Beyond Beast Quest... Fantasy Books for Kids

Fantasy: From Toddlers to Teens

Sorry about the slight delay in getting this post out; it's been very busy of late in Library Towers. So, as everyone knows, kids love fantasy. Whether in play, books or films, magic makes great stories, and great fun! But what if your boy won't read anything other than Beast Quest, or your girl won't read anything other than Rainbow Magic? (sorry to generalise there, but I've never seen a boy read Daisy Meadows) Here's a selection of brilliant fantasy books, both new and old. I'm assuming you've heard of the ones about Harry and Bilbo...

The Ice Palace by Robert Swindells

I read this when I was 6 or 7, and I genuinely believe it steered me on to fantasy. It's the tale of a boy, Ivan, whose little brother is kidnapped by the terrifying Starjik, who comes in the night with his wolves. Ivan decides to rescue his brother, and so sets off alone in the snow to find Starji

k's ice palace. On the way, he's beset by wolves, the cold, and hope-destroying hallucinations. Looking back on it now, it's surprisingly dark for a book for quite young children, but it's a wonderful adventure. And through it I learnt about bravery, determination, love and redemption.

The BFG by Roald Dahl

The lovely image of dreams being blown through your window by an old man with a trumpet, is countered by the nastiness of the big giants blowing nightmares at you. And what nasty giants they are! But surely the little girl Sophie and her new BFF the BFG (that's Big Friendly Giant, of course) can stop their evil plan - perhaps with a little help from the Queen... From Snozzcumbers to Bone Crunchers, this story will have you whizzpopping til bedtime!

The Silver Chair by CS Lewis

If your kids are ready for slightly larger books, then The Chronicles of Narnia are a must-read. They're wonderful adventures of children getting transported to the land of Narnia, fighting evil, and meeting Aslan the Lion. Most people start with The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, which is a very good starting place (and the best known), but my personal favourite is The Silver Chair. In a series of fantasy books, this is the most fantastic of them all, as Eustace (who's been to Narnia before) and Jill arrive in Narnia with a mission to find the lost Prince Rilian, the only heir to the throne of Narnia. But to do that, they must face a paliament of owls, avoid getting eaten by giants, and defeat the sinister Lady in the Green Kirtle. Accompanying them on their quest is Puddleglum, a marshwiggle whose gloominess cannot quite overcome his loyalty and steadfastness. The three main characters have a really good chemistry: whether bickering with or supporting one another, they have well-developed and individual personalities. And the climax, deep, deep underground is just thrilling.

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

This book is the first in the Chronicles of Prydain series. It's inspired by Welsh mythology, and it's perfect for Narnia fans. In fact it's frequently called Lord of the Rings for kids, and justifiably so (the 'for kids' bit doesn't degrade it. No sirree!). You may be more familiar with its sequel, The Black Cauldron, which was a Disney film in the 80s. It's not got a great reputation with either Prydain fans or Disney fans, which is a shame, because I think it's a really good film, and true to the books (and I only saw it recently).

Taran wants to be a hero fighting glorious battles, but instead he's an Assistant Pig Keeper. Even though the pig can see the future (yes, that's right), he's still longing for an adventure. Which is exactly what he gets when the ferocious Horned King comes to take the pig. The heroic Prince Gwydion sends Taran on a quest of his very own, and the fate of all Prydain depends on it. Along the way, he meets the odd creature Gurgi, the aspiring bard (without the talent) Fflewdur Fflam, and the wonderful Princess

Eilonwy. She's a perfect (romantic) foil for Taran: he's an Assistant Pig-Keeper, and she's a magical princess, who can be opinionated and sarcastic. As with the best love stories (that barely counts as a spoiler), they rub each other up the wrong way for a good long time, before finally, finally admitting their love for one another (much later on in the series).

