A fair makes a temporary little world and gives everyone a job in it. Pumpkins become competitors, goats become athletes, pies acquire secret ingredients, and a ride that looked perfectly reasonable from the parking lot becomes enormous at the gate. The best fair books catch that mixture of anticipation and commotion—the ribbons and judging, certainly, but also the lights coming on, the friend who will ride beside you, and the long walk home with something unexpected in your hand.
Drawing from Bookroo’s collection of 98 books about fairs, our editors chose twelve that range from county and state fairs to a school fundraiser, a science fair, a Renaissance faire, and the 1889 Paris World’s Fair. The shortlist favors books in which the fair truly matters, not stories that merely pass a Ferris wheel in the distance. Start there, then use the age shelves and related topics to find animal shows, midway adventures, inventions, or a first fair for a very small reader.
After the people leave, woodland animals switch the fairground lights back on and claim the rides for themselves.
A pig befriends a spider who devises a plan to save his life from slaughter.
Two friends visit a state fair and participate in various activities.
A goat race at the Corgiville Fair pits Caleb against Edgar's cunning tricks.
Animals from A to Z arrange, build, play, and celebrate their way through one gloriously busy fair.
A county fair holds surprises and a special pumpkin contest for a young boy.
A princess must save the day when a monster takes over a science fair project
Imogene faces middle school challenges and questions her identity as a knight or dragon.
A classroom pet becomes the surprise star at a school fair. Can he win the best class spirit contest?
Two siblings travel back in time to the 1889 Paris World's Fair to find four new magicians and warn them about an evil sorcerer.
Rats create a fair from a sign mix-up, but can they trust a boy to save it?
A day at the fair turns into unexpected friendship.
Alphabet animals, bright rides, busy fairgrounds, and sturdy pages for pointing and naming. Ages 0–5.
Discover the magic of a fair through touch and play.
Join a fearless girl on a counting adventure from 1 to 10.
Join a mouse and friends on a thrilling fair adventure.
Blue ribbons, goat races, prize pumpkins, school booths, runaway animals, and magical fairgrounds for ages 3–8.
A group of students work together on a science experiment for their school's science fair.
A sleepover at the farm leads to a pie contest with a secret twist. Will it win?
Can Little Critter's caterpillar project win the science fair?
Freddy's science fair project is ruined. Can he save it in time?
A street fair turns chaotic when Pal escapes. Can they find him before it's too late?
A mischievous dog turns a prize pumpkin's journey into chaos.
A science fair robot spirals into chaos. Can she control the mayhem?
A girl discovers her new word-a-day calendar has given her a magic book that makes everything she writes in it come true
Three friends try to make a fourth friend feel better after they miss out on a fun event together.
A zucchini seeks revenge at a chaotic science fair.
A runaway goat leads to unexpected fairground adventures.
A girl and her friend attend the Pinkville Fair with her mom and have a fun-filled day with rides, games, and a pet show, and her unicorn makes a surprise appearance.
County-fair contests, school projects, historical world’s fairs, mysteries, and Renaissance-fair adventures for readers ages 6–12.
Two friends go on a series of adventures together, starting with a trip to the fair and ending with a successful lemonade stand.
A girl races to win a science fair, risking friendships and priorities.
Two inventors clash as a science competition threatens to topple an empire.
Can cupcakes be healthy? Alexis juggles science fair dreams and a rocky love life.
A unicorn vanishes at a festival. Can the Clue Crew solve the mystery?
A rollercoaster makes riders vanish. Can Creepella solve the mystery before she disappears too?
A young girl navigates the challenges of a school science fair with the help of her unlikely partner.
A group of students must navigate a supernatural science fair.
Two second-grade girls try to find a solution to global warming for their school science fair.
A young girl befriends a dinosaur after accidentally bringing it back from a museum and tries to figure out how to return it to its own time.
A student at Ella Mentry School participates in a science fair that quickly spirals out of control
Can Jess and Lily save a magical forest from a wicked witch's mischief?
