If you like Harry Potter, try these:

29 September 2002 For early readers   For strong readers of all ages   For older readers   Links to other lists

BAILLIE, Allan Foggy 2001
Little Bay Village has a gigantic problem, and it needs a wizard to solve it. But when Meg and Russ are given the desperate mission to find the wizard known as Foggy, they begin to learn that he may be more trouble than he's worth.

BARNES, Emma Jessica Haggerthwaite: witch dispatcher
As a budding scientist, how on earth can Jessica win the Nobel Prize with her family embarrassing her?

MURPHY, Jill The Worst Witch series
Mildred Hubble is the worst pupil at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches and this series is all about the many and varied adventures and scrapes this poor disaster- prone “witchette” gets caught up in.

FREEMAN, Pamela Victor's quest
Prince Victor and his horse Quince set off on a quest to find a princess for Victor to marry. Bravely, they set off into the dark forest of Nevermore, where things swoop out of trees, and a witch is casting spells ...

McMULLAN, K.H. Dragon Slayers Academy series
This captures the interests of children quite easily. My boys (6 & 8) always clamored for "just one more chapter." The characters are cleverly developed. The hero, Wiglaf, is the type children enjoy identifying with. He's small and not like the rest of his family, but shows cleverness and kindness. The story has some funny things for an adult reader too. It's creative like the Harry Potter series, but geared to younger readers both in plot and vocabulary. It is not scary, even though it features dragons. Fun Reading, Lynne F. Cartwright, Utah, U.S.A.

URE, Jean  The wizard trilogy series (Book 1. The wizard in the woods) 1995
In the third, it's All Spell's Night, and Junior Wizard Ben-Muzzy, Joel and Gemma, are off to Proverbial Village.

Strong readers of all ages 

BOSTON, Lucy M. The Children of Greene Knowe
Tolly  boats across flooded countryside to spend Christmas with his great grandmother. He thinks he is to be the only child at the house but hasn’t banked on the fact that time means nothing at this strange place – least of all to the children who lived there centuries ago.

BOSWELL-SMITH, Helen  Dragon summer  1996
It began as a normal summer for Su Lin, Amy and Scott; lazy days at the beach, visits to their secret island ... But the discovery of a huge heavy 'rock' changed everything. With Cael's help Feron, a tiny dragon is born but the Tuans, dragon  killers, are after Cael and the dragon. They escape to the dragon's world, Antra. Author's first novel. 9-12

CAVE, Kathryn Septimus Similon, practising wizard  1996
When Septimus Similon, practising wizard, fourth class, makes a major discovery, he gets more than he bargained for. Two different dimensions get mixed up - so does everyone else.

CIDDOR, Anna Runestone 2002 
Two babies are mixed up at birth (deliberately, but the families don't know). One is a family of spellworkers. The farming family doesn't expect their son to have magic powers, and the spellworker daughter's magic never works, so when they meet up they have to figure it out.

COLFER, Eoin Artemis Fowl and Artemis Fowl; the Arctic incident
Artemis Fowl is a twelve-year-old boy who just happens to be both a genius and a criminal mastermind. In a desperate attempt to restore his family's fortune, Artemis comes up with a plan to steal gold from the fairies. Along with his trusty butler sidekick "Butler", he travels to Vietnam on a quest... Read more at Amazon

COLLINS, Paul The wizard’s torment  1995
The wizard’s apprentice, Winston, is ten years old with much to learn.

DAHL, Roald Matilda
Matilda's parents and older brother have no interest in her at all. When Matilda falls foul of the incredibly horrible headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, she finds she has psychic powers. She hones her skill enough to free Miss Honey from the Trunchbull's evil grasp. see also

DUANE, Diane So you want to be a wizard
13 year old Nita, tormented by bullies because she won't fight back, finds the help she needs in a book on wizardry which guides her into another dimension. Kit, a 12-year-old Hispanic boy with school troubles similar to hers, teams up with her in a wizardly Ordeal to gain their powers, where they are shifted "sideways" into an alternate Manhattan. 10 up

ELBOZ, Stephen The tower of Moonville  1999
Nathan, on the run from his wicked uncle, switches places with Sam so he can go to school. This school is not what he expected, but meeting a scientist who lives hidden away in a tower in the school makes things more interesting, and he begins to learn about the universe.

ENDE, Michael The neverending story  1979 (also a fabulous film)
Bastian is nobody's idea of a hero, least of all his own. Through the pages of a book he discovers a world of enchantment, but one that is in trouble. It falls upon him to make the quest that is needed.

