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Harry Potter books are among the greatest books of our generation, filled with suspense, fascinating and exciting characters, and magic. If your children are fans of that genre, we have a list of the best books like Harry Potter that will transform them into another dimension. These expert-approved books will fascinate them, and children find them interesting. However, if you are looking for novels that can let your child explore a magical world beyond Hogwarts and Horcruxes, we have curated a list for you after thorough evaluation. Read on as we present to you some magical books that can capture your child’s imagination like the Harry Potter series.
Top Picks
23 Magical Books Like Harry Potter For Kids
1. Best Classic Fantasy Series: The Lord of the Rings Series
Author: J.R R. Tolkien
‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a classic fantasy series that was first published in 1955. The story begins with a dark lord named Sauron forging a supreme ring to override the control exercised by other magical rings. But Sauron’s ring is lost, and a series of events that follow lead the ring to a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. The rest of the story is about Bilbo’s experience of mystery and magic fueled by the ring.
2. Best Mythological Fantasy: Percy Jackson & The Olympians Series
Author: Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson’s mother reveals his secret to him: he is a half-blood, or half human and half god, thus making him a demi-god. But the status of a demi-god comes with its share of challenges and dangers. Soon, Percy finds himself fighting demons to protect humanity in a tale told across the five mythology books.
3. Best Dystopian: The Hunger Games Series
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Author: Suzanne Collins
‘The Hunger Games’ is an urban fantasy set in dystopian North America, which has several districts, with the Capitol district as the jewel in the crown. The other districts wage war against the Capitol but are defeated. Capitol forges a peace agreement under which each district has to send a teenage boy and girl for the annual series of games called ‘The Hunger Games.’
The story revolves around a teenage girl named Katniss, who is chosen from her district. Will she or will she not survive this ‘fight unto death’ game? ‘The Hunger Games’ is packed with several fantasy elements that are told across the three books in the best-selling series.
4. Best Narrative Style: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Author: Ransom Riggs
After a tragic event, sixteen-year-old Jacob sets off to an island, off the coast of Great Britain. There, Jacob discovers an abandoned house that contains photographs and records of an orphanage. ‘What was an orphanage doing so far from the mainland?’, wonders Jacob. The children there could be dangerous and probably still alive. Little does Jacob realize that he has stumbled upon Pandora’s box.
Did you know?5. Best Supernatural: The Golden Compass: His Dark Materials
Author: Philip Pullman
The supernatural book tells the story of a young girl named Lyra who is heading to the North. The North is ruled by clans of witches and armored polar bears. It is also the place where children get kidnapped and where her fearsome uncle resides. But the small girl is determined to travel for she needs to rescue her kidnapped friend Roger and bring a world-altering change to the land.
6. Best Mythical Characters: The Chronicles of Narnia Series
Author: C. S. Lewis
‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ is a series of seven books with the first one published in 1956. The mythical book is set in the magical land of Narnia where a talking lion named Aslan and an evil witch named Jadis break their truce. Amidst the tensions, four siblings find their way into Narnia through a wardrobe, and that begins their epic adventure. With many positive reviews, the book is full of mythical creatures and fascinating characters that will keep a child wholly entertained.
7. Best Adventure: Watership Down
Author: Richard Adams
The story of this adventure book is set in rural England where a group of rabbits learns that their land will soon be ravaged by humans. The rabbits will lose their homes, and there is no other choice but to find a new place to live. Thus, the tiny creatures set out in search of new lands. But the journey is not easy, and the rabbits have their very own problems to solve.
Trivia8. Best Classic And Whimsical: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Alice in Wonderland)
Author: Lewis Carroll
It is the age-old story of fantasy, adventure, and going down the ‘rabbit hole.’ The whimsical book begins with a drowsy Alice lazing on the riverside with her sister. Just then, a rabbit springs along and captures her attention. Alice starts following the critter and soon finds herself tumbling down a hole, which leads to a world teeming with strange magical creatures and talking objects.
Quick fact9. Best Adult Fantasy: The Mortal Instrument Series
Author: Cassandra Clare
‘The Mortal Instrument’ series consists of six urban fantasy books that tell the tale of a young girl named Clary Fray. Clary is drawn into the world of demons and demon hunters when she witnesses the slaying of a demon. ‘Shadowhunters’ is the name of the warrior group that keeps the demons in check. Clary finds out that her mother was a Shadowhunter and unknowingly embarks on an adventure that will intertwine her life with those of the Shadowhunters forever.
