For April we have some fun fantasy recommendations for kids and young adults. Reading fantasy can help stimulate imagination and get kids thinking outside the box for solutions to problems. In all fantasies there are heroes and villains. Power unchecked is often power that corrupts. There are forces for good battling the forces of evil. Sometimes a favorite character gets wounded or dies. These may seem heavy themes for children, but introduced in the fantasy setting they can help children learn about actions and consequences and the importance of being on the correct side of a conflict.

Some parents are concerned about allowing their kids to read books in the fantasy genre.

Most of us grew up reading the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen, Greek mythology, and Aesop’s Fables. We listened to Bible stories about miracles, and we watched cartoons and Disney movies about princesses and magical kingdoms. We left teeth under our pillows for the tooth fairy, and we didn’t worry about it until a certain book series about “the boy who lived” caught the attention of the world and got kids excited about reading again.

If you have concerns about a book in the fantasy genre because of the use of magic or supernatural events, I encourage you to read the book first with an open mind. Don’t read to find fault, read to experience the book. If you still have concerns talk with your kids and explain those concerns, Help them find other books that will keep them excited about reading. Help foster a love of reading that will last their whole lives.

A Strange Bird: It’s Good to be a Bit Different by Michael Engler – when Mama Blackbird comes back to her nest and finds a big red egg tucked next to her eggs, she cars for the egg as her own. When a little dragon pops out, she loves it like her own. The dragon tries to do everything his siblings do, but dragons aren’t as much like birds as Mama hoped. Can the little dragon find a way to be itself and still be part of a loving family? For ages 3-6

Princess Naomi Helps a Unicorn by Once Upon a Dance – When Princess Naomi gets mad at her sister, she storms out of the castle and finds an injured unicorn in the woods. Helping the unicorn makes her forget what she was so angry about and makes her happy. For ages 4-6

Magic Tree House Book Series by Mary Pope Osborne – Jack and his younger sister Annie are two typical kids until they discover a magic tree house that takes them through time to historical adventures. Kids will enjoy learning about the past with these fun books. For ages 5-8

The Princess and the Dragon: A Fairy Tale Chapter Book Series for Kids by A.M. Luzzader – in Wildflower kingdom two princesses, Olivia and  Juniper are given a royal mission to deliver a package to Stony Mountain where a dragon lives. Can they be brave enough to complete their task? Will they learn that not everything big is scary? For ages 5-9

Small Flames: Zuri the Magic Dragon by A. M. Luzzader – In the Dragon Realm of Savra, young dragons known as “Small Flames”  compete in a tournament to become Valor Dragons. Zuri is a skilled warrior like her mother, and she wants to win it all. When Zuri loses one of her matches, she begins to doubt her abilities. Must she be perfect to be a successful dragon like her mother? Can Zuri learn that sometimes failure is the best road to success? For ages 5-9

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kely Barnhill – This is a 2017 Newbery Medal Winner. Once a year, the people of Protectorate leave a baby in the forest as a peace offering to a powerful witch because they believe it will keep their village safe from harm. Xan, the witch, is kind. She shares her home with a wise swamp monster and a tiny dragon. Xan rescues the babies from the forest and takes them to loving families on the other side of the forest. Along the journey to their new homes, the babies are nourished with starlight. One year, Xan accidentally feeds the baby, a little girl, moonlight instead of starlight. This fills the child with magic, and she cannot be sent to a mortal family. Xan names the girl Luna and decides to raise the child herself. What could possibly go wrong? For ages 8-12

The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler – When Alice’s father disappears after a shipwreck, she’s sent to live with an old Uncle she’s never met. He lives in a huge mansion with a locked library she’s forbidden to enter. She meets a talking cat that dares her to go in the library. Who can  pass up a dare from a talking cat? Inside the library she meets a boy who dares her to open a book any book. When she does, Alice becomes trapped inside the book and the only way out is to beat the creature also trapped inside. For ages 9-12

The Girl Who Looked Beyond the Stars by L.B. Anne – Sheena is the girl who brings two lunches to school in case someone forgot theirs. She’s always thoughtful and kind. When she was four, Sheena was blessed by an angel with special powers. Nine years later, she’s forgotten about seeing the angel, but her special gifts appear after her dad is in a terrible accident. For ages 10-14

The White Tower: The Aldoran Chronicles Book One by Michael Wisehart – Magic has been banished for a thousand years in the five kingdoms. Anyone caught practicing magic is sent to the White Tower never to be seen again. Ty knows he is different, but he has no idea he’s from a magical family until the bounty hunters come for him. They also come for his friend Lyessa, the daughter of the overlord. Lyessa is a fierce young warrior who is supposed to rule the kingdom one day. Meanwhile, Ferrin vows to escape the tower and take Rae the healer with him because the world needs to know what’s going on and the real reason magical people are being imprisoned in the White Tower before the war comes. For ages 13 and up

The Folk of the Air Series by Holly Black  -  Jude was seven when her parents were murdered, and she and her sisters were taken to live at the High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants to belong there, but many of the fey hate humans. Prince Cardan, the youngest son of the High King especially hates humans. To win a place at Court she must defy Prince Cardan and prepare for the consequences. As she battles  for a place at Court Civil War threatens and Jude must do whatever it takes to save her sisters and the kingdom. For Ages 15 and up