Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales

Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales: Magical Stories of Dragons, Fairies and Selkies from Scotland, Ireland, Wales and more

A sumptuous collection of magical stories retold for children, with breathtaking illustrations of creatures from folklore.

Somewhere beyond the mist, a seal slips off its skin and walks ashore. A dragon rises. A giant sharpens his appetite. A fairy lays her trap. The Celtic lands are alive with creatures of ancient power — and every one of them has a story worth telling.

Award-winning Scottish storyteller Lari Don plunges young readers headfirst into the wild heart of Celtic folklore, retelling classic tales of myth, magic, and mischief from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, and Brittany. Paired with Elise Carmichael’s breathtaking illustrations, these are legends that crackle with energy — perfect for readers ready to leave the ordinary world behind and venture somewhere far more exciting.

Table of Contents

Introduction
How to Escape a Waterhorse (Isle of Man)
The Fairy Babysitter (Brittany)
Merlin and the Dragons (Wales)
The Selkie Hunter (Scotland)
The Monster Trap (Wales)
Duffy and the Dizzy Imp (Cornwall)
The Children of Lir (Ireland)
The Piskie Market (Cornwall)
The Giant’s Eye (Ireland)
How to Trick a Changeling (Scotland)
Background to the Tales
Glossary
About the Author and Illustrator

About the Author

Lari Don is an award-winning Scottish children’s author and storyteller. She grew up in the north-east of Scotland and worked in politics and broadcasting before becoming a full-time writer and storyteller. Lari is the author of more than 30 books for children of all ages, including the folktale retellings Dragon’s Hoard, Breaking the Spell and Girls, Goddesses and Giants, as well as picture books based on traditional tales such as The Secret of the Kelpie and The Treasure of the Loch Ness Monster. She lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Elise Carmichael is an illustrator and graphic designer with a passion for children’s literature. She studied Art and Design at Towson University, Maryland, USA and has a Masters in Publishing from Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland. When she isn’t drawing, Elise enjoys hiking, photography and learning new languages. She lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.