10. Best For Young Readers: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Author: L. Frank Baum
‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ has fascinated young readers all across the world ever since its debut in 1900. The story is about a young girl named Dorothy and her dog Toto who are transported by a tornado to the strange land called Oz. Oz is a land of witches and flying monkeys. Dorothy and Toto make three new friends: a tinman, a scarecrow, and a cowardly lion. Together, they set off to meet the powerful Wizard of Oz who can grant them a wish and probably help Dorothy return home.
11. Best Girly Adventure Tale:Pennyroyal Academy
Author: M. A. Larson
Evie enrolls at the Pennyroyal Academy, a place where they train princesses and knights to become warriors. Each student there learns to fight the witches and dragons. At the academy, Evie encounters a new world of friends, enemies, and a strict teacher named Fairy Drillsergeant. When Evie graduates from the academy, she discovers that her fight against witches and dragons is going to be more personal than she thought.
12. Best Surprising Chronicles:Inkheart Series
Author: Cornelia Funke
One night, Meggie’s father reads aloud a book named ‘Inkheart’ while Meggie listens. But the book is no ordinary one; it is riddled with magic. The character of an evil ruler jumps the boundaries of fiction and lands into the realm of reality. Soon, Meggie finds herself in the middle of a magical adventure and learns to harness the power of magic herself.
13. Best Classic Thriller:The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
Author: Michael Scott
The protagonist of the story is Nicholas Flamel, who is over seven hundred years old. Nicholas finds the secret to a long life in the Book of Abraham the Mage, which lets him live that long. But an evil Dr. John Dee finds this out and is after the book. This time he will need more than himself to save the book. According to a prophecy, Nicholas has to team up with twins Sophie and Josh, who will be the only ones to prevent the book from falling in the hands of evil Dr. Dee.
14. Best Imaginery Fantacy:The Ranger’s Apprentice Series
Author: John Flanagan
‘The Ranger’s Apprentice’ is a collection of 12 books that begins with the story of a boy named Will, who gains apprenticeship with Rangers – the protectors of the kingdom. The Rangers practice magic and protect the people from the forces of evil. The first book narrates Will’s experience witnessing a battle for the first time, and how that sets the stage for his future adventures with the Rangers. The collection of 12 books has enough fantasy and imagination to keep the child busy for a long summer.
15. Best Entertaining Book:Dragon Slippers
Author: Jessica Day George
Creel’s aunt wants to give her away to a dragon so that a heroic knight fights the dragon and marries Creel. However, Creel is not worried about her aunt’s plan since no one has seen a dragon. But one day, a dragon appears, and Creel’s worst fears come alive. Creel’s aunt gives her away to the dragon, but the girl is smart and negotiates a deal with the dragon. In return, Creel gets a pair of blue shoes from the dragon. But the shoes are not ordinary and have enough magic to save a kingdom.
16. Best Creative Fantacy:Redwall
Author: Brian Jacques
It is a fantasy tale about a peaceful kingdom of mice. The peace of their kingdom is soon going to be disrupted by the invasion of Cluny the Scourge who is a rat. The mice search for ways to prepare their defenses and learn of a sword that can help them win the battle. But they have to find the sword before it is too late.
17. Best Secretive Fantacy:Keeper of the Lost Cities
Author: Shannon Messenger
Sophie Foster is a 12-year-old who can read the minds of people. She considers her telepathic abilities unique until one day she meets Fitz, a boy who is also a telepath like her. Sophie soon learns that she belongs to a world of telepaths, and the world of humans was only a place for her to hide. She sets out to seek the new world, but not without burying some dark secrets deep within her mind.
18. Best Exciting Book:Beautiful Creatures
Author: Kami Garcia
Lena is a young girl who lives in a small, quaint town of Gatlin, where nothing much exciting happens. But Lena has some hidden powers that become her curse. On the other side of town is a boy named Ethan, who wants to escape the sleepy town. But when Lena moves into Ethan’s neighborhood, he is immediately drawn towards the girl. It thus marks the beginning of their friendship and a foray into the dark world.
19. Best Suspense Thriller:The School for Good and Evil
Author: Soman Chainani
The story is a classic good vs. evil story and tells the tale of a magical place called The School for Good and Evil. In the magical place, the children are kidnapped in pairs; one is sent to the school of good and another to the evil one. Sophie and Agatha are two girls who look forward to being taken to the magical place.
Sophie is always devoted to good deeds and considers herself worthy for the School for Good. Agatha, with her mean nature, seems fit for the School for Evil. But the girls are shocked to find themselves being sent to different magic schools against their expectations. Soon they realize that it was a deliberate placement to reveal the girls’ true natures.
