Books for Harry Potter Fans

by FamilyEducation Staff

For Early Readers

Pre-schoolers are too young for the Harry Potter books, but if you're a fan you can ride the wave with these fabulous fantasy stories for little ones.

A few new series have been published recently for this age group: Dragon Slayers' Academy by K.H. McMullan begins with The New Kid at School, in which Wiglaf is off to the Academy for an unforgettable first day of school.

In The Secrets of Droon #1, The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet by Tony Abbott, Eric, Julie, and Neil discover a secret staircase to another world while cleaning a messy basement.

Hank's dog Montana digs up what looks like a dinosaur bone, and soon morphs into a dragon himself in Dragon Bones, by Paul Hindman and Nate Evans.

Though these books borrow heavily from such classics as The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander, they offer fantasy, adventure, and humor for readers in this age group.

For Middle Readers

School-age kids can't get enough of Harry Potter. While they await the next in the series, have them try these fantasy classics. They're sure to please die-hard Harry Potter fans.

Classics such as Edward Eagers' Half Magic series, as well as books by E. Nesbit, George MacDonald, P.L. Travers, and Susan Cooper continue to be popular among this age group.

Recently reissued in paperback is a fabulous fantasy based on Celtic folklore and mythology, The Hounds of the Morrigan by Pat O'Shea.

Or try Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (who also has two new novellas out in the Princess Tales series), The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotoson, and Searching for Dragons and its sequels by Patricia Wrede.

Another best bet is anything by Diana Wynne Jones, whose Chrestomanci Quartet is now back in print. This story paved the way for J.K. Rowling.

For Older Readers

Older readers can't wait for the next Harry Potter Book. Unitl then, keep them reading with these awesome selections.

Jan Yolen's Dragon Trilogy will appeal to fantasy fans, as well as The Circle of Magic and Immortals Books by Tamora Pierce.

For an original, humorous blend of fantasy and realism try Owl in Love or The Woman in the Wall by Patricia Kindl, or the brooding Skellig by David Almond.

Don't miss Diana Wynne Jones's Howl's Moving Castle or her Dalemark Quartet, which begins with Cart and Cwidder.

Diane Duane's So You Want to Be a Wizard and its sequels are also an exciting series of books in this genre.