The book does share a lot with Tolkien: Gurgi is terribly good-Smeagolly, and Prince Gwydion is very Aragorny, but none of that matters. If you read this five-book series, you'll fall more and more in love with it, and the emotional payoffs in the last book are the sort that makes life better for having read them.

The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

How do I describe this series? A brilliantly imaginative and adventurous saga set on the Edge (of the world), with three trilogies within the series, spanning three generations.The first (and original) trilogy features Twig, a boy raised in the Deepwoods by woodtrolls. After straying off the path, he's thrown into adventure after adventure, until he meets his father, the dashing skyship captain, Quint (the ships fly in this series). And that's only the beginning. The other trilogies follow Quint as a Beyond the Deepwoods.

boy, and Twig's protegee Rook, and they're just as good. Try Twig's first book,

I could say far more about this, but the wonderful Paul Stewart (writer) and Chris Riddell (illustrator) are dead certs for a Booky Hero post someday, because that's what they are.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

If you like your stories spiced up with a bit of mythology, then Percy Jackson is the series for you! After a teacher turns into a monster and attacks him, Percy Jackson discovers that he is the son of the Greek sea-god Poseidon, that Greek gods are alive and well in America (they reside in the current cultural power of the western world), that the children of such gods live in relative safety in Camp Half-Blood, and that mosters are real and want to kill them.

And more than that, the slain father of head god Zeus - Percy's Grandfather - is reawakening and plotting to destroy the world. But Percy is a hero, and with his friends AnnaBeth (sassy and strategic daughter of Athena) and Grover (a satyr), he's the world's best hope! At first I dismissed this series as wannabe Harry Potter, but this series is exciting and original enough to stand on its own two feet. It's sequel-series, The Heroes of Olympus, is just as good if not better.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

This action-packed series is as much sci-fi and action as fantasy. Its (anti)hero, Artemis, is a boy who believes in fairies - and he's also a criminal genius. His first adventure sees him attempt to steal fairy gold, after kidnapping fairy police officer Holly Short. The fairy seige that takes place afterwards earned the book the marketing accolade "Die Hard with fairies". Artemis is brilliant, exact and ruthless - but is there any good in him? Holly packs all the punch of a trapped John McClane (but shorter, and with wings), and the supporting characters - hulking manservant Butler, tech-genius centaur Foaly, and mud-tunnelling, farting dwarf Mulch Diggums compliment the story perfectly. It's always witty but never an out-and-out comedy, this unique adventure series will have you on the edge of your seat.

Father's Day #2... Exclusive Dad Story, "MetamorHorses"

The Day My Dad Turned into a Horse

(MetamorHorses)

Here's a story I've written that I'm hoping to have turned into a picture book at some point. I hope I'm not too unfair or judgemental to Sam's Dad - I know I've got some of his faults!
Despite the obvious lack of pictures, I hope you enjoy...

 

Before Sam’s Dad turned into a horse, Sam and his Dad didn’t get to play together much. They did love to play, but his Dad always had a bit more work to do.

[Sam is playing, while his Dad is on the laptop.]

One Sunday afternoon, Dad promised to take Sam to a riding lesson, so Sam could be like a cowboy. But just as they had their coats on, Dad got a phone call from work. Sam waited and waited at the door, but it was too late. They had missed the lesson.

“Sorry, Sam… maybe next week,” his Dad told him.

Sam went to bed feeling sad.

But the next morning, something magical happened.
Sam came down to breakfast, and found…

“Neigh!”

His Dad had the head of a horse!
Breakfast was messy because of Dad’s new head. And Dad couldn’t get his shoes on, because his hands and feet had turned into hooves.
Sam’s Dad was a horse.

Dad trotted down the garden path, and waited for Sam. Sam grabbed his cowboy hat, and jumped on.

Sam and his Dad galloped along the street, past the cars and the houses and the children going to school.

They raced the train, and chased the sun, and rode the world and back.
[Wide pic of having left the town, racing over meadows and towards the beach.]

