Children's Book Suggestions | Fantasy

Some of our favorite fantasy books for readers in Grades 2-7. You can view more fantasy fiction books for kids in our online catalog. This is a popular genre with kids (and many librarians!), so we also have Animal Fantasy, Fairy Tales, and Mythology & Folklore book lists for young fantasy readers with very specific tastes.

Updated June 6, 2024
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Willa the wisp
Auxier, Jonathan
Paper Book
The Fabled Stables are home to oneofakind creatures. Creatures like the Gargantula, the Yawning Abyss, the Bizzybees, and Auggie. Auggie is the only human boy on the island, and he takes care of all the other creatures. Sometimes, the Stables make space for new arrivals. When this happens,...

A young boy tends to a menagerie of magical creatures. (Bridging Fiction Grades 2-4)

The dragonet prophecy
Sutherland, Tui
Paper Book
A thrilling new series soars above the competition and redefines middle-grade fantasy fiction for a new generation!The seven dragon tribes have been at war for generations, locked in an endless battle over an ancient, lost treasure. A secret movement called the Talons of Peace is determined to bring...

A traditional fantasy adventure story with a twist: all of the characters are dragons! Next to Percy Jackson, this is our most popular fantasy series for young readers in both chapter book and graphic novel form. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Rise of the earth dragon
West, Tracey
Paper Book
The New York Times bestselling Dragon Masters series is "How to Train Your Dragon" meets the Dragon Slayers' Academy, and it's perfect for newly independent readers! Pick a book. Grow a reader. This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches...

Our most popular fantasy series in this section! A great choice for kids who love the How to Train Your Dragon movies. (Bridging Fiction Grades 2-4)

How to train your dragon
Cowell, Cressida.
Paper Book
7 MILLION COPIES SOLD OF THE SERIES THAT INSPIRED THE HIT MOVIES!   Action-packed, hilarious, and perfectly illustrated, How to Train Your Dragon is a beloved modern classic with millions of fans across the globe. Journey into the adventure that...

The book that inspired the movies! There are 12 books in the series. Wizards of Once and Which Way to Anywhere? series are also great choices for chapter book readers. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Dragons in a bag
Elliott, Zetta
Paper Book
The dragon's out of the bag in this diverse, young urban fantasy from an award-winning author! When Jaxon is sent to spend the day with a mean old lady his mother calls Ma, he finds out she's not his grandmother--but she is a witch! She needs his help delivering...

A young boy living in New York City discovers that his babysitter is actually a witch when she entrusts him with a bag of baby dragons who need to be delivered to a magical realm. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Into the wild
Hunter, Erin.
Paper Book
Epic adventures. Fierce warrior cats. A thrilling fantasy world. It all begins here. Read the book that began a phenomenon--and join the legion of fans who have made Erin Hunter's Warriors series a #1 national bestseller. For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the...

A house cat dissatisfied with his domesticated life finds his purpose in a clan of wild cats living in the woods. There is literally a new Erin Hunter book every month, so readers who love Warriors will never run out of new books to read. For more fantasy stories where animals are the protagonists, check out our Animal Fantasy book list. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Pip Bartlett's guide to magical creatures
Pearce, Jackson
Paper Book
From bestselling authors Maggie Stiefvater and Jackson Pearce comes an exciting new series full of magical creatures, whimsical adventures, and quirky illustrations.Here's a list of things Pip Bartlett can talk to:UnicornsMiniature Silky GriffinsBitterflunksBasically, all magical creaturesHere's a...

Pip Barlett's world is just like ours, except that magical creatures are real--and no one can believe that she can talk to them. Full of illustrations to her updated guide of magical creatures, this chronicles a trip to her aunt's vet clinic for the summer while a plague of fuzzles set everyone's underwear drawers on fire. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe
Lewis, C. S.
Paper Book
A beautiful hardcover edition of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, book two in C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia.  The full-color jacket features art by three-time Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator David Wiesner. The interior includes ...

C.S. Lewis's original fantasy classic! While it's a great choice for readers of all religious traditions, Christian readers will especially appreciate Lewis' references to his own Christian faith. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

The Guardian test
Soontornvat, Christina
Paper Book
From three-time Newbery honor recipient Christina Soontornvat comes a thrilling fantasy series about kids who can transform into amazing animals! Young Plum is shocked to discover that she's been accepted to the Guardian Academy on Lotus Island, an elite school where kids learn how to...

Thai author Christina Soontornvat crafts a vibrant fantasy adventure story inspired by the landscapes and traditions of southeast Asia. Her Newbery Honor Book The Last Mapmaker is also a great choice for readers looking for more Asian-inspired fantasy stories. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

The golden compass
Pullman, Philip
Paper Book
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman has created new materials including archival documents, scientific notes, and found letters of Lord Asriel. Includes a ribbon bookmark.

The modern classic that inspired the movie and the recent HBO series. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Giants beware!
Aguirre, Jorge.
Paper Book
Make way for Claudette the giant slayer in this delightful, fantastical adventure! Claudette's fondest wish is to slay a giant. But her village is so safe and quiet! What's a future giant slayer to do? With her best friend Marie (an aspiring princess), and her brother...

