blog – published on Friday May 17th
No matter how old you are, it’s never too early to start reading fantasy — especially with so many incredible works out there! And of course, bolstered by a kid’s imagination, these stories can truly come to life… which arguably makes children the ideal audience for the genre. 😄 But we think there’s something for everyone on this list of the 60 best fantasy books for kids. Even if you’re an adult, you’re sure to see some of your childhood classics here!
fantasy books for toddlers and preschoolers
This section consists of picture books and other simple stories designed to introduce very young children to the world of fantasy. From talking animals to spaghetti showers, these books are sure to elicit delighted giggles from ages 2 to 5.
You are reading: Fantasy picture books for elementary students
1. cloudy with a chance of meatballs by judi and ron barrett
In the city of chewing and swallowing, no one ever goes shopping. all of their food just falls from the sky: pizza, pasta, peanut butter, you name it. the citizens seem to be doing it in the shade (of a cloud full of meatballs)… until some unfortunate weather patterns start wreaking havoc, and they wonder if edible precipitation is really a blessing after all.
2. dragons love adam rubin and daniel salmieri tacos
We all know that humans love tacos, but you might be surprised to find that dragons love them even more! Join these legendary Mexican food aficionados as they devour tacos of all shapes and sizes, with all the ingredients except one: hot sauce. which naturally causes stomach problems (and fire inhalation hazards).
3. fox in socks by dr. seuss
“Look sir, look sir, sir. knox mr. Let’s do tricks with bricks and blocks, sir! thus begin the problems of the suffering mr. Knox at the hands of the Stocking Fox, which goads Knox into engaging in his increasingly complicated tongue twisters. Don’t worry though: Knox has the final (and very difficult to pronounce) word in this story of the former Mr. Theodore Geisel.
4. harold and the purple crayon by crockett johnson
Harold, age four, has a purple crayon and not much else. But with his artistic flair and a little imagination, he’s about to turn his world into a van gogh-worthy masterpiece.
5. if i built a house… by chris van dusen
If you could build the house of your dreams, what would you put in it? Our narrator, Jack, has it all planned out, including but not limited to a flight room, race room, and aquarium room. This tale of wish fulfillment is sure to resonate with resourceful kids and their extreme home makeover-loving parents alike.
6. If you give a cookie to a mouse by Laura Numeroff and Felicia Bond
“one thing leads to another” has never been truer. a boy gives a mouse a cookie…which makes the mouse want a glass of milk…which makes him want a straw, then a mirror, and so on until he is right back where he started with another cracker. And if that doesn’t sound like “fancy” to you, then guess this: when was the last time he received a cookie request from a mouse?
7. chris van allsburg’s polar express
One of the most iconic Christmas stories of all time, The Polar Express tells the story of a boy who runs away on the eponymous midnight train. But he has no idea of the magic that awaits him at the North Pole, where he will have the privilege of meeting Santa Claus himself. (Of course, if you’re a parent, you might not mention the fact that this is on our “fantasy” list.)
8. where are the wild creatures by maurice sendak
This largely visual story, filled with evocative illustrations by Mauric Sendak, follows a boy named Max who dares to venture “where the wild things are.” After proving his own ferocity, Max becomes King of the Wild Things, but soon begins to miss his home, where a hot dinner awaits him.
9. winnie-the-pooh by a.a. milne
In the Hundred Acre Wood lives a bear named Winnie-the-Pooh, who enjoys an idyllic existence of honey pots and gentle adventures with his friends. this first volume of sweet tales from a.a. Milne is sure to put a smile on your face, whether you’re young or old.
10. uni the unicorn by amy krouse rosenthal and brigette barrager
uni, the unicorn, desperately wants to find the most elusive of mythical creatures: a girl. everyone keeps telling him that humans don’t exist, but they won’t stop uni from dreaming. she knows that if she keeps imagining all the wonderful things they could do together, this magical girl will come to her…and it turns out uni’s best friend isn’t as far away as she thinks!
fantasy books for elementary school children
These chapter books and novellas involve more complex plots and fantasy elements, such as magic systems and backstories for main characters and plot points, often expanded throughout the series. suitable for children from 6 to 10 years old.
11. A Wizard from Earthsea by Ursula K. the script
long before harry potter, there was ged: a wizard from earthsea. Earthsea is a world of islands where magic prevails, but darkness also threatens. Ged must learn to harness his own innate powers and fight this darkness, which takes the form of a “shadowy creature” that our hero accidentally unleashes during a duel. The rich world-building and excellent characterization of the script are simply unmatched, and this first installment in the Earthsea series creates high expectations for the reader for the rest of its hybrid fantasy/sci-fi saga.
