Few things come close to the joy of reading fantasy books. A fiction novel might whisk you off to other times and places, but the fantasy genre sweeps you away to whole other worlds. It’s magical, and it’s accessible: there’s something for every age and reading level.

Classic fantasy (i.e. The Lord of the Rings) has a reputation for being challenging. Some readers are still deterred by the idea that it’s all dense prose and denser world building. But modern fantasy is rooted in children’s literature. Before Tolkien wrote his epic fantasy series, there was The Hobbit — one of the most beloved children’s books of all time. That spirit of writing for all reading levels thrives in the fantasy genre today. 

What do we mean by reading levels? Well:

1. There are fantasy books appropriate for all ages.

2. There are books appropriate for all literacy levels.

3. There are fantasies for everyone. 

That last point means lifelong genre readers, skeptics keen to figure out what this romantasy thing is all about, and people who only ever read A Game of Thrones looking for a new adventure. Anyway, enough preamble. Welcome to the Paper + Word fantasy reading guide for every age and reading level.

Reading with young children is a priceless experience. It helps them with phonics, vocab, the development of social skills, etc. And this all tends to start with a picture book.

Picture books are short (up to 32 pages long) books written for children, where the story is told through both words and illustrations. Yes, those adorably sturdy board-books for babies do count as picture books. But the three to five age bracket is where kids really start to understand, and engage with, the stories you read together. It’s the perfect time to introduce them to the magic of fantasy.

Fantasy picture book recommendations

• Teeny tiny readers: That’s Not My Monster… by Fiona Watts is a sensory introduction to fantasy for toddlers, with bumpy, fluffy, fuzzy, lumpy touch-and-feel elements on every page.

• Early readers: Young fantasy readers through reception to year one will love the sing-song rhythm and quick-thinking of How to Grow a Dragon, and the gentle wind-down routine of Where’s Little Dragon?

Fantasy books for kids aged five to eight begin to reduce the white space, introducing smaller type and denser blocks of text. Many still have pictures and illustrations, but they’re less essential for understanding the story. Intermediate reads will start breaking the story into smaller sections (chapters): you’ll sometimes see these described as chapter books.

Fantasy children’s book recommendations

• Entry-level: Matty Long’s Super Happy Magic Forest brims with hilarious illustrations, to the point it’s practically a graphic novel. This makes it the ideal crossover from picture book to children’s book — with plenty for grown-ups to love, too.

• Illustrated chapter books: Rudy and the Wolf Cub is a frighteningly cool introduction to the world of fantasy chapter books, with bold, highly stylized, monstrous illustrations throughout. Little readers looking for something similar but with added whimsy might prefer The Diary of Wiska Wildflower.

• Confidence builders: When you learn to read independently, it’s like discovering a door into your own magical world. Aziza’s Secret Fairy Door is the perfect fantasy book for children to experience that magic for themselves. It requires a slightly higher reading comprehension than others, but introduces young readers to what could be their first ever secondary world: Shimmerton.

Middle grade literature is written specifically for children aged eight to 12. Comprehension and interest levels really start to vary in this bracket, so it’s important to find children’s fantasy novels that challenge and inspire young readers on a personal level. Core themes, therefore, tend to focus on friendship, family challenges, and self-discovery, while fantasy conventions (i.e. worldbuilding) tend to serve those themes.

Fantasy midgrade book recommendations

• Beginners: Wildsmith is a series of short fantasy books that begins with Into the Dark Forest, and introduces readers to a magical realm teeming with mythical animals at risk from poachers. It’s fast-paced and conscientious, with just the right level of excitement and peril for emerging young readers. 

• Intermediate: Amari and the Night Brothers is a supernatural adventure described as Men in Black meets Percy Jackson. Need I say more? It’s best suited for intermediate young readers, but Amari’s got plenty of grown-up fans, too.

• Advanced: I remember the first fantasy book I read on my own. It was a tatty old paperback. On the cover was an abbey with a cart of shady-looking rats careening through a wood. Welcome to the world of Redwall. With lush prose and slightly more mature themes (i.e. good versus evil), Brian Jacques is perfect for keen young readers looking for stories to stick with them for a lifetime.

It’s never too late — or too early — to discover the joy of reading. The Paper + Word team are passionate about their recommendations and love chatting one-on-one with customers, no matter their depth of experience or interest. They’re just as happy to recommend best seller fantasy books to read for absolute newcomers as extremely niche, dark romantasies for fans who simply can’t get enough.

If you’re still unsure where to start, or you’re looking to engage more with a like-minded community of fantasy readers, check out the Paper + Word fantasy book subscriptions and book club.