Check Out This Disney-Inspired Summer Reading List

Many timeless Disney stories, including Snow White, The Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid, and Aladdin, are inspired by either ageless novels or centuries-old folklore.

There are a great number of books that closely relate to classic fairy tales or even find inspiration in the Disney tales themselves. Some of these tales tell their story with many of the characters you already know and love, while some are complete reimaginings of the story, and yet others have characters and storylines that closely resemble the Disney-made movies.

If you are looking to add the power and magic of reading to your summer schedule, check out one of these books, or three, inspired by your favorite Disney movie.

If you love Cinderella…

Then you’ll like…

Seen as both a mistake and a burden by her stepmother and stepsisters, Cinder, a cyborg living in the city of New Beijing, has the incredible ability to fix whatever comes her way, making her one of the best mechanics in the Eastern Commonwealth. When the news of this talent reaches the ears of Prince Kai, Cinder finds herself falling in love while fixing the Prince’s precious android. However, their love story is cut short when a plague devastates the country, and Cinder finds herself questioning her purpose, her abilities, the future, and all those around her.

If you love The Little Mermaid…

Then you’ll like…

In this story, the little mermaid feels like she will never fit in with the underwater world. So when the opportunity to go to the surface and fall in love with a prince presents itself, the little mermaid decides to trade her voice for legs and start a new life. While learning and exploring all the human world has to offer, a virus begins to spread among the merpeople and the little mermaid must decide who and what is most important to her. This is a bolder and darker reinvention of the Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale.

If you love Mulan…

Then you’ll like….

Mariko, the daughter of a samurai, is only seventeen years old when she decides to dress as a peasant boy in order to infiltrate the dangerous Black Clan gang and determine why she was the target of a vicious attack. Once inside their ranks, Mariko finds herself being appreciated for her intelligence and abilities but she also finds herself falling in love.

If you love Snow White…

Then you’ll like…

Set in Renaissance Italy, Vincente de Nevada is a Spanish widower who lives with his beautiful daughter, Bianca. Lucrezia Borgia is the Evil Queen who keeps Bianca in her care while sending Vincente to seek a holy relic. While he is gone, Lucrezia becomes jealous of Bianca’s growing beauty and hires a hunter to murder Bianca. Bianca is able to escape certain death and finds herself in the company of seven dwarves. But will she be safe in their care?

If you love Tangled…

Then you’ll like…

Rapunzel isn’t the stereotypical Damsel in Distress in this reimagined fairy tale. Zel is fiesty, sarcastic, and determined to escape her tower and the sorceress keeping her trapped. But when a Mercenary, Flynn, is hired to prevent Zel from leaving the tower, they find themselves in love and in danger.

If you love Alice in Wonderland…

Then you’ll like…

Alyssa Gardner finds herself displaying the same troubling signs her mother showed before she was forced into a mental hospital. This curse has stretched throughout the family line, all the way to Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa discovers that Wonderland is very much real and much darker than previously thought. It’s up to Alyssa to get to Wonderland, pass a series of tests, overpower vicious predators, fix Alice’s mistakes, and save her family.

If you love Brave…

Then you’ll like…..

Languoreth is one of the most powerful medieval queens and rules over ancient Scotland during a politically unstable time. As a new religion sweeps the region, Languoreth is forced to marry a man she does not love, but he may be her only chance of saving her people and their way of life.

If you love Sleeping Beauty…

Then you’ll like…

A curse has overtaken the kingdom and it’s spreading fast, causing all those it reaches into a deep sleep. A nearby queen knows she must travel to the inflicted kingdom and stop the curse in order to protect her own people. This novel is part Sleeping Beauty and part Snow White and the Seven Dwarves with beautiful illustrations.

If you love Aladdin…

Then you’ll like…

Nahri, a talented con woman, relies on herself to survive on the streets of 18th century Cairo. When Nahri accidentally summons the dijinn warrior, Dara, she must travel to the city of Daevabad, the legendary city of brass. However, Nahri quickly learns that magic and power are dangerous and her presence in Daevabad threatens to start a war that has been simmering for centuries.

If you love The Princess and the Frog…

Then you’ll like…

Emma is the princess and future queen of Greater Greensward. When faced with the prospect of marrying the stuck-up Prince Jorge, Emma runs off into the swamp where she meets Prince Eadric, a prince turned into a frog by a witch. Emma kisses Prince Eadric in an attempted to break the spell but finds herself a frog instead. The two frogs face dangers of all shapes, sizes, and species, as they try to return to their human forms.

If you love Peter Pan…

Then you’ll like…

James Hook doesn’t want to grow up. So when Peter Pan presents him with the opportunity to live in Neverland, James quickly agrees. However, Neverland isn’t what James imagined and he soon longs to return home and grow up. But Peter Pan refuses and James is forced to remain in Neverland. This isn’t the story of Peter Pan; it’s the story of the boy whose life Pan stole.

If you love The Sword and the Stone…

Then you’ll like…

The legends of King Arthur are retold through the eyes of the women in Camelot’s court. The book follows Morgaine, Gwenhwyfar, Viviane, Morgause, Ignraine, and others as they witness and contribute to the rise and fall of King Arthur.

Be aware that some content found in these and other books may not be appropriate for all readers.