12. a wrinkle in time by madeleine l’engle
A Wrinkle in Time revolutionized fantasy when it was first published in 1962 and continues to find many devoted readers today. Thirteen-year-old misfit Meg Murry’s life is turned upside down when a strange woman appears in her kitchen and says, “There are tesseracts.” This seemingly simple statement sends Meg, Ella’s brother Charles Ella Wallace and Ella’s intrepid friend Ella Calvin on the adventure of Ella’s life. They must travel through time and space on a quest to find Meg’s missing father, who was studying tesseracts before he disappeared.
13. the adventurers guild by zack loran clark and nick eliopulos
A bright new take on monsters and magic, Adventurers Guild follows the young residents of the land of Freestone, where people can join guilds according to their career aspirations. Our heroes, Zed and Brock, have concrete plans to join the Mages Guild and the Merchants Guild respectively. That is, until they find themselves drawn into the exciting but dangerous “Adventurer’s Guild,” whose purpose is to battle the otherworldly beasts that threaten freestone and its citizens.
14. alice adventures in wonderland by lewis carroll
down the rabbit hole! This classic from one of the earliest architects of modern fantasy (the others are Tolkien and C.S. Lewis) tells the story of seven-year-old Alice, who follows a white rabbit into a land of weird cookies, steamy caterpillars, crazy tea parties. , and of course, killer queens. If he hasn’t read it yet, it’s a fantastic introduction for any child (or adult) to magical, nonsensical fantasy.
15. artemis fowl by eoin colfer
For one of the most interesting hero’s journeys out there, look no further than Artemis Fowl. this self-titled book casts him as a rather unsavory character: a preteen super-genius who uses his talents to kidnap a fairy for ransom. but as the story delves into the character and family history of the birds, the reader understands his propensity for crime and feels compelled to follow his unorthodox narrative to the end (of the eight-book series). .
16. roald dahl and quentin blake’s bfg
When a giant kidnaps eight-year-old sophie through her window, she thinks she’s done for. but by a miraculous stroke of good luck, she hasn’t been taken away by some old monster; she is in the company of the “big friendly giant”, who eats vegetables (ie snozzcumbers) instead of people. As Sophie and BFG get to know each other, they hatch a plan to thwart the other cruel human-eating giants, with the help of none other than the Queen of England!
17. charlie and the chocolate factory by roald dahl and quentin blake
Whether you prefer the Gene Wilder adaptation or the Johnny Depp remake, we can all agree that the original story is excellent. Young Charlie Bucket gets the chance to visit the kidnapped Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory and see what really goes on inside its walls, and inside the brain of the eccentric Wonka himself, who (in true Dahl fashion) has a pretty dark sense. of poetic justice.
18. jessica day george dragon slippers
dragon slippers centers on a peasant girl named creel, whose family sacrifices her to a dragon in hopes that a brave knight will fight the dragon, marry creel, and shower them all with riches. But our independent young lady has other ideas, specifically involving a pair of slippers and a political plot that could change her kingdom forever.
19. she charmed by gail carson levine
Another strong heroine appears in this splendid Cinderella tale. Cursed to be obedient, the young Ella learns to handle her affliction until one day, her evil stepsisters appear and force her to obey her every command. however, despite the presence of a handsome prince, no one can say that this is a “damsel in distress” type of tale. in the end, she is saved, and therein lies the true charm of her story.
20. the girl who drank the moon by kelly barnhill
A witch lives in the forest near the village of protectorate where, every year, the villagers leave a child sacrifice to keep her at bay. little do they know that the witch is actually benevolent…and that she feeds babies with starlight and delivers them to new families across the woods. That is, until she accidentally nurses one of them with moonlight, and must keep the child (which she christens Luna) to control the power within her, if she can.
21. half magic by eager edward and n. meter. bodecker
See Also: The 5 Best Book Summary Websites to Up-Level Your Brain
When siblings katherine, mark, jane and martha find a strange-looking coin on the sidewalk, they don’t think much of it. but an offhand comment soon leads them to realize that it is not a currency, but a talisman, which will grant them exactly half of each wish they ask for. this naturally leads to some hilarious shenanigans as they struggle to master their “half-magic”.
22. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. paddle
Of course, in terms of childhood fantasy, you can’t do much better than The Boy Who Lived. Join Harry on Philosopher’s Stone as he discovers his true identity as a wizard, begins attending Hogwarts, and battles the forces of ultimate evil, all at the tender age of eleven.
