by Alice George

Created on: August 02, 2009   Last Updated: August 03, 2009

Love or Hate Harry Potter you can't stamp on his face and break his nose. Most people would agree that he has at least got kids reading. Which is great, but once your kids, or you (Hi there anyone under 18) have finished the series what else is there worth reading? Well that, lucky people, is where I am here to help. Thanks to my addiction to fantasy novels and refusal to grow up, I can provide you with a whole world of literature for little people.

And speaking of little people my first recommendation would be The Hobbit. The Hobbit is the 'easy read' of Tolkien's works and has been delighting children for generations. It stars Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the Grey and a Dragon named Smaug. It is also the prequel to The Lord of The Rings which is probably the most popular fantasy book of all time. Tolkien was a fabulous writer and it's definitely worth introducing your children to his work.

If you want something less high fantasy more sci-fi Artemis Fowl is a great read. There are currently six books in the series detailing the adventures of the teenage criminal genius Artemis Fowl and his encounters with Fairies. Fairies with guns and technology humans can only dream of. The books are funny as well as action packed and, like Harry Potter, you get to grow up with the anti-hero himself. The best books are the first and the ones with Opal Koboi as Artemis's nemesis.

For slightly younger kids The Edge Chronicles are a wonderful series, the books are quite literally full of wonders and the stories are complimented by Chris Riddle's excellent illustrations. These books are packed with sky pirates and strange creatures from the deep woods, familiar adventures for boys with a twist. This series is one of the most imaginative of recent years and perfect for boys who aren't always that interested in reading.

Alex Rider is a series which deals with the adventures of a teenage spy. This could be considered a worn out concept after those terrible movies/TV shows along similar lines, but the first few books are fresh entertaining, sometimes amusing and definitely better than the teenage-bond book Silverfin. The later books are a tad stale.

Going back to the world of high Fantasy, The Inheritance Trilogy (though there actually will be four books) has been a big success recently, the first book Eragon is definitely better than Eldest which follows it, but the series picks up again with Brisingr. The Books star Eragon the Dragon Rider and his Dragon Saphira in a war against

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>