Crumbled! (The Misadventures of Nobbin Swill)

By Lisa Harkrader

Fairytale meets adventure in this comedic tale of Nobbin Swill, a dung farmer (yes, the very one) who dreams of a more fulfilling life. When he finds a shiny ring in a not-so-shiny pile of poo, he knows it’s his ticket out of the dung-laden field for good. The only obstacle standing between him and his newfound freedom? Helping Prince Charming solve the mystery of the missing children, Hansel and Gretel. Whether your 7- to 12-year-old is a jokester, a belly-laugher, or a master of bizarre antics, they’ll enjoy flipping through this story independently alongside illuminating illustrations.

There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Book

By Jomike Tejido

Have you heard of the old woman who lived in a shoe? Well, this old woman lives in a book-shaped house—and her six children have gone missing! With some quick thinking, she enlists the help of a few esteemed children’s story characters to help her find her missing brood of babes. The Three Bears? More like the three helpers. Humpty Dumpty? Prepared to assist. If your preschool reader is familiar with nursery rhyme characters, they’ll be enthralled by this imaginative retelling complete with thoughtful illustrations to help them follow along.

We Are Water Protectors

By Carole Lindstrom

Join an earnest Native American narrator as she encourages your 3- to 6-year-old to take a stand for environmental justice. The story’s foundation is laid upon two of the earth’s most valuable elements: water and land. When an evil black snake threatens to poison these sacred resources, your young reader will receive an easy-to-follow lesson on water pollution and the importance of caring for our planet. Little ones learning to read will grasp the basic components of a story, while younger listeners will follow the footsteps of brave environmentalists—which could someday be them!

Ragweed (Poppy #1)

By Avi

A country mouse, Ragweed, packs his bags and heads for adventure in the big city—and it’s better than he could have imagined. He finds excitement, friends, and a band of musical rats who just so happen to need a bandmate. He couldn’t ask for anything more! Well, except for the city to be rid of those frisky feline foes. With bold and zany characters peppered through each page, Avi creates an engaging atmosphere for your reader to identify the character traits of protagonists, antagonists, and every creature in between. With such an action-packed plot, Ragweed is at the top of our list of the best fantasy books for kids.

Once Upon a Tim (Once Upon a Tim #1)

By Stuart Gibbs

Full of middle-school humor, Once Upon a Tim centers Tim, a peasant who wishes he was anything but. By some magical miracle, a prince offers him the chance to prove himself worthy of more, so Tim and his friends suit up on a quest to save the princess from the evil Stinx. Throughout the book, Gibbs plants challenging vocabulary words around context clues to help 7- to 10-year-old readers learn with ease. If you’re looking for a book that’ll have your reader exploring the dictionary and craving even more complex mystery books, this is it.

Amari and the Night Brothers

By B. B. Alston

When Amari’s older brother, Quinton, mysteriously goes missing, no one seems to bat an eye. Searching for clues, Amari soon finds herself in a supernatural world full of mermaids, yetis, and weredragons. To find her brother, she’ll have to use her recently discovered magic and compete against other kids who’ve spent their lives honing their magical might. This unforgettable novel leaves plenty of discussion points for parents and children, like the importance of persevering, feeling confident in your skin, and overcoming everyday challenges.

The Lost Rainforest #1: Mez’s Magic

by Eliot Schrefer

It’s not often you get to stroll in a panther’s pawsteps. From New York Times bestselling author Eliot Schrefer, this adventure takes your young reader straight into the wild of Caldera, where a young panther must use her unusual powers to unravel an ancient mystery and save her endangered rainforest home.

Quietly educational and powerfully intriguing, this three-part series infuses magical worldbuilding into an intricate animal kingdom reminiscent of Erin Hunter’s Warriors and Bravelands books (also Literati favorites!).

More Adventure Fantasy

If your 9-12 year old loves daring quests and dangerous expeditions, there’s plenty more journeys to be had!

The Lost Property Office – a secret society, a missing magical artifact, and the thrilling, history-riddled adventure to recover it .

Race to the End of the World – an ordinary boy with an extraordinary memory launches on an ambitious voyage to the edge of the map.

The Okay Witch

by Emma Steinkellner

Like many 13-year-olds, Moth Hush doesn’t quite fit in at school. But unlike her peers, her family legacy is tied to her town’s history of witch drama. Once her powers emerge, a talking cat and an enchanted diary lead her to the hidden witch world, where she discovers secrets of generations past.

This charming graphic novel magically balances humor and heart for a down-to-earth take on supernatural adolescence. It’s a spellbinding coming-of-age story full of twists and surprises!

More Fantasy Graphic Novels

And did we mention the gorgeous art? If your middle-grade reader finds illustrations particularly illuminating, might we also suggest:

Pashmina – a heartwarming tale about the hardship of juggling two cultures and two worlds, and the self-discovery that results.

Nightlights – a whimsical story about fear, creativity, and a girl who can create magical creatures from tiny sparks of light

The Collectors

by Jacqueline West

Not all wishes are good—in fact, even good wishes often have unintended consequences. But who gets to decide which ones come true? This twisty narrative will have your middle schooler questioning everything about wish-making as they follow a boy named Van into the mysterious, nuanced world of those who “collect” them.

This underground world is as delightful as it is thought-provoking—perfect for any middle grader navigating new academic challenges and social dynamics.

More Magical Fantasy

If wildly creative magics and mystical worlds keep your intermediate reader engaged for hours, we’re right there with them—these are some of our favorite reads!

The Nightmare Thief – Maren loves to make and sell dreams in her family’s shop, until one sinister customer demands a nightmare.

Lalani of the Distant Sea – to save her village, Lalani must face several fearsome mythical creatures inspired by Filipino folklore.

The Land of Roar

By Jenny McLachlan

It’s been years since Rose and Arthur traversed the folding bed in Grandad’s attic to their imaginary Land of Roar, but while cleaning the attic, Grandad himself gets pulled in! And if our readership is any indication, so will your middle-grade reader.

With constant danger and intrigue, this gorgeously-illustrated story has proven time and time again to help develop consistent reading habits in budding fantasy-lovers.

More Portal Fantasy

If your kid hopes to stumble into an entirely new world, they’ll love getting lost in these fabulous fantasies:

The Island of Dr. Libris – when Billy discovers the mysterious bookcase of Dr. Libris, he uncovers a magic that brings the stories to life.

Story Thieves – Owen gets to live every bookworm’s dream: jumping into the text itself (expect high stakes, suspense, and plot twists galore!)

Odd Gods

by David Slavin

Oddonis is a son of Zeus. He’s surely odd (he doesn’t have powers like the rest of his family and even has webbed toes), but he’s also endearing. He and his friends at Mount Olympus Middle School are an ungodly group, but can they pull it together in time for a big school election? A perfect mix of Percy Jackson and Diary of a Wimpy Kid!, this mythological mix-up is a giggle-inducing precursor to more complex mythical stories.

More Funny Fantasy

If busting a gut gets your reader reading, they’ll never want to shelve these hilarious adventures:

Rat Rule 79: An Adventure – step into the Land of Impossibility: a loopily illogical place where time is outlawed and words carry dire consequences.

Knights vs. Dinosaurs – exactly what it says—and so, so much more: laugh yourself to tears with the misadventures of these Knights of the Round Table.