Books with Magical Creatures
If your tween reader is anything like mine, they gravitate towards fantasy books with magical creatures and mythical places. If I say the story has a unicorn or a mermaid or a sphinx, I swear my kids are 10 times more likely to pick it up. With that in mind, I wanted to share my favorite stories with mythical creatures for your home library.
It’s my hope that my family’s experience reading and listening to these stories will be helpful for your family’s reading adventure. If you are looking for even more novels for independent reading or bedtime read-alouds, you’ll find them on my list of fantasy books for tweens.
The Best Books with Magical Creatures
Each colorful block below represents the best book in a subgenre. Click on the arrow to reveal my “best” pick in any category. You’ll also be able to use a page jump to see more books in that section.
The Best Book featuring a Magical Creature as a Main Character
Endling the Last by Katherine Applegate – Jump to section
The Best Epic Series with Magical Creatures
Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell – Jump to section
The Best Fantasy Book with a Flying Horse
Skandor and the Unicorn Thief by A. F. Steadman – Jump to section
The Best Magical Animal Sanctuary Book
Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger – Jump to section
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Book with Magical Creatures as Main Characters
Endling: The Last
Author: Katherine Applegate
Year: 2018
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 9 – 13
More info: Endling #1
Plot
Byx is a Nearly extinct creature that resembles a standing dog that can glide. Right after her family is chased off and killed she has to seek help from humans and a creature that she was planning to kill for food. She dodges death many times before finally ending up in a populated city, pretending to be a normal dog.
Why Jackie loves it
I adore Applegate’s most known book, The One and Only Ivan, so I was eager to see what she would do with a true fantasy book. I was not disappointed. This trilogy had me enthralled and my daughter agrees with me!
Find this book in: Fantasy Books for Tweens / Best Books for 12-year-olds
Warriors: Into the Wild
Author: Erin Hunter
Year: 2003
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 8 – 11
More info: Warriors: The Original #1
Plot
Rusty, a house cat, wanders into the forest where he fights with a cat named Grey Paw. Two cats, part of a Clan of wild cats, were watching the encounter and asked Rusty to join the clan. There is a prophecy that a cat with fire-colored fur would save the Thunder clan from evil. This is the book that has launched the 7 series of Warriors!
Why Jackie loves it
This is a very creative series with many different plots simultaneously. There is never a time to be bored in this series. There are many different Warriors series and somehow each one has a unique plot and villains.
Find this book in: Books with Magical Creatures
The Familiars
Author: Adam Jay Epstein, Andrew Jackson
Year: 2010
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 9 – 11
More info: Familiars #1
Plot
There is a cat named Aldwyn who is being chased by a bounty hunter. When he escapes into a shop that is specifically for magical pets, he finds himself adopted by a wizard in training. Together, Aldwyn, a bluejay named Skylar, and a tree frog named Gilbert, must rescue Jack and the other Loyals after they are kidnapped and cannot use their powers.
Why Jackie loves it
This series was introduced to my daughter by her middle school librarian. She devoured the whole series in a week!
Find this book in: Books with Magical Creatures
Epic Middle Grade Books with Magical Creatures
Impossible Creatures
Author: Katherine Rundell
Illustrator: Ashley Mackenzie
Year: 2024
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 10+
More info: Impossible Creatures #1, International Bestseller, New York Times Bestseller
Plot
Bestselling author, Katherine Rundell launched a new fantasy series for the magical creature obsessed! After rescuing a baby griffin, Christopher learns about magical islands where magical creatures have lived in secret for thousands of years. Soon, he’s on a mission to help Mal figure out why the magic is fading from the islands.
Along the way, he meets numerous mythical creatures, discovers the magic of the archipelago, and forms a deep attachment to Mal and two adults who help them on their journey to restore the glimourie.
Trigger Warnings
Animal death, Child death
Why Kirsten loves it
Rundell wove a story that earned its place with the greats like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. Christopher and Mal’s friendship moved me to tears and the lessons they learned about life, death, and what it all means felt as filled with wisdom as anything Dumbledore ever said.
I listened to this one and can attest that the narrator is marvelous. My boys looked forward to our car rides listening to this epic adventure and we can’t wait for the rest of the trilogy!
Find this book in: Books with Magical Creatures / Dragon Books for Tweens / Giftable Books / Best Children’s Books of 2024
Plot
In a fire, Willodeen’s house burns down and kills her parents with it. She is adopted by her aunts. She loves all animals, especially screechers. People think they are pests but she loves them and finds out they are dying off. Her new friend, Corner, gives her a wood screecher as a present when the last screecher dies off.
One day and she is crying, she comes back to find her wood screeched has come to life. With the help of her pet screecher and corner, they must solve the mystery of the disappearing hummingbears.
Why Jackie loves it
Anything Katherine Applegate writes is amazing so this fantasy book for tweens is a must-read!
Find this book in: Books with Magical Creatures / Best Books for 12-year-olds
Furthermore
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Year: 2016
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 9 – 12
More info: Furthermore #1
Plot
Alice Queensmeadow wants to bring her father back and to do so, she needs to travel the magical world of Furthermore. Think of it as The Secret Garden meets Alice in Wonderland. A pale girl on a quest for both her father and color goes to a magical, mystical place with strange and fantastical creatures. With Oliver by her side, she heads out to discover the villages of Furthermore and locate her lost father.
