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"Lord
of the Rings" fans may enjoy reading "Greg and Tim Hildebrandt: The Tolkien Years," featuring the elaborate
illustrations of the brothers Hildebrandt (Watson-Guptill Publishers).
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WITH
no definite date of publication in sight for J. K. Rowling’s fifth novel in the Harry Potter series, many children
are losing their enthusiasm for the written word, leaving parents and educators to wonder how they can keep
fanning the spark lit by the boy wizard and his adventures at wizardry school.
Luckily, there are plenty of other reading series out there to satisfy Harry’s fans and their
appetite for the fun and fantastic.
From the classics that parents will fondly remember to newer books by other bright stars
in children’s publishing, here is a list that should get you and yours through the next few months until Harry
Potter number five finally makes it to bookstore shelves:
"The Chronicles of Narnia," by C.S. Lewis: This series of books
has been a favorite of children and adults alike since the publication of the first book of the seven, "The
Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," in 1950. The series has everything that a good fantasy story for children
should possess talking animals, young protagonists (boys and girls), noble heroes and some truly frightening
villains. In Narnia, nothing comes easy and you get only what you earn if you fight the good fight,
you will triumph in the end. Parents should be aware that the series does contain a good amount of Christian
allegory, but it is veiled enough within the tales that non-Christian parents should not shy away. If in doubt,
read the books yourself before giving them to your kids they are short and very enjoyable, even for
grown-ups.
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"The Dark is Rising Sequence," by Susan Cooper: This series of
five books, written by a British author who once wrote for the London Sunday Times under Ian Fleming, is full
of fairy folklore and Celtic myths. The five books concern the mysteries and quests undertaken by the Drew
children, Simon, Jane and Barney (sometimes accompanied by the eccentric and enigmatic Uncle Merry); and Wil
Stanton, the young British protagonists of the series. As time goes on, they also encounter Bran, an albino
raven-boy, and the strangely prophetic, silver-eyed dog Cafall. Throughout the series, these characters are
embattled in the timeless fight between the powers of the Dark and the powers of the Light, two forces that
are embodied in fairy races and Celtic heroes and heroines. The series is suggested for readers over age 9;
some of the themes are frightening, so parents of easily spooked children should be encouraged to read the
tales for themselves first. In fact, for grownups with an interest in Celtic mythology, the series is highly
recommended.
The "His Dark Materials Trilogy," by Philip Pullman: The series
is dark and ambitious, equal parts fantasy, thriller and science fiction. The action begins on an alternate
Earth where humans live side-by-side with daemons, animal spirits that are each person’s external embodiment
of the soul, or perhaps the personality, and moves through parallel universes and alternate realities. The
protagonists are adolescents: the headstrong Lyra, who carries the fate of the universe, and the gallant Wil,
fighting to save the world only because it happens to coincide with his fight to save his mother. Be aware
there are complex ideas in this trilogy one reason the series has become so popular with adults
including quantum physics, and strong arguments for and against organized religion, so the books are
best for kids over 13. Parents should at least familiarize themselves with the books before giving them to
their kids.
"The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit," by J. R. R. Tolkien:
"The Hobbit" is actually the prequel to the LOTR trilogy; the trilogy itself has been called "the book of the
century." The film version of "The Fellowship of the Ring," the first part of the trilogy, was released in
nearly unparalleled critical and commercial success. These books are classics of literature, with children
and adults enjoying them equally. Unless your child is a very precocious reader, it would be best to start
readers with "The Hobbit" when they are eight to 10 years old; parents might want to wait until the early teen
years for the trilogy, as it can get very dark and the language can be complex. Tolkien’s works are an interesting
follow-up series to "Lewis’s Chronicles," as the two were contemporaries and acquaintances; while both wrote
fantasy, their styles are quite different.
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"Series of Unfortunate Events," by Lemony Snicket: This series
of books about the misadventures of the Baudelaire siblings, Violet, Klaus and Sunny, and the villainous Uncle
Olaf has been a publishing sensation since the first book, "The Bad Beginning," was released in 1999. Nine
unfortunate events have befallen the Baudelaire orphans so far, with a total of 13 titles planned. The books
are hilarious in a strangely morbid way; the series begins with the children having become orphans after their
parents death in a house fire. The characters are marvelously crafted. Violet, the eldest, is an inventor/engineer
of all manner of things. Klaus, the middle child, is an avid reader and master of information. Sunny, the baby
of the three, is armed with sharp teeth and a desire to use them on anything and everyone. Count Olaf is a
fantastic villain and master of disguise that the children always see through, and the other adults in the
story are all well-meaning and completely hapless. Snicket (actually author Daniel Handler) has a style comparable
to Roald Dahl and Edward Gorey and the series is deservedly popular, with many of the books having appeared
in the New York Times Children’s Book bestseller list.
Try a few of these titles on for size and encourage your young readers to be on the lookout
for anything else that strikes their fancy. Take them to bookstores often and let them browse the shelves.
Harry led the way; now give them a chance to encounter all of the other strange and exciting characters who
wait along the reading road.
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