ENDE, Michael  Momo
Momo is a mysterious young orphan who lives in a ruined ampitheater in an unnamed metropolis. Her extraordinary ability to listen draws people, particularly other children, to her and she has many wonderful friends. Everything starts to change when the Men in Gray appear and began to take over the city. Momo goes on a quest to determine who these sinister, shadowy figures really are and what they have done with her friends.

ENDE, Michael  The night of wishes 1989
At 5.00pm on New Year's Eve, Beezlebub Preposteror, sorcerer, is in a pickle. He has seven hours to complete his promised annual share of vilainous deeds. Will this wicked wizard succeed, or will the world be saved?

FREEMAN, Pamela  The Floramunde series 8-12
1. The willow tree's daughter. Max, bored with the prospect of becoming a king, escapes for adventure. He meets and marries Salixia, a tree dryad, and their daughter Betony has more than a touch of magic about her. She also is bored with traditional palace life. Humorous fantasy.

2. Windrider. When the dragon Windrider bewitches Max so that he has no memory of who he is, Betony sets out on a rescue mission.

3. The centre of magic. Colchis, a scheming, power-hungry wizard attempts to meld human and wild magic, but when his spell is interrupted, wild magic transforms most of Floramonde. A palace gardener comes to the rescue.

FRENCH, Jackie  The book of unicorns  1997   six short stories

IBBOTSON, Eva  Not just a witch  1989
Heckie is not just a witch. She's a good witch who wants to make the world a better place. So, with her Toe of Transformation and her Knuckle of Power she turns unpleaseant people into animals. But to her surprise, Basil's parents want their son back.

IBBOTSON, Eva  The secret of Platform 13  1994
Under Platform 13 at King's Cross Station there is a secret door that leads to a magical island. It appears once only every nine years. A wizard, an ogre, a fey and a young hag wait to find their prince, stolen as a baby nine years before.

IBBOTSON, Eva  Which witch 1979
Very funny. How did we miss this one? Arriman Canker was not an ordinary baby, and sure enough, he discovered his destiny in Black Magic and Sorcery.  When he had had enough of being the Great Wizard of the North, the way out was foretold by the best gypsy fortune teller in the country: 'It's all right, he's coming.' 'Who?' 'The new bloke.' However when the great new wizard cometh not, a competition was arranged between the local witches. Whoever brewed the darkest magic, would become Arrie's wife.

JONES, Diana Wynne  The worlds of Chrestomanci 10-14aa
The lives of Christopher Chant
Ralph's uncle has worked out that Christopher is an enchanter and exploits the boy in criminal activities importing banned artifacts from other worlds. Christopher's talents become recognised and he is taken to learn with Chrestomanci.

Charmed life
Orphaned, Eric and Gwendoline are taken to live in Chrestomanci's castle. Neither settles. Things come to a head when Gwendoline steals off to another world, magicing a replacement for herself from a parallel world. The real surprise is when Cat learns he is a powerful enchanter and Gwen has been using his power to boost hers. He also learns he has nine lives, or did before Gwen stole some, and will be the next Chrestomanci. It all comes together very nicely after some funny standoffs between Gwendoline and her cousin Julia, evenly marched in the magic stakes. aa

Witch week
An anonymous note is slipped into Mr Crossley's marking saying there is witch in 6B. As witches are hunted down this is a serious allegation. As the novel progresses more and more witches surface and it is only the intervention of Chrestomanci that saves the situation. Good fun.

The magicians of Caprona
Two families of Caprona have been duelling for years, thereby weakening the magical charms that hold the city from harm. Chrestomanci comes to help but it is the younger members of the Pettruchi and Montana families who, by working together, save the day, discovering new talents.

LEVINE, Gail Ella Enchanted Newberry honour winner 1998
At birth, Ella is given a christening gift by a blundering fairy named Lucinda, who bestows on her the "gift" of obedience. Anything anyone tells her to do, Ella must obey. ‘My gift is obedience. Ella will always be obedient. Now stop crying child.’ Another girl might have been cowed by this affliction, but not feisty Ella. When her beloved mother dies, leaving her in the care of a mostly absent and avaricious father, and later, a loathsome stepmother and two treacherous stepsisters, Ella's life and well-being seem in grave peril. But her intelligence and saucy nature keep her in good stead as she sets out on a quest for freedom and self-discovery, trying to track down Lucinda to undo the curse, fending off ogres, befriending elves, and falling in love with a prince along the way. Yes, there is a pumpkin coach, a glass slipper, and a happily ever after, but this is the most remarkable, delightful, and profound version of Cinderella you've ever read. Amazon.com  9-14

LEWIS, C.S.  The Narnia series
Make sure you read The magician's nephew, the first in the series, and then the world-famous classic The lion, the witch and the wardrobe. If you like these, you can read all seven.

