HIT: Harry Potter Read-alikes

[Susan Aroldi <saroldi@IDT.NET>]

Thanks to all who suggested books to give children that ask for
A book like Harry Potter.  Here are the answers I received:

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Redwall if they can read well enough
Lloyd Alexander books are also a step up but I think they should like them
especially the Pyrdain Chronicles

Bruce Coville Books are the most relevant I can think of

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The Secret of Platform 13.  I can't think of the author right now, but she
is british and you can find it on Amazon.com.  Great book....some even
claim to like it better.

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The Ann Arbor Public Library Children's Dept. has put out a paper list. It
is
possible that they have it online, or you may be able to email them. Ann
Arbor, Michigan. http://www.aadl.org/kidspg/bibs/afterharry.htm

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I don't remember this being discussed before, but I'll definitely
recommend _Matilda_ by Roald Dahl.  I know it's not just like Harry
Potter, but I think readers will enjoy both stories.

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I heard Christopher Lydon's Boston radio program about Harry Potter, and
a bookseller  recommended So You Want To Be a Wizard by Duane (Dwain?),
The Hounds of the Morgan by Pat O'Shay, E. Nesbit's books, The Secret
Platform by Edward Engers, Holes by Sacher, The Smugglers, The Golden
Compass by Pullman.

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The Wren books by Sherwood Smith.  So far there are three in the series -
Wren to the rescue, Wren's war and Wren's quest.

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Try Dianna Wynne Jones' Christopher Chant books -- sorry, can't think of
titles at the moment.

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I would reply that there is no book just like Harry Potter (except for the
two sequels, of course) but if they liked Harry Potter they might also
like:

Lloyd Alexander, Book of Three series
Coville, Magic Ring
Jane Yolen books, her series on Arthur perhaps

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Here are some of my suggestions:

if they enjoyed the idea of witches, ghosts, etc.:

Debbie Daddey's series--The Bailey school Kids and The Bailey School
Monsters

Cooper's The Boggart and The Boggart and the Monster

The Fairy Rebel by  Lynn Reid Banks

The Backyard Dragon by Sterman

Bruce Coville's books about dragons (Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher)

Jennifer Murdley's Toad by Bruce Coville

McKissack's The Dark Thirty

Schawartz' Scary Stories series

Which Witch? by Eva Ibbotson

Goosebumps series

Ghosts stories by Betty Ren Wright

if they enjoyed the struggle of good oover evil:

Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown

Brian Jacques Redwall series

The Star War stories

The Faraway Mountain by Reid-Banks


Lloyd Alexander's books

C.S. Lewis' series The Chronicles of Narnia

The Hobbit by Tolkein

if they enjoyed the castle and medieval themes:

Castle in the Attic and The battle for the Castle by Elizabeth Winthrop

Redwall series


The Rasey Scallop by Francis Temple

Robin Hood by Pyle (or an adaptation or novels based on the tales such
as The Forest Wife by Tomlinson)

The Door in the Wall by marguerite De Angeli

if they liked the idea of spells and enchantments:

King Arthur and the stories of his knights and Merlin (Yolen has a whole
series)


Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

The Wish Giver (Bill Brittain) and others in the series

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit


robin McKinley's Hero and the Crown
You could creat a web with Harry Potter titles at the center and several
areas to go off and explore: witches and warlocks, etc.---castles and
medeival life---scary stories---good over evil---bou and girl hero and
heroines----enchantments---and so on. Then list the titles that fit the
categories. Or have the kids brainstorm what they rmemebr and like from
the title and come up with categories.

Have fun--don't you just love this part of our work???
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I haven't read any of the Harry Potter books yet, but our bookstore
manager
told me that a lot of people are comparing them to Louis Sachar's Holes.
Worth a try and definitely worth the read!

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        I just finished _The Secret of Platform 13_, by Ibbotson, and it
reminded me of the Harry Potter books.
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Go to the Childrens Book section of Amazon. Under "Children's Books
Essential Bookshelf" you will find an "after Harry Potter" section.

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The following list was provided by our local Waldens Book store!  Great
place!

Maniac Magee   by Jerry Spinelli

Hobby, Passager, and Merlin   by Jane Yolen

The Once and Future King   by T.H. White

The Lord of the Rings  by J.R.R. Tolkien

I am Mordred    by Nancy Springer

The Phantom Tollbooth    by Norton Juster

The Pincess Bride   by William Goldman

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory   by Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator   by Roald Dahl

The  Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe  by C.S. Lewis

The Neverending Story  by Michael Ende

The Hobbit  by J.R. Tolkien

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