Recommendations from the Association for Library Service to Children
Are you waiting for the new Harry Potter book? Do you want something else to read in the meantime? The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)—a division of the American Library Association (ALA)—has some suggestions. Children's librarians from around the country selected books in two categories: books that are as easy to read as the Potter books and have similar story elements, tone, and flavor; and books that are similar in theme but may be more complex.
Harry-a-Like Books:
These books may have similar story elements to Harry Potter but more importantly replicate the accessibility, tone and flavor.
Author
Title
Series Name
Alexander, Lloyd
The Book of Three
The Chronicles of Prydain
Baum, L. Frank
The Wizard of Oz
The Oz Series
Billingsly, Franny
The Folk Keeper
Black, Holly
The Field Guide
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Bode, N.E.
The Anybodies
Colfer, Eoin
Artemis Fowl
Cooper, Susan
The Dark is Rising
Dark is Rising Sequence
Duane, Diane
So You Want to Be a Wizard
Young Wizard Series
Funke, Cornelia
Inkheart
Griffin, Adele
The Witch Twins
Haptie, Charlotte
Otto and the Flying Twins: The First Book of the Karmidee
Ibbotson, Eva
The Secret of Platform 13
Jones, Diana Wynne
Witch Week
Chrestomanci Books
Nimmo, Jenny
Charlie Bone
Nix, Garth
Mister Monday
Keys to the Kingdom
Sage, Angie
Septimus Heap, Book One: Magyk
Skye, Obert
Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo
Snicket, Lemony
The Bad Beginning
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Stroud, Jonathan
The Amulet of Samarkand
The Bartimaeus Trilogy
Wrede, Patricia
Dealing with Dragons
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles
Yolen, Jane
Wizard's Hall
Source: American Library Association, June 21, 2005.
If You Like Harry Books
Books that may be similar in theme to Harry Potter but are more complex or are great fantasy fiction.
Author
Title
Series Name
Avi
Midnight Magic
Barron, T.A.
The Lost Years of Merlin
Lost Years of Merlin
Bass, L.G.
Sign of the Qin
Outlaws of Moonshadow Marsh
Bell, Hilari
The Wizard Test
Collins, Suzanne
Gregor the Overlander
Underland Chronicles
Constable, Kate
Singer of All Songs
Doyle, Debra, and James D. Macdonald
School of Wizardry
Circle of Magic
Eager, Edward
Half Magic
Ende, Michael
The Neverending Story
Farmer, Nancy
Sea of Trolls
Fisher, Catherine
The Oracle Betrayed
Oracle Prophecies
Flanagan, John
Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan
Furlong, Monica
Wise Child
Jones, Diana Wynne
Year of the Griffin
LeGuin, Ursula
A Wizard of Earthsea
Earthsea Cycle
L'Engle, Madeline
A Wrinkle in Time
Time Quartet
Levine, Gail Carson
Ella Enchanted
Lewis, C.S.
The Magician's Nephew / The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia
Mahy, Margaret
The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance
McCaffrey, Anne
Dragonsinger
Harper Hall Trilogy
McKinley, Robin
The Hero and the Crown
Nesbit, E.
Five Children and It
Nix, Garth
Sabriel
Abhorsen Trilogy
Nodelman, Perry
The Same Place but Different
Oppel, Kenneth
Airborn
Oppel, Kenneth
Silverwing
Paolini, Christopher
Eragon
Pierce, Tamora
Sandry's Book
Circle of Magic
Pratchett, Terry
The Wee Free Men
Pullman, Philip
The Golden Compass
His Dark Materials
Tolkein, J.R.R.
The Hobbit
Zambreno, Mary Frances
A Plague of Sorcerers
Source: American Library Association, June 21, 2005.
