Celtic Myths: Meet the God, Creatures, and Heroes of Celtic Legend

By Author / Illustrator

Martin Macintyre, Katie Ponder

Genre

Myths & Legends

Age range(s)

Publisher

Dorling Kindersley

ISBN

9780241740255

Format

Hardback

Published

07-08-2025

Synopsis

This collection contains more than 20 enthralling new retellings of famous Celtic myths for children, plus exciting profiles of all the major characters of Celtic legend.

Children will love exploring each myth, told in a straightforward and compelling way that is easy for children to understand while retaining the romance of the original tales. Striking illustrations by multi-award winning artist Katie Ponder breathe new life into each story.

This book brings Celtic myths to life and is the perfect gift for children who love history and mythology. Learn key background information on Celtic lands and history, as well as exciting characters, from the demigod Cu Chulainn to the warrior-hero Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the beautiful princess Grainne. Children will love exploring the tales by themselves or as bedtime stories.

At DK, we believe in the power of discovery. So why not complete the collection? Marvel at stories from Ancient Greece with Greek Myths, uncover action-packed tales of extraordinary creatures and compelling gods and goddesses with Norse Myths, learn about one of the world's great early civilisations with Egyptian Myths and delve into a world of magical creatures with Myths of China.

Reviews

Sue

Celtic Myths: Meet the God, Creatures, and Heroes of Celtic Legend is the latest in a series of books from DK celebrating these ancient stories. Beautifully presented, full of colourful illustrations, this book offers a wealth of tales from the Celtic people of Britain, Ireland and Brittany.

The tales are organised into five sections: Heroes, Warriors and Rulers; Love and Loyalty; Magic and Mystery; Poetry and Places; and About the Myths. The collection contains an excellent balance of better and less well-known stories, making this a wonderful book to offer those new to Celtic myths.

Each story has been carefully retold, true to the original (although there are, of course, many different versions of the same story!) , yet in a way which is accessible and absorbing for children. A pronunciation guide and glossary at the end of the book support understanding and there are pages scattered throughout which provide a focus on different characters from the stories, deepening the reader's knowledge and making links between myths.

The 'About the Myths' section is full of additional details with themed pages about, among other things, mythical places, heroes and families. Each section is gorgeously illustrated, sure to catch interest and spark imagination as, whether they are being introduced to these magical stories for the first time or returning to them in a new collection, readers enjoy this selection of Celtic Myths.

144 pages / Reviewed by Sue WIlsher, teacher