TheGold Shelf

Fantasy and magic books for ages 3 to 5

77 award-winning books for ages 3 to 5. Dragons, wizards, ghosts and other worlds.

Babies and toddlers0–2Ages 3 to 53–5Ages 6 to 86–8Ages 9 to 129–12TeensTeen
Animals317Adventure19Fantasy and magic77Funny books213Family152Friendship72History and real people59Nature and science129Folktales and fairy tales130Poetry and rhyme103Feelings and big moments84Bedtime62First chapter books76

77 books

Cover of The Truth About DragonsHonor2024The Truth About DragonsJulie Leung2024 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Knight OwlHonor2023Knight OwlChristopher Denise2023 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Sato the Rabbit (Book 1)Honor2022Sato the Rabbit (Book 1)Yuki Ainoya2022 Batchelder Award Honor BookCover of How to Make a BirdWinner2021How to Make a BirdMeg McKinlay2021 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerCover of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary FriendWinner2015The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary FriendDan Santat2015 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of JourneyHonor2014JourneyAaron Becker2014 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Black DogWinner2013Black DogLevi Pinfold2013 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of Extra YarnHonor2013Extra YarnMac Barnett2013 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The CoatWinner2013The CoatJulie Hunt2013 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerCover of The Hero of Little StreetWinner2010The Hero of Little StreetGregory Rogers2010 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerCover of FlotsamWinner2007FlotsamDavid Wiesner2007 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Not a BoxHonor2007Not a BoxAntoinette Portis2007 Geisel Award Honor BookCover of The Boy from the SunWinner2007The Boy from the SunDuncan Weller2007 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerCover of Imagine a DayWinner2005Imagine a DaySarah L. Thomson2005 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerCover of The Red BookHonor2005The Red BookBarbara Lehman2005 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Jethro Byrde, Fairy ChildWinner2002Jethro Byrde, Fairy ChildBob Graham2002 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of An Island in the SoupWinner2001An Island in the SoupMireille Levert2001 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerCover of Sector 7Honor2000Sector 7David Wiesner2000 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Tar BeachHonor1992Tar BeachFaith Ringgold1992 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of TuesdayWinner1992TuesdayDavid Wiesner1992 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Drac and the GremlinWinner1989Drac and the GremlinAllan Baillie1989 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerCover of Free FallHonor1989Free FallDavid Wiesner1989 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Hey, AlWinner1987Hey, AlRichard Egielski1987 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Rainy Day MagicWinner1987Rainy Day MagicMarie-Louise Gay1987 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerCover of GorillaWinner1983GorillaAnthony Browne1983 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of JumanjiWinner1982JumanjiChris Van Allsburg1982 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Outside Over ThereHonor1982Outside Over ThereMaurice Sendak1982 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of One Dragon's DreamWinner1980One Dragon's DreamPeter Pavey1980 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerCover of The Garden of Abdul GasaziHonor1980The Garden of Abdul GasaziChris Van Allsburg1980 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Amazing BoneHonor1977The Amazing BoneWilliam Steig1977 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Bunyip of Berkeley's CreekWinner1974The Bunyip of Berkeley's CreekJenny Wagner1974 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerCover of In the Night KitchenHonor1971In the Night KitchenMaurice Sendak1971 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Alexander and the Wind-Up MouseHonor1970Alexander and the Wind-Up MouseLeo Lionni1970 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Sylvester and the Magic PebbleWinner1970Sylvester and the Magic PebbleWilliam Steig1970 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of The Dragon of an Ordinary FamilyWinner1969The Dragon of an Ordinary FamilyMargaret Mahy1969 Carnegie Medal for Illustration winnerCover of Where the Wild Things AreWinner1964Where the Wild Things AreMaurice Sendak1964 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Feather MountainHonor1952Feather MountainElizabeth Olds1952 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Bartholomew