, this is the perfect combination of whodunnit and Ancient Greece.

Mark of the Cyclops tells the story of young scribe Niko and his friend Thrax, a budding detective, whose talents are put to the test after a valuable vase is broken and slave girl Gaia looks set to get the blame.

Heroes: Mortals and Monsters, Quests and Adventures

Stephen Fry’s re-telling of some of the classic tales of Greek heroes, from Jason on his quest for the Golden Fleece, Bellerephon’s challenges on the way to slay the Chimera, as well as a whole string of other stories featuring the Sphinx, golden apples and monsters galore.

Great for teens, Heroes brings the old stories to life as if you’re following on the adventures with the heroes – and the gods get the same treatment in Mythos as well

Ariadne

Another great option for teens, Ariadne looks at the famous legend of the Minotaur from a very different perspective – the monster’s half-sister Ariadne.

Princess of Crete, daughter of King Minos, her life in the golden palace at Knossos is overshadowed by the knowledge of the creature hidden in the labyrinth. And as she betrays her father to help Theseus kill the Minotaur, her own fate is to be betrayed…

For teens who enjoy this twist on the well-known story, with a female protagonist, there’s also Elektra and Atalanta from the same author, as well as Medusa.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. All opinions on the best kids books about Greece are my own (and my daughter’s!)

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