Children's Book Suggestions | Animal Fantasy

Some of our favorite animal fantasy books for readers in Grades 2-7, telling traditional fantasy stories where animals are the protagonists. You can view more animal fantasy books for young readers in the library catalog.

For more fantasy book suggestions, check out our Fairy Tales, Fantasy, and Mythology & Folklore book lists.

Updated June 29, 2024
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
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The shelterlings
Durst, Sarah Beth
Paper Book
A group of magical misfit animals learns to appreciate their seemingly useless powers--and themselves--when they work together to thwart a villain's attempt to steal their magic. Holly, a grey squirrel, and her animal friends have accepted that they will never be wizards'...

Upside Down Magic meets The Familiars in this fantasy story, in which a group of rejected wizards' familiars band together in search of a cure for their "defective" magic. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Guardians of the Taiga
Hinojosa, Stacy
Paper Book
New York Times bestseller! From StacyPlays, creator of the mega-popular YouTube series Dogcraft, comes a thrilling illustrated novel about a girl raised by a pack of wolves and her quest to protect their shared forest home. The first in a new Minecraft-inspired...

A popular YouTuber and animal lover crafts a story about a young girl raised by wolves who works together with her animal companions to protect their home. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Into the wild
Hunter, Erin.
Paper Book
Join the legion of fans who have made Erin Hunter's Warriors series a #1 national bestseller! Epic adventures. Fierce Warrior cats. A thrilling fantasy world. It all begins here with Warriors #1: Into the Wild. For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to...

A young housecat runs away to join a clan of warring cats in the woods. Easily the most popular animal fantasy series in the library! There is literally a new Erin Hunter book published every month, so you will never run out of books to read if you like the Warriors series and its spinoffs. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

The wind in the willows
Grahame, Kenneth 1859-1932
Paper Book
The escapades of four animal friends who live along a river in the English countryside--Toad, Mole, Rat, and Badger.

While it's not an epic fantasy quest tale, this cozy classic features a group of humanesque animals living their best lives in the English countryside. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

The secret of Glendunny : the haunting
Lasky, Kathryn
Paper Book
Newbery Honor-winning Kathryn Lasky, author of the bestselling Guardians of Ga'Hoole and Bears of Ice series, delivers a sweeping middle grade animal adventure with loyal beavers, a cultured swan, and ominous lynxes around every turn--a captivating story about heroism, loyalty, and the courage to...

While cats and mice have always been popular animal fantasy protagonists, we've been getting more and more unusual animals each year! Oregonians will be especially delighted by this series featuring an intrepid young beaver. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Mez's magic
Schrefer, Eliot
Paper Book
Extensive ARC distribution via Big Mouth mailings and giveaways at major institutional conferences and preview events Lost Rainforest Classroom Kit, including author's behind-the-scenes info/photos, cool facts about rainforests/conservation,...

A group of rainforest animals set out on a magical quest in this series opener from Eliot Schrefer. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Wild born
Mull, Brandon
Paper Book
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Mull comes Spirit Animals, an epic book series that leaps from the page into a riveting online game. Your book is the key to claim your spirit animal!In the world of Erdas, four children are about to discover if they have a spirit animal bond, a rare...

In a magical worlds where a handful of lucky 12-year-olds forge powerful bonds with magical animals, four young teens and their spirit companions set out to save the world. (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

DnDoggos. 1 Get the party started
Underhill, Scout
Paper Book
A Kirkus Best Book of the Year (Middle Grade) A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (Middle Grade) An ALA Best Graphic Novel for Children Four adorable dogs are tail-waggingly excited to play their favorite role-playing game in DnDoggos...

A slightly quirky take on the animal fantasy theme, this graphic novel features a group of dogs who enjoy fantasy role playing games. Perfect for avid D&D fans! (Children's Graphic Novel Grades 3-5)


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