Library association recommends fantasy books for Harry Potter fans
Contact: Larra Clark
ALA Media Relations
312-280-5043
For Immediate Release
June 21, 2005
Library association recommends fantasy books for Harry Potter fans
(CHICAGO) The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), today released a recommended reading list for Harry Potter fans waiting impatiently for the July 16 release of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” Children's librarians from around the country selected books in two categories: books that have similar story elements and replicate accessibility, tone and flavor; and books that are similar in theme but may be more complex.
The ALA is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 64,000 members. Its mission is to promote the highest-quality library and information services and public access to information. ALSC is a network of over children's and youth librarians, children's literature experts and publishers committed to improving and ensuring the future of the nation through exemplary library service to children, their families and others who work with children.
For more information on libraries, library workers, literacy and reading, please visit the ALA online at
www.ala.org. To use some or all of the book lists, or to schedule an interview with an ALA spokesperson, please contact Larra Clark at 312-280-5043 or Elizabeth Morgan at 312-280-1546.
The lists of recommended reading follow:
Harry-a-like Books
Books that may have similar story elements to Harry Potter but more importantly replicate the accessibility, tone and flavor.
|
Author, Title. (Series Name) |
Publisher |
Year |
|
Alexander, Lloyd. The Book of Three. (Chronicles of Prydain) |
Holt |
1964 |
|
Baum, L. Frank. The Wizard of Oz. |
Michael Neugebauer Book |
1996 |
|
Billingsly, Franny. The Folk Keeper |
Turtleback Books |
2001 |
|
Black, Holly. The Field Guide. (The Spiderwick Chronicles) |
Simon & Schuster |
2003 |
|
Bode, N.E. The Anybodies. |
HarperCollins |
2004 |
|
Colfer, Eoin. Artemis Fowl. |
Hyperion Books |
2001 |
|
Cooper, Susan. The Dark is Rising. (Dark is Rising Sequence) |
Margaret K. McElderry |
1973 |
|
Coville, Bruce. Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. (Magic Shop Books) |
Harcourt |
1991 |
|
Duane, Diane. So You Want To Be A Wizard.(Young Wizard Series) |
Delacorte |
1983 |
|
Funke, Cornelia. Inkheart. |
Scholastic |
2003 |
|
Griffin, Adele. The Witch Twins. |
Hyperion Books |
2001 |
|
Haptie, Charlotte. Otto and the Flying Twins: the First Book of the Karmidee. |
Holiday House |
2003 |
|
Ibbotson, Eva. The Secret of Platform 13. |
Dutton |
1998 |
|
Jones, Diana Wynne. Witch Week. (Chrestomanci Books) |
Greenwillow |
1982 |
|
Nimmo, Jenny. Charlie Bone. |
Orchard |
2003 |
|
Nix, Garth. Mister Monday. (Keys to the Kingdom) |
Scholastic |
2005 |
|
Sage, Angie. Septimius Heap, Book One: Magyk. |
Katherine Tegen Books |
2005 |
|
Skye, Obert. Leven Thumps and the Gateway to Foo. |
Shadow Mountain |
2005 |
|
Snicket, Lemony. The Bad Beginning. (A Series of Unfortunate Events) |
HarperCollins |
1999 |
|
Stroud, Jonathan. The Amulet of Samarkand. (The Bartimaeus Trilogy) |
Miramax |
2003 |
|
Wrede, Patricia. Dealing with Dragons. (Enchanted Forest Chronicles) |
Harcourt |
1990 |
|
Yolen, Jane. Wizard's Hall. |
Harcourt |
1991 |
If You Like Harry Books
Books that may be similar in theme to Harry Potter but are more complex or are great fantasy fiction.
|
Author, Title. (Series Name) |
Publisher |
Year |
|
Avi. Midnight Magic. |
Scholastic |
1999 |
|
Barron, T.A. The Lost Years of Merlin. (Lost Years of Merlin) |
Philomel |
1996 |
|
Bass, L.G. Sign Of The Qin. (Outlaws Of Moonshadow Marsh) |
Hyperion |
2004 |
|
Bell, Hilari. The Wizard Test. |
Eos |
2005 |
|
Collins, Suzanne. Gregor the Overlander. (Underland Chronicles) |
Scholastic |
2003 |
|
Constable, Kate. Singer of All Songs. |
Arthur A. Levine Books |
2004 |
|
Doyle, Debra and James D. Macdonald. School of Wizardry. (Circle of Magic) |
Troll Communications |
2000 |
|
Eager, Edgar. Half Magic. |
Harcourts Brace |
2004 |
|
Ende, Michael. The Neverending Story. |
Dutton |
1997 |
|
Farmer, Nancy. Sea of Trolls. |
Atheneum |
2004 |
|
Fisher,Catherine. The Oracle Betrayed. (Oracle Prophecies) |
Greenwillow |
2004 |
|
Flanagan, John. Ranger's Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan. |
Philomel |
2005 |
|
Furlong, Monica. Wise Child. |
Knopf |
1987 |
|
Jones, Diana Wynne. Year of the Griffin. |
Greenwillow |
2000 |
|
LeGuin, Ursula. A Wizard of Earthsea. |
Atheneum |
1991 |
|
L'Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time. |
Cornerstone |
1987 |
|
Levine, Gail Carson. Ella Enchanted. |
HarperCollins |
1997 |
|
Lewis, C.S. Chronicles of Narnia. |
HarperCollins |
1998 |
|
Mahy, Margaret. The Changeover: A Supernatural Romance. |
Puffin |
1994 |
|
McCaffrey, Anne. Dragonsinger. (Harper Hall Trilogy) |
Atheneum |
1977 |
|
McKinley, Robin. The Hero and the Crown. |
Greenwillow |
1984 |
|
Nesbit, E. Five Children and It. |
Puffin |
1996 |
|
Nix, Garth. Sabriel. (Abhorsen Trilogy) |
HarperCollins |
1995 |
|
Nodelman, Perry. The Same Place but Different. |
Simon & Schuster |
1995 |
|
Oppel, Kenneth. Airborn. |
Eos |
2004 |
|
Oppel, Kenneth. Silverwing. |
Simon & Schuster |
1997 |
|
Paolini, Christopher. Eragon. |
Knopf |
2003 |
|
Pierce, Tamora. Sandry's Book. (Circle of Magic) |
Scholastic |
1997 |
|
Pratchett. Terry. Wee Free Men. |
HarperCollins |
2003 |
|
Pullman, Philip. The Golden Compass. (His Dark Materials) |
Eos |
1996 |
|
Tolkein, J.R.R. The Hobbit. |
Houghton Mifflin |
2001 |
|
Zambreno, Mary Frances. A Plague of Sorcerers. |
Harcourt |
1991 |
