Fantasy and Science Fiction
Alexander.
The Book of Three
In this
first book in the Black Cauldron series Taran sets out, with some strangely
assorted companions, to save his beloved land.
Almond. Skellig
Unhappy about his
baby sister's illness and the chaos of moving into a dilapidated old house,
Michael retreats to the garage and finds a mysterious stranger who is something
like a bird and something like an angel. (publisher)
Barron. The
Lost Years of Merlin
A young boy, who has
neither identity nor memory of his past, washes ashore on the coast of Wales
and finds his true name after a series of fantastic adventures.
Baum. The
Wizard of Oz
So you’ve
seen the movie. Now read the book—it won’t be what you think. Set in a magical
land a long way from Kansas, Dorothy and Toto encounter magical creatures.
Bellairs.
The House with a Clock in Its Walls
Lewis moves
in with his uncle, a sorcerer/magician and then discovers that the walls of the
house contain a deadly magical device.
Billingsley.
The Folk Keeper
The orphan
Corinna disguises herself as a boy to live in the cellar and feed and calm the
frightful Folk, gremlins who are “mostly wet mouth and teeth” from wrecking
evil upon the town.
Christopher.
The White Mountains
Giant
Tripods control men’s minds and rule the future world.
Although he
is a wooden puppet, Pinocchio’s curiosity and lively mind lead him into many
adventures.
Edwards.
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles
With
special training from an eccentric professor, three children succeed in
fulfilling a dream and attempt to locate the last of the great whangdoodles.
Fleischman.
The Half-a-Moon Inn
Lost on the
wintry roads in search of his mother, Aaron, who was born mute, is held captive
in an inn where the wicked proprietor forces him to help her pick pockets and
pry into people’s dreams.
Fleming.
Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang
Gifted with
the ability to navigate land, sea, and air, a remarkable old car rescues a
family from floods, traffic jams, and gangsters.
Gurney. Dinotopia:
a Land Apart from Time
A scientist
and his son Will find themselves shipwrecked in this strange and wonderful
land, where dinosaurs and humans have lived together for centuries. This book
and its sequels have absolutely wonderful illustrations.
Jones.
Charmed Life
The orphan
Cat never minded being second to his sister, but Gwendolen starts trouble
brewing when they are summoned to live in the Chrestomanci Castle, and the
enchanter Chrestomanci refuses to acknowledge her talents.
Levine.
Ella Enchanted
Lucinda, an
extraordinarily foolish fairy, bestows on baby Eleanor the gift of obedience,
condemning her to a childhood in which she’s compelled to follow every order.
Martin. The
Doll People
When
Annabelle and her Doll family, who live in the dollhouse now owned by Kate, go
looking for Aunt Sarah Doll who disappeared in 1955, they first run into
interference and then are joined in the hunt by the Funmart family which Kate’s
younger sister has just acquired.
Nesbit. Five
Children and It
This book
has been around for a hundred years. It tells the story of a cranky sand fairy
who grants each person a wish that lasts until sunset, often with very bad
results.
Norton. The
Borrowers
Mrs. May’s
brother may actually have seen one of the tiny people who live beneath the
floorboards in a quiet English country house. If you’ve read about the Littles
and want a longer, more involved story about tiny people, try this one.
Paulsen.
The Transall Saga
While
backpacking in the desert, 13-year-old Mark falls into a tube of blue light and
is transported into a more primitive world, where he must use his knowledge and
skills to survive.
Pierce. Sandry’s Book
Here begins the tale
of Daja, Briar, Tris, and Sandry--four children brought to Winding Cirle Temple
for training in crafts and magic. They are outcasts in their homeland. But in
this magical place, they are valued and respected for their special powers.
This is the first of the “Circle of Magic” books.
Pinkwater.
Far Men from Space
When the
cavity he just had filled starts receiving radio signals, a young boy hears of
the planned invasion of earth by fat men in checkered jackets.
Pullman.
The Golden Compass
In an
alternate world, parallel to our own, Lyra, who lives his her daemon
Pantalaimon at Jordan College in Oxford, travels to northern parts to find the
children who have been disappearing all over the country. She is aided by a
rare alethiometer, gyptians who live in canal boats, and an armoured bear.
When
Annabel awakes one morning, she is in her mother’s body and gets to see herself
as others see her. What a switch!
Scieszka.
Knights of the Kitchen Table
Joe, Sam,
and Fred have to do some quick dodging when they open a magic book and find
themselves back in time, face to face with the charging Black Knight. There are
nine “Time Warp Trio” books about the boys’ adventures in other times and
places.
Service.
Stinker from Space
An agent of
the Sylon confederacy crash lands on Earth, transfers his mind to a skunk, and
enlists the aid of two children in getting back to his home planet.
By
accidentally short-circuiting Professor Bullfinch’s new crystalline material,
Danny Dunn enables the professor to create a new machine that makes Danny invisible.
There is a whole series of Danny Dunn books if you like this one.