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So many
children's and young adult fantasy tales are timeless in more
ways than one. Not only do they often happen once upon an
unknown time but they also stay with us well into our adult
years. Here, we list twenty of the best fantasy books and
series written for young audiences. We hope that you'll see
something that might have slipped your mind and consider reading
that book again (or for the first time).
As with
any "best of" list, some choices are obvious, some are debatable,
and probably none will be seen as properly ranked. Thus, we
should preface the list by stating that our numbering system
is more of a ballpark idea than a die hard ranking system.
For the sake of diversity, we've also limited our selections
to one book or series per author—so please, Hobbit
fans, don't hurt us.
 1.
GRIMMS' FAIRY TALES
By JACOB and WILHELM GRIMM
These
are usually people's first introduction into the realm of
fantasy, and they serve as the archetypes for most modern
fantasy tales. Whether we're retelling "Cinderella" in Ella
Enchanted or debating the political correctness of "Little
Red Riding Hood," none of us ever grow out of these timeless
stories.
2. PETER PAN
by J.M. BARRIE
Quite possibly, no singular tale has captured our cultural
consciousness (or our hearts) quite as much as this story
of the boy who won't grow up. Not only has Peter Pan
lent itself to countless prequels (Peter and the Starcatchers),
sequels (the movie Hook), and other retellings (the
movie Finding Neverland), but the book also contains
many names and phrases that influence everyday life. Consider
the popularization of the name Wendy since the book's publishing,
or the not-so-flattering Peter Pan Syndrome, and you'll realize
that this is a tale that is deeply rooted in Western culture.
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3.
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA
(The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; Prince Caspian: The
Return to Narnia; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver
Chair; The Horse and His Boy; The Magician's Nephew; The Last
Battle)
By C.S. LEWIS
Narnia's storyline is both familiar and well-emulated:
four siblings walk through a wardrobe and enter a magical
realm that they must help save. The Christian themes and high
fantasy storyline have influenced countless writers since
its publication, including Stephen King and Clive Barker.
Charges of racism and sexism by other writers such as Phillip
Pullman and Neil Gaiman (whose "The Problem of Susan" is a
critique of Lewis's portrayal of Narnia character Susan
Pevensie) have made Narnia a rather controversial children's
series, but it remains the standard by which all children's
high fantasy books are measured.
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4. THE ALICE
BOOKS
(Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking
Glass)
By
LEWIS CARROLL
Nobody describes the "curiouser and curiouser" quite like
Lewis Carroll. Children are likely to be entertained by the
anthropomorphic characters and nonsensical world of Wonderland;
however, adults are the ones who will catch its satirical
nuances. Plus, with all of its infamous cultural touchstones—the
Cheshire Cat, the white rabbit, and the mad tea party—this
is a story that we never tire of telling or reinventing.
 5.
THE FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
Thanks to cartoons, the works of Hans Christian Andersen have
been besmirched by their cartoon adaptations; some younger
generations have no clue that the Little Mermaid does not
marry her prince and, in fact, sacrifices herself out of love.
However, the fact that Andersen's beautiful, whimsical, and
occasionally terrifying stories (including "The Ugly Duckling"
and "The Emperor's New Clothes") are still widely told is
a testament to their greatness.
6. THE LORD
OF THE RINGS
(The
Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the
King)
By J.R.R. TOLKIEN
The Lord of the Rings is quite possibly the
defining work of fantasy literature (with the exception of
Dianetics). Tolkien's tale of a Merry (pun intended)
band of hobbits and their traveling partners trekking across
lands of peril to save all man/dwarf/elf/hobbit-kind has all
the makings of a YA classic, including the staple of small,
unformidable, and child-like characters becoming heroes simply
through their willingness to do so. It is an engrossing world
of magic and excitement with a memorable cast of characters
all espousing the virtue of friendship, personal conviction
to make the world better, and a desire to help.
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7.
THE HARRY POTTER SERIES
(Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone/Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber
of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and
Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood
Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)
By J.K. ROWLING
As fellow children's fantasy author Adam Gopnik once said,
J.K. Rowling "writes with her heart," creating an epic
tale, not just of good against evil, but of the search
for identity when one's fate is already sealed. Sure,
movie royalties and marketing hoopla have played their
part in making Rowling the world's first billionaire author,
but without an engaging story and relatable characters,
the Boy Who Lived wouldn't be able to live up to the hype.
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8. CHARLIE AND
THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
By ROALD DAHL
Roald Dahl's children's stories are both a favorite among
generations of readers and a major influence on the whimsical
style of many children's authors. Choosing this particular
story about an ordinary boy's adventures with an eccentric
candy factory owner over Dahl's other amazing stories—including
James the Giant Peach or The BFG—may be
contentious to some. But when we think about this book's cultural
touchstones—the golden ticket, Oompa Loompas, Wonka candy,
and the mere name of bratty little Veruca Salt—the decision
seems pretty solid.
9. THE ONCE
AND FUTURE KING
(The
Sword in the Stone, The Queen of Air and Darkness, The Ill-Made
Knight, The Candle in the Wind, The Book of Merlyn)
 By
T.H. WHITE
Often
cited as an influence by current fantasy writers—including
Inkheart writer Cornelia Funke—this retelling
of the King Arthur legend chronicles everything from Arthur's
childhood, to Lancelot and Guenever's affair, to the fall
of Camelot. Sadly, there are no songs involving squirrels
falling in love (as there are in the Disney adaptation of
The Sword in the Stone), and the later books may seem
a bit heavy for younger children, but White's humor and wit
still make this a worthwhile read.
10. THE WONDERFUL
WIZARD OF OZ
By L. FRANK BAUM
Like many of the books on this list, The Wonderful Wizard
of Oz is known to people first and foremost through its
movie. Thanks to Judy Garland & Co., the whole world is familiar
with this story about the Kansas girl whose home is whisked
away by a tornado, only to land on a witch in the middle of
Oz. Of course, without strong literary following, L. Frank
Baum certainly couldn't have written a whopping 13 stories
about this magical land. And without a rich story, it certainly
couldn't have become the success it has: It has been translated
into over 40 different languages, has been reinvented for
books (Gregory Maguire's Wicked) and musicals (The
Wiz), and has influenced television (Lost, a parody
episode of Scrubs).
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