20. Best Adventure Chronicles:The Five Kingdoms Series
Author: Brandon Mull
The series begins with the story of a young boy named Cole Randolph spending Halloween in the basement of a haunted house with his friends. But the house is a portal to a scary magical place called ‘The Outskirts.’ The place contains five kingdoms. Cole’s friends are pulled into The Outskirts, and it is up to Cole to save his friends and the day. ‘The Five Kingdom Series’ consists of five books that tell the complete adventures of Cole and his friends.
21. Best Seeker Chronicles:The Dark Is Rising
Author: Susan Cooper
On his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton discovers that he is not an ordinary boy. He is a Sign-Seeker – a group of immortal ‘old ones’ who have the power to defeat the dark. The timing of Will’s realization cannot be better, for the evil one called the ‘Dark’ has risen. Will and his team of friends embark on defeating Dark with a weapon that can quell the dark one forever.
22. Best Intriguing Plot:The Inheritance Cycle Series
Author: Christopher Paolini
‘The Inheritance Cycle’ series begins with Eragon, a teenage boy who discovers a blue stone in the forest. The blue stone turns out to be an egg of a dragon, and eventually, Eragon has a dragon hatchling. The dragon grows to be a tame one. Eragon soon finds himself in the world of magic where all he has is a sword and a dragon to defeat the evil forces.
23. Best Curious Narrative:The Underland Chronicles
Author: Suzanne Collins
The story begins with a young boy named Gregor falling through a vent in his New York apartment. After the fall, Gregor finds himself in the magical world of Underland – a city where humans live alongside giant rats and cockroaches. But everything is not well. Humans and creatures of the Underland are at the brink of war. Gregor’s arrival to the Underland was a prophecy, and it is about time that the little boy brings order to this mysterious underground world.
How To Choose The Right Magical Book For Kids?
Check out the following factors to find a suitable magical book for your child.
- Theme: Explore various interesting themes, such as magical friendships, betrayals, dark magic, and heroic quests, which your child may like. Magical storylines can be set in dystopias, mythological scenarios, and more. They also contain fascinating creatures of fantasy like trolls, unicorns, and giants. So, consider your child’s interests and conduct thorough evaluation to find a suitable book.
- Language: Ensure the book is easy to read and written in simple language for children to understand easily. They should have age-appropriate content to introduce them to various ideas and challenge their vocabulary and writing skills.
- Reviews: Check the reviews of the book you choose to see what other parents and fellow readers think about the book. These testimonials will help you understand if the book is suitable for your child. You may also consider expert reviews.
, a reading specialist and English teacher, says, “Many of these books have movie or film versions as well! Make a project out of reading these by celebrating and watching a film adaptation at the end. Your child can learn valuable lessons by comparing the book to the film version, and they’ll connect more deeply with the text.”
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do magical books have any effect on kids’ development?
Magical books can boost your inventive child’s creativity, enhance imagination, and take them to a magical world. These books also help in improving vocabulary and language skills.
2. What is the right age to read magical books?
There is no specific age to read these books. However, it depends on the understanding and reading level of the child. Your child can begin reading magical books as early as six years. However, each book is meant for a specific age, and checking this helps make the right decision.
3. Why is Harry Potter the best book series ever?
One of the reasons why the Harry Potter services has a huge fan base and is the favorite book of many is that it combines the charm of magic and wizardry with friendships, love, and losses that different characters witness. It also teaches life lessons: sticking together in hard times and being kind.
4. Why do adults like Harry Potter books?
Although Harry Potter belongs to the fantasy genre targeting children, this parent-recommended book explores grief, loss, and togetherness. It also captures the thin line between good and evil.
The Bottom Line
When thinking about mystical books, probably the first name that appears in your mind is Harry Potter. But you can find many more mystical books, like those listed above, for your kids to read. The epic high-fantasy novel Lord of the Rings Series, The Chronicles of Narnia Series with mythical creatures, and the fantasy novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland are some of our top picks from the list of the best magical books like Harry Potter for kids. Each book’s powerful, complex characters and beautiful storyline can get your children hooked on reading. So, go ahead and purchase any of these books to keep your child engaged, engrossed, and entertained.
Infographic: Factors To Look For Before Buying A Magical Book
Magical books can take your child into an imaginary world and keep them engaged for hours. But picking the right magical book for your child may be tedious, with various options available. Thus, we have compiled a list of points in the below infographic to help you decide. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Why Trust MomJunction?
Wedetso Chirhah is a literature enthusiast and loves writing reviews on books, kids, and more. He enjoys exploring various forums and compiling fascinating and gripping novels to encourage your child’s reading interests. As children love fantasy stories, he has created a list of the best books like Harry Potter to give you and your children a magical reading experience. Wedetso has researched various user reviews and testimonials from trusted sites to ensure these best-selling books are suitable for your child and interesting.
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