New and Upcoming Fantasy Picks for Elementary Education

By Tina Parmar | May 7 2026 | Elementary Education

Fantasy has a way of turning even the most hesitant readers into eager page-turners. Picture books draw students in with vivid art, humor, and fun adventures, while middle grade titles build momentum with fast-paced plots, cliffhangers, and immersive worlds. Together they create a natural reading ladder- offering accessible entry points and then extending that excitement into longer, more complex stories.

With visual storytelling, relatable characters and series that keep the adventure going, these books help reluctant readers gain confidence, stamina, and a genuine love of reading.

See here for more new and upcoming picks.

See here for all fantasy books your students will love.

9798217118748
The bestselling Bakery Dragon is back, braving a snowstorm to deliver cookies and cheer, just in time for Christmas! And a friend in need requires the greatest cookie of all, one that can warm even the coldest heart.
$19.99 US
Oct 06, 2026
Hardcover
48 Pages
Knopf Books for Young Readers
World

9798217119035
Comedian and actor Pete Holmes conjures up a tale where kids run the show in this hilarious interactive picture book. With a wisecracking dragon heckling from the sidelines, young readers will cast delightfully ridiculous spells that turn grown-ups into giggling, snoring, clucking bundles of chaos.
$18.99 US
Sep 01, 2026
Hardcover
40 Pages
Doubleday Books for Young Readers
US, Canada, Open Mkt

9798217223718
From the #1 New York Times bestselling creators of Grumpy Monkey comes a new character – part dragon, part dog, ALL FIERCE – in this hilarious, fire-snorting fantasy that celebrates friendship, courage, and the many forms fierceness (and fluffiness) can take.
$18.99 US
Sep 01, 2026
Hardcover
40 Pages
Random House Studio
World

9780736447973
Join Tinker Bell as she flutters through Pixie Hollow lending a helping hand to friends in need in this adorably clever picture book starring everyone’s favorite Disney fairy!
$18.99 US
Sep 01, 2026
Hardcover
40 Pages
Random House/Disney
US, Canada, Open Mkt

9798217318568
Attention, aspiring wizards! Grab your wands, capes, and geckos and dive into this hilarious and clever how-to guide by award-winning author-illustrator Keith Negley.
$18.99 US
Aug 25, 2026
Hardcover
40 Pages
Flamingo Books
US, Canada, Open Mkt

9780593814871
Family secrets, friendship, and magic burst from the seams of this thrilling fantasy adventure that follows a ten-year-old girl as she discovers a new world behind her home in desperate need of her help and within it, her own troubling family legacy.
$8.99 US
Dec 15, 2026
Paperback
272 Pages
Yearling
US, Canada, Open Mkt

9798217113248
Soar back into the world of dragons in the thrilling, fiery sequel to New York Times bestseller Dragonborn.
$19.99 US
Oct 20, 2026
Hardcover
384 Pages
Dutton Books for Young Readers
US,CAN,OpnMkt(no EU)

9780593650776
Everyone in the Brittle family has a magical talent -- except Shiloh. But she's determined to unlock her own greatness in this charmingly quirky novel about family and forgiveness from Newbery Honor winner Kate O'Shaughnessy.
$17.99 US
Oct 20, 2026
Hardcover
256 Pages
Knopf Books for Young Readers
World

9780593528556
The thrilling sequel to The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents, perfect for fans of Nevermoor and The School for Good and Evil!
$9.99 US
Sep 29, 2026
Paperback
336 Pages
Viking Books for Young Readers
World

9780593810569
From New York Times bestselling author Fern Forgettable comes the epic finale to Fern’s School for Wayward Fae, where a demifae girl faces her biggest battle yet when she must rescue one of the school's own from evil forces before it's too late. . . .
$14.99 US
Sep 15, 2026
Hardcover
304 Pages
Random House Books for Young Readers
World

9781368114448
From Newbery Honor–winning author Erin Bow, a timeless tale of friendship and magic, delivered in a stunning, collectible package—first in a new series.  Homeward Bound meets The Odyssey with the charm of Studio Ghibli in this instant classic for 8-to-12-year-olds about magical animals on a quest to find their lost witch.
$17.99 US
Sep 01, 2026
Hardcover
192 Pages
Disney Hyperion
World except Canada

9780593898796
A luminous fantasy debut about a young girl who must choose between staying immersed in a magical past with her deceased mother, or saving those she loves most in the complicated, yet real present. A JLG SELECTION!
$8.99 US
Aug 18, 2026
Paperback
288 Pages
Yearling
World