Most readers who like the fantasy the genre began consuming speculative fiction in childhood, and it is because of the books read during this period that they maintain their love for these stories. The best fantasy books that young readers learn in their youth are likely to perform well in adulthood because they have universal themes and complex narratives that remain relevant regardless of the audience's age. Tales of magic, adventure and mystery never get old because everyone reflects on the real world and communicates messages about leaving the world better than you found it.
Many of them are part of the best fantasy book series for beginners and can be enjoyed by all readers interested in getting into fantasy. Most, if not all, of these novels have received screen adaptations because of how vivid the stories are and how universally loved they are. One of the most memorable parts of children's fantasy literature are the brave and intelligent protagonists that young audiences identify with in their youth. When returning to these books in adulthood, readers will still be able to identify with these characters, but will have even more empathy for them, understanding the pain of coming of age.
10
Eternal Tuck (1975)
Written by Natalie Babbitt
Winnie Foster discovers that her life has suddenly changed in Eternal Tuck when she meets the Tucks, a family who accidentally became immortal after drinking from a spring in the woods near Winnie's house. Although Winnie is young, she slowly understands that the immortality the Tucks possess is not a gift and that people would use them and the spring for profit. The pitfalls of immortality and the joy of being able to grow old and live a full life are topics that are frequently covered in adult literature, but Eternal Tuck makes this topic accessible to younger readers.
From an adult perspective, it becomes clear from the outset that the cost of eternal youth and vigor is not worth the loneliness that accompanies it.
It's a bittersweet story, made even more impactful by the doomed romance between Winnie and Jesse Tuck, the boy froze in time at seventeen. From an adult perspective, it becomes clear from the outset that the cost of eternal youth and vigor is not worth the loneliness that accompanies it. The film adaptation of Babbitt's novel is one of the best live-action children's fantasy films and sees a young star in Alexis Bledel as Winnie.
9
The Hobbit (1937)
Written by JRR Tolkien
Although JRR Tolkien's complex adult series The Lord of the Rings is the most famous chapter of Tolkien's tales of Middle Earth, The Hobbit It's the story that started it all. Following Bilbo, Frodo's older cousin, on his first adventure, The Hobbit It has long been considered one of the best works of children's fantasy literature of all time. Not as scary and high risk as Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit it's still exciting and isn't afraid to put Bilbo in dangerous situations.
Rereading The Hobbit with the knowledge and understanding of Middle Earth that the audience gains Lord of the Rings makes Bilbo's first encounter with the One Ring breathtaking. The Hobbit has a lot of value for fans of the series and demonstrates why Tolkien's work is so timeless, as Bilbo's journeys become increasingly nostalgic and epic with time. Although there are many differences between The Hobbit book and films, Peter Jackson retained much of the heart of the original novel.
8
A Wrinkle in Time (1962)
Written by Madeleine L'Engle
Madeleine L'Engle incorporated fantasy and science fiction into her classic novel, A wrinkle in time. The book has been adapted for the screen several times, but the 2018 film came the closest to capturing the magic of the original story. However, part of the joy of A wrinkle in time is imagining Meg on her adventures and seeing in her mind's eye the unbelievable worlds she visits. A wrinkle in time is the first in L'Engle's series about Meg and her family, but the first book is the most famous.
Themes of feeling alienated and out of place in the world are significant in A wrinkle in timeand these feelings aren't just relevant to younger audiences.
Themes of feeling alienated and out of place in the world are significant in A wrinkle in timeand these feelings aren't just relevant to younger audiences. Meg struggles to adapt to her changing environments, and she has to deal with some of the most challenging aspects of life at a young age. On first reading A wrinkle in timeaudiences will be able to identify with Meg and see her struggles as their own, while older readers will see a younger version of themselves and empathize with who that person was.
7
Downed water ship (1972)
Written by Richard Adams
Following a group of rabbits in search of a new home Water ship shot down is a terrifying and emotionally intense book, putting it on the same level as the iconic epics of children's literature. Winner of the Carnegie Medal for Writing, among other compliments, Water ship shot down was immediately highlighted for its contributions to children's literature, but there is still much for adults to learn from the story. Rabbit society is as rich, complex, and difficult to navigate as human culture, and the characters' conflicting beliefs influence their strengths and abilities.
Water ship shot down It may be about rabbits, but its influences come from some of the great works of classic literature, and its adventure parallels iconic episodes of the hero's journey seen in novels throughout history. The survival and creation of society plays an important role in Water ship shot down, as the central characters search for a path to salvation amidst the lies of other rabbits and the dangers of the world. Adults may appreciate how introducing these topics to young people through allegorical story is an effective way of approaching difficult topics.
6
A Wizard of Earthsea (1968)
Written by Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula K. Le Guin is known as one of the greatest fantasy and science fiction writers of all time, and her Earthsea novels have been instrumental in influencing the path of high fantasy children's literature. The first book of the cycle, A Wizard of Earthseafollows Ged, a boy with incredible magical abilities who must undo a mistake he made in the heat of adolescence. While A Wizard of Earthsea follows the classic beats of a coming-of-age romance, but it also revolutionized the genre thanks to its incredible world-building and complex plot.
