16 Kids Fantasy Books to Capture Their Imagination

Alexandra F.:  There's a lot about this bestselling series that would appeal to anyone looking for more books like Harry Potter. Like our favorite boy wizard, the main character also suddenly discovers her place in a fantastical world that secretly co-exists with our non-magical one, and her subsequent adventures are filled with magic, danger and friendship, mostly starring teen protagonists with special powers. Our family started reading these as part of a family book club when our kids were nine and 11, and have been hooked ever since!

Dawn Denning:  My son recently started reading this series and he LOVES it...and so do I. Written by Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel from Glee), these are are good books for middle schoolers and older elementary school kids about the adventures of a set of twins that leave our world and travel into the world of fairytales. The fairytale worlds include Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Mother Goose and more! The stories are engaging, suspenseful and funny, so my son and I both look forward to reading time!

Alexandra F.:  Harry Potter is a personal favorite (which I first read in college!), so we introduced it when our kids were pretty young, in early elementary school. I love that it can be enjoyed (and read and reread) at all ages, though, so that my kids loved it as much in middle school as they did in third grade, and as much as I do as an adult.

Katie G.:  My son LOVED this series! He is going around the house telling us all about Zeus, Poseidon, Athena and all the other Greek gods. I didn't think anything could top Harry Potter, but I think this one has.

Alexandra F.:  This was my introduction to science fiction as a child and I remember being absolutely captivated and drawn to fantasy and sci fi ever since. I was thrilled when my daughter finally agreed to give it a try. It was an unmitigated success!

Alexandra F.:  Our family enjoyed this series by Marissa Meyer so much that the release of the third book in the trilogy was a much-anticipated event at our house. Lots of adventure (and a touch of high school romance) in an interesting story about a world where many people have super powers, but are struggling to figure out what role these super heroes should play in society. The two main characters are teenagers who each have super powers, and fall on opposite sides of the prevailing viewpoints. But, secrets and betrayals abound, making for a fun and twisty plot!

Alexandra F.:  C.S. Lewis has enchanted children (and adults) for generations with this tale of four siblings who, while hiding in a wardrobe in their new home, suddenly walk through the back of it and find themselves in a fantastical land of perpetual winter. Their adventures beyond the wardrobe, as well as the story preceding this discovery, are covered in the seven books of the Chronicles of Narnia. I have enjoyed this book at various stages of my life, but especially loved reading it out loud with my children when they were younger.

Kelly R:  This is such a unique book...a recent favorite of my 7th grade boy! The story alternates between being told by words and by series of terrific illustrations. It's a fantasy book about elves and goblins, but also a witty satire on politics, cultural differences and how history is written.

Alexandra F.:  You really can't talk about fantasy books for kids without a tip of the hat to the man who popularized modern fantasy, J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit is a prequel to his epic Lord of the Rings, and a must-read for anyone who loves fantasy literature. Though Bilbo Baggins' unexpected adventure to recover stolen treasure from a dragon is simple, straightforward, and appropriate for even young kids, the language is more complex than most children's books, so it may be better suited for older or advanced readers. My kids finally read it in 5th and 7th grade after some earlier failed attempts, and loved it.

Alexandra F.:  This was one of my daughter's favorite books in second grade, and she was so struck by the whimsical adventure story that she consistently recommends it to younger fans of children's fantasy books years later. Written by Julie Andrews (of Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music!), it tells the story of three children's search for the legendary Whangdoodle, an extraordinarily kind, wise creature who disappeared a long time ago, and who is believed to live in a secret land along with other remarkable creatures.

Alexandra F.:  This highly acclaimed children's fantasy novel by Jeanne DuPrau features a post-apocalyptic world where the city that was built to protect the last of the human race is beginning to fall into darkness - literally. Two friends must uncover the meaning of a secret message to save the city’s light, and their world. This was another favorite for my tween.

Alexandra F.:  This is a really fun and quirky fantasy adventure story for kids by Brandon Sanderson. The Smedry family has been gifted with unconventional talents, like always being late, tripping, and most spectacularly, breaking things. When 13-year-old Alcatraz Smedry finally connects with his biological family after growing up in foster care, things get weird, fast, and he suddenly finds himself on an epic adventure to save the world from - you guessed it - the evil librarians keeping us all in darkness through lies and misinformation.

Alexandra F.:  Disney After Dark is the first in this seven-book series by Ridley Pearson, which follow a group of teens who are a part of a new program at Disney World that creates holographic tour guides for park guests. Of course, things are not as they seem, and the teens also find themselves having to protect the park against an evil plot hatched by Disney villains. These are great books for kids who love Disney, as there are plenty of detailed references to park rides and attractions that would make them especially fun to read if you are planning a Disney vacation in the near future!

Jessica A.:  I love all of the book recommendations listed here!! I would add Ranger's Apprentice Series by John Flanagan. This 11-book series has deeply engaged my most stubborn of readers at home. It's for ages 10 and up. My 7th grade son finally rekindled his interest in reading with the introduction of this series!!!!

Alexandra F.:  Brandon Sanderson is a masterful writer, and his fantasy books for kids, young adults and adults are all favorites in our house. Though Skyward is geared toward older kids and adults, younger children who are strong readers would also enjoy this sci fi space-thriller about a teen who follows in her father's footsteps to become a fighter pilot, and begins to learn more than she expected about the circumstances surrounding his mysterious (and notorious) death when she was a child. There are currently three books out in what will be a four-book series.