31 Days, 31 Lists: 2023 Fantasy Books for Kids

If I had my druthers, this is probably the only genre of children’s book I’d ever read. And I could do that, sure, but to what end? Like any healthy diet, you need a bit of variety to make things interesting. Thing is, even within the fantasy books listed here today, you’ll find great gobs of variety. There are creepy novels, high fantasy world-building titles, comics, early chapter books, and even the odd spate of magical realism thrown in for spice. The one thing they have in common, aside from being fantasies? Each and every one is worth a child’s time. These books are great!

If you’d like a PDF of today’s list, you can find it here.

Interested in previous years’ fantasy lists? Then just look here:

• 2022
• 2021
• 2020

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2023 Fantasy Books for Kids

Bea Wolf by Zach Weinersmith, ill. Boulet

“Listen! Hear a tale of mallow-munchers and warriors who answer candy’s clarion call!” The legend of Beowulf is retold, pitting wild kids against dull adults in a story that can only be called epic.  Welp, this is brilliant. And I don’t use such terms lightly. So now we have a choice before us. What is the purpose of this list? Is it to give kids the best books, the books they would love, or a combination of both? This book would work best with those kids that are (A) smart and (B) extreme graphic novel readers. I say this because it’s in black and white, and as we all know, some kids won’t touch that stuff with a ten-foot-pole. But this really is the smartest thing I’ve seen in so very long and I don’t want to write it off because of one stupid detail. It’s not simply the art (which is so good that I’ve started following Boulet on Threads), but also Weinersmith’s incredible use of language. Here are my favorite lines from the book, which I shall replicate here with impunity:

“Toys were forbidden, fun unfound, no noise past five p.m.
The closest cousin of candy was “cake” crafted of carob.
Lies! Fruit in cake’s clothing! Fibs enfleshed in flour!”

Resist if you dare.

The Carrefour Curse by Dianne K. Salerni

When she left the family 12 years ago Garnet’s mom swore she’d never return. Now mother and daughter are back and the house, its curse, and its family are all wrapped up in a mystery that only Garnet and her special skills can unravel. Boy, this author knows how to write! At first I was avoiding this book because I worried that the plot sounded way too similar to Frances Hardinge’s A Skinful of Shadows, but I think Salerni does an excellent job of distinguishing the title. Best of all, it’s a mystery! I adore mysteries and I just don’t see enough of them in a given year. And yes indeed, great-grandpa is sucking the life energy out of folks, but that’s the price you pay. Sticks the landing and makes you kind of want to live in a creaky old house falling apart at the seams. Consider pairing it with another dilapidated mansion/extended family title, The Swifts by Beth Lincoln.

Dear Mothman by Robin Gow

Allow me to be clear that the only reason I’m placing this book on this particular list is because I don’t yet have a Magical Realism list to put it on yet (if I did make one,The Puppets of Spelhorst would be there too). Ever since Noah’s best friend died ,he’s been fixated on finding the mysterious cryptid Mothman for his science fair project. A touching tale of grief, identity, and acceptance. And my librarians in my library are freakin’ OBSESSED with this book!!! I am not even kidding you. I mean, I like it, absolutely, but nothing compares to the fervor with which they have devoured it. As one told me, “This is absolutely the book I wish I’d had as a kid.” And you see why, of course. Comparisons to Skellig are understandable, what with the light touch of magical realism (which Gow incredibly manages to pull off) but at the heart of the tale is Noah’s grief over losing his friend Lewis. Compounding that grief is the fact that to Noah, Lewis was Lewis and not the “Ella” that everyone thought he was. Noah too is known at school as “Nora” and is having to deal with how to come out to everyone that loves him. It’s nice and complicated, with no formal rules or plans. The idea of what it is to be a monster in this day and age struck me as particularly timely. I do feel the book takes a little while to get going, but once Noah’s lost in the woods it really picks up. All told, it’s a carefully put together book that is going to find its audience. 

Don’t Want to Be Your Monster by Deke Moulton

Shoot. A book about vampire siblings should not actually be this good. This, folks, is why one has to look past genre from time to time, because a great writer can take any topic and make it absolutely jaw-droppingly good. This is one of the books I most regret not getting a chance to personally review this year, because Moulton’s writing is just incredible. In this story you’ve two vampire brothers. There’s Victor, who was turned into a vampire at the age of four, and there’s Adam, who was a baby when he was turned. In this world, vampires historically were healers who helped humans. Unfortunately, prejudice and hatred has run them underground. Now Adam and Victor live with their moms and a rotating crew of different “siblings” in their kooky makeshift family. Adam’s happy with their life, but Victor is chafing under the restrictions. And all that’s before a vampire hunter/serial killer comes to town, killing people in an effort to lure the local vampires out. Moulton leans into the fact that historically people turn on marginalized groups when they want to blame their problems on someone pretty hard, but you’re there for it. It doesn’t hurt that the vampire hunter in this book is the scariest villain I’ve encountered in a children’s novel all year. Seriously, I was a little nervous returning to this book because I wasn’t entirely certain he wasn’t going to kill literally every person in the story. Extra points for the information in the back giving context to the origins of how we think of vampires and antisemitic myths. A great book.