Like all of Le Guin's work, A Wizard of Earthsea it addressed environmental issues, political connotations, and themes of enlightenment and self-acceptance.
Like all of Le Guin's work, A Wizard of Earthsea it addressed environmental issues, political connotations, and themes of enlightenment and self-acceptance. What will resonate most with adults in A Wizard of Earthsea It's Ged's path to finding his true name and realizing that he is capable of equal amounts of light and darkness. Understanding this balance and accepting humanity's ability to be a force for good and evil is a lesson that both Ged and the reader learn throughout the story.
5
Matilde (1988)
Written by Roald Dahl
One of Roald Dahl's most remembered books, Matilde​​​​​​, it was adapted into a feature film, a stage musical and a musical film. It's thanks to the story's timelessness that writers and creatives keep returning to Dahl's source material and finding more details and intricacies to bring to life on screen. Filled with the bizarre and fantastical elements that Dahl's work is known for, the characters in Matilde only became more vivid with time, and the story's happy ending is one of the most uplifting conclusions of a Dahl work.
In the most famous cinematic iteration of Matildeher telekinetic powers are portrayed as much stronger and more easily controlled, whereas in the book they are more unpredictable and eventually wear off. However, no iteration has ever changed the heart of Matildewhich shows a young woman finding the love and comfort she deserves after being abused and forgotten for so long. Dahl makes his serious topics easy to digest through imaginative storytelling and magical characters, but reading Matilde as an adult, it allows the audience to see the larger themes.
4
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
Written by L. Frank Baum
Although the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz has remained a classic of fantasy cinema for generations, the book on which it is based, L. Frank Baum The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has a darker and more complex story. Recently, readers and audiences have been reminded of the story's many adaptations thanks to the box office performances of Evil​​​​​​. The new musical film has many allusions to Baum's 1900 children's book, which has scarier elements and more intense themes that adults will learn about.
Dorothy's travels in Oz are much more dangerous, and the characterization of the Wizard as a charlatan is clearer in Baum's book. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will make older readers take a second look at the way the film portrays the story and see Oz not as a magical escapist fantasy, but as a menacing world that leads Dorothy and her companions to face their deepest fears. Although the influence and legacy of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz have made it relevant in cultural conversations for over a century, looking back on the story as an adult will reveal a lot.
3
The Little Prince (1943)
Written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's seminal children's classic has been translated into several languages and adored for generations. Addressing some of the most relevant themes of adult life and human nature, The Little Prince It's universally loved for a reason. With beautiful illustrations and a fierce young protagonist, The Little Prince sees the narrator encounter the little prince in the desert and be regaled with stories of his travels across the galaxy and the foolish adults he meets there. Each planet and corresponding adult has a flaw that prohibits them from seeing the beauty of the world.
The book's recent 2015 screen adaptation took many liberties with the plot and added a frame narrative, but the stop-motion animation that brings the prince's story to life represents the best of the novel's illustrations. When reading The Little Prince as a child it is easy to identify with the prince and see the world as something beautiful to be explored. Although the flaws and follies of the adults he meets become more realistic over time, readers also realize how special it is to see the universe through the prince's eyes.
2
The Last Unicorn (1968)
Written by Peter S. Beagle
Although many decades have passed since The Last Unicorn was published, the novel has lost none of its power, especially with older audiences revisiting the work. A story about the loss of innocence and the discovery of the depth of life, The Last Unicorn follows the titular Unicorn as she travels to find the rest of her kind after realizing that she is alone in the world and that humanity has forgotten her. One of the most impressive parts of the story is when the Unicorn transforms into a young girl and experiences morality for the first time.
It is the fact that this human life is not intended for the Unicorn that hits so close to home for older readers, as it is a reminder that nothing lasts.
This change is reminiscent of the moments in life when people realize their own mortality and accept their tenuous time on Earth. However, it is the fact that this human life is not intended for the Unicorn that hits home with older readers, as it is a reminder that nothing lasts. The Last Unicorn is violent and tragic for a children's novel, but all the losses and sacrifices are justified thanks to Peter S. Beagle's narrative style.
1
Book The First: The Bad Beginning (1999)
Written by Lemony Snicket aka Daniel Handler
The first book in A series of unfortunate events, The bad start​​​​​​, sets the stage for Lemoney Snicket's seminal children's tragicomedy. fantasy series. Following the Baudelaires' ups and downs after their parents' deaths, the three children got off to a disastrous and dangerous start. Spanning a total of thirteen books, The Baudelaires never takes a break, but her ingenuity and bravery are what won the hearts of many children who got lost in romance novels. However, returning to the first book as an adult reveals even more about the quality of the work.
In 2017, Netflix adapted A series of unfortunate events into a TV series, and although it only lasted three seasons, it's a fun addition to the franchise. However, there's no doubt that what's written in the books is a big part of why the series has such an incredible legacy. As an adult, it becomes even clearer how darkly comical Snicket's outlook is, and the reader discovers more of his emotional and tragic Easter eggs throughout the books.