Fantasy Chapter Books for Kids
For kids who like The Last Firehawk, these series offer animal heroes, magical creatures, quests, courage, short chapters, and fantasy danger that young readers can follow.
The Last Firehawk #1: The Ember Stone
Why it works
The Last Firehawk gives young fantasy readers a serious problem in a readable shape: Perodia is in danger, Thorn is spreading dark magic, and Tag is small but still has a part to play.
The series also has the support many early chapter-book readers need. The chapters move quickly, the illustrations help carry the story, and the animal heroes make the quest feel easier to enter than a denser fantasy novel.
These recommendations focus on illustrated fantasy chapter books, magical-creature stories, and quest series that keep the reading step manageable while giving children real adventure.
Dragon Masters is a natural next stop for readers who like Branches fantasy with danger that starts early. It trades Tag's owl-and-firehawk quest for children training dragons in a castle, but keeps the chapters quick and the fantasy problem easy to grasp.
Best for: readers who want more magical creatures, more action, and a steady team of young heroes.
The Kingdom of Wrenly gives young fantasy readers castles, quests, dragons, mermaids, and other magical creatures in a softer kingdom setting. It is a good match when the quest structure is the appeal, but the reader would like less darkness than Thorn's threat to Perodia.
Best for: kids who enjoy fantasy kingdoms and friendship-led adventures.
Dragon Girls fits readers who want magical creatures and brave friends, but with a brighter friendship tone. The dragon transformations and Forest of Magic setting give it fantasy energy without feeling as battle-driven as some quest series.
Caveat: it is softer and more friendship-centered than The Last Firehawk.
Unicorn Academy is less of a perilous quest and more of a magical-school series, but it keeps the child-and-creature partnership at the center. It works well for readers who connect with Blaze as much as they connect with the adventure.
Best for: children who like loyal magical animals, friendship problems, and a predictable school setting.
Owl Diaries shares the Branches format and an owl-centered cast, but the story world is school, friendship, and diary entries rather than fantasy battle. It can be a useful confidence-builder for a child who likes animal characters and very visual pages.
Caveat: choose this for format and owl appeal, not for the same quest stakes.
The Secrets of Droon is a better fit for readers who are ready to move from early illustrated fantasy into a larger portal-fantasy world. Ordinary children enter Droon through a hidden passage and return to a world of magic, villains, and linked quests.
Caveat: some volumes may be harder to find than newer series.
In The Crumbling Kingdom, Miles, Sophie, Ollie, and Bandit enter a kingdom where fear has left everything falling apart. It has illustrations, short chapters, a clear mission, and a courage-centered story for children who like fantasy trouble that needs to be set right.
Best for: readers who like brave choices, magical lands, and ordinary children being asked to help.
Related guides
For readers who want another illustrated fantasy series with magical creatures, danger, teamwork, and quick-moving chapters.
For families who want short chapter books with familiar children, clear missions, light mystery, magic, and adventure.
For families looking for adventure-forward chapter books with dragons, clues, quests, and manageable reading formats.
For readers who want courage, magical worlds, brave choices, and fantasy with a clearer moral direction.
Pictures of Magic
In The Crumbling Kingdom, a walk into the forbidden woods leads Miles, Sophie, Ollie, and Bandit to a fading picture, a crumbling kingdom, and a choice that changes everything.
Try the sample
Parent note
Your encouragement matters. Every time you help your child find a book that fits, you make it a little easier for reading to become part of their life.
For more ideas, visit the book recommendations hub, or explore the Pictures of Magic series shelf.