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.