by Norman Green

Created on: January 17, 2011   Last Updated: May 29, 2011

Fantasy books are good for children, indeed, they are good for all of us!  They are ideal for children in many ways, and hopefully this article will explain why and encourage some of the sceptics.  For the purpose of this article the term fantasy will include works such as  Alice in Wonderland,  The Wizard of Oz, The Wind in the Willows, the works of Roald Dahl and even Swift's Gulliver's Travels. A fantasy book doesn't have to contain hobbits or a school for wizards!

All children should be encouraged to read from as early an age as possible. They need help to begin with of course, and encouragement, but once they can read on their own they really should be left to make their own choices as to what to read. And given a free rein most children aren't going to choose a text book or course in grammar!  Children have vivid imaginations and want books that appeal to their developing minds.  Left to their own devices children will make up their own stories and games, and elements of fantasy play a big part in these creations. Fantasy in this context need not be only about wizards and dragons, faeries or other such creatures. Children will be fantasizing about what it is like to be a grown up, or to be married or to be an astronaut or a pirate on the high seas. Children crave excitement and adventure, but also need security and a sense of justice in the world, and the best fantasy books provide all of these elements.

The classic fantasies all contain a struggle between good and evil, and a journey for the main protagonist which may be spiritual, physical or in most cases, both. All cultures have their own myths and legends, these are the fantasy books of their day. These stories  help children in forming their first ideas on how the world works on a moral scale, of the choices that face people as they go about their business in the world. They may not know it consciously, as they read  stories of heroes battling great odds to overcome their foes, but impressions will be left upon developing minds. For example in C.S. Lewis's Narnia stories, children in the story are magically transported from a safe but humdrum existence, to a world of danger and excitement. Here they must take responsibility for their actions, choose  to fight for good and learn about sacrifice and loss as ultimately all the children grow up and can no longer return to Narnia. This is all unfolded in the course of a narrative containing witches and dwarfs, centaurs and goblins, excitement and adventure. A child will be enthralled by these magical creatures, some terrifying, some benevolent, and identify with the children thrust into this fantastic land.

Some people argue that fantasy books encourage people to retreat from the real world and to shirk the responsibility of adult life. Of course this can happen, but it is no more likely to affect someone than is, say, an obsessive interest in sport. Children have more nous than most adults give them credit for, children might wish these stories to be real but they know they are not.  As long as a child also reads other genres, as well as educational books, fantasy books will do more good than harm. They will instill a love of reading and of language. They will encourage a child to use their imagination and will help them on their journey into adulthood. If a parent can share in this, especially by reading to a child so much the better. Hopefully the child will then grow up not only to enjoy fantasy books, but all books, and be able to use their imagination in their adult lives.

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