 

            They charged down the hill onto the sand, and let the waves splash over them.

            Sam bought two ice creams, and they sat happily on the beach.
Sam couldn’t remember spending this much time with his Dad: No mobile, no emails; just the two of them.

            Sam and his Dad had a wonderful day riding together. Sam didn’t feel scared on the horse – he was with his Dad, and he was safe.
            When the sun was sinking in the sky, they finally headed home.

            When they arrived home, tired but happy, something strange happened.
Dad didn’t go inside to check his emails.
Instead, he nudged a football towards Sam.

Sam booted the ball, and his Dad tried to kick it back –

POP. The ball had burst, and now the flowerbed was a mess, too.
Never mind. They went indoors.

            It was a tight squeeze in the living room. Still, they could always buy another armchair.
            At bedtime, Sam wanted his Dad to read him a story. But his Dad wouldn’t fit up the stairs, and he ate the storybook.

            Sam’s Dad made a good horse, and the horse made a good Dad. But he wished his Dad was a man again.
            The next morning, Sam brushed his Dad’s coat, and fed him an apple for breakfast.
            “ ‘Ank ‘oo,” said Dad.
            It wasn’t long before his human arms and legs and body grew back.

            Once he had a good wash and got dressed, Sam’s Dad opened his laptop. “Actually… that can wait,” he declared, snapping it shut. “I’ve got better things to be doing with my day!” Sam’s Dad declared. “Let’s see about those riding lessons!”

            And from that day on, Sam’s Dad was never too busy for his son. He played games with Sam, and read stories to him, took him horse riding…

And sometimes let Sam ride on his back, too!

Father's Day #1: Great Dads from Books

Father's Day is here, and to celebrate, we're having an interlude to the month-long series "Fantasy: From Toddlers to Teens". Instead we've got a selection of great dads from children's books - as well as a few rotters! Do you agree with the list, or have I left out one of your favourites? Have your say on the comments area at the bottom of the page, or on the Facebook page.

Mr Fox from Fantastic Mr Fox and
William from Danny, The Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
Everyone knows that Roald Dahl writes distinctive characters, but some of his lovliest, most wonderful characters are fathers - this despite the fact that his own father died when Dahl was 7. Mr Fox and William have a lot in common, even if their books are rather different. Both of them are poachers, who bring their children into their battle with villainous land owners. And they're both without a doubt, their children's heroes.

It may have been Mr Fox's poaching that got his family (and all the animal families in the area) in to trouble, but it's his love for his children that strengthens his resolve to save them. Even though we never act
ually learn his cubs' names, Mr Fox is always referring to them as "my darlings".
And William may not have Mr Fox's swagger, but he's certainly just as devoted a father. He's a protective Dad - after Mr Hazell, the local landowner, threatens Danny, William will no longer serve him at the petrol station, no matter what trouble it causes. And he's an exciting dad; stealing forth in the night to poach pheasants away from Mr Hazell. It's because of his Dad that Danny is able to be "the champion of the world". Both are good dads to have in a tight corner!

　
The Dad from My Dad Thinks He's Funny by Katrina Germein and Tom Gellett
A rather more normal dad, here. This is the dad who points at a cake and says, "There's my piece. What's everyone else having?" Or who doesn't have sugar in his tea because he's sweet enough. He thinks that jumping in the shower "sounds dangerous." In short, he's every dad, because none of us are quite as funny as we think we are!


Big Nutbrown Hare from Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram
Because Little Nutbrown Hare may love him "to the moon", but he loves Little Nutbrown Hare "to the moon... and back".

James Potter and Sirius Black from the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
Neither Harry's Dad or godfather get to spend as long with Harry as any of them deserve, but in their brief times, they have an indelible affect on him. Harry shares his recklessness and appetite for adventure with James and Sirius, and also his dedication towards his friends. Both James and Sirius die saving Harry, in the ultimate sacrifice of love. It's very moving seeing Sirius' gruffness slowly turn to affection towards Harry, and the Mirror of Erised scene from Philosopher's Stone and Harry's long walk to the Forest in Deathly Hallows - both of which, scenes where Harry meets his parents - are two of the most tender and heartbreaking scenes in the whole series.

