Five Must-Read Fantasy Picture Books

A key aspect of fantasy is world-building. What I like about this picture book and its companion, Cafe Cave Downstairs, It’s that the world-building feels as rich and nuanced as any fantasy novel and also plays into the cozy fantasy trend. It’s like a picture book version of Legends and Lattes. Rene dreams of opening her own restaurant, and a dilapidated structure at the edge of a forest filled with monsters will accomplish this. Although she works hard to find the perfect dish, her monster customers are not satisfied. But a new green server named Glumfoot may be exactly what he needs to change things. The second book is told from Glumfoot’s point of view.

Competing for the title of “Best Casual Fantasy Picture Book” is this adorable dragon series, which is also about food! Ember is the smallest of the dragons and has no interest in collecting treasure like his more fearsome companions. When a baker rescues her from a lonely rainy night, Amber finally discovers what she loves most…freshly baked loaves of bread! In the second book, Bakery Dragon and Fairy CakeAmber is frustrated with making the perfect cake. No matter how small or how different, Amber shows readers that you should always stay true to yourself, and help yourself in other roles. Stay tuned for the third book in the series, Bakery Dragon and the Giant Cookie.

Nite Owl is another example of a character who stays true to himself and finds an unusual profession. Owl has always dreamed of becoming a knight. When the state opens night school for even the most unlikely candidates, Owlman immediately joins. Nite Owl then discovers why so many fellow knights have disappeared. The praise of this picture book helped propel the subgenre to its current popularity, and for good reason. It is absolutely adorable and charming. Just look at that owl in armor! I can’t get enough of it and re-read it regularly. Also check out the second book in the series, Knightly Owl and the Early Bird.

Kids love humor too, and roar-choo A great example of the combination of humor and fantasy. The dragon is fierce and plans to take over the world! But the dragon also has a cold. Will he stay long enough to help Phoenix? No. Parents will recognize this story as much as children. In an author’s note, Cheng describes the role of the dragon and the phoenix in Chinese mythology.

This is a very different dragon picture book that combines Eastern and Western mythology. In our world, a mother tells two different imaginary stories to her son. In one, the explorer son finds his grandmother in a hut in the woods, who tells him a story about dragons who love treasure. In another, the son enters a different kind of forest, where the White Rabbit in the Moon gives him directions to his other grandmother, who tells him a story about a lucky dragon who controls the weather. This is a beautiful picture book about embracing multicultural identities.