23. the hobbit of j.r.r. tolkien
If wizard children aren’t your thing, you can always try middle-aged hobbits. Bilbo Baggins and his fellow dwarves travel “back and forth” on the Hobbit, fighting valiantly in the face of mortal danger, all in the hope of restoring the lost kingdom of the dwarves (which was taken over long ago by the dragon Smaug). .
24. howl’s moving castle by diana wynne jones
Although Miyazaki’s 2004 adaptation brings Howl’s Moving Castle to life with incredible vibrancy, you can’t miss this original work by Diana Wynne Jones. Sophie Hatter lives in a world of magic, but she can never seem to grasp it for herself. But that’s before a witch transforms Sophie into an old hag, and she must find a way to break the spell. From there, she launches headlong into the mind-boggling world of the wizard’s howl, her calcifer fire demon, and of course, her ever-unpredictable moving castle.
25. cornelia funke’s ink heart
meggie and her father have always led a quiet and ordinary life among their books. however, everything changes when a mysterious man named Dustfinger shows up. Meggie soon discovers a hidden family talent: both she and her father can bring characters to life simply by reading their stories aloud. Action and excitement ensue as the father and daughter team try to stop fictional villains from damaging their real world and strive to retrieve Meggie’s mother, who was trapped in a book many years ago.
26. Isadora Moon by Harriet Muncaster
great for youngsters, the isadora moon series is part spooky, part brilliant, and spectacularly unique. Our heroine Isadora is a half-vampire, half-fairy who is just trying to live her normal (well, paranormal) life. In the first book, Isadora Moon Goes to School, Isadora is faced with a very serious decision that defines her identity: should she go to school for fairies or for vampires?
27. james and the giant peach by roald dahl and quentin blake
James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl’s first complete children’s fantasy book, follows young James, a boy who is abused by his evil Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. But when an enigmatic stranger gives James a handful of enchanted seeds, James can finally find his means of escape: in the form of a magically grown giant peach, which he and his bug friends fly all the way to New York City! /p>
28. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. louis
Another absolute legend of fantasy, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe introduces readers to Narnia, a glorious world besieged by the evil White Witch. The Pevensie children, who discover Narnia in the back of a cupboard, must help the victims of the witch’s reign of terror. Fortunately, they have the help of Aslan: a majestic lion and the true ruler of Narnia.
29. mary pope osbourne’s magic tree house
Join Jack and Annie on their countless adventures in the imaginative Magic Treehouse chapter books! each installment sees the kids traveling to a different time and place in history, and having to complete a quest in order to get back home. and where better to start than with the cretaceous period in the first book, the dinosaurs before nightfall?
30. miss peregrine’s home for peculiar children ransom riggs
jacob portman has always loved his grandfather’s wacky stories of monsters and strange children, but of course he never believed them…until he stumbles upon the titular house himself and learns the truth about these “peculiars” and the danger that constantly lurks. in his world.
31. the neverending story of michael ende
Young outcast Bastian Balthazar Bux starts reading a book called The Neverending Story, which takes place in the magical land of fantasy. As he becomes more and more engrossed in the exploits of the characters, Bastian realizes that he is becoming a character himself. he soon enters the realm of fantasy, where he can imagine anything and it will come true. But will Bastian use his powers wisely and can he ever return to his own world?
32. don’t fly in the house by betty brock
Six-year-old Annabel Tippens lives a somewhat unusual life. For example, instead of parents to take care of her, she has Gloria, a talking dog that is only a few inches tall. Of course, Ella Annabel isn’t considered unusual…until it’s revealed to her that she’s not just a girl, but a half-fairy! But with this knowledge comes great responsibility, and Annabel has to choose between two lives: fairy or human?
33. my diary from the end of the world by jodi lynn anderson
in the world of gracie lockwood, the mundane meets the mythical. dragons burn down department stores, mermaids live on local beaches, and “dark clouds” consume people when they die. This diary begins when Gracie and her family set off for “The Extraordinary World,” where they think they can stop a cloud from taking their little brother. Gracie records everything that happens on her journey, both ordinary and extraordinary.
34. the people in the pineapple place by anne lindbergh
What if you met a group of people that only you could see? this is the plight and privilege of august brown, who discovers the people of pine place: seven children who are invisible to everyone but him, and with whom he enjoys fantastic (and time travel!) adventures. /p>
35. Pedro and Wendy by J.M. sweep
While most of us have enjoyed the story of Peter Pan through Disney, this book (a novelization of the original stage play) remains a much-loved fantasy favorite today. If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to fly through Neverland, play with the Lost Boys, and narrowly escape Captain Hook, Peter, and Wendy, who is now over a century old! — lays it all out in delightful detail.