The Prodigal Son's Dad from Luke's Gospel (in the Bible - Luke ch.15)

The Prodigal Son (as he's known) was one bad kid. He practically tells his father he wishes his dad was dead, so that he could get his share of the inheritance. His father somehow graciously gives it to him, and the son goes and blows it all on parties. But then a credit crunch hits, and he's made penniless. He gets so hungry, he gets a job working with the pigs - a massive no no for Jews like him! So he decides to return home, and beg for a job as a servant.
But the Father is the hero here; the Father who gave his son the freedom to leave, but searched the horizon every day for his return. When he finally sees his son approach, he runs out of the house, and embraces him. This is a culture where the wealthy were dignified above all else - imagining Alan Sugar running down the high street, sobbing and laughing, is only the start of how shocking it would have been. Then he welcomes his son back, gives him his cloak and ring (signs of family and authority) and throws a party for him. What a hero.

Mr Crumb from Mr Stink by David Walliams
Until Chloe makes friends with Mr Stink, her only real ally is her father, Mr Crumb. He's a kind, caring man, but lives in the shadow of his overbearing wife. One day, Chloe finds him hiding in a cupboard, too scared to tell his wife he's lost his job. But despite that, he's a source of encouragement for Chloe. And he's got a really cool secret in the shed.

Atticus Fitch from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
It's not quite a children's book, this, but it nearly counts, and Atticus is often cited as the best father in fiction. He's quiet and bookish, he's a lawyer, and his children think all the other dads are more exciting, but he's the best man there is in Maycomb. He's a sharpshooter who doesn't like harming others, and he refuses to bow to pressure to racial prejudice. He's Jem and Scout's heroes, and teaches them compassion, and to see the hypocrisy around them. He's a great dad, but Jem and especially Scout are amazing characters, too.

And some terrible dads...

Mr Wormwood from Matilda by Roald Dahl
Like I said, Roald Dahl does great characters, but Matilda's Dad is a true rotter. He's one Dahl's more believable villains; not as fearsome as Miss Trunchbull, but is mean, selfish and small-minded. He dotes on his lazy, stupid son, but wilfully refuses to see the warmth and genius in his daughter. The only thing he actively tries to teach his children is how to scam customers through his car business. He well and truly deserves the practical joke that Matilda plays on him, and moving in with Miss Honey is the best thing that could have happened to Matilda.

Lord Asriel from His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
Lord Asriel spends a fair amount of time as a distant hero-figure to Lyra, but his detached love for Lyra doesn't stop him mercilessly kidnapping and murdering her best friend Roger. He's just as bad as the despicable and manipulative Mrs Coulter, but at least they come good, in the end, in their own ways.

The Father from Hansel and Gretel by the Brothers Grimm
Really, he let his his new wife lead his children into the forest to die? It makes little difference that he was pleased to see them return alive, he still let it happen!

Cassy's Dad from Wolf by Gillian Cross
Cassy lives with her sensible grandmother, and occassionally with her flightly, childish mother. Neither of them will tell her about her father. But something starts stalking Cassy: is it her father, or a wolf? It turns out it's both (well, the wolf is metaphorical). Her father is actually a terrorist for the IRA, and wants her to stash some plastic explosives. Bad dad indeed.

So what do you think? What dads have I missed off the list? Is Lord Asriel as bad as all that? Have your say just below, or on the Facebook page HERE! Oh, and if you like cinema's most famous father and son (that's Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, sorry Don Corleones), then check out this short Father's Day video. It's really funny!