Why Jackie loves it
What an original concept! Mafi’s first foray into middle grade fantasy was exactly what I’ve come to expect from her. She’s a master world builder for YA and now younger fantasy readers.
Find this book in: Books like Keeper of the Lost Cities / Books with Magical Creatures
Middle Grade Fantasy Books About Flying Horses
Skandor and the Unicorn Thief
Author: A. F. Steadman
Year: 2022
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
More info: Skandar #1
Age Range: 8 – 12
Plot
Skandor has always dreamed of being a unicorn rider ever since he was little despite the fact that unicorns are so dangerous. If they do not find their fated rider, the unicorns turn wild and become dangerous killers. Skandor watched unicorn races with his dad from the time he was young. On the day of his evaluation to see if he could become a rider, Skandor is told he cannot take the test.
He is woken in the middle of the night by a unicorn rider who tells him he has to go to the Unicron academy.
Why Jackie loves it
This book was so well-written it grabbed me from the first page. I was routing for Skandor the entire time. There were so many twists and turns in the plot that it kept my attention to the last page.
Find this book in: Books with Magical Creatures / Books Like Keeper of the Lost Cities
Guardian Herd: Starfire
Author: Jenny Lynn Alvarez
Year: 2015
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 8 – 12
More info: The Guardian Herd #1
Plot
Star is a rare black foal. Black foals are rare and are born every hundred years. They are extremely powerful but only gain their power on their first birthday. The other pegasi consider them to be dangerous because of how powerful they are and so the herd must decide whether to kill him when he turns one year old or let him live. They decide to kill him for their safety and he and his friends decide to fight for a way for him to live
Why Jackie loves it
This was an interesting book to read. I liked the characters and the plot developed well. I was rooting for Star. His character was innocent and well-written that it made me want him to succeed.
Find this book in: Books with Magical Creatures
The Flame of Olympus
Author: Kate O’Hearn
Year: 2012
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 8 – 12
More info: Pegasus #1
Plot
When Pegasus crashes onto a roof during a storm, Emily finds him and comes to his rescue. She treats his wounds and cares for him when she discovers he is from Olympus. Now Emily finds herself teaming up Greek Goddess, Diana, to bring Pegasus back to Olympus and rescue the gods.
Why Jackie loves it
The first book in the Pegasus series gives KOTLC meets Percy Jackson vibes. Both my daughter and Kirsten’s Greek mythology-obsessed son devoured this series.
Find this book in: Books Like Percy Jackson / Books Like Keeper of the Lost Cities / Books with Magical Creatures
Fantasy Books About Magical Creature Sanctuaries
Keeper of the Lost Cities
Author: Shannon Messenger
Year: 2012
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 9 – 12
More info: New York Times Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, KOTLC #1
Plot
Move over Harry Potter, there is a new middle grade fantasy series poised to take your throne! Meet Sophie Foster, a newly found elf living in the human world. In book one of this ever-growing series, she’s taken back to the Lost Cities and sent to Foxfire Academy to learn to harness her powers as a Telepath. In the process, she is welcomed into a new adopted family (The Ruewens), makes loads of friends (Fitz, Keefe, Biana, and Dex to name a few), and uncovers a secret organization trying to destroy the human world.
Why Kirsten loves it
Both of my boys adore Sophie, Keefe, Fitz, and the gang of Foxfire Academy. As the series progressed, I got invested in the Black Swan’s fight against the Neverseen. Each book is better than the last one!
Why Jackie loves it
I listened to this with my 3 kids on our summer road trip to Toronto. By the end of the car ride, even my husband was hooked on this series!
Find this book in: Secret Society Books / Fantasy Books for Tweens / Books for 11-year-olds / Books Like Harry Potter / Kids Audiobooks / Books with Magical Creatures
Fablehaven
Author: Brandon Mull
Year: 2006
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Age: 8 – 12
More info: New York Times Bestseller, Fablehaven #1
Plot
Animals all head to Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. It is a sanctuary of magic in a world that has stopped believing. Kendra and her brother Seth do not know that their grandfather is the caretaker of Fablehaven. On the festival night, a window to their bedroom gets left open and the monsters are let in. It is up to Kendra and Seth to save their family.
Why Jackie loves it
Parts of this middle-grade fantasy book are a bit scarier for younger children to read but if your child likes books like the later Harry Potters or Keeper of the Lost City, they should be ok with it.
Find this book in: Fantasy Books for Tweens / Books Like KOTLC / Books with Magical Creatures
Helpful Tips
- Not sure where to start on your magical creature-seeking journey? Pick a book that stars a mythical creature you are most interested in.
- Vampires, Werewolves, and Witches are considered magical humanoids, so they count as magical creatures too. You might like our list of YA witch books!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do magical creatures exist?
Sadly, magical creatures are simply myths that only exist in our collective imaginations. Created for storytelling, the best way to connect with a magical creature is to read a story featuring one!
What are some popular creatures in fantasy literature aside from dragons and magical beings?
Aside from dragons, popular magical creatures include unicorns, ogres, mermaids, fairies, minotaurs, and goblins.
Related Content
Epilogue
Those are just a few of the books with magical creatures I’ve read and loved. Are any of your favorites on the list? Let me know below if you have other suggestions!
The Best Fantasy Books for Tweens
Love these magical creatures novels? You’ll love the books on this list!
