Fantasy
- stories that contain imaginative characters or a setting that would never occur in real life.
Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery
By: Deborah and James Howe
Chapter Book
Summary: Mr. and Mrs. Monroe have two sons, Toby and Pete, a cat, Chester, and a dog, Harold, who the story is told by. One night, the Monroe family returns home from the movie theatre with a bunny. The family was going to see the movie Dracula, when they noticed a bunny sitting on the seat. The young boys Toby and Pete fight over what to name the bunny and settle with the name, Bunnicula. Chester is instantly convinced something is strange about Bunnicula, especially when he is able to get out of his cage on his own and sucks the juice out of vegetables. Chester tries to all sorts of tactics to rid the rabbit and even starves him. Soon Bunnicula looks sick, so the Monroes take him to the vet and bring Chester for his behavior. The vet puts Bunnicula on a vegetable juice diet and Chester is prescribed therapy.
Interest Level: 3rd – 6th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 4.2 (4th Grade 2 Months)
By: Deborah and James Howe
Chapter Book
Summary: Mr. and Mrs. Monroe have two sons, Toby and Pete, a cat, Chester, and a dog, Harold, who the story is told by. One night, the Monroe family returns home from the movie theatre with a bunny. The family was going to see the movie Dracula, when they noticed a bunny sitting on the seat. The young boys Toby and Pete fight over what to name the bunny and settle with the name, Bunnicula. Chester is instantly convinced something is strange about Bunnicula, especially when he is able to get out of his cage on his own and sucks the juice out of vegetables. Chester tries to all sorts of tactics to rid the rabbit and even starves him. Soon Bunnicula looks sick, so the Monroes take him to the vet and bring Chester for his behavior. The vet puts Bunnicula on a vegetable juice diet and Chester is prescribed therapy.
Interest Level: 3rd – 6th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 4.2 (4th Grade 2 Months)
Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory
By: Roald Dahl
Chapter Book:
Summary: A young boy named Charlie lives with both sets of grandparents and his parents. They are very poor and go many days starving and cold. However, Charlie never complains and is never selfish. One day, the news announces that Willie Wonka is opening is factory to five lucky people who get a chocolate bar with a golden ticket inside. Charlie is one of them and chooses his grandfather to go along with him. The other four people are spoiled, rude, and misbehaved. As they tour the factory, consequences occur to the children who do not listen. At the end, Charlie is the only one left and Willy Wonka offers to give him his factory.
Interest Level: 4th – 7th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 4.8 (4th Grade 8 Months)
By: Roald Dahl
Chapter Book:
Summary: A young boy named Charlie lives with both sets of grandparents and his parents. They are very poor and go many days starving and cold. However, Charlie never complains and is never selfish. One day, the news announces that Willie Wonka is opening is factory to five lucky people who get a chocolate bar with a golden ticket inside. Charlie is one of them and chooses his grandfather to go along with him. The other four people are spoiled, rude, and misbehaved. As they tour the factory, consequences occur to the children who do not listen. At the end, Charlie is the only one left and Willy Wonka offers to give him his factory.
Interest Level: 4th – 7th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 4.8 (4th Grade 8 Months)
The Giver
By: Lois Lowry
Chapter Book
Summary: Jonah lives in a community where there are many strict rules to be followed, everyone is the same, and the people do not make their own choices. Every year, celebrations are held for each age up to twelve years old. At the age of twelve, they are given their assignments, which are the jobs they will be doing for the rest of their life. Jonas is given the assignment of a “Receiver”, which is a highly honorable, yet difficult and painful job. When Jonas reports to his assignment on the first day he meets an old man, the “Giver”, who is currently the “Receiver” of the community. He is going to transfer all of the memories to Jonas for him to keep. After Jonas has received many memories, good and bad, he begins to form real feelings about the community he thought he knew so well. Unhappy by many of the realities he is faced, the Giver and Jonas decide that the community should have these feelings too, but the only way that will happen is if the keeper of the memories is released or flees the community. Therefore, Jonas decides to do leave the community and he takes his the temporary child living with their family, along with him.
Interest Level: 5th – 9th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 5.7 (5th Grade 7 Months)
By: Lois Lowry
Chapter Book
Summary: Jonah lives in a community where there are many strict rules to be followed, everyone is the same, and the people do not make their own choices. Every year, celebrations are held for each age up to twelve years old. At the age of twelve, they are given their assignments, which are the jobs they will be doing for the rest of their life. Jonas is given the assignment of a “Receiver”, which is a highly honorable, yet difficult and painful job. When Jonas reports to his assignment on the first day he meets an old man, the “Giver”, who is currently the “Receiver” of the community. He is going to transfer all of the memories to Jonas for him to keep. After Jonas has received many memories, good and bad, he begins to form real feelings about the community he thought he knew so well. Unhappy by many of the realities he is faced, the Giver and Jonas decide that the community should have these feelings too, but the only way that will happen is if the keeper of the memories is released or flees the community. Therefore, Jonas decides to do leave the community and he takes his the temporary child living with their family, along with him.
