Free Fantasy Books for Kids
We’re passionate about ensuring literacy is accessible to every child, which is why these books are completely free. Our fantasy books open doors to magical worlds filled with wonder for young readers ages 5-9, featuring mythical creatures, enchanted realms, and imaginative adventures that spark creativity. Read them free on the Bookbot website.
Boo! I'm the Ball!
Meet Gad, the friendliest ghost in the forest! He’s spent ages floating all alone, watching grumpy ghouls jump out and scare people just for fun. But Gad doesn’t want to scare anyone - he wants to play! So when he spots a group of kids at the park, he zooms down to say hello. Will they run away screaming, or could Gad finally find the best friends he’s been dreaming of? This decodable reader practises the gh phonogram in words like ‘ghost,’ ‘ghostly,’ ‘ghosts,’ and ‘ghouls.’
Anansi and the Strange Rock
Deep in the Ashanti forest, Kwaku Anansi finds a strange moss covered rock that puts anyone to sleep the moment he whispers seven secret words. Soon every animal is nodding off and losing their dinner. But who is that little deer watching quietly from the shadows, counting each stolen meal? When Anansi’s greed gets the better of him, will the trick he loves so much turn against him? This clever Bookbot level practises the ‘ph’ sound with words like ’elephant’, ‘atmosphere’, ‘aphids’, and ‘phew’.
Who Turned Off the Lights?
The festival sparkles, the carnival twinkles, and the whole town glows like a bundle of candles - until someone starts flicking the lights off, one by one. Who is grumbling in the shadows, and why does The Dark hate the glow so much? When even the lighthouse goes silent, can anyone set things right before disaster strikes on the waves? This decodable reader practises the le/al/el/il phonogram in words like ‘candle,’ ‘single,’ ‘sparkle,’ ‘signal,’ and ’twinkle.’
A Noise at the Door!
Pa tells the best bedtime tales in the world - but is tonight’s story just a tall tale, or something more? Meet a girl made of air who nobody can see, until one brave boy picks up a paintbrush and changes everything. Will she finally be noticed? And when the lamp clicks off and the door creaks open on its own… who’s really there? This decodable reader practises the oi/oy phonogram in words like ‘boy,’ ‘joy,’ ’noise,’ and ‘voice.’
Anansi and Magic Food
Deep in the Ashanti forest lives Mmoatia, a fairy no bigger than your thumb, who owns a magical stirring-spoon that fills any pot with food. When greedy Anansi the spider snatches it away, why won’t the spoon work in his hands? Can a hungry trickster ever learn the secret hidden inside a giving heart? A warm West African tale about sharing something ‘precious’. This Bookbot story practises the /sh/ sound with words like ‘portion’, ’especially’, ’nutritious’, and ‘gracious’.
Anansi and All Wisdom
Kwaku Anansi has a plan so big it makes his eight eyes shine: gather all the wisdom in the world into one pot and become the wisest creature alive. But when his climb keeps ending in a slide back to the roots, who offers the simplest idea of all, and why does the pot suddenly feel so heavy? Can a clever spider learn to ’laugh’ at himself? This Bookbot level practises the ‘augh’ sound in words like ‘haughty’, ‘distraught’, ’naught’, and ‘onslaught’.
Don't Wake the Sea Beast!
Bam’s flute plays the sweetest tune on the beach - so sweet that even Bird is dozing in the air! But what happens when he plays just a tiny bit louder? Why does the ground start to shake, and whose golden eyes are rising from the waves? Can one small boy and his flute calm a very grumpy sea beast before the whole bay washes away? This decodable reader practises the ’ea’ phonogram in words like ‘beast,’ ‘gleam,’ ‘scream,’ and ‘feast.’
Not My Bakery!
Tom the Baker makes the best pumpkin pies in all of Canville - at least, that’s what he says! But when sneaky creepers sneak past the golems and blow his beloved bakery sky-high, Tom is ready to pack up his pies and leave for good. Can Dr Can Do and the villagers come up with a plan to save the day? This decodable reader practises the soft c sound in words like ‘city,’ ‘face,’ ‘fence,’ ’nice,’ and ‘magnificent.’
Not Tonight, Monsters!
When the sun goes down and monsters come creeping, most folks hide under the blankets - but not Ned! Tonight he’s grabbed his magic sword and marched right out the door. Can one brave farmer really fight off a giant zombie, a sneaky skeleton, and a huge spider with mean little eyes? And what strange treasure might glint on the floor when the night is done? This decodable reader practises soft g words such as ‘gem,’ ‘gentle,’ ‘giant,’ ‘danger,’ and ‘charged.’
Phantoms
Skel has a list of chores longer than his arm, and he’s far too busy for rest. But when night falls and glowing green eyes appear in the sky, can a tired skeleton outrun a hungry phantom? Will Bones and Jack reach him in time, or has Skel’s no-sleep adventure finally gone too far? This decodable reader practises si making /zh/ in words such as ’treasure,’ ‘decision,’ ‘vision,’ and ‘pleasure.’
Frequently Asked Questions
How does reading fantasy stories benefit a child's cognitive development?
Reading fantasy stories strengthens cognitive development by requiring children to build and sustain mental models of imaginary worlds, which exercises working memory, inference, and visualisation skills. Research on narrative absorption shows that immersive stories create deep engagement that enhances comprehension and recall. A 2022 meta-analysis further confirmed that narrative texts with rich settings improve learning outcomes compared to less imaginative material. Bookbot’s free fantasy books for kids pair these cognitive benefits with decodable text so children develop thinking skills and reading skills simultaneously.
Are Bookbot's free fantasy books available as printable PDFs?
Yes. Bookbot’s free fantasy books can be read online on the website, and many also include downloadable PDFs or read-aloud narration. All books follow the same structured phonics scope and sequence, so whether a child reads on screen or on paper, they are working through the same systematic progression. For families wanting additional support, Bookbot’s paid app adds voice recognition and real-time fluency feedback.
Can fantasy books help children who struggle with reading motivation?
Fantasy books are one of the best genres for reigniting reading motivation because magical settings, mythical creatures, and imaginative plots capture children’s attention in ways that more familiar topics may not. Stanovich (1986) demonstrated that motivated readers practise more, which accelerates their skill development in a positive feedback loop. Bookbot’s collection of free fantasy picture books starts at the earliest phonics levels so even children who resist reading can find a fantasy story they can decode independently and enjoy.
What phonics skills do children practise with free fantasy books on Bookbot?
Children practise the full range of phonics skills through Bookbot’s free fantasy books, from basic letter-sound correspondences at the earliest levels to complex vowel patterns and multisyllabic words at advanced levels. The National Reading Panel (2000) confirmed that systematic phonics instruction is one of the most effective approaches to teaching reading. Each fantasy story is carefully written so the vocabulary aligns with the specific phonics patterns being taught at that level, giving children structured practice within an enchanting narrative.