Elf Dog and Owl Head by M.T. Anderson, ill. Junyi Wu

Proud Elsinore is one of the royal hunting dogs of the People Under the Mountains. When she finds herself separated in the human world, she teams up with a lonely boy and takes him on adventures he never could have dreamed of before. The last time I read an M.T. Anderson book it was The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge, which was just about the darndest thing I’d ever read. This book is a lot simpler, but still taps into the man’s love of elves, fantasy, and hidden worlds. It’s an out-and-out COVID pandemic book (the whole plot relies on our hero being sequestered from his friend) and in a big way it really feels like a story about how kids and their families can heal post-pandemic from the isolation of those early days. Also? It’s a straight-up unapologetic dog book. If you didn’t read this Anderson guest piece on why he made it, take a minute or two to do so. You will be so so glad that you did.

The Grace of Wild Things by Heather Fawcett

Imagine an Anne of Green Gables where Marilla is a witch and tries to eat Anne upon meeting her. Grace is determined to study under the tutelage of the local witch. When she’s given a near impossible task to finish or lose her magic, it will take all her gumption, smarts, and friends to win the day. I came dangerously close, just now, from forgetting to put this book on my lists. That would be a HUGE problem too because this book is doing something infinitely clever and should have that cleverness called out once in a while. Essentially, this is fantasy fan fiction of Anne of Green Gables and it works. It works SO WELL. The emotions, the beats in the storyline, the whole kerschmozzle. So much of this is reliant on the personality of the witch. Fawcett has to walk this fine line of making her occasionally sympathetic but also a friggin’ witch who eats kids. It reminded me a lot of that graphic novel from a couple years ago Baba Yaga’s Assistant by Marika McCoola. In both cases you’ve a young lady working for a witch, having to get around the whole devouring small children thing. I loved the premise of Grace having to perform every spell in the witch’s spellbook. I liked very much how the witch slowly comes to like Grace. But most difficult of all is making YOU like Grace and not find her annoying. Which she is a lot of the time, but she’s got that same charm that Anne had. Boy this is a fun book.

Heroes of Havensong: Dragonboy by Megan Reyes

First off, I need someone to track down the cover artist of this book and give them ALL THE THINGS. All of them, people! This may be one of the BEST book jackets I’ve seen this year, at least in terms of accuracy to the characters, if nothing else. Wowza! Now you’re going to see a lot of different kinds of fantasy on this list today. What there isn’t a lot of is high fantasy. World building. Maps. Characters that must join together to defeat a great evil. That’s where Megan Reyes comes in. She isn’t interested in making this easy for herself. No, she’s determined to tell four different characters’ stories all at the same time (five if you count the talkative fox). More than that, her fantasy land isn’t just some two-bit Middle Earth knockoff. There is a LOT of history to cover between a variety of different kingdoms. Miraculously, she pulls it off. There’s exposition but no exposition dumps, if you know what I mean. Every single person in this book is distinct and complicated and not always in the right. You might have to catch up with what she’s telling you from time to time, but you never feel lost. It’s an amazing accomplishment and a superior book. If you want a challenging fantasy that’s a little longer than the rest and takes big swings (that pay off!) this is the book for you. Besides, who doesn’t love feathered dragons?

Legends of Lotus Island: The Guardian Test by Christina Soontornvat

It’s interesting to include the aforementioned Henry and this latest from Christina Soontornvat on the same list. But when it comes to transitional books, Henry’s one of those early titles that’s for kids just getting into early chapter books, while Lotus Island is for kids just about ready to graduate into full-blown middle grade fiction reading. In this story, Plum is perfectly content to work in her grandparents’ garden, but that’s before she is called to join the elite Guardian Academy on Lotus Island. Will she be able to transform into an animal like everyone else or be forced to return home? It’s hard not to respect an early chapter book fantasy series based on the four basic principles of Buddhism, but if anyone can pull that off then it’s Christina Soontornvat! I had the pleasure of seeing her speak at the Andersen’s Breakfast this year and she discussed the creation of this particular book. As she tells it, during lockdown her kids got really into fantasy, but it can be hard to find short fantasy stories that operate on an epic, sweeping scale. This book is a just a touch longer than you’d consider a typical early chapter book to be, but I think it deserves this category since it can serve a bridge between some of the younger stuff and the 500+ page tomes of high fantasy out there. Great character development accomplished in a scant amount of time. Plus I got really wrapped up in the storyline. Two thumbs up! Previously Seen On: The Early Chapter Book list