Five Brilliant Fantasy Picturebooks

Fantasy: From Toddlers to Teens

Magic, adventures, monsters… There's nothing like fantasy to fire your child's imagination. Of course, it could easily argued that the majority of fiction is fantasy and wish fulfilment, (from The Tiger that Came to Tea to The Man With the Golden Gun) but for my second fantasy installment, I'm sticking with it as a genre. Whilst I could pick loads and loads, here are five excellent fantasy picturebooks that young boys and girls alike should enjoy.

 

The Kiss that Missed, by David Melling

 

When a busy king blows his son a hasty kiss goodnight, the kiss misses, and flies out of the window. And so it's up to the king's loyal knight, and the knight's loyal horse, to go and retrieve the royal kiss, which is busy zooming around the forest. On their quest, they face swoopy owls, dribbly wolves, and growly bears… and a gigantic DRAGON! They may have been searching for the royal kiss, but it's the kiss that saves them in the end. This story is great fun, and never waivers in being warm, cuddly, and entertaining. And Melling's illustrations are a real treat! Perfect bedtime reading!

And if you like this, don't miss its two sequels, Good Knight, Sleep Tight and The Three Wishes.

 

 

Room on the Broom, by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

 

"I am a dog as keen as can be, is there room on the broom for a dog like me?" A witch is riding her broom with her cat, but keeps dropping things! She makes friends with the animals who help her - a keen dog, a green bird, and a clean frog - and lets them accompany her on her broom. Which is just as well, because there's a dragon coming, who fancies witch and chips for tea…
Whilst this story isn't quite as ingenious as their mega-hit The Gruffalo, the rhyme, rhythm and illustrations are the real stars here, and they make the book a joy to read (yes, and re-read).

On the Way Home, by Jill Murphy

 

A young girl, Claire, has hurt her knee, so walks back home to her Mum. But on the way home, she keeps bumping into her friends who keep asking her how she hurt her knee. And so she tells them. But was it a crocodile attack that hurt her knee? Or being carried off by a flying saucer? What about the dragon or the giant or the witch that all tried to carry her off? The story of how Claire hurt her knee grows in the telling, and the punchline - that she simply fell off a swing - rounds it off perfectly. Claire's such a fun, imaginative, realistic child (by which I mean her stories are completely over the top!) that you can't help but overlook the fact that she's basically been lying to all her friends. It is, after all, a story about telling stories: it may not strictly speaking be 'fantasy', but the whole story is about fantasy. Jill Murphy may be better remembered for The Worst Witch, her Large Family books or Whatever Next!, but this is a classic story - fun, exciting, and just a little bit spooky - that I loved as a boy, and my children still enjoy.

 

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak

 

Apart from Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar, there probably isn't a picturebook with a higher, more ingrained place in children's picturebook literature. They're the books that children's parents had read to them as children. And whilst The Very Hungry Caterpillar now has a massive merchandising presence, Where the Wild Things Are now has a critically acclaimed feature length film and spin off adult novel.

You probably know the story. When Max acts like a wild thing, he is sent to bed without any supper. There he travels in and out of days, to the land where the Wild Things are. They make him King of the Wild Things. Let the wild rumpus start!

It's testament to this story how popular it still is (and how much has been written about it), despite the fact that it's only a few sentences long, and it doesn't waste a single word (very much unlike the film, which I wanted to love, but couldn't bring myself to). This is very possibly the perfect picturebook.

Also, two fun facts: 1. This is the only book on the list not to feature a dragon. 2. Whilst Maurice Sendak died last year, today would have been his 85th birthday, and Google are celebrating...

The Snow Dragon, by Vivian French and Chris Fisher

 

This story is the biggest step into epic fantasy for children, with a prologue, and everything! The north used to be ruled by the peaceful snow dragons, and the south by fierce, cruel fire dragons. In the middle lived the two-legs, humans. After hearing a doom-laden prophesy from the magical, living Book, the King of the Fire Dragons wages war on snow dragons and two-legs alike. Soon, the two-legs are left hiding in caves, and the snow dragons are little more than legend. But when a young boy discovers the long lost Book, they go on a quest together to find the last ever snow dragon, to get her to defeat the fire dragons.

