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21 Awesome Books About Canadian Legends and Folklore
22
items From Indigenous folklore to regional tales in French and English, these books cover our unique stories from coast to coast to coast
Sections
5
Comprehensive Collections
Indigenous Folklore
Regional Folklore
Audio Collections
Kids and Teens
Comprehensive Collections
This comprehensive anthology contains a vast collection of Canadian cultural materials, including stories, songs, poems, and legends, starting with Indigenous creation myths and covering various periods of Canadian history through to modern times.
T...
The Spirit of Canada: Legends and Poems
Folklore of Canada by Edith Fulton Fowke is a classic and comprehensive collection of Canadian folklore.
This book includes:
- Folk tales, legends, and tall tales
- Jokes, riddles, and myths
- Sea shanties and songs
- Content from every corner of Ca...
Folklore of Canada
The book is a comprehensive collection of Canadian folkloric research spanning over ten years, featuring hundreds of creatures, monsters, strange locations, heroes, and spirits from across Canada.
Fischer combines various cultural influences, includ...
A Canadian Bestiary, 2nd Edition
Originally published in 1918, this collection features stories gathered from various parts of Canada, including Indigenous tales, settler folklore, and oral histories that MacMillan collected while travelling across the country.
The book contains 32...
Canadian Wonder Tales
Originally published in 1897, it is considered one of the most significant books documenting the folklore of 19th-century Quebec, with a particular focus on the social life and customs of the region.
The book includes illustrations by Walter C. Gree...
Canadian Folk-Life and Folk-Lore
The book is a collection of folk tales that Macmillan gathered while travelling across Canada, collecting stories from various sources including Indigenous peoples, fishermen, sailors, and travellers.
Despite its title being somewhat misleading, the...
Canadian Fairy Tales: With Annotated
Indigenous Folklore
“The environmental true-crime story of a glorious natural wonder, the man who destroyed it, and the fascinating, troubling context in which this act took place.”
This book tells the true story of Grant Hadwin and the sacred golden Sitka Spruce of th...
The Golden Spruce: Myth, Madness & Greed
This novel follows Jared, an Indigenous teenager in northern British Columbia, as he deals with modern challenges while discovering his connection to the Trickster Wee'git.
Robinson blends contemporary issues with traditional folklore.
Son of a Trickster
The book is a definitive collection of Inuit legends, with "Unikkaaqtuat" being the Inuktitut word meaning "to tell stories." It features carefully annotated stories providing historical and cultural context to understand this rich oral tradition.
T...
Unikkaaqtuat: Inuit Myths and Legends
The book is aimed at elementary to middle school audiences, though with a cautionary note that it might be too frightening for very young children (around 4 years old).
It serves as a comprehensive guide to one of Canada's most well-known legendary...
Wendigo - Canada's Demon of Greed & Weakness
Regional Folklore
L'Nu'k Ghost Stories of Prince Edward Island offers a collection of Mi'kmaq ghost stories and spiritual encounters.
This book:
- Preserves ancient stories passed down for generations
- Highlights the importance of protecting sacred sites
L'Nu'k Ghost Stories of Prince Edward Island
Introduces readers to famous giants of the North, including Inukpasuksuk and Nuvuja.
The Great Giants of the Arctic: Bilingual
The book is a classic reprint that serves as an invaluable source for the legends of rural Nova Scotians, including Scottish, Acadian, and Mi'kmaq traditions.
According to folklore scholar Ian Brodie, the book is described as both "flawed and wonder...
Folklore of Nova Scotia (Classic Reprint)
The book explores the history of folk traditions, beliefs, and culturally diverse customs during the early homesteading era on the Canadian Prairies, specifically focusing on the period from 1867 to 1914.
It’s a captivating examination of the variou...
Folklife and Superstition: Prairie Homesteaders
It's a short English-language anthology of classic French-Canadian legends and folktales written around the turn of the 20th century, featuring works by both Honore Beaugrand and Louis-Honore Frechette.
The collection includes famous stories such as...
Classic French-Canadian Folktales Vol I
This book is a collection of stories gathered from his extensive work interviewing seniors and collecting oral histories, particularly through his work with CBC Radio.
The book features a variety of voices and characters, including Roy from Murray H...
The Bygone Days: Folklore, Traditions & Toenails
Audio Collections
For those who prefer audiobooks, Grandmother's Stories: How the Earth and Sky Began by Daniel Auger offers a collection of Indigenous stories from across Canada.
Grandmother’s Stories: How the Earth and Sky Began
Kids and Teens
This series reflects Cree stories of the sky and constellations.
The word "misewa" is Cree for "all that is," and the books explore the connection between what is above and below in Indigenous cosmology.
Appropriate for tweens and teens.
The Barren Grounds: The Misewa Saga, Book One
Inspired by folktales from Newfoundland and around the world, this book is structured as a cross between a school-aged picture book and a beginner's chapter book.
It celebrates strong girls, great stories, and blended families.
Barefoot Helen and the Giants
This creepy yet engaging picture book introduces children to the Inuit legend of the qalupalik, a sea creature that steals children.
It's a great way to explore Inuit mythology.
The Qalupalik (English)
This bilingual picture book in English and Inuktitut serves as an introduction to Inuit mythology for young readers.
It's particularly useful for those interested in learning Inuktitut as a second language.
The Shaman Who Became Many Animals
This atmospheric ghost story, set in Newfoundland, is perfect for slightly older children who are beginning to show interest in spooky tales.
It just might inspire an interest in local legends and ghost stories.
Footsteps in Bay de Verde: A Mysterious Tale