The Magicians by Blexbolex

When three magicians appear in the land they are immediately tracked by a relentless pursuer. But who’s the good guy and who’s the bad guy in this story? Apparently I am cursed to spend my days reading the weirdest of the new graphic novels in order to recommend them. And they don’t get much weirder than whatever it is Blexbolex tends to spit out. Yet I would argue that this is his most normal book to date. Truthfully, that’s not really saying much. It works on its own internal logic, and once you get in the groove, everything makes a fair amount of sense. It’s also, I would say, his most exciting book. At times it reads like a warrior woman epic straight out of Xena, Warrior Princess. Or maybe a children’s version of The Fugitive. Whatever the case, it’s mighty peculiar but also a touch amazing, and I think it’s well worth your time giving it a read. That goes double for your kids.

The Mossheart’s Promise by Rebecca Mix

I know exactly how to promote this one. I have just the hook. Here goes: “A dystopian tale… with fairies!!” Good, right? And that’s pretty accurate too, when you get right down to it. What we have here is a fun little tale about a crumbling world and the reluctant heroes who are expected to save it. Our hero is Canary Mossheart who is saddled in life with the fact that her grandmother was The Chosen One. Indeed, Wren Mossheart was the one who 60 years ago left the safe confines of their home, ventured forth, and brought a cure to her people. Unfortunately, their world appears to be dying and no one knows why. When Canary’s mother comes down with mold (in a beautifully disgusting sequence at that) it’s up to her daughter to fulfill the mission her grandmother never could. Now the book is quite clearly an environmental metaphor, and Mix leans into that fact REAL hard (particularly when she talks about people leaving the hard work of the future to the youth). I did occasionally feel that there were some repeated beats and that a nice bit of editing would not have been out of place. That said, I was unable to figure out how the book would end, I got quite interested in the characters (particularly a newt that’s a dead ringer for Roy Kent), and the ending finishes well, though you’re definitely gonna be looking for that sequel. You have been warned. 

The Moth Keeper by K.O’Neill

Every night Anya has a special job: to protect the moths. Still, she wishes just once to see the sun and feel its warmth. What would happen if she pursued that dream? With the increase in the number of comics in a given year I, by association, increasingly look for comics that unapologetically do their own thing. I was rather fascinated too by the fact that while reading The Moth Keeper I just could not figure out where it might go. Anya’s motivations were so opaque to me for so long, and even when they were explained I was still a little out to sea. Yet the mood and the feel of the book, with its utterly original setting and world-building, is like nothing else out there. It’s a title unafraid to be quiet, which is a rare thing in such a visual medium. In many ways, being contemplative in the world of children’s literature can be seen as taking a risk. In this book, that risk pays off.

Nic Blake and the Remarkables by Angie Thomas

Why won’t Nic’s dad teach her magic? In a world where some people are blessed with the power, Nic discovers a family she never knew she had and a prophecy that has her at its core. Considering how many fantasy titles are out there, if you’re going to do a new one then you need a kind of hook. I’ve been describing this book to my kids as, “This is what you get if Harry Potter and his friends grew up, he started making a fantasy series for Muggles out of his adventures, Ron and Hermione had twins, and then Ron went on the run with one of the kids.” It goes at a quick clip and is never boring, by my standards. Also, there’s a sufficient amount of weirdness in this book, which I admired. I mean, religion plays a fascinating role here. It’s not every book where the Devil himself is just a minor villain.

Shakti by S.J. Sindu, ill. Nabi H. Ali

Shakti and her family have just moved to a new town where something’s definitely amiss. Will her new magic and a connection to the goddesses Durga Ma and Kali Ma save or destroy everyone she loves? Shoot. I really enjoyed this one. 2023 has been rather remarkable in terms of bringing us graphic novels with Buddhism, Islam, and now Hinduism as well. What stuck out for me, aside from the accomplished art and storytelling, I really appreciated this particular take on Kali Ma. Too often it’s easy to portray Kali as a villain, so to see her here as an antagonist but not a bad guy necessarily is fascinating. I liked its take on magic and bullies as well. Surprisingly nuanced and enjoyable with a marvelously creepy opening.

Sisters of the Lost Marsh by Lucy Strange

Six sisters live under a family curse. When one sibling disappears into the ghastly Mire, it’s up to brave Willa to ride into the fantastical unknown and find her. Oh yeah. This is good stuff. Interestingly, I wasn’t even certain that it was a fantasy novel until the last 20-25 pages or so. An abundance of strong female characters, a nice creepy setting, and a strong mix of fantasy and historical fiction are at play here. It’s like a kid-friendly version of We Have Always Lived in the Castle (if you know what I mean). Cause townspeople can really suck. Some folks are calling it akin to Wuthering Heights, but aside from the obvious presence of the moors, I thought the feel of the book wholly different. And hey, if Ms. Strange is taking requests, I would love to see a sequel to this. That youngest daughter, dead center on the cover, has more stories inside of her, I’m sure of it.

