September means one thing in plenty of households—fantasy football drafts. But instead of quarterbacks and wide receivers, let’s have a little fun with a fantasy draft of middle-grade book characters. If you were building your dream adventure team, who would you pick first overall?
Here are some of the contenders we’d put on the board:
Matilda Wormwood (Matilda by Roald Dahl)
She’s small but mighty, and her brain power (plus a little telekinesis) makes her a game-changing first pick. Matilda could outsmart villains, solve problems, and keep the team focused.
Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan)
Every team needs a strong leader, and Percy has plenty of battle experience plus loyalty to his friends. Draft him early if you want someone who can rally the group when challenges get tough.
Hermione Granger (Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling)
Yes, she’s technically YA now, but middle-grade readers still love her. Hermione is the ultimate strategist and researcher—the one who will always have the answer when the adventure hits a wall.
Crosley Crocodile (Night Buddies Adventures by Sands Hetherington)
A wildcard pick, for sure. Crosley brings humor, quirky problem-solving, and a bottomless appetite for pineapple cheesecakes. He’s the kind of player who keeps team morale high while surprising everyone with clever solutions.
Greg Heffley (Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney)
Not exactly your typical “first-round” choice—but every draft has its surprises. Greg might not charge into danger, but he’ll keep things funny, relatable, and remind us that not every hero looks like one on the surface.
Meg Murry (A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle)
Brave, determined, and willing to step up when her family needs her. Meg is a sleeper pick who could easily end up the MVP of your adventure team.
Reynie Muldoon (The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart)
The quiet thinker every team needs. Reynie isn’t flashy, but he’s brilliant at puzzles, codes, and reading people—skills that win games (or adventures) when others get stuck.
Fregley (Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney)
Yes, Greg’s oddball classmate. Fregley is the definition of a wildcard. You never quite know what he’s going to do, which can either throw everything off—or save the day in the weirdest way possible.
Bunnicula (Bunnicula series by Deborah and James Howe)
The vampire bunny who drains veggies instead of people. Bunnicula is the sneaky draft pick no one sees coming. He’s quirky, mysterious, and just strange enough to make your team unforgettable.
Draft Strategy:
When you’re building a winning book team, think about balance. You need a leader, a thinker, a comic relief, a wildcard, and a heart. The best adventures, like the best fantasy football teams, depend on different strengths working together.
So, parents and kids, we’ll throw it back to you:
If you had the first pick in the Middle-Grade Fantasy Draft, who would you choose?