A friend of mine asked me to recommend some children’s fantasy for her son who’s already read Lewis, Tolkien, and Rowling.
Like him, I adore beautifully crafted worlds in which to lose myself, so I made a list of books that fit the bill and would make great Christmas gifts.
Some are these are classics, some are newer. Some I’ve read, others are my own children’s recommendations. The rest I’ve heard good things about, and you can be sure that I’ll be reading them myself.
These books are great for every age!
♥
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie – a favorite of mine
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Watership Down by Richard Adams – soon to be a Netflix miniseries
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
The BFG by Roald Dahl – my son loves all of Dahl’s books
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nihm by Robert C. O’Brien
Holes by Louis Sachar
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende – my son loved this one
Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty – nice series set in late 19th C./early 20th C. North Carolina
His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
Coraline by Neil Gaiman – I haven’t read this one, but Gaiman is an amazing writer
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke – I just ordered this for my daughter for Christmas
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau – another Christmas gift for my daughter
The Young Merlin Trilogy by Jane Yolen
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan – my daughter really liked these
The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins – author of The Hunger Games
The Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson
Guardians of Ga’hoole series by Kathryn Lasky
Warriors series by Erin Hunter
Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander – my friend’s son loved this series
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks
The Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron – Disney is working on a film adaptation of this series
The Ruins of Gorlan series by John Flanagan – I’ve heard that it will appeal to even the most reluctant reader
♦I hope you find magic in these pages♦
♥
If I’ve left off a favorite of yours let me know!
My son read The Legend of Podkin One Ear this year after a recommendation from a staff member in Waterstones and loved it!
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll have to check that out. I love the title! 🙂
You missed Winnie the Pooh!
Winnie the Pooh is lovely, just not a great fit for this list intended for older kids. 🙂
Thnks for the recs! I hadn’t heard of some of these so I’ll definitely be checking them out in a bit!
I’m glad you found some new titles!
A big YES to this list. I love most of them. I know kids will enjoy them.
Thank you! 🙂
Love those colorful covers!
My favorites!
I love children’s books and you have some great recommendations on your list. Several I’ve read and several are on my TBR.
Gemma @ http://www.gemmasbooknook.blogspot.com
Thank you! 🙂
Inkheart was my favorite as a child.
I’m looking forward to reading it. 🙂
Peter Pan is a favorite of mine. I love this collection and own a few myself.
Peter Pan is my favorite! 🙂
Inkheart (Cornelia Funke) is such a great book and I’ll read anything from Neil Gaiman, so your choice of Coraline fit right in ❤️
I’m looking forward to reading both of these. 🙂
Wow, the editions on your photo are so pretty! Some great books in the list, I also loved The Neverending Story when I was younger 🙂 I would also include Terry Pratchett’s discworld books for younger readers in a list like this.
Great recommendation! Sounds like it should definitely make the list!
I am in love with this list and those covers!
Thanks! I love these editions!
That is a fabulous list. I would read and re-read the Borrowers as a child. I can’t remember when the movie came out, but I think it may have been my first book to movie disappointment.
Thank you! I loved the Borrowers, too. I never saw the movie, but there is a more recent adaptation (The Secret World of Arietty) which was better reviewed. I’ve not seen that one either, though. So many book to movie disappointments!
Great choices. Those books in the pic look adorable.
Thanks!
These are definitely some of my favorite classics and oh my gosh, your editions are gorgeous! Where did you find them?
Thanks! The books are the Barnes and Noble Collectible editions. 🙂
Great list! I’ve read several of these. I just read Serafina this summer after I saw it in a gift shop in North Carolina. Wonderful story!
Thank you! Yes, it is a wonderful story with a great setting. 🙂