Magical books like Harry Potter for your little ones library

With YA and adult fantasy novels making the bestseller lists, we sometimes forget that some of the best of the genre was written for those who were 8 or older. So here are some stories similar to Harry Potter for your young readers clamouring for more magic in their bookshelves.

This series follows a girl in China. In the first book she escapes slavery as rescues an old dragon. She promises to take him to the ocean and he trains her to be a Dragon Keeper as they journey there, with many adventures involving hunters and even an encounter with the Emperor of China. The story has magic, dragons and adventure, which only increase as the series progresses.
Photo: Hyperion Book

The Sword in the Stone T.H. White
One of the classic Fantasy tales, we follow Arthur as he's trained by Merlyn to be a great king. It's a mixture of legends and fantasy with humour.
Picture Credit: HarperCollins Children's Books

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia), C. S. Lewis
J.K. Rowlings childhood favourite, while reading you can see how Harry Potter as inspired by someone who loved this world. With talking animals, battles and good lessons, it's a great story.
Picture Credit: Wikipedia

Inkheart, Cornelia Funke
A book made for any book lover, a story of how characters from a book escaped the from the pages into the real world and how a family of bibliophiles had to survive the ensuing adventure.
Picture Credit: Wikipedia

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
A little long, going by most childrens current attention span but enthralling enough to keep them captivated for days. A tale filled with adventure, good lessons and humour, which will probably improve their vocabulary; a trait most modern books lack.
Picture Credit: Wikipedia

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
A modern blend of fantasy, Sci-fi and action. The story follows a young genius who
uses his family wealth, cleverness and resoures to capture a fairy. However he isn't prepared for what the magical folk do in return.
Picture Credit: Wikipedia

Cirque du Freak, Darren Shan
A thin book but a long series, this one might be a little on the scary side but it will keep you enthralled. With a freak show, vampires and poisonous spiders this one will give you goosepimples.
Picture Credit: Wikipedia

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs
Spooky and myterious, it's gripping, with time travel and great glances into history, this book is good for kids who would like a gothic fantasy.
Picture Credit: Wikipedia

Northern Lights or The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials), Philip Pullman
One of the most intricate magical worlds created after the era of Tolkein and Lewis, this novel is a great story of discoveries. From self discovery to discoveries of the intricacis of magic to wonderful locations, this book will never fails to fill you with wonder.
Picture Credit: Knopf

The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy), Jonathan Stroud
This book captures perfectly what modern day London would be if was ruled by magicians who could control otherworldly spirits. Most of the story is narrated by a particularly sarcastic and cocky being who makes the already clever tale even more brilliant and amazing.
Picture Credit: Wikipedia

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson), Rick Riordan
The story of Perseus from Greek Mythology in a modern American setting, this story will have you believing in the magic hidden in American cites just like Harry Potter makes you wonder about certain places in England
Picture Credit: Disney Hyperion Books