Squire & Knight by Scott Chantler

A knight and squire are headed off to defeat a deadly dragon. But when the knight disappears it’s up to the squire to determine who the true culprit is, and how to solve a couple mysteries along the way. It’s so nice that we get to be picky about our graphic novels for kids, these days. In the past we had so few to choose from that we pretty much had to be satisfied with whatever it was we ended up with. Today, there may actually be too many in a given year! Fortunately, some publications can be relied upon for quality. Two that come to mind: Graphix (from Scholastic) and First Second (from Macmillan). This book is a First Second product but it’s timed well. I’ve never seen the whole Dungeons & Dragons world blown up as beautifully as it has in 2023. This comic is perfectly timed, then, to tap into that genre and feel. It has the creatures. It has the quest. And even better, it has a squire acting as a kind of detective throughout. In his Author’s Note at the back, Chantler says that he was influenced by the 1988 film Without a Clue wherein Watson is the genius and Holmes the credit-sapping stooge. This book reflects that feel beautifully. Really well done

The Story of Gumluck the Wizard by Adam Rex

Gumluck is just a little wizard who lives in a big hill, but he aspires to be more. Fortunately he has his new friends, a tiny ghost named Butterscotch and a crotchety raven named Helvetica, to help him on his way. Aww. Whatta sweetie! I never pegged Adam Rex as someone who could necessarily do sweet (or, for that matter, want to) but I can tell you right now that I was charmed by this story. Like Helvetica the raven, it’s impossible not to like Gumluck after a while. He’s a people pleaser, and that’s a kind of character we don’t see all that often in our children’s books. There are plenty of jokes for kids to get, plenty of jokes for adults to get (I literally laughed embarrassingly loudly in the staff room at a fig-related joke), and even a pint or two of wisdom in there. What more could you possibly want in a book? Previously Seen On: The Early Chapter Book List

Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke

Dive, down, deep deep down, into the basement with Milo. He’s on a quest to get his baby sister’s sock, but what he finds instead is the adventure of a lifetime. Ben Hatke’s back, baby! I don’t know that he ever really left us, but this book is everything I like about the man when he really puts his back into a book. It’s weird. It’s a little creepy. It’s full of strange and incredibly interesting details. This reminds me a lot of Aaron Becker’s picture books, actually. Like Becker, Hatke hides entire civilizations and their histories in the margins of his landscapes. Reading this book is like poring through your grandparents’ basement, finding ancient treasure no one’s seen for years. Besides, who wouldn’t want a sweet tentacled eyeball for a bud? Absolutely the most fun to read. 

The Worlds We Leave Behind by A.F. Harrold, ill. Levi Pinfold

After Hex causes an accident, he runs into the woods where he discovers a mysterious stranger who offers him a terrifying chance to alter the universe. Eerie and haunting. Oh! It’s a metaverse fantasy novel! I’ve never really seen such a thing before, but Harrold does an excellent job with the choices we make and then having to live with them afterwards. I’d been looking for a sufficiently creepy book to read, and this fits the bill brilliantly. The art is a perfect complement too. It totally throws you off when the p.o.v. changes at a pivotal moment, which I appreciated. For the Coraline fans and kids unafraid of not entirely happy endings. Reminds me of that line from the musical Into the Woods: “Nice is different than good.” Be careful who to trust, kids…

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Hope you enjoyed these! Here are the lists you can expect for the rest of this month:

December 1 – Great Board Books

December 2 – Picture Book Readaloud

December 3 – Simple Picture Book Texts

December 4 – Transcendent Holiday Picture Books

December 5 – Rhyming Picture Books

December 6 – Funny Picture Books

December 7 – CaldeNotts

December 8 – Picture Book Reprints

December 9 – Math Books for Kids

December 10 – Gross Books

December 11 – Books with a Message

December 12 – Fabulous Photography

December 13 – Translated Picture Books

December 14 – Fairy Tales / Folktales / Religious Tales

December 15 – Wordless Picture Books

December 16 – Poetry Books

December 17 – Unconventional Children’s Books

December 18 – Easy Books & Early Chapter Books

December 19 – Older Funny Books

December 20 – Science Fiction Books

December 21 – Fantasy Books

December 22 – Comics & Graphic Novels

December 23 – Informational Fiction

December 24 – American History

December 25 – Science & Nature Books

December 26 – Unique Biographies

December 27 – Nonfiction Picture Books

December 28 – Nonfiction Books for Older Readers

December 29 – Audiobooks for Kids

December 30 – Middle Grade Novels

December 31 – Picture Books

Filed under: 31 Days 31 Lists, Best Books, Best Books of 2023