LUCKETT, Dave  Rhianna and the wild magic  2000
Rhianna attends the village school, but is often in trouble. It is discovered that she has a particularly strong talent for magic, which is calling up all the power from the surrounding neighbourhood, leaving insufficient for everybody else’s magical requirements. She receives specialist training, and in a tussle between good and evil, battles with the village wizard, Mr Spellbright, a loathsome villain, and an Archmage, a dragon.

McDONALD, George  The princess and the goblin
This classic Victorian fantasy is said to be a childhood favourite of J.R.R. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis. Princess Irene is eight years old, and is cared for by her nurse Lootie while her father rules over the region from a mountain top castle. The local folk work as miners, and are plagued by the Goblins who inhabit the underground. Irene discovers her mysterious great great grandmother living in a secret room at the top of a staircase who tells her of the Goblins. Irene and her good friend, Curdie, a thirteen year old miner, work together to save their kingdom. 9-12

McNish, Cliff The Doomspell 2000
Rachel and her brother, Eric are captured by a witch who takes them to Ithrea, where other children who have been snatched by the witch live. Rachel makes friends and discovers her powers. She has to make a choice; she can join the witch, or help the children. 9-14

Molloy, Michael The witch trade 2001
Good is threatened by evil Night Witches. Meet Abby, Spike, Captain Starlight and Benbow, his faithful albatross. Together with Sir Chadwick, the flamboyant leader of the Light Witches, they piece together an ancient map and journey across shark-boat infested seas, to discover the hidden source of Black Witch power! 9-12

NORRIS, Andrew Aquila
Tom and Geoff make an amazing discovery--a strange vehicle that has lain hidden for centuries. It turns out to be a fantastic flying machine that can travel incredible distances and take them wherever they wish. It can even make them invisible -what a find! The only problem is, how do they keep it a secret? This award-winning novel (1997 Whitbread Children's Book of the Year and shortlisted for the Smarties Prize) is a fantastic adventure, full of humour, excitement and the kind of adventures children are always dreaming of. Amazon.co.uk

PRIOR, Natalie Jane  Lily Quench and the dragon of Ashby  1999  Lily Quench and the black mountain
As a family of dragon slayers, the Quenches have always been a burning success ... until the evil Black Count invades, and the family's fortunes go into a downward spiral. When a dragon arrives, Lily, last of the Quenches, is called upon. Soon she is on a desperate, magical quest to save Ashby from destruction - and to restore the lost heir to the throne.

RIDDELL, Carol  The chronicles of Thumpus Wumpus  2000
Tesh and Tash, brother and sister, meet Thumpus Wumpus in the vast forest behind their village, and find they can communicate telepathically. Adventure fantasy. 9-13

ROBERTS, Katherine  Spellfall 2000
12 year old Natalie discovers her mother was a powerful Spellmage, and her father is a Thrall who sells spells. Can Natalie, and the kidnapper's son, Merlin, save the soultree of Earthhaven from being poisoned? They have until Hallowe'en, when the boundary between the two worlds opens. 10 up

ROWE, Emily  The Deltora Quest series 2000
Seven gemstones in the Deltora belt provide seven stories in the quest to retrieve each of them, followed by the return to kingdom of Del. Find out how the gemstones were lost from the belt in the first of the series The forest of silence.
See also Deltora book of monsters

ROWLING J.K. Fantastic beasts and where to find them, Quidditch through the ages

SNICKET, Lemony  A series of unfortunate events 1999-
The bad beginning is the Book the First in this wickedly funny series; unpleasant, unhappy tales about the Baudelaire children. They may be clever and charming, but their lives are filled with woe and misery.

RUPP, Rebecca  The dragon of Lonely Island 1998
Three children on holidays discover the secret hiding place of a three headed dragon.  Each head tells an extraordinary story of adventures in the past; the threads pulled together in a clever ending. 8-10, read-aloud. KC

WALKER, Kate  The dragon of Mith 1990
Turkey herder Krissy deals with the dragon who has driven everyone else from town. Unusual and amusing - fantasy, humour. CBCA Honour Book. 8-11

Older readers See our  FANTASY list  |  FANTASY authors
especially:
PULMAN, Philip  The dark materials trilogy:
The northern lights, The subtle knife, and The amber spyglass