Fantasy Books for Kids
We’re passionate about ensuring literacy is accessible to every child, as it is essential for a happy, successful life. This collection opens doors to magical worlds for readers ages 5 to 9. Each book features enchanted realms, mythical creatures, and extraordinary adventures where imagination knows no bounds.
An Odd Day
Hank has big plans for the greatest garden his street has ever seen - but what happens when the sky lights up with strange swirling colors? What falls out of those clouds, and will anyone believe him when he tells the tale? Grab a shovel and dig into this wonderfully weird backyard adventure packed with surprises on every page. This decodable reader practices the eigh phonogram in words such as ’eight,’ ‘heavyweight,’ ’neighborhood,’ ’neighbors,’ and ‘weightless.’
Don't Vanish Again!
Tina has so many chores to do every day, but all she really wants is to play! One day while singing in the cornfield, she discovers a magical elf who can finish her work in a flash. Now Tina has a new friend and more time for fun! But when the elf disappears one night, Tina is heartbroken. Will the elf ever come back? And what will Tina learn about friendship and doing her fair share?
Dragon!
What happens when a gentle evening walk turns into something far scarier? Tip the Dog and Fig Pig are heading home from a hunting trip when a huge shadow blocks the sun - and a giant beast appears above them that should never leave The End. Can three small friends stand their ground against a dragon in a rage? This decodable reader practises soft g words such as ‘gentle,’ ‘giant,’ ‘gigantic,’ ‘ridge,’ and ‘village.’
Get Out of the Hut!
Can the Orange Cats squeeze out of their tiny dirt hut and build a real home of their own? With muddy whiskers, heavy stacks of stone, and monsters groaning in the dark, moving day turns out to be harder than they ever imagined. Will they battle the giant spider and finish their dream house before night falls again? This decodable reader practices the ‘ough’ sound in words like ‘brought,’ ‘fought,’ ’tough,’ and ’though.’
Giraffe Ate the Sun!
Giraffe promised Mum he wouldn’t do anything silly - but when the sun beats down and makes her droop, he makes a very silly decision indeed. What happens when a hungry giraffe swallows the sun whole? Can Bear, floating in his pond with dreams of bread, turn this glowing, rumbly disaster into something wonderful? This decodable reader practises si making /zh/ in words like “decision,” “explosion,” “confusion,” and “vision.”
Give Back My Bell!
Dibs the little dragon has the most magnificent golden bell in the world, jingling proudly on the tip of his tail. But when a cheeky purple dragon snatches it and soars off into the clouds, poor Dibs is left staring up at dizzying heights. How will a tiny dragon who can’t even fly get his treasure back? This decodable reader practises the ’ei’ phonogram in words like ‘weigh,’ ‘height,’ ‘seized,’ and ‘weird.’
Grow Me a Head!
Ned has built a wall, a gate, and even a moat - but what if something still sneaks past? The Book says he needs a guard: a giant iron golem with a pumpkin for a head. But how do you GROW a head? And what happens when Ned finally plants the seeds and waits? Join Ned on a very strange, very silly building adventure. This decodable reader practises the ‘gn’ sound in words like ‘design,’ ‘sign,’ ‘gnaw,’ and ’lasagna.’
Hold On Tight!
When Cam closes his eyes after a long day, something magical happens - suddenly he’s floating, soaring past treetops and waving at birds! But what happens when an eagle warns him to hold on tight, and there’s nothing to hold on to? How high can one boy fly before the stars start to shake? Will Cam find his way back before morning? This decodable reader practises the igh phonogram in words like ‘bright,’ ‘flight,’ ’night,’ and ’tight.’
I Forgot How to Land!
When Fig Pig gives Brat Cat a very special birthday present - a pair of wings! - she can hardly believe her eyes. But how do you learn to fly when the ground looks so very far away? Can Brat Cat be brave enough to leap off the cliff and soar into the valley below? And will Fig Pig remember to teach her everything she needs to know? This decodable reader practises the ough phonogram in words like ‘bought,’ ‘brought,’ ‘rough,’ ’tough,’ and ’through.’
Battle the Dragon!
Diamond sword? Check. Diamond axe? Check. Diamond armour head to toe? Check! But to beat the Ender Dragon, our hero needs something even tougher - Netherite. And the only way to get it is to step through the portal into the Nether. Can they dodge the lava, survive the pigmen, and dig deep enough to find the ancient debris? This decodable reader practises the le/al/el/il endings in words like ‘battle,’ ‘metal,’ ’tackle,’ and ‘stumble.’
Frequently Asked Questions
How does reading fantasy help children develop as readers?
Fantasy stories immerse children in worlds that demand imagination, which keeps them reading for longer stretches. A study in Frontiers in Psychology (2022) found that children become genuinely absorbed when reading fiction β and that this absorption is linked to stronger comprehension and recall. The more vivid the world, the more engaged the reader.
Do fantasy books build vocabulary in young readers?
Fantasy stories introduce language children rarely encounter in everyday speech β words like enchanted, quest, ancient, and creature. Scarborough’s Reading Rope model (2001) identifies vocabulary and background knowledge as essential strands of skilled reading, and genre-rich content like fantasy strengthens both. Each new word a child decodes in context becomes part of their growing language bank.
Are these fantasy books suitable for reluctant readers?
Fantasy is one of the strongest genres for drawing in reluctant readers because magical worlds and unexpected twists create an urgency to keep turning pages. Research on how children learn from narrative fiction (Springer, 2022) shows that engagement with story drives both comprehension and social learning β and fantasy stories produce high levels of engagement.
What formats are these fantasy books available in?
Fantasy books are available on the Bookbot website, with many titles free to read online. Select books also offer PDF downloads or read-aloud features, which highlight each word as the story is narrated.
What reading levels are the fantasy books written at?
The collection covers levels from simple CVC words for beginning readers through advanced phonics patterns including blends, digraphs, and multi-syllable words. You can filter by grade level to find fantasy stories that match your child’s current reading stage.