The Best Harry Potter Alternatives For Kids Who Love Fantasy

Harry Potter is one of the best-loved fantasy book series of all time. It has the perfect mix of magic, mystery and mischief, which makes it easy to understand why kids and adults alike would want to read this book over and over again. However, sometimes we can run out of Harry Potter books or decide that we want something new to read! Don’t worry – there are plenty of books for kids who love fantasy that can take you on new adventures just like Harry Potter did. Here are some of our favorites:

• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

If your child loves Harry Potter and you're looking for another series that will captivate them, The Chronicles of Narnia is a great option. The first novel was published in 1950 and the last book was published in 1956; there are seven books total in this fantasy series.

The Chronicles of Narnia is written by C.S. Lewis who is known for writing many other famous works such as Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce and more!

Like Harry Potter these books are set in a different world called Narnia which has talking animals, witches, wizards and lots more magical creatures!

• The Game of Sunken Places by M.T. Anderson

If you're looking for a fantasy novel that is both fun and heartwarming, The Game of Sunken Places by M.T. Anderson is the book for you. With its creative setting and captivating plot, this book will keep readers on their toes from start to finish.

Set in a magical world inspired by the author's childhood memories, The Game of Sunken Places follows a group of children who must save their world from the evil Emperor. The story starts as one of our main characters—a young girl named Piscine "Pi" Molitor Patel—sits patiently in line at school waiting to learn how to swim while her classmates take turns jumping into the pool. It soon becomes clear that Pi is different because she has been born without gills like everyone else in her village; instead, she has lungs like humans do! This makes swimming very difficult for Pi because she cannot breathe underwater like all other mermaids do.

• Wicked by Gregory Maguire

If you're looking for a Harry Potter alternative that's a little darker and more adult, Wicked might be the book for you. This novel is a retelling of The Wizard of Oz from the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West. If you already know and love L. Frank Baum's classic tale, then this might not be for you. But if you're interested in seeing things from an unfamiliar perspective and enjoy dark humor, then it'll be right up your alley.

Wicked has all the magic, friendship and adventure we've come to expect from our favorite childhood stories—with a twist: The story takes place both before Dorothy arrives in Oz (when Elphaba was still an innocent child) as well as after she leaves (when she has become corrupt). It follows her journey as she moves from being self-loathing to embracing who she really is—which means being green!

• The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry

The Giver Quartet is a series of four science fiction novels about a dystopian future society. The first book in the series, The Giver, was published in 1993 and won the Newbery Medal for distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The other books in the series are Gathering Blue, Messenger and Son. All four books were written by Lois Lowry who also wrote A Wrinkle In Time (which I’m sure you’ve heard of).

• Percy Jackson & the Olympians Books by Rick Riordan

If your child likes the Harry Potter series, but wants a more modern take on the fantasy genre, then Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians books are a great choice. The stories follow a young demigod who has to go on a quest to save the world.

Percy is a great hero as well as being quite relatable for kids: he’s bullied in school and often feels like an outsider because of his unusual upbringing (he doesn’t know his father).

The Percy Jackson books are fun reads that will keep you turning pages until you finish each one. They also have plenty of action and adventure, so they can be read over and over again with enjoyment by readers of all ages!

• Brian Froud’s Faeries’ Tales

When it comes to Harry Potter alternatives, most people think of Neil Gaiman. But if you want a more accessible, kid-friendly option, Brian Froud is the way to go. A famous fantasy artist, Froud has illustrated many of the Harry Potter books and written a few of his own (mostly for children). The Faeries’ Tales series offers beautiful art, engaging stories about faeries and magical creatures, and all the wonderment you expect from a kids' fantasy book.

If your kid loves Harry Potter and wants something similar but easier to read—or if they're too young for Rowling's books—this might be just what you need!

A Wrinkle in Time, a young adult fantasy adventure story written by Madeleine L'Engle, is a great alternative for Harry Potter fans. The main character is Meg Murry, who lives in New York City with her scientist father and three-year-old brother Charles Wallace. In the story, she finds herself transported to other worlds as she travels through space and time to rescue her kidnapped father from evil forces.

The book has an underlying theme of female empowerment and feminism, with strong female characters such as Mrs Whatsit—a glowing woman without feet or hands (who can float and fly) who represents love—and Mrs Who—who represents wisdom—who accompany Meg on her journey to save her father.

• Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer

Artemis Fowl is the story of a teenage criminal mastermind who kidnaps a fairy in order to save his father, and no, we're not talking about Harry Potter. The first book in this series was released back in 2001, but it's still going strong with five books total.

HarperCollins says the series is "reminiscent of J.K. Rowling's work," so if you're looking for something similar that also features young characters living large on their own terms and breaking rules to do so... look no further than Artemis Fowl!

There’s a whole world of children and young adult books that can take you on new adventures just like Harry Potter did

As you've probably guessed, there's a whole world of children and young adult books that can take you on new adventures just like Harry Potter did. When it comes to fantasy stories, there are so many wonderful options for all ages. You can find books for kids as young as three years old or even older and books for adults who want to escape into the magical realms depicted in films like Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit series.

Harry Potter was a game changer for fantasy lovers. But there are so many other great books out there that can take you on new adventures. We hope this list of alternatives has given you some ideas for what to read next!