Thematic Reading List: Ninja Day

In honor of International Ninja Day on December 5, this book list has been curated to give readers a solid place to start learning about these elusive characters. In recent years, ninjas have made a significant mark on juvenile literature: folk tales have been retold to include ninjas, and even the LEGO franchise has added ninjas in their storytelling. This list includes all that and more; readers aged 8-12 will find both fiction and nonfiction titles to quench their curiosity about ninjas both real and make believe.

Contributed by: Mary Lanni
 
 
 
 
 

	Night of the Ninjas By: Mary Pope Osborne The magic tree house takes Jack and Annie back in time to feudal Japan, where the siblings learn about the ways of the Ninja.
	Ninja By: Adrienne Lee Describes the lives of Japan’s secretive Ninja warriors, including their daily life, weapons, and fighting techniques, as well as their place in popular culture.
	Ninja By: Sean McDaniel Engaging images accompany information about ninja. The combination of high-interest subject matter and light text is intended for students in grades 3 through 7.
	Ninja-rella By: Joey Comeau Illustrated by: Omar Lozano In this graphic version of the story, Cinderella thwarts her evil stepmother by becoming Ninja-rella, saving the prince from bandits, and becoming his ninja bodyguard.
	The Ninja Librarians: The Accidental Keyhand By: Jen Swann Downey Dorrie and her brother Marcus accidently open a portal to Petrarch’s Library, where they discover a secret society of warrior librarians who travel in time, protecting the world’s greatest thinkers from torture and death for sharing knowledge and ideas.
	Ninja vs. Ninja By: Kate Howard Cole, Jay, Kai, and Lloyd have defeated every opponent they have faced in Master Chen’s Tournament of Elements so far, but now the tournament pits friends against each other, and only one can remain.
	Ninja Red By: Corey Rosen Schwartz Illustrated by: Dan Santat In this twist on “Little Red Riding Hood,” a certain wolf trains to be a ninja in order to catch his prey, but he is not the only one mastering a martial art.
	Ninja Timmy By: Henrik Tamm In the city of Elyzandrium, an intrepid cat and his animal friends meet an inventor of magical toys, investigate the case of the stolen laughter, and ultimately become a successful crime fighting gang of ninjas.
	Ninjas By: Carla Mooney Presents a history of ninjas, discussing the weapons they use, how someone became one, and their typical missions.
	The Three Ninja Pigs By: Corey Rosen Schwartz Illustrated by: Dan Santat In this twist on “The Three Little Pigs,” Pig One and Two neglect their ninja school martial arts training and are no match for the wolf, but Pig Three’s practice and dedication saves the day. Includes a glossary of Japanese martial arts terms.