Best books for kids who love Rainbow Magic and Beast Quest
Has your child been an avid reader of the immensely popular Rainbow Magic or Beast Quest series? Primary school teacher Scott Evans suggests more fantastical, amazing-beasts-filled reads for your fantasy worlds lover. Before you know it they'll be voyaging to Middle Earth or stepping into Narnia through a pile of coats...
Dinosaur Cove: Attack of the Lizard King by Rex Stone
(£4.99, OUP Oxford)A world of dinosaurs awaits in this action adventure series. When two boys find their way back in to the past, meeting real dinosaurs comes as a bit of a shock... Engaging and exciting, this is my number one choice for Beast Quest fans.
Astrosaurs by Steve Cole
(£6.99, Red Fox)For readers who love space and dinosaurs, here they are together in this galaxy-gallivanting series! Once your children have read one, they'll want to read them all (and collect all the collectible cards that come with them!).
Spynosaur by Guy Bass
(£5.99, Stripes)King of fun and king of pun Guy Bass brings humour by the bucket load to the Spynosaur series. With a spy's mind and a body resembling that of a prehistoric dinosaur, Super Secret Agent Dinosaur (codename: Spynosaur) is tasked with saving the world. Great for readers aged 8+; wild, wacky and wonderful.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J. K. Rowling
(£5.99, Bloomsbury)Looking for more beasts after Beast Quest? Join Newt Scamander on his search for the most amazing and fantastical beasts in the world! The Thunderbird, the Hippogriff, the Ashwinder... you name them, they're all here in this compendium of magical beasts from the Potterverse.
Goblins by Philip Reeve
(£6.99, Scholastic)From the author of the hugely successful Mortal Engines series, in Goblins fantasy and adventure come together as a dark magic is rising in a world populated by trolls, giants, boglins, cloud-maidens, swamp monsters, tree-warriors and bloodthirsty goblins. A delight for readers young and old to read aloud.
Dirty Beasts by Roald Dahl
(£7.99, Puffin)If your children haven't read this collection of animal rhymes and poems from the master of stupendously good stories, Roald Dahl, then they're missing out. Oozing with the cheeky naughtiness that Dahl fans love, this is essential reading alongside books his other kids' verse classic, Revolting Rhymes. On the right side of grisly, these rhymes deserve to be reread over and over again.
The Lonely Beast by Chris Judge
(£6.99, Andersen Press)The Beast is rare – so rare that he's actually feeling quite lonely. But no beast deserves to be this lonely... Go on an epic journey with the Beast as he fights his loneliness and finds others like him... A guaranteed bedtime favourite with Reception and Year 1 children (and parents!).
Isadora Moon Goes to School by Harriet Muncaster
(£5.99, OUP Oxford)Isadora is half vampire, half fairy and totally unique – being a bit of both is a blessing in disguise, however! A gorgeous illustrated fiction series, perfect for developing readers. Charming and funny, this is magic-and-sparkle fiction with a bit of bite!
Mummy Fairy and Me by Sophie Kinsella & Marta Kissi
(£5.99, Puffin)Who wouldn't want to find out that their mum was a fairy with the ability to do delicious-cupcake and perfect-party spells? It's up to Ella to sort things out when her fairy Mummy causes chaos, though... Readers aged 5-7 will be scrutinising their own mums for magic powers after reading this! There are more books in the Mummy Fairy and Me series, too: Fairy-in-Waiting and Unicorn Wishes.
Unicorn Academy: Sophia and Rainbow by Julie Sykes & Lucy Truman
(£6.99, Nosy Crow)Unicorns are all the rage at the moment and this story will captivate all their fans. Imagine a school where you meet your own unicorn and have wonderful adventures together – well, Unicorn Academy, on beautiful Unicorn Island, is that place! With eleven chapters, this is ideal for emerging readers to read independently.
Bad Mermaids by Sibeal Pounder
(£6.99, Bloomsbury)If your children loved watching The Little Mermaid, then this is the book for them! Putting a new, fashion-conscious twist on the underwater world, the author of the popular Witch Wars series offers a fast-paced mystery of mis-fit mermaids, complete with talking seahorse. Dive in and enjoy!
Harper and the Secret Umbrella by Cerrie Burnell & Laura Ellen Anderson
(£5.99, Scholastic)Written by CBeebies presenter Carrie Burnell, this beautiful story makes for a very enjoyable adventure. When every cat in the City of Clouds goes missing, Harper realises that only her magical scarlet umbrella can help her bring them back and sets off on a series of amazing adventures.
Fairy Dust by Gwyneth Rees
(£5.99, Macmillan)When Rosie finds a tiny tartan sock in her bedroom she's sure it could only fit a fairy! But according to Mum, fairies don't exist and Rosie's silly for even suggesting the idea. A perfect gift for young readers that shows them that magic is everywhere if you know where to look...
The Rescue Princesses: The Secret Promise by Paula Harrison
(£5.99, Nosy Crow)Princess Emily is not your usual prim-and-proper princess: she'd rather be having her own adventures than making sure she looks pretty in her gowns and dresses, and her friends feel the same way. Packed with heroines, this first chapter book series offers a modern, engaging take on a traditional story genre.
The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd
(£5.99, Piccadilly Press)Would you like to discover a dragonfruit tree at the bottom of your granddad's garden – and then find out that it grows actual dragons? Tomas's life changes forever when his very own tiny dragon, Flicker, hatches, and takes up residence in his pocket, singeing his way through every day at home and school. A warm and wonderful series for KS2 readers (The Boy Who Lived With Dragons and The Boy Who Flew With Dragons are also available), complemented by magical illustrations.
