Best Fantasy Books for Elementary Students (2026): 5 Picks Compared

A reader who has just finished a series wants the next fantasy book, and the search for the best fantasy books for elementary students starts with that reader’s age and reading level. This list is for parents, teachers and librarians choosing one book for one child. We compared five books on what each listing publishes: reading age, grade level, page count, edition and series position.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Through the Tablet Glass by Aloy	9.7/10	Buy
2	My Father's Dragon by Gannett	9.6/10	Buy
3	The Fabled Fourth Graders by Fleming	9.4/10	Buy
4	The Fabled Fifth Graders by Fleming	9.4/10	Buy
5	Just Enough Carrots by Murphy	9.2/10	Buy

1

Through the Tablet Glass by Aloy

Tom Aloy·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A fantasy adventure for readers 8 to 12 who like game worlds, where a boy is pulled into a tablet and his sister works to bring him home.

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Pros

• The listing states it won the 2025 Moonbeam Children's Book Award gold medal in pre-teen fiction
• Book 1 of 5, so readers who finish it can move straight to the next volume
• Reading age of 8 to 12 years matches a 10 year old, marked as from customers

Cons

• Reading age is marked as from customers, and the grade band of 3 to 7 comes from the title
• Independently published, so the listing gives no major publisher name
• Learning and homework are central to the plot, so readers who want pure adventure may be less engaged

2

My Father's Dragon by Gannett

Ruth Stiles Gannett·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A classic dragon fantasy for early elementary readers, about a boy who runs away to rescue a baby dragon.

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Pros

• Short 92-page length suits a child building stamina for longer books
• Part of a three-book series, and the listing names the other two titles
• Listed as illustrated, a 2018 reprint of a 1948 edition

Cons

• The description mentions a baby dragon held captive and abused, a theme to check before buying
• Reading age of 4 to 7 years is marked as from customers, so it may feel young for older readers
• Grade level Preschool to 1 sits at the start of elementary, so it does not fit a later-grade reader

3

The Fabled Fourth Graders by Fleming

Candace Fleming·9.4/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Funny school fables about a rambunctious fourth grade class, for readers 9 to 10 who like stories with a moral in each.

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Pros

• Grade level 2 to 5 and a reading age of 9 to 10 years give a clear range
• The description says the stories carry morals, which suits readers who enjoy a lesson
• The description introduces the class and teacher from the start, so no earlier book is needed

Cons

• No magic: the description describes contemporary fables set in a school, not fantasy
• Reading age is marked as from customers, and the listing states no series number
• Grade level 2 to 5 is a wide band, so a reader at the top of it may find it easy

4

The Fabled Fifth Graders by Fleming

Candace Fleming·9.4/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A school story for 9 to 10 year olds who want more zany class mischief, with the same teacher and classmates.

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Pros

• The description states it is the sequel, so the same class returns
• Investigative reporting and a class pet mix-up give the plot a hook
• At 176 pages it is shorter than the 192-page first book

Cons

• No magic: these are contemporary school stories, not fantasy
• Reading age is marked as from customers, and the listing states no series number
• Listed as a 2012 reissue, so check the cover and edition against the listing before buying

5

Just Enough Carrots by Murphy

Stuart J. Murphy·9.2/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A picture book that teaches comparing fewer, more and the same, for young children who are learning early math.

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Pros

• Illustrated picture book with a story, plus activities the listing says adults can use
• Covers comparing fewer, more and the same, a skill the description calls a step before adding
• Part of the MathStart series, which the description says conforms to state and national standards

Cons

• Not fantasy: a math concept book, so it does not match the fantasy part of the search
• The title says ages 4 to 8, but the listing gives reading age 3 to 6 and grade Preschool to 3, which do not match
• Only 40 pages, and the description centers on math concepts rather than a fantasy plot

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More picks to compare

• The Supernatural Society by OgleFor readers 8 to 12 who like monsters and magic in a series starter.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 16 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or grade level. All five picks list a reading age, and four also give a grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best fantasy books for elementary students

Match the reading level to the child

Start with the listed reading age and grade level, then compare them with the child you are buying for. My Father’s Dragon lists Preschool to grade 1, which fits early readers, while the two Fleming books list grade 2 to 5 and a reading age of 9 to 10 years. Amazon marks reading age as from customers, so treat it as a guide rather than a rule.

Check the fantasy element first

Only two of the five picks are fantasy. The two Fleming books are contemporary school stories with no magic, and Carrots is a math picture book. For more dragons and portal worlds, browse best fantasy books for kids.

Series order and edition

Through the Tablet Glass is Book 1 of 5, so a reader can plan for the rest of the series from the start. The Fleming listings state no series number, so check the listing before you buy the second book. For more chapter book choices, see best chapter books for elementary.

Before you buy

• Check the series number on the listing: Through the Tablet Glass says Book 1 of 5, and the Fleming listings state none.
• Compare the listed grade level with the child’s current grade, and remember that reading age is marked as from customers.
• Read the description for mature themes: My Father’s Dragon describes a baby dragon held captive and abused.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should a reader start the Screenfall series?

Start with Through the Tablet Glass, which the listing gives as Book 1 of 5. Its reading age is 8 to 12 years, marked as from customers.

What age is My Father’s Dragon for?

The listing gives grade level Preschool to 1 and a reading age of 4 to 7 years, marked as from customers. It suits early elementary readers.

Is The Fabled Fourth Graders a fantasy book?

No. The description calls it contemporary fables about a school class, so it is not a magic story.

Still deciding? Our top pickThrough the Tablet Glass by Aloy

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Related lists

See every middle grade list and all kids and teens lists.

More lists: fantasy for children, picture books and young adult books.