Seeing that I've only just described the plot summary there, you can see that this is a big'un. It's two or three times the length of most picturebooks. It's not one for very little kids, but I know several boys who have really liked it from the age of three-ish. Make sure you've got time to actually read this before you start - I've got in trouble with the wifey before for reading it and sending the kids to bed late! But if you have enough time, enjoy it.

 

That's it for now - see you in a few days for a Father's Day post: Great dads from stories, and also a 'Dad' story of my very own. 2 bits of literary news: very sad to hear of the passing of the amazing author Iain Banks. But congrats to Malorie Blackman, the new Children's Laureate. She may not be Nick Sharratt, but she's an excellent choice!

Booky Hero #2... NEIL GAIMAN!

Fantasy: From Toddlers to Teens

Our Booky Hero this month is Neil Gaiman, fantasy extrordinaire. There's no one quite like Gaiman, a masterful modern-day weaver of fairytales. Writing-wise, he's done it all: picturebooks, children's storybooks, adult fiction... He's written two recent Doctor Who episodes to date, and he made his name writing the Sandman graphic novels for DC comics, and that showcased the fantasy he's become known for; dark and rich, sometimes horrific, and always wonderful. He's releasing a new and eagerly anticipated novel for adults this month, named The Ocean at the End of the Lane (find out more about that here), and to celebrate, I'm holding a month-long series called 'Fantasy: From Toddlers to Teens'. If your kid loves dragons, or if you can't wait for your child to read The Happy Life of Ned Stark but figure that all that sex and violence is a bit unsuitable for your three year old, then this blog is the place for you this month!

I'm not going to simply pick my favourite Neil Gaiman books to showcase this time, because his works are too varied for my favourites to show the whole picture. Instead, I'm showcasing five books of his to appeal as many people as possible, starting at the ones aimed at young children, and working my way up. Let's get cracking!

1. Chu's Day (Illustrated by Adam Rex)
This is one of Gaiman's most recent books, and it's his first picturebook for very small children. Chu is a little panda, with a terrible problem: when he sneezes, bad things happen! His mum takes him to a dusty library. Will he sneeze? His Dad takes him to a peppery cafe. Will he sneeze? His parents take him to the circus. Oh no, HE'S GOING TO SNEEZE! This is a light, fun read that all children will enjoy, and it's strengthened by some great illustrations. If you enjoy this, watch out for the sequel, Chu's First Day of School, out May next year.

2. The Wolves in the Walls (Illustrated by Dave McKean)

Inspired by his young daughter's nightmare, this award-winning classic is great for slightly older children, and one that adults will enjoy, too. Lucy can hear noises in the walls of her old house, and she's convinced that there are wolves living in the walls. Her family don't believe her, saying it must be mice, rats or bats. After all, as everyone knows, "when the wolves come out of the walls, it's all over!" But what will happen when the wolves do come out of the walls? This tale is a little bit creepy, but it's funny too. I'm not always a big fan of Dave McKean (which is probably a big faux pas, as he's Gaiman's biggest collaborater... I recognise his talent, but I often don't connect aesthetically with his work), but his art compliments the creepiness and quirkiness of the story perfectly!

Ask different people, and they'll give you a different age recommendation for this book. I've seen some people call it 9+, which I think is a bit excessive. I wouldn't suggest that under 5s read it, as they'll probably get freaked out! But although the book is about fearing wolves, it's ultimately about defeating wolves, and that's a valuable lesson for everyone.

If you like this, why not try The Day I Swapped Dad for Two Goldfish by Gaiman and McKean, or for another creepy, older children's picturebook, try The Lost Happy Endings by Carol Ann Duffy and Jane Ray.