A brave girl with grand ambitions sets out with her friends to slay a giant and save her dad. (Children's Graphic Novel Grades 3-5)

Amulet. Book 1, The stonekeeper
Kibuishi, Kazu
Paper Book
The first book in Kazu Kibuishi's #1 New York Times bestselling series that features a beautiful but dangerous world of new friends, giant robots, and shadowy enemies! After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great...

Two siblings encounter a slightly sinister magical realm in the basement of their new home in this classic graphic novel fantasy adventure. (Children's Graphic Novel Grades 3-5)

Hilda and the Midnight Giant
Pearson, Luke.
Paper Book
InHilda and the Midnight Giant, our protagonist finds her world turned upside down as she faces the prospect of leaving her snow-capped birthplace for the hum of the megalopolis, where her mother (an architect) has been offered a prestigious job. During Hilda's daily one-and-a-half...

The graphic novel that inspired the Netflix series! A young girl encounters magical creatures in both the wilderness, where she spent her childhood, and her new home in the city. (Children's Graphic Novel Grades 3-5)

The Manifestor prophecy
Thomas, Angie
Paper Book
Instant #1 New York Times bestseller! Internationally bestselling superstar author Angie Thomas makes her middle grade debut with the launch of an inventive, hilarious, and suspenseful new contemporary fantasy trilogy inspired by African American history and folklore. It's not...

The author of The Hate U Give makes her middle grade debut with a fantasy adventure story inspired by Black history and folklore. For more Black history inspired fantasy, try Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Witchlings
Ortega, Claribel A.
Paper Book
Friendship is the most powerful magic of all. Don't miss this instant New York Times bestseller perfect for fans of Wicked -- a magical adventure about fitting in, standing out, and the power of friendship. Every year, in the magical town of Ravenskill,...

Three girls who have nothing in common, aside from their failure to be accepted into their town's established covens, must form their own or risk losing their magic. A great choice for fans of Harry Potter or The School for Good & Evil from an award-winning Dominican American author. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The lightning thief
Riordan, Rick
Paper Book
The #1 New York Times Bestseller | Now a series on Disney+ 12-year-old Percy Jackson discovers he is the son of Poseidon in the opener to the hilarious, fast-paced adventure fantasy series for young readers ages 10 and up The paperback edition of the...

Is there a fantasy-loving kid today who hasn't read the Percy Jackson books? For kids who've devoured everything Rick Riordan has ever written, try our Mythology & Folklore book list and the Rick Riordan Presents collection of fantasy adventure books inspired by world mythology. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The great Texas dragon race
Ritter, Kacy
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE * WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION New York Times Readers' Pick: Top 100 Books of the 21st Century * An Oprah's Book Club Selection * An Instant New York Times Bestseller * An Instant Wall Street Journal Bestseller * A #1 Washington Post...

Dragon riders are a popular topic in fantasy for readers of all ages--see Dragonhaven by Robin McKinley for teens and Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey for adults--but the Texas setting and nail-biting race format set this one apart. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Harry Potter and the sorcerer's stone
Rowling, J. K.
Paper Book
Harry Potter spent ten long years living with Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, an aunt and uncle whose outrageous favoritism of their perfectly awful son Dudley leads to some of the most inspired dark comedy since Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. But fortunately for Harry, he's about to be granted a...

The book that changed the game for children's publishing in general and children's fantasy books in particular! A lonely orphan learns he's the child of wizards and enrolls in wizard school (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Skandar and the unicorn thief
Steadman, A. F.
Paper Book
Soar into a breathtaking world of heroes and unicorns as you've never seen them before in this fantastical middle grade debut perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson and Eragon series! Skandar Smith has always yearned to leave the Mainland and escape to the secretive Island, where...

Unicorns have a sparkly, innocent reputation for creatures with a sword protruding from their forehead! This fantasy adventure story takes on the darker side of traditional unicorn tales. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Dealing with dragons
Wrede, Patricia C.
Ebook
Meet the princess who rescues herself and the female dragon who would be king in this first fantasy adventure in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles.   The traditional duties of a princess fail to please Cimorene, the daughter of a very proper king. She is quite sure...

Tired of not fitting in as a "proper" princess, Cimorene runs away and apprentices herself to the dragon Kazul--who, unlike her parents, appreciates her growing skills as a scholar, chef, and magician. (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

Wingbearer
Liu, Marjorie M.
Paper Book
A young girl must stop a threat to her magical world in this epic graphic novel from New York Times bestselling author Marjorie Liu and remarkable debut illustrator Teny Issakhanian. Plus don't miss the spectacular sequel, Wingborn, out in fall 2023! Zuli is extraordinary--she just doesn't...

A magical fantasy adventure about a girl raised by tree spirits from bestselling teen/adult author Marjorie Liu. (Young Teen Graphic Novel Grades 5-7)


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