To continue our monthly series of book lists for youth, the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library would like to recommend the following titles. Find other magical books in the WTBBL collection while you're waiting to read the last Harry Potter or after you've devoured them all! Here are some titles and authors to explore.
July, 2007 -- If You Liked Harry Potter...
Olive and the Magic Hat by Eileen Christelow. Their mother is giving their father a new hat and Olive and Otis Opossum believe it has magic powers. When they accidentally drop it out the window onto Mr. Foxley's head, he comes to believe it's magic too. Grades P-2. Cassette book RC 28964.
The Witch's Hat by Tony Johnston. When the witch drops her pointed hat into her magic pot, she becomes the target of the pot's tricks. Grades P-2. Braille book BR 6114. Cassette book RC 23494.
A Ride on the Red Mare's Back by Ursula Le Guin. A girl's brother is stolen by trolls, so she takes what little she has on a cold journey to rescue him, discovering magic along the way. Grades K-3. Cassette book RC 36188.
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald. Children love to visit Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's upside down house, but if they misbehave for their parents, she always has a cure. Grades 2-4. Braille book BRW 245. Cassette book RC 14478.
The New Kid at School, by Kate McMullan. A traveling minstrel predicts Wiglaf will be a great hero, and suddenly he's sent off to wizard school, even though he's convinced it's all a mistake. #1 in the Dragon Slayers' Academy series. Grades 2-4. Cassette book CBA 7341.
The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks. Tiki, a rebellious fairy already in trouble for wearing jeans, risks the Fairy Queen's anger by trying to fulfill a human's longing for a child. Grades 3-6. Braille book BR 7890. Cassette book RC 30333. Large print book LP 12491.
Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville. Jeremy stumbles upon a mysterious shop where he buys a ball pulsating with colors. The instruction book claims that the ball is a dragon egg, but Jeremy doesn't believe it - until it starts to hatch! #2 in the Magic Shop series. Grade 3 and up. Cassette RC 37037.
Passager by Jane Yolen. A feral boy discovers his identity and powers when a falconer captures and domesticates him. #1 in the Young Merlin Trilogy. Grade 3 and up. Cassette book RC 45620.
The Road to Balinor by Mary Stanton. For safety, Princess Arianna is fostered at a family's farm. What she doesn't know is that she's from another world of unicorns and sorcerers. #1 in the Unicorns of Balinor series. Grade 3 and up. Cassette book CBA 7236.
Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa A. Pearce. Dreading a stay with his aunt and uncle, Tom is thrilled to find that when their clock strikes 13, a magical world opens to him, with angels, ghosts, and a new friend named Hetty. Grade 3 and up. Braille book BRW 536. Cassette book RC 27914.
Well Wished by Franny Billingsley. Orphaned Nuria is thrilled to finally have a home with her grandfather. He warns her about the village's devious wishing well, but her strong desire to find and keep a friend makes wishing hard to resist. Grade 3 and up. Braille book BR 11579.
Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins. When eleven-year-old Gregor and his two-year-old sister are pulled into a strange underground world, they trigger an epic battle involving men and giant bats, cockroaches, and spiders while on a quest foretold by ancient prophecy. #1 in the Underland Chronicles. Grades 4-7. Braille book BRW 1121. Cassette book CBA 7791.
Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo. As a descendent of the Red King, Charlie's particular magical ability is beginning to reveal itself. He's sent to Bloor Academy and must sort out who's using magic for evil purposes. #1 in the Children of the Red King series. Grade 4 and up. Cassette book RC 59154.
The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones. Christopher discovers that he can travel to parallel worlds. It can be dangerous, so it's lucky he has 9 lives. The current Chrestomanci steps in when his uncle tries to use Christopher's powers for profit. Grade 4 and up. #2 in the Chrestomanci Books series. Cassette book RC 32202.
Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper. On vacation, the three Drew children find an old map that may lead to an ancient treasure that's linked to King Arthur and delivers tremendous power. With the help of their mysterious host, they must keep it out of the wrong hands. #1 in The Dark is Rising series. Grade 4 and up. Braille book BR 13419. Cassette book RC 45567.
Going Through the Gate by Janet S. Anderson. Five sixth-grade students in a rural school study animals and prepare for their graduation ceremony, a mysterious ritual that several generations of students have experienced, but no one will discuss. Grades 4-7. Cassette book RC 46535.
The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson. Every 9 years, for a total of 9 days, it's possible to travel between England and a magical island. During one such period the island's baby prince is kidnapped. Nine years later a group tries to identify and rescue the Prince, but it's complicated and time is short. Grade 4 and up. Cassette book RC 46606. Large print book LP 22896.
Dragonsong, by Anne McCaffrey. Forbidden to create music because she's a girl, Menolly flees her strict father. Taking shelter in a cave, she marvels at the birth of several baby fire dragons, a species on the verge of extinction. First book in the Harper Hall Trilogy. #13 in the Dragonriders of Pern series. Grade 5 and up. Cassette book RC 14311. Large print book LP 14838.
The Safe-Keeper's Secret by Sharon Shinn. In this medieval world, there are certain individuals who hear and keep secrets, others who can tell if someone's lying, and one whose presence can make dreams come true. Safe-Keeper Damiana's own child and a foundling are raised together to slowly discover their destiny. #1 in The Safe-Keepers series. Grade 5 and up. Cassette book RC 62276.
So You Want to Be a Wizard by Diane Duane. Nita, tormented by bullies, finds the help she needs in a library book about wizardry. Soon she's involved in otherworldly adventures beyond her wildest dreams. Grade 5 and up. Cassette book RC 26846.
Tears of the Salamander by Peter Dickinson. A mysterious uncle plucks orphaned Alfredo from his choir apprenticeship and spirits him away to Mount Vesuvius . Alfredo must learn all he can to escape the part his uncle needs him to play in his quest for power. Grade 5 and up. Braille book BR 15676.
Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce. When it's discovered that Daine can communicate with animals, she's encouraged to assist the Mage Numair in the struggle to protect Queen Thayet's kingdom. #1 in the Immortals series. Grade 5 and up. Cassette book RC 48501. Large print book. LP 10517.
The Wind Singer: An Adventure by William Nicholson. After breaking the rules of their strict society, Kestrel, her twin, and a friend must flea the city. They encounter strange creatures, warring ships on wheels, and other fantastic things on their journey to reestablish free choice in their society. #1 in the Wind on Fire series. Grade 5 and up. Cassette book RC 57290.
City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende. Journeying to the Amazon with his journalist grandmother to search for the legendary Yeti, Alexander is pulled into a magical adventure with his new friend Nadia. #1 in the Alexander Cold Trilogy. Grade 6 and up. Cassette book RC 56606. Spanish cassette RC 54960.
Spindle's End by Robin McKinley. Using the Sleeping Beauty legend as a starting point, the author weaves a lengthy and intricate tale that includes the Wicked Fairy, a fairy guardian who can talk to animals, a prince, a not-so-beautiful princess, and her loyal friends. Grade 6 and up. Braille book BR 15579. Cassette book RC 51708.
Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett. As Tiffany teams up with a clan of tiny blue men to rescue her kidnapped baby brother and ward off Fairyland's sinister plan to invade Discworld, she begins to discover her own powers. Grade 6 and up. Cassette book RC 56709.
To order these books and others like these, use the link to the "On-line Catalog (OPAC)" at www.wtbbl.org. Order these books or use keyword search or subject search to find more like these. You can limit your search by reading level and/or material format.
Link to previous Recommended Reads.