Fantasy Series for Kids
Fantasy is super popular right now in books, movies, and TV shows, so it’s a great time to jump in. While classics like The Lord of the Rings are still loved, they can be a bit tough for kids to get into. Luckily, there are tons of authors who’ve taken similar ideas from those bigger fantasy stories and turned them into fun reads that younger readers can enjoy. When kids (and even adults) dive into these adventures, they might just find a love for fantasy that lasts a lifetime.
10 Timeless Fantasy Book Series That Are Still Magical Some fantasy series you can read over and over and they still give you that same feeling of wonder as the first time you opened the book, showing just how appealing they really are.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians
Percy Jackson & the Olympians is a five-book fantasy series that kicked off with The Lightning Thief in 2005 and finished up with The Last Olympian in 2009. The story takes place in our world but brings in Greek gods, and the main guy, Percy, is a demigod trying to stop Kronos and the Titans from wiping out the Earth.
Rick Riordan, the creator of Percy Jackson, got really into Greek mythology when he was a kid, and his stories will likely connect with other young readers who feel the same way. The mix of modern settings with historical and legendary figures makes this series stand out and has drawn fans of all ages. Plus, with the new TV show coming out for Percy Jackson & the Olympians, there’s even more reason for kids to check out the books.
The Chronicles of Prydain
The Chronicles of Prydain, by Lloyd Alexander, is made up of five novels. It all began with The Book of Three in 1964 and continued with The Black Cauldron (1965), The Castle of Llyr (1966), Taran Wanderer (1967), and The High King (1968). Each book is loved for its own reasons. Altogether, the Prydain series is a fantastic way for newcomers to get into high fantasy.
Alexander’s stories have this perfect balance of fun fantasy and a slightly dark twist. Taking cues from Welsh mythology, the hero gets help from some quirky friends like a psychic pig and a bard named Fflewddur Fflam. The plot is a blast, but there’s also an army of the undead led by the bad guy Arawn that adds a thrilling, darker touch that keeps both young and older readers hooked.
The Fowl Adventures
Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series is a big one, with eight books in the first cycle published from 2001 to 2012, and then three more in the second cycle from 2019 to 2021. This series is a fast-paced adventure that Colfer describes with a laugh as “Die Hard with fairies.” It’s a cool concept that pulls in younger readers.
At first, Artemis Fowl seems like a bad guy, but as the story goes on, he turns into more of an anti-hero. He teams up with his former enemy Holly Short, an elven captain from the Lower Elements Police, to save the world. It’s a mix of crime drama and high fantasy. Even though the movies haven’t quite nailed it, the book series is full of great stuff.
The Borrowers
The Borrowers is a fun series by Mary Norton about a tiny family living behind the walls in regular humans’ homes. These little characters “borrow” food and things they need from bigger folks to get by, and throughout the five books, they have all sorts of crazy adventures with everything from mice to not-so-friendly humans.
Released from 1952 to 1982, The Borrowers is easy to read, perfect for those just starting who might not yet be ready for some of the other series. The characters are adorable and the creative stories inspire kids to leave little stuff around for their own tiny Borrowers to discover.
The Fablehaven Series
The Fablehaven series has five books written by Brandon Mull, published from 2006 to 2010. The story is about two siblings who go to their grandparents’ house while their parents are gone. While they’re there, they find out that their grandparents’ place is actually a refuge for magical creatures. They figure this out after solving a puzzle and drinking some special milk.
In Fablehaven, the characters face all kinds of challenges as they try to protect the magical sanctuary. They deal with witches, monsters, plagues, and an evil group that’s out to harm the fairies, nymphs, unicorns, satyrs, and other magical beings living there. Fablehaven is sure to grab young readers, pulling them into the enchanting world of fantasy creatures that are both charming and a bit wicked.