We’re not big fans of Halloween. But we do enjoy a good fantasy story sans ghoulish ghastliness. (Isn’t that a great word? Mom thought it up.)

Anyway, with Hallo-yuck coming up, Mom and I decided rather than focus on ghoulish tricks, we put together a list of treats instead: 44 Best Fantasy Books for Kids. Because, woof! Nobody does ‘imaginating’ better than kids! (Well, there was that one Labradoodle who…) Wait. That’s another story.

Kindly note that we’re using “fantasy” in its broadest sense. Like: Anything that could not exist within our own world. Make-believe in its purest form. Usually includes something supernatural or magical as primary elements of the plot, theme, or setting. Like talking animals. (One of us is super big on that.)

It’s easy to get Fiction and Fantasy confused. (One of us who shall remain nameless does that, too.) So here’s a basic primer describing the differences between the two genres. There are three main diffs, via Difference Between:

1. Fiction is closely connoted with unbelievable science and advanced technologies, whereas fantasies are linked closer to an archetypal landscape that is culturally influenced, like the concept of dragons.

2. Fiction is intended to be understood, while fantasies are more concepts to be loved and cherished. 

3. Generally, most fiction is placed within a futuristic timeline, whereas most fantasies are usually placed in the past.

Not sure we necessarily agree with all of the above. So we’re gonna flex a bit. But anywho, here’s our 100% unscientific, totally subjective list of 44 Best Fantasy Books for Kids. This is based on our own experience as well as input from the local library.

Ready? Get set! Go!

 

Picture Books & Little Kids

• Journey – Aaron Becker 
• Tuesday – David Wiesner 
• The Adventures of Beekle the Unimaginary Friend – Dan Santat 
• The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore – William Joyce 
• If I Had a Gryphon – Vicki VanSickle 
• Not Quite Narwhal – Jessie Sima 
• The Paper Bag Princess – Robert Munsch 
• Hush, Little Dragon – Boni Ashburn 

Early Elementary (K – 3)

 

• Sylvester and the Magic Pebble – William SteigWinnie the Pooh – A.A. Milne
• Where the Wild Things Are – Maurice Sendak
• The Cat in the Hat, Yertle the Turtle – Dr. Seuss
• The Sasquatch Escape – Suzanne Selfors 
• The Fairy-Tale Detectives – Michael Buckley 
• Fortunately, the Milk – Neil Gaiman
• Ferdinand the Bull – Munro Leaf
• Corduroy – Don Freeman
• Tuesdays at the Castle – Jessica Day George 
• Rise of the Earth Dragon – Tracey West 
• Dragons and Marshmallows – Asia Citro 
• Upside-Down Magic – Sarah Mlynowski 
• The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint- Exupery
• The Magic Tree House series – Mary Pope Osbourne  

Middle Grade-ish (4th – 6^th. Could also be middle school.)

• The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis
• Peter Pan – J.M. Barrie
• Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – L. Frank Baum
• Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery – Deborah Howe
• Gregor the Overlander – Suzanne Collins 
• The Tale of Despereaux – Kate DiCamillo 
• Into the Wild – Erin Hunter 
• The Dragonet Prophecy  Tui T. Sutherland 
• Magyk -Angie Sage 
• Artemis Fowl – Eoin Colfer (this is a mixture of sci fi/fantasy) 
• The False Prince – Jennifer A. Nielsen 
• Fablehaven – Brandon Mull 
• Princess Academy – Shannon Hale 
• Where the Mountain Meets the Moon – Grace Lin 
• The Girl Who Drank the Moon – Kelly Barnhill 
• The Iron Trial – Cassandra Clare and Holly Black

Middle School (6^th – 8^th)

Could also be Middle Grade. Just depends on the individual and what kind of fantasy book they’re looking for. (Sorry, we’re not that big on Harry Potter here.)

These books typically include more expansive vocabulary as well as more complicated and sophisticated plots and/or themes.

• Inkheart – Cornelia Funke 
• The Maze Runner – James Dashner
• The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Ruins of Gorlan – John Flanagan 
• The Lightning Thief – Rick Riordan 
• Tuck Everlasting – Natalie Babbitt

What would you add?