3. Coraline
A much loved book made into a much loved film. Just stay away if you don't like buttons...
When Coraline and her parents move home into an old house, she discovers a locked door in her bedroom. Coraline is filled with curiosity about tlhis door, and when she manages to unlock it, she discovers a long tunnel, leading to an identical house, occupied by her Other Mother and Other Father. Her Other parents and Other home are like mirror images of her real ones, except for one thing: her Other Mother and Other Father have buttons for eyes. Coraline's welcome to stay in this wonderful Other world - but only if she'll sew buttons into her eyes too. Apalled, she comes back through the tunnel to her real house... only to find that her parents have been captured by the Other Mother. Can Coraline free her parents and deafeat the Other Mother? Or will she become the Other Mother's next victim?

As with The Wolves in the Walls, (Coraline is a year older) this story features a young girl fighting to save her family in a house taken over by a monster. That said, it has a more adventurous feel to it, and is a complete and utter joy to read. A hero may only be as good as its villain - and the Other Mother is a fantastic, unforgettable baddy - but Coraline's bravery, cleverness and resolve, coupled with her little-girl silliness, makes her a truly great heroine. Parents may think it'll scare the children, but trust me - the kids will love it!

If you like this, try Gaiman's The Graveyard Book - inspired by The Jungle Book, but featuring a boy raised by ghosts. If you want see another bizarre departure from the 'real world', read Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland if you haven't already. And if you want another irrepressable fantasy heroine, who better than Lyra from Northern Lights by Philip Pullman?

4. Neverwhere
Venturing into adult fiction here. My head tells me to go with Stardust here, a superb fairytale, and already a popular film (note of caution to parents: the movie was a family film, though the opening scenes of the book contain a not-too-explicit sex scene). By my heart will always ultimately go with Neverwhere, my first Neil Gaiman love. Originally written for a 1996 BBC TV series (back when TV wasn't generally a good place for sci-fi/fantasy), and then released as a novel, Neverwhere takes us on a journey to London Below, the world, um, below London. It's a world of people fallen through the cracks; of magic and danger, wonder and horror. A world where the Earl holds Court on a train, there's an Angel called Islington - and where the two undefeatable assassins stalk a young woman with an extrordinary power. Into all this is dragged Richard Mayhew, a kind-hearted, out-of-his-depth young man from our London. Because he's slipped through the cracks, too, losing his fiancee, flat and job - and Londoners Above can't even see him. So the only way of getting back his own life is to help the Lady Door escape her would-be assassins, and reach the Angel Islington. If he can live that long.

Gaiman himself has called Neverwhere a boys-own adventure (it's been described as 'Narnia on the Northern Line') with stock characters, but what characters they are! Reading it as a teen clearly left its mark on me, and now Richard has become for me the quintessential everyman hero. But the supporting characters...! Was there anyone ever as charismatic or enigmatic as the Marquis de Carabas? Or a double act like the two killers, Croup and Vandemar? And Door? Aah, Door!
Read this and you'll never view the Underground in the same way again.

If you like this, try the TV series, or this year's excellent Radio 4 adaptation (with a great, truly all-star cast). Read Stardust. Read American Gods and Anansi Boys. Read Good Omens, co-written with Terry Pratchett. Move on to his short stories. And when you can, read The Ocean at the End of the Lane!

5. The Sandman Graphic Novels

This graphic novel follows the Endless, a family of immortals who are perhaps the most powerful entities in the universe. Most of the time, the main protagonist is Dream (aka Morpheus), though all siblings play their parts (not least the surprisingly lovely goth-girl Death). The stories are multi-layered and thoroughly imaginative. If you thought comics were just for super heroes, then this will change your mind!

But Preludes and Nocturnes has a proper nasty scene!

After this, try the (slightly lighter) Fables by Bill Willingham.

And there you go. That's (finally) it for now.
See you soon as we explore some great fantasy picturebooks.