Quest Anthology Book: Which One Is Right for Your Family?
TL;DR: There are two completely different "Quest" anthologies on the market right now, and which one you want depends entirely on your kid's age. For ages 4-8, Aaron Becker's gorgeous wordless picture book Quest is a magical adventure told entirely through illustrations. For teens and adults who love fantasy fiction, the Fantasy-Writers.org anthology is a collection of short stories built around classic hero's journey themes. Neither is better—they're just for totally different audiences.
If you're searching for "Quest anthology" you've probably already discovered the confusion: there are two books with nearly identical titles serving completely different age groups. Let me break down both so you can figure out which one (or both!) belongs on your shelf.
Quest by Aaron Becker (Ages 4-8)
This is the Candlewick Press picture book from Aaron Becker, the same artist behind Journey and Return. If you loved those books, you already know what you're getting into.
The story is beautifully simple: two kids are hanging out in a rainy city park when a mysterious king emerges from a hidden door, hands them a map and a strange magical object, and sends them on an adventure that blends the everyday urban world with fantastical realms. The whole thing unfolds through Becker's stunning full-page illustrations with minimal (or no) text.
Why it works for young kids:
- The wordless format means kids of different reading levels can all engage with it
- The visual storytelling invites conversation and interpretation—there's no "right" way to read it
- It's perfect for bedtime read-alouds where you can point and wonder together
- The sense of discovery and magic is exactly what 4-8 year olds are primed for
Parent heads-up: This isn't a "read it once and you're done" book. Kids will want to go back through it multiple times, finding new details in the artwork. That's actually the point. If you're looking for a quick story with a clear beginning-middle-end that you can race through, this might frustrate you. But if you're cool with lingering over pages and letting your kid drive the narrative, it's gold.
Quest: A Fantasy-Writers.org Anthology (Ages 13+)
This is a completely different animal. Published in 2025 by the online Fantasy-Writers.org community, this anthology collects short stories and poems all centered around the classic hero's journey—the monomyth structure that shows up in everything from The Odyssey to Star Wars.
The contributors range from emerging writers to established fantasy authors, and the whole thing is aimed at older readers: teens, young adults, and adult fantasy fans. It's also a solid resource for aspiring writers who want to see how different authors tackle quest narratives.
Why teens might dig it:
- If your kid is into Percy Jackson, The Hobbit, or any fantasy series with a journey structure, this shows them how the bones of those stories work
- The variety of voices and styles means there's probably something in here that'll click
- For kids who write their own stories (or want to), seeing multiple takes on the same theme is incredibly instructive
Parent heads-up: I haven't read every story in this collection, but anthologies are inherently hit-or-miss. Your teen might love three stories, tolerate four, and skip the rest. That's normal. The upside is that short story collections are low-commitment—if something isn't landing, flip ahead.
For the picture book (Aaron Becker's Quest):
- Ages 4-6: Perfect. The visual storytelling is accessible and the sense of wonder is exactly what this age craves.
- Ages 7-8: Still great, especially for kids who love art or are into graphic novels.
- Ages 9+: Probably aging out unless they're particularly into illustration or you're using it as a springboard for creative writing or art projects.
For the fantasy anthology (Fantasy-Writers.org):
- Ages 13+: Good starting point. Some stories might skew older depending on content (violence, complexity, themes), but the monomyth structure is taught in middle school English classes, so most teens can handle it.
- Ages 10-12: Maybe. If you have a voracious fantasy reader who's already plowed through Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, and A Wrinkle in Time, they might be ready. Preview a story or two first.
If you're buying the picture book: This is an investment in multiple read-throughs. Don't expect your kid to "get" everything the first time. In fact, the lack of text is a feature, not a bug—it forces kids to slow down and really look. If your kid is used to books with lots of words, they might initially resist, but give it a shot. You can also use it as a writing prompt: have them narrate the story or write dialogue for the characters.
If you're buying the fantasy anthology: Anthologies are tricky because not every story will resonate. That's okay. The value is in exposure to different writing styles and approaches to the same theme. If your teen is a writer, this is a great way to see how structure (the hero's journey) can be a springboard for wildly different stories. If they're just a reader, it's a low-stakes way to sample new authors.
Also, if your teen is into Dungeons & Dragons or other tabletop RPGs, the quest structure in this anthology is basically the backbone of every campaign they've ever played. It might give them ideas for their own games.
Get Aaron Becker's picture book if: You have a 4-8 year old who loves imaginative play, beautiful art, or books like Journey, The Arrival by Shaun Tan, or Flotsam by David Wiesner. This is a book you'll read together over and over, finding new details each time.
Get the Fantasy-Writers.org anthology if: You have a teen or tween who's into fantasy, loves short story collections, or is trying to learn how to write their own stories. It's also a solid pick for adults who just love fantasy fiction and want to discover new voices.
Get both if: You have kids spanning both age ranges and you want to show them how the same concept—a quest—can be told in completely different ways depending on the audience and medium. That's actually a pretty cool conversation to have across ages.
- For the picture book: Check out Aaron Becker's other books if your kid loves Quest. Journey, Return, and his newer work all have the same visual storytelling magic.
- For the anthology: If your teen digs the quest theme, point them toward books about the hero's journey or classic fantasy novels that use the same structure.
- Not sure which one? Ask the Screenwise chatbot
with your kid's age and interests and get a personalized recommendation.