Stack of Harry Potter books in colorful covers showcasing a fantasy book recommendation for kids.

17 Kids Fantasy Books to Capture Their Imagination

The popularity of books like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson have introduced a wider audience to children's fantasy & science fiction, with wonderfully creative stories that capture our imagination and transport us to fantastic new worlds.

But, not all sci fi & fantasy books for kids are created equal, so we're gathering recommendations from parents themselves for those truly stand-out stories their kids loved best!

Whether you want more books like Harry Potter or something altogether different, you'll find new inspiration in this collection of favorites. Share your votes, comments and favorites, too!


 
    amazon.com

    The Girl Who Drank the Moon

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    Alexandra F. said:  My middle schooler really enjoyed this award-winning book by Kelly Barnhill, about a town that routinely offers up a baby as a sacrifice to a witch who lives in the nearby woods. The witch (who is actually good) decides to raise one of the babies when she becomes imbued with moonlight, and later begins to develop extraordinary magic. Beautifully written and lyrical, and a wonderful example of high fantasy for children.

    amazon.com

    Kingdom Keepers Series

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    Alexandra F. said:  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!

Primary photo:   Madalyn Cox on Unsplash

Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.