Interest Level: 5th – 9th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 5.7 (5th Grade 7 Months)
The Gruffalo
By: Julia Donaldson
Picture Book
Summary: While walking through the forest, a mouse is approached by a fox that wants the mouse for lunch. The mouse makes up a story about a big, scary, dangerous animal called a gruffalo that he is going to meet for lunch. Scared of this “gruffalo”, the fox runs and hides. The mouse continues on his way and soon runs into an owl and then a snake, to which he tells the same made up story to. They also run and hide! This story works in the mouse’s favor, until an actual gruffalo comes along! Then, using his imagination, the mouse says that all of the animals in the woods are scared of him the most. To prove this, the mouse and the gruffalo take a walk through the woods and the animals all scurry off and hide!
Interest Level: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 2.3 (2nd Grade 3 Months)
By: Julia Donaldson
Picture Book
Summary: While walking through the forest, a mouse is approached by a fox that wants the mouse for lunch. The mouse makes up a story about a big, scary, dangerous animal called a gruffalo that he is going to meet for lunch. Scared of this “gruffalo”, the fox runs and hides. The mouse continues on his way and soon runs into an owl and then a snake, to which he tells the same made up story to. They also run and hide! This story works in the mouse’s favor, until an actual gruffalo comes along! Then, using his imagination, the mouse says that all of the animals in the woods are scared of him the most. To prove this, the mouse and the gruffalo take a walk through the woods and the animals all scurry off and hide!
Interest Level: Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 2.3 (2nd Grade 3 Months)
I Need My Monster
By: Amanda Noll
Picture Book
Summary: A young boy has a monster under his bed named Gabe. Gabe helps him stay in bed at night and go to sleep. Unfortunately, Gabe was going away to fish for a week and left the little boy a note. This upset him very much, especially when the substitute monsters that come are not scary at all! Luckily, fishing did not work out so well for Gabe and he came back early! The little boy could finally go to sleep again!
Interest Level: Pre-Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.0 (beginning of 3rd Grade
By: Amanda Noll
Picture Book
Summary: A young boy has a monster under his bed named Gabe. Gabe helps him stay in bed at night and go to sleep. Unfortunately, Gabe was going away to fish for a week and left the little boy a note. This upset him very much, especially when the substitute monsters that come are not scary at all! Luckily, fishing did not work out so well for Gabe and he came back early! The little boy could finally go to sleep again!
Interest Level: Pre-Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 3.0 (beginning of 3rd Grade
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
By: Robert C. O’Brien
Chapter Book
Summary: A little mouse named Mrs. Frisby is widowed with four children, Teresa, Martin, Timothy, and Cynthia. The long and cold winter days are almost over and Timothy gets seriously ill. Mr. Ages orders him a special medicine and to stay in bed! Unfortunately, the weather is getting warmer, which means the Frisby’s have to relocate their home. Frightened for her son’s life, Mrs. Frisby seeks help from The Owl, who tells her who to go to the Rats of NIMH for help. They help her move as well as tell her a few things about her husband that she did not know. With the rats’ help, Mrs. Frisby and her family all make it to a new home!
Interest Level: 3rd – 6th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 5.1 (5th Grade 1 Month)
By: Robert C. O’Brien
Chapter Book
Summary: A little mouse named Mrs. Frisby is widowed with four children, Teresa, Martin, Timothy, and Cynthia. The long and cold winter days are almost over and Timothy gets seriously ill. Mr. Ages orders him a special medicine and to stay in bed! Unfortunately, the weather is getting warmer, which means the Frisby’s have to relocate their home. Frightened for her son’s life, Mrs. Frisby seeks help from The Owl, who tells her who to go to the Rats of NIMH for help. They help her move as well as tell her a few things about her husband that she did not know. With the rats’ help, Mrs. Frisby and her family all make it to a new home!
Interest Level: 3rd – 6th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 5.1 (5th Grade 1 Month)
Stuart Little
By: E.B. White (V)
Chapter Book
Summary: Mr. and Mrs. Little have two sons, George and Stuart, but Stuart is a little different. Stuart is a mouse. The family tries their best to adapt their house to fit Stuart’s needs as well. The Little’s quickly learn that Stuart can do things no one else can, like go down the drain to get Mrs. Little’s ring. He makes friends easily and is fun to have around! Stuart ventures off from his house to find his friend Margalo, a bird, who flew away. Although small, Stuart is brave and determined.
Interest Level: 2nd – 5th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 6.0 (beginning of 6th Grade)
By: E.B. White (V)
Chapter Book
Summary: Mr. and Mrs. Little have two sons, George and Stuart, but Stuart is a little different. Stuart is a mouse. The family tries their best to adapt their house to fit Stuart’s needs as well. The Little’s quickly learn that Stuart can do things no one else can, like go down the drain to get Mrs. Little’s ring. He makes friends easily and is fun to have around! Stuart ventures off from his house to find his friend Margalo, a bird, who flew away. Although small, Stuart is brave and determined.
Interest Level: 2nd – 5th Grade
Grade Level/Reading Level: 6.0 (beginning of 6th Grade)