36. the phantom toll by norton juster and jules feiffer
a bored boy named milo walks through the “ghost toll booth” and emerges into an exotic world of countless curiosities, rekindling his sense of wonder. Lovers of puns and puns, rejoice: if you haven’t read The Phantom Toll yet, the prose alone is sure to tickle your fancy.
37. the magic of the rainbow next to the daisy meadows
This prolific and popular series for beginning readers is about a group of fairy friends who have gone missing and a pair of human heroines who must get them back, lest fairyland turn gray!
38. droon secrets by tony abbott
Starting with the hidden stairs and the magic carpet, the vividly imagined secrets of the droon series follow a trio of friends, eric, julie and neal, who discover droon land in eric’s basement. When they meet the Princess of Droon and promise to help her rescue her mother, our heroes embark on the adventure of a lifetime, during which they will discover their own unique abilities and the ultimate power of friendship.
39. wayside school side stories by louis sachar
From the author of holes comes this gut-wrenching low-level fantasy anthology about a school that’s more than a little backwards. each chapter is titled after a different character and provides a brief vignette, and from a teacher turning her students into apples to a girl surviving a 30-story fall, you certainly can’t say that school on the road is always boring.
40. the spiderwick chronicles by holly black
Like Narnia, the Spiderwick Chronicles series centers on a group of brothers who discover a society of fairies right in their own backyard. however, they soon realize that they are in over their heads, especially since humans should never have known the world of fairies.
41. the despereaux tale by kate dicamillo and timothy basil ering
If you enjoyed Dicamillo’s quaint small-town novel thanks to Winn-Dixie, you’ll love Despereaux’s innovative fantasy premise even more. a mouse named despereaux aspires to rescue the lovely princess pea from a rat named roscuro, who has locked her in the dungeon of her own castle. is a heartwarming story of love, courage, and chasing your dreams, even when everyone else thinks you’re too small to reach them.
42. eternal tuck by natalie babbitt
See Also: 8 Best Mind Mapping Books – iMindQ
Would you like to live forever? This simple yet haunting question forms the premise of Tuck Everlasting, the story of a family that becomes immortal after drinking from an enchanted spring. Ten-year-old Winnie Foster meets Paddy in the woods and is joined by her youngest son, Jesse (who is actually 104 years old). But with a shady man in a yellow suit hot on their heels, the rices can’t stay long, and Winnie must make a decision: will she drink the spring water too and go live with the rices… forever?
43. the uncommons of jennifer bell
Perfect for those with “a hogwarts-shaped hole in their lives”, this series is sure to blow your mind and take you to a secret underground city called “lundinor”. this is where our young heroes seb and ivy will discover the truth about their family and the unstoppable forces of evil they must now contend with.
44. watership down by richard adams
A completely unique hybrid of Beatrix Potter and Robinson Crusoe with just a hint of whimsy, Watership Down revolves around a fearless group of adventurers – rabbits traveling to their new home. If you haven’t yet experienced the magic of Hazelnut, Five, Blackberry and their epic odyssey to a hill called Watership Down, you’re in for an unforgettable treat.
45. where the mountain meets the moon by grace lin
Her family may be poor, but the young Minli has a big imagination and loves listening to her father’s imaginative stories. Little does she know that she is about to live out a legend of her own, complete with a wise old man, a companion dragon, and a treacherous green tiger, as she strives to bring good fortune and happiness to her impoverished village. p>
46. the wonderful wizard of oz by l. frank baum
There’s no place like home…and for readers young and old, the familiar yet fantastical adventures of Dorothy and her trusted friends in the land of Oz is a literary home of reference. From traversing the yellow brick road to melting the Wicked Witch of the West, the iconic scenes from Baum’s original masterpiece are simply unrivaled.
fantasy books for middle schoolers and older
We have classified these fantasy works as “for high school students” and above based on their slightly darker themes and more advanced language. however, keep in mind that elementary school students may enjoy them as well, it’s all up to the reader!
47. the prydain chronicles by lloyd alexander
An epic Bildungsroman spanning five books in all (including The Black Cauldron, which Disney infamously animated in 1985), The Prydain Chronicles follows young pig keeper Taran as he tries to prove himself and fight the evil Lord Arawn. and his army of the undead.
