Everyone loves an escape out of this world once in a while. Or perhaps, do you wish to experience what would happen if animals – or objects – could talk?
Fantasy stories are your solution! In books where nothing is impossible, the sky’s the limit! Reading fantasy stories are not just a great stress reliever but also beneficial for the imaginative and creative mind.
Not all fantasies are created equal, though. Did you know that there are different subgenres of fantasy – with some wilder than the others? Take a look at some of them below!
- Low fantasy: A story that takes place mostly in a realistic world, but with some magical elements that appear strange to the characters.
- High or Epic fantasy: A story set in a completely made-up world which has its own set of rules.
- Magical Realism: Similar to low fantasy, it is a story where magical elements are seen as normal in an otherwise realistic world.
- Fairy tales: A story meant for children that is set in a magical world, where supernatural characters like fairies, dragons, gnomes, elves, and more are common and accepted creatures.
With that, we can now explore some wonderful fantasy books! Do note that our selection is based off the “P4 GEP Recommendations for Extensive Reading” list, so these books are mainly catered to the target audience of 10 to 12 year-olds.
1. The Indian In The Cupboard (Lynne Reid Banks)
Omri is a young boy living in what seems to be a normal world. But imagine his surprise when he discovers that the cupboard he receives as a birthday gift from his brother is nothing but ordinary – any toy that is placed in the cupboard will come to life! Thanks to the cupboard, Omri makes friends with characters from the past, learning their varied stories along the way. However, as trouble arises, Omri and his friend Patrick start to realise these are more than just toys.
Relating to children’s curiosities and imaginations, the fresh premise of this story is sure to satisfy fantasy lovers. Fans of this story can also dive deeper into this imaginary world with 4 sequels that follow.
Suitable for: Ages 8 to 12
2. The Secret Story of Tom Trueheart (Ian Beck)
Tom is the youngest of six brothers, all of whom are important characters in the Land of Stories, tasked to complete quests given by the Story Bureau. But Tom, being too young, remains at home with his mother. This changes when his brothers don’t show up for Tom’s twelfth birthday celebration, and a life-changing letter arrives for him. Will Tom be able to find his brothers and be the hero of his own story?
Readers will find familiar tales referenced throughout the story as Tom embarks on his quest, and you can’t help rooting for the young protagonist as he learns and grows through his adventures. There is also a series of books for readers who can’t get enough of Tom’s adventures!
Suitable for: Ages 8 to 12
3. The Children of Green Knowe (Lucy M. Boston)
Tucked away in the rural English countryside lies Green Knowe, an ancient manor that holds its own little secret. Tolly discovers this while listening to his great-grandmother’s stories of his family history, and he begins to see the ghost children from these stories.
With just a bit of spookiness, the real excitement lies in seeing the past and present come together in this book and others in the series. A fun fact: Green Knowe is based on an actual house in Hemingford Grey, Britain, that the author bought and lived in!
Suitable for: Ages 8 to 12
4. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Kate DiCamillo)
Edward Tulane is a vain little china rabbit who is very much contented with his life. Owned by a little girl named Abilene, all he knew was to be cherished and loved. Until one day, he was humiliated and thrown overboard a ship! What follows is his remarkable journey, taking him from the deep ocean to a rubbish dump, while he learns about what it means to love and be loved.
The author has been widely praised for her ability to make readers feel heartbreak and sympathy for her characters – more impressively, Edward isn’t even a human character, but an inanimate toy figurine. A rich and powerful story, this tale will have you weeping along as you get swept up in Edward’s odyssey.
Suitable for: The language is manageable for 8 to 12 year-olds, but older children may appreciate the sad themes better.
5. The Tale of Despereaux (Kate DiCamillo)
Another well-loved literary work by Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux follows the story of little mouse Despereaux, the runt of his litter who is determined to survive. But a rat named Roscuro has his own plans, as does Miggery Sow the servant girl. Told from each of their perspectives, the story leads all three characters up into a castle, where they will meet their destiny.
Captivatingly narrated, this award-winning children’s book is action-filled and meaningful. Unpredictable till the end, young readers will also learn about love, courage, and forgiveness in this timeless tale.
Suitable for: Ages 7 to 10
6. The Neverending Story (Michael Ende)
When lonely and neglected little Bastian chances upon a strange book in the library called The Neverending Story, he decides to steal it. But rather than just reading the book, Bastian finds himself transported into the magical, beautiful world of Fantastica! There, he realises that this mysterious world is in danger – and he has the power to save it.
Truly a fantastical adventure with giants, magic, monsters, and dragons, this story within a story follows Bastian’s brave journey full of perils. Wittingly written, the book explores themes of reality and fiction, while also being gripping and delightful to young readers.
Suitable for: Ages 10 and up
7. The Phantom Tollbooth (Norton Juster)
Milo thinks life is a bore. So when he finds a tollbooth in his room, he assembles it and drives through with his toy car. Little did he know, the other side contains a world full of surprises! He meets a watchdog (a dog with a clock for a body) named Tock, jumps into the Island of Conclusions, and sets out on a mission to bring Rhyme and Reason back into the Empire of Wisdom.
Full of witty wordplay, this one-of-a-kind story will tickle your mind and stretch your imagination. Overall, it is a fun little story to entertain and enlighten young minds so they wouldn’t have an excuse to be as bored as Milo!
Suitable for: Ages 9 and up
Bonus reads
- Tuck Everlasting (Natalie Babbitt)
- The Chronicles of Narnia series (C.S. Lewis)
- The Books of Elsewhere series (Jacqueline West)
- Flora and Ulysses (Kate DiCamillo)
- Echo (Pam Muñoz Ryan)
- The Menagerie (Tui Sutherland, Kari Sutherland)
- Odd and the Frost Giants (Neil Gaiman)
- Savvy series (Ingrid Law)
- Story Thieves series (James Riley)
Conclusion
If you’ve been looking for the next fantasy book to devour, here’s your sign! As most of these books are modern classics, you’ll probably be able to loan them from a library near you, or even your school library.
Besides being enjoyable, reading also levels up children’s language comprehension, vocabulary, and even helps with their writing skills. But what if your child isn’t improving after all that reading? Our guided tuition classes may be the thing they need!
We run Primary English Tuition classes that hone students’ English abilities across reading, writing, listening, and speaking, in order for them to excel in life and the exams. For high ability students or those in the GEP, you may also check out our GEP English Tuition classes.
With qualified tutors and a tried-and-tested approach to teaching, we’re confident of helping you improve! Speak with us to find out more!
Missed our other reading recommendations? Explore our previous reading lists below!
Across Oceans and Time: Historical Stories For Tweens & Teens