Do you enjoy adventure, magic, paranormal or inventive worlds that are nothing like Earth? Then jump into this list of some of our favorite fantasy stories for school-age children.
Compiled by:
Children's Services Staff
Younger Elementary
(Juvenile Graphic Novels - J-GN Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly v. 1)
Series: The Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly
Ruskin, the pet dragon of the Prince of Wrenly, is used to a pampered royal lifestyle. But when another young dragon comes to the palace asking for help breaking an ice curse that has befallen Crestwood, and that could spread to all of Wrenly, he leaves the palace to help. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile First Chapter Books - J-FC Citro)
Series: Zoey and Sassafras
While her mother, a vet for magical creatures, is away at a conference, Zoey has an important task: care for any creatures that show up needing help. When a sick baby dragon appears, Zoey and her cat, Sassafras, work together to help the dragon get better. Recommended for ages 5-9.
(Juvenile First Chapter Books - J-FC Walker)
Series: Dungeon Academy
As the only human at the prestigious Dungeon Academy, Zelli, who is disguised as a minotaur, tries her best to blend in with the other monsters and creatures at the school, but when she notices a smaller student being bullied by a few of the meanest and scariest, she finds herself in more trouble than she asked for. Recommended for ages 6-9.
(Juvenile First Chapter Books - J-FC Krulik)
Series: Princess Pulverizer
Princess Serena (a.k.a. "Princess Pulverizer") wants to be a knight, but her father says she first must complete a Quest of Kindness and perform eight good deeds to prove she's worthy of Knight School. With help from a friendly dragon named Dribble and a perpetually terrified knight-in-training named Lucas, can she complete her quest and discover what it really takes to be a hero? Recommended for ages 6-8.
(Juvenile First Chapter Books - J-FC Auxier)
Series: The Fabled Stables
8 year old Auggie Pound is a caretaker of mysterious and magical creatures at the Fabled Stables. One day, the stables magically add a new stall for a new creature. But there's a problem: the new creature must be rescued before it can move in, and Auggie must venture into the swamp to find it. Recommended for ages 6-9.
Older Elementary
(Juvenile Fiction - J Abe)
Alliana spends her days tending to her stepfamily's inn at the edge of the abyss, but when she rescues an orphaned nightdragon and later helps an apprentice witch, she seizes her chance to escape her stepmother's tyranny and find her own happily ever after. Recommended for ages 8-12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Alston)
Amari's brother has been missing for six months, but Amari is sure he's still alive. When she receives an invitation to join the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs and learns about a secret magical world hidden from our own, she sees a chance to find him. Perfect for fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. Recommended for ages 8-12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Perry)
After his parents disappeared, Cameron was forbidden from reading The Book of Chidani, which contains stories of a magical kingdom where Igbo people hid themselves to stay safe. One night during a sleepover, Cameron and his friends sneak into the attic and open the book, and are transported to Chidani itself. The kingdom is in turmoil, and it's up to Cameron and his friends to save it. Recommended for ages 8-12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Reyes)
Blue, River, Wren, and Shenli grew up on different sides of a war they didn’t start. Their land has been torn apart over centuries of conflict, with humans taught to fear all things magical, dragons driven to near extinction, and magic under attack. But an ancient prophecy has put the four them on a collision course with destiny—and with each other—in a mission to heal the fractured realm once known as Haven. Recommended for ages 8-12.
(Juvenile Graphic Novels - J-GN Riess Dungeon Critters)
Join the Dungeon Critters--a tight-knit squad of animal companions--on a wild adventure investigating a sinister botanical conspiracy among the furry nobility. As they risk their lives traveling through haunted dungeons, swamps, and high society balls--they also come closer together as friends. Recommended for ages 8-12.
(Juvenile Fiction - Savaryn)
In this magical retelling of The Secret Garden, Lottie loses her colorful magic after the death of her parents and is sent to the gray wasteland to live with her uncle, but the discovery of a locked-up garden, a wise cardinal, and a hidden boy gives Lottie a second chance at bringing color back into her life. Recommended for ages 8-12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Alessan)
12 year old Valentina doesn't believe the stories her father tells about magical creatures, and she doesn't want to go into the jungle with her father and brother to investigate a sighting of a vampire-like creature. When an earthquake rips open a crevice in the jungle and plunges the siblings into alternate world filled with magical creatures, they must go on an adventure to get home, and to save their father. A thrilling tale that blends fantasy and Columbian folklore. Recommended for ages 8-12.
(Juvenile Graphic Novels - J-GN Lightfall v. 1)
A quest to find her missing grandfather sets Bea and her new friend Cad on a path to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the sun. This is a gorgeously illustrated story of friendship and mystery, perfect for fans of Studio Ghibli and Kazu Kibuishi's Amulet series. Recommended for ages 8-12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Mcnicol)
12 year old Ramya Knox is used to feeling different, and hates being called "useless" because of her dyspraxia. When her grandfather dies, he leaves behind a mysterious book, and Ramya learns that she can see through the disguises that magical creatures use to hide themselves from humans. This discovery plunges her into the dangerous world of the Hidden Folk that live in her city of Edinburgh. A page-turning fantasy for anyone who has ever felt like they don't fit in. Recommended for ages 8-12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Moss)
When Lintang is chosen to join pirate Captain Shafira's crew, her dreams of leaving her island village for a life of seafaring adventure come true. However, leaving the village thrusts her into a world of secrets, mythical creatures, and danger. Recommended for ages 10-12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Barnhil)
Stone-in-the-Glen, once a lovely town, has fallen on hard times. Fires, floods, and other calamities have caused the people to lose their library, their school, their park, and even their neighborliness. The people put their faith in the Mayor, a dazzling fellow who promises he alone can help. After all, he is a famous dragon slayer. (At least, no one has seen a dragon in his presence.) Only the clever children of the Orphan House and the kindly Ogress at the edge of town can see how dire the town’s problems are. Recommended for ages 10-12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Gibbs)
When Prince Ruprecht announces that he's looking for knights to help him rescue the kidnapped Princess Grace, Tim and his friend Belinda jump at the chance to go on an adventure. But the farther they get on their quest, the more they realize things are not as they seem. A hilarious and silly romp perfect for fans of Max and the Midknights. Recommended for ages 7-10.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Brown)
After her home is attacked by shapeshifting vampires, twelve-year-old Serwa Boateng is sent to live with her aunt and cousin in Maryland, but the aspiring vampire hunter discovers that middle school is harder than it appears on television, especially when she has to avoid detention and turn her classmates into warriors before they become vampire food. Recommended for ages 10-12.
(Juvenile Fiction - J Symessm)
Trapped in a rigid hierarchy where girls learn magic and boys train as knights, twelve-year-old nonbinary Callie, who dreams of becoming a knight, and their new friends find themselves embedded in an ancient war, but in order to defeat the threats outside the kingdom they must first defeat the bigotry within. Recommended for ages 9-12.
(Juvenile Graphic Novels - J-GN Tercier Swan Lake)
Destined to be enemies due to their warring kingdoms, two princesses--Odette, burdened by a curse, and Dillie, longing for adventure--become the best of friends as they follow an ancient legend to make everything right. Recommended for ages 10-12.