48. the jeramey kraatz cape society
Twelve-year-old Alex Knight was born into a society of supervillains, and has never questioned his place among them. But one day, just as he’s setting off on his first nefarious mission, he saves the life of a Ranger of Justice… and starts wondering whether a life of crime really is his destiny. Centering around this fantastic antihero and ruminating on complex issues of good and bad, The Cloak Society is recommended for the highly thoughtful reader.
49. eragon by christopher paolini
Written by Paolini when he was just 16 years old, Eragon tells the story of a simple farmer whose life changes forever after he finds a mysterious stone, which (spoiler alert) turns out to be a dragon’s egg.
50. melissa albert’s hazel
“stay away from hazel wood”. So says the message left by Alice’s mother, who otherwise disappears without a trace. Of course, Alice has no choice but to venture into that forbidden land to find her, encountering a variety of strange creatures and unexplained phenomena along the way, on a journey akin to a twisted version of No. 14th on this list.
51. his dark materials by phillip pullman
lyra belacqua is the brilliant heroine of her dark materials, an elaborate supernatural and religious fantasy in which she and her “demon” family must defeat the forces of ultimate evil…including the first angel himself, who is known as nicknamed “the authority”. .”
52. darkness rises by susan cooper
on his eleventh birthday, will stanton discovers that he is not an ordinary boy, but an “old man” destined to face the powers of darkness. that he is, you guessed it, on the rise. If you love elaborate mythological fantasy starring chosen teenagers, this is the series for you.
53. the kane chronicles by rick riordan and matt griffin
Speaking of chosen teenagers: Carter and Sadie Kane are descendants of Egyptian magicians and pharaohs, but they only find out when their Egyptologist father is taken away by the god of mischief, Set. Now the brothers must harness powers they didn’t even know they had to rescue their father, and indeed all of North America, before Set annihilates them.
54. james dashner’s maze runner
When thomas wakes up in “the glade”, he has no recollection of who he is or how he got there. but as our hero quickly learns, his past doesn’t matter as much as his terrible present. he and the other “glades” are trapped in a complex labyrinth and deadly creatures called mourners, who are closing in on them. and of course the only way is through the maze; Fortunately, Thomas’ strange telepathic powers could help them.
55. percy jackson and the olympians by rick riordan and john rocco
Another fantastic series from the mind of Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Olympians begins with The Lightning Thief, in which the eponymous Percy realizes his true roots, namely that he is the son of Poseidon. Percy begins attending “Camp Half-Blood” for young demigods, and soon he and his friends (including a daughter of Athena and a satyr) must embark on a quest to prevent an all-out war between those deities they call Mom and Dad.
56. red wall by brian jacques
In moss flower forests, the food chain works a little differently. Instead of being prey, the mice work together with cats and owls to defeat their ultimate enemies: snakes and rats (obviously). Our hero in Redwall is Matthias the Mouse, whose courage and cunning aid him on his quest to find the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior (also a mouse) and defeat Cluny the Scourge, an evil rat who wishes to take over the land of Redwall for good. himself.
57. the secrets of the immortal nicholas flamel by michael scott
Based on the legends surrounding the actual historical figure of Nicholas Flamel (i.e. not the Harry Potter character), this book follows teenage twins Sophie and Josh, who realize that the “nick” Josh’s boss is none other than the famous alchemist. Soon they find themselves swept up in a series of exciting adventures around the world as they try to unravel a prophecy that could destroy them all.
58. seraph by rachel hartman
seraphina is a young musician who serves in the court of goredd, where humans and dragons coexist diplomatically, if not entirely happily. But Seraphina has a secret: she is half dragon herself. And when a member of the royal family is slain, apparently at the hands (claws?) of a dragon, Seraphina must protect herself from her while she gets to the bottom of the mystery…before the killer strikes again.
59. sabriel of garth nix
Another titular heroine, Sabriel also possesses an extraordinary (if slightly macabre) talent: she, along with her father, can communicate with the dead. and it’s her father’s job as a hater to make sure everyone has rested in a place called the “old kingdom”. There’s just one problem: Sabriel’s father is missing, and now Sabriel must venture into the ancient realm to find him and return him to her balancing role as the hated one…before death can tip the scales too far.
60. song of the lioness by tamora pierce
what can we say? we just can’t resist all these amazing female leads. The theme song for the Leona series centers on Alanna, a brave young woman whose only wish is to become a knight. so she switches places, she’s the male style, with her twin brother thom her so she can attend knight school, and from there she launches into a sequence of cool medieval adventures, during which she demonstrates the merit her as a knight many times. .
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not enough? Check out 100 children’s books to spark young imaginations or the 30 best fantasy books for teens.