and the OobleckHonor1950Bartholomew and the OobleckDr. Seuss1950 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of McElligot's PoolHonor1948McElligot's PoolDr. Seuss1948 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of Many MoonsWinner1944Many MoonsJames Thurber1944 Caldecott Medal winnerCover of Nothing at AllHonor1942Nothing at AllWanda Gág1942 Caldecott Medal Honor BookCover of The Fairy CircusHonor1932The Fairy CircusDorothy P. Lathrop1932 Newbery Medal Honor BookThe Barnabus ProjectThe Fan BrothersWinner2020The Barnabus ProjectThe Fan Brothers2020 Governor General's Award (illustration) winnerAn Ordinary DayLibby GleesonWinner2002An Ordinary DayLibby Gleeson2002 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerThe Polar ExpressChris Van AllsburgWinner1986The Polar ExpressChris Van Allsburg1986 Caldecott Medal winnerWish and the Magic NutPeggy BarnardWinner1956Wish and the Magic NutPeggy Barnard1956 CBCA Picture Book of the Year winnerCover of The WandererShortlist2022The WandererPeter Van den Ende2022 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of StarbirdShortlist2021StarbirdSharon King-Chai2021 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of King Jack and the DragonShortlist2013King Jack and the DragonPeter Bently2013 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of April Underhill Tooth FairyShortlist2011April Underhill Tooth FairyBob Graham2011 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Red WagonFinalist2011Red WagonRenata Liwska2011 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of Leon and the Place BetweenShortlist2010Leon and the Place BetweenAngela McAllister2010 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of The Blue HippopotamusFinalist2007The Blue HippopotamusPhoebe Gilman2007 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of The ElephantomShortlist2007The ElephantomRoss Collins2007 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of The Emperor of AbsurdiaShortlist2007The Emperor of AbsurdiaChris Riddell2007 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Jinnie GhostShortlist2005Jinnie GhostBerlie Doherty2005 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of A Very Unusual DogFinalist2004A Very Unusual DogDorothy Joan Harris2004 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of BeeguShortlist2003BeeguAlexis Deacon2003 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Imagine a NightFinalist2003Imagine a NightSarah L. Thomson2003 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of Mallory and the Power BoyFinalist2001Mallory and the Power BoyPete Marlowe2001 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of The Witch's ChildrenShortlist2001The Witch's ChildrenUrsula Jones2001 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of The Sea-Thing ChildShortlist1999The Sea-Thing ChildRussell Hoban1999 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of WeslandiaCommended1999WeslandiaPaul Fleischman1999 Carnegie Medal for Illustration commendedCover of Flying DimitriFinalist1997Flying DimitriBlair Drawson1997 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistCover of Unicorns! Unicorns!Shortlist1997Unicorns! Unicorns!Geraldine McCaughrean1997 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Willy the DreamerShortlist1997Willy the DreamerAnthony Browne1997 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of The GardenShortlist1993The GardenDyan Sheldon1993 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedCover of Angel and the Polar BearFinalist1988Angel and the Polar BearMarie-Louise Gay1988 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistThe Paper BridgeJoelle VeyrencShortlist2026The Paper BridgeJoelle Veyrenc2026 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedBog MyrtleSid SharpFinalist2025Bog MyrtleSid Sharp2025 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistThe Invisible StoryJaime GamboaShortlist2025The Invisible StoryJaime Gamboa2025 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedOne Giant LeapThao LamFinalist2024One Giant LeapThao Lam2024 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalistThe WildernessSteve McCarthyShortlist2024The WildernessSteve McCarthy2024 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedThe GiftCarol Ann DuffyShortlist2012The GiftCarol Ann Duffy2012 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedMillie's Marvellous HatSatoshi KitamuraShortlist2010Millie's Marvellous HatSatoshi Kitamura2010 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedTatty RattyHelen CooperShortlist2001Tatty RattyHelen Cooper2001 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlistedFlights of MagicJohn StefflerFinalist1987Flights of MagicJohn Steffler1987 Governor General's Award (illustration) finalist