SALON

Monday, Jun 21, 2010 3:40 PM UTC

Best fantasy books for children

A summer reading list that will let your kid explore the magical realm (and you may even want to come along too)

By

Topics: Building a Bookworm, Books,

Best fantasy books for children

I confess: I have no children, and yet I read children’s books. Sometimes I simply don’t have the mental energy to crack open a serious adult book (think “The Wind-up Bird Chronicle,” by Haruki Murakami, or “Truth,” by Simon Blackburn) or even a piece of light fiction (think Carl Hiaasen or James Hynes). Instead, I’ll turn to some old favorites from my childhood, along with a few newer ones that have joined the ranks in recent years. Because my tastes ran to science fiction and fantasy when I was young, these recommendations all share that flavor.

I’ve always been a fan of Roald Dahl, for both his children’s books and his adult offerings. “The BFG” is one of his most charming books for children. The BFG (for Big Friendly Giant) is a giant who kidnaps a little orphan, Sophie, and takes her off to his cave. The BFG turns out not to be a bad sort, however — in part because he doesn’t share with his monstrous giant brothers “a most squackling whoppsy appetite” for eating children — and teams up with Sophie (and the Queen of England) to do battle against those evil brothers of his: Bloodbottler, Bonecruncher, Childchewer, Fleshlumpeater, Gizzardgulper, Maidmasher, Manhugger, Meatdripper, and Butcher Boy. The BFG’s creative use of language is the best part of the book, though Blake Quentin’s illustrations make a close second.

“The Forgotten Door,” by Alexander Key, introduces us to Little Jon, who falls through the old Door: “the Door that led to another place, the one that had been closed so long.” Jon is struck on the head, and when he awakens, he discovers that he’s lost his memory. But Jon is no ordinary boy. When he talks to animals, the animals actually listen (though I don’t recall Jon ever talking to a cat in the story); Jon in turn can read their thoughts. He has a few other mysterious abilities, which the family who finds him discovers as the story unfolds. It’s a classic theme: Jon needs to find his way back home. There’s also a striking current of distrust of big government that runs through the end of this 1965 book, adding an interesting contrast for the modern reader to consider.

Edith Nesbit wrote dozens of children’s stories in the late 1800s and early 1900s, among them “The Enchanted Castle” in 1907. I first read this book decades ago when I discovered it in one of the attic bedrooms of my grandparents’ house, and I found it irresistible. Four English children, three living with a French governess and the fourth the niece of the castle’s housekeeper, discover a magic ring and find out what it can do. The writing moves at a slower pace than modern children’s books, and the children sometimes don’t sound like children at all, but it’s all worthwhile. You’ll be reminded of Kenneth Grahame’s “The Wind in the Willows,” published just a year later, and you’ll understand why C.S. Lewis cites Nesbit as an influence on his “Narnia” novels. (Grahame and Lewis are worth reading as well, of course.) 

Philip Pullman’s trilogy, “His Dark Materials,” begins with “The Golden Compass” (titled “Northern Lights” in the UK). The most engaging conceit in these books is that, in the parallel-world setting of the story, people are accompanied by daemons, their souls embodied in the form of animals. Adult daemons take the form of animals that reflect their personalities: A servant might have a dog daemon, a scholar an owl or a raven daemon. Children’s daemons can change shape until the child reaches adolescence. Young Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon happen into a mystery that could affect not only their world but our earth as well, and even the afterlife. The promise of the first two books isn’t quite met in the last, but they’re all well worth reading (the second and third books are ”The Subtle Knife” and “The Amber Spyglass“). One of my favorite bits of Pullman’s writing, which helps establish the tone for the narration, is an early description of Lyra: “She was a coarse and greedy little savage, for the most part.” Lyra does grow up eventually, though it’s a long, hard journey.

Finally, I should mention Neil Gaiman’s work: “Coraline” is one of my favorites.

Rob St. Amant

More Rob St. Amant.

Next Article

You Might Also Like

More Related Stories

Featured Slide Shows

Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

close X
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11
  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

  • Recent Slide Shows

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11

Related Videos

More Related Stories

Comments

 12 Comments

Comment Preview

Your name will appear as username ( settings | log out )

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href=""> <b> <em> <strong> <i> <blockquote>

follow salon

Most Read

Video of the Day

Watch More Here »

Popular on Reddit

links from salon.com

From Around the Web

Presented by Scribol
listener_new_rect The Listener: "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves": Growing up primate

Recommendations