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Beyond Harry Potter
Young readers who are spellbound by the adventures of Harry Potter, Hermione, and Ron will be just as taken by these fantasy favorites. There are whole worlds beyond Hogwarts to explore, and even you may not be able to put these recommended books down! Note: Some fantasy is best shared with slightly older children.
A princess is bored by the goings-on at the castle but finds adventure with dragons when she runs away. She willingly becomes the captive of Kazul, a grumpy but good-hearted dragon, and the two of them save the other dragons from mean-spirited wizards. Sequels are equally light and engaging and include: Searching for Dragons, Calling on Dragons, and Talking to Dragons.
A boring summer turns into a fantastic series of adventures when Jane and her three siblings find an ancient coin that makes wishes come true – but only halfway. Other magical titles by Edward Eager include: Knight’s Castle, Magic by the Lake, The Time Garden, Magic or Not, The Well-Wishers, and Seven-Day Magic.
Jack and Annie are once again transported in their magic tree house, this time to Hawaii where they learn to surf in spite of impending danger. This gentle fantasy series takes younger readers to different times and places through time travel, but always ends with Jack and Annie safely at home.
Like another English boy, Charlie discovers his unique mysterious abilities and goes off to Bloors Academy, a school for specially gifted students. Twists and turns, exceptional magical skills, and remarkable characters make this an adventure not to miss.
When Nita discovers a book entitled So You Want to Be a Wizard? at her local library, she enters another dimension where she successfully defeats the forces of evil. The series continues in Deep Wizardry, High Wizardry, and A Wizard Abroad. Books come alive literally and evil is averted in a more sophisticated novel, Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (Chicken House/Scholastic, 2003).
Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper, and a host of memorable characters set out on a hazardous mission to save Prydain from the forces of evil. Drawing inspiration from the colorful tales of Welsh mythology, The Chronicles of Prydain continue in The Black Cauldron, The Castle of Llyr, Taran Wanderer, and The High King.
While on vacation in an English village by the sea, Simon, Jane, and Barney Drew, the protagonists of Over Sea, Under Stone, begin a quest to retrieve a relic from King Arthur’s time. Different characters join their quest through The Dark Is Rising, Greenwitch, and the Newbery Award winning The Grey King, until the Drew children, Will Stanton, and Bran Davies defeat the forces of the Dark in the exciting conclusion of the series, Silver on the Tree.
Bilbo Baggins leaves his comfortable Hobbit-hole when selected by Gandalf the wizard to become part of a dangerous adventure in this prequel to Tolkien's epic Lord of the Rings trilogy.
When siblings, Peter, Susan, Lucy and Edmund are sent away from London air-raids during World War II, they are placed with an old man in the country. There, they enter another time and place through an old wardrobe found by Lucy. This early installment in the Narnia Chronicles has been lovingly adapted into a sophisticated 2005 movie.
The secret Island is perfect – with one exception. It’s missing its prince, who was stolen years before as a baby. Now a hag named Odge Gribble, an old wizard, and other memorable characters have set off on a quest to London to rescue the child and reunite him with his parents.
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