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Books Like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

A personal project — every book hand-picked by a London dad 🇬🇧

For readers ready to return to a complete fantasy world, these books offer portals, moral choices, loyal companions, dangerous rulers, and courage that grows under pressure.

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12 hand-picked books

How to use this shelf

Choose by scale and intensity. Portal fantasy preserves the discovery of another world, while adventure and justice preserve the conflict. Readers who needed help with the battle or sacrifice may benefit from a shorter, less solemn next step.

Quick comparison

6 varied places to start. Compare the age, format, and themes, then read the notes or check current UK editions.

Prince Caspian
C. S. Lewis · Classic · ages 8–12 · courage and loyalty
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Black Beauty
Anna Sewell · Classic · ages 9–13 · courage and kindness
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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll · Classic · ages 7–12 · imagination and wonder
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Peter Pan
J. M. Barrie · Classic · ages 7–11 · adventure and imagination
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The Borrowers
Mary Norton · Classic · ages 8–11 · adventure and courage
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The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien · Classic · ages 9–14 · adventure and courage
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Prince Caspian book cover
Prince Caspian
C. S. Lewis
Ages 8–12
Prince Caspian
C. S. Lewis
On the shelf for children aged 8 to 12: Prince Caspian, a classic by C. S. Lewis. It connects with courage, loyalty and adventure.
Why it fits: another title by C. S. Lewis, the same classic format and shared themes of courage and loyalty.
Classic1951
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Black Beauty book cover
Black Beauty
Anna Sewell
Ages 9–13
Black Beauty
Anna Sewell
For readers interested in courage, kindness, justice and loyalty, compare Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. It is a classic for children aged 9 to 13.
Why it fits: the same classic format, shared themes of courage and justice and overlapping age guidance for 9–13.
Classic1877
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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland book cover
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll
Ages 7–12
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll
For readers interested in imagination, wonder, adventure and courage, compare Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. It is a classic for children aged 7 to 12.
Why it fits: the same classic format, shared themes of wonder and courage and overlapping age guidance for 7–12.
Classic1865
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Peter Pan book cover
Peter Pan
J. M. Barrie
Ages 7–11
Peter Pan
J. M. Barrie
For readers interested in adventure, imagination, wonder and courage, compare Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie. It is a classic for children aged 7 to 11.
Why it fits: the same classic format, shared themes of wonder and courage and overlapping age guidance for 7–11.
Classic1911
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The Borrowers book cover
The Borrowers
Mary Norton
Ages 8–11
The Borrowers
Mary Norton
The Borrowers by Mary Norton is a classic for children aged 8 to 11. A useful choice for reading about adventure, courage, family and wonder.
Why it fits: the same classic format, shared themes of courage and wonder and overlapping age guidance for 8–11.
Classic1952
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The Hobbit book cover
The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien
Ages 9–14
The Hobbit
J. R. R. Tolkien
Bilbo Baggins leaves his comfortable home with Thorin and a company of dwarves to reclaim their mountain and treasure from Smaug.
Why it fits: the same classic format, shared themes of courage and wonder and overlapping age guidance for 9–14.
Classic1937
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The Iron Man book cover
The Iron Man
Ted Hughes
Ages 7–11
The Iron Man
Ted Hughes
First published in 1968, The Iron Man is a classic by Ted Hughes for children aged 7 to 11. Its themes include courage, wonder and kindness.
Why it fits: the same classic format, shared themes of courage and wonder and overlapping age guidance for 7–11.
Classic1968
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The Jungle Book book cover
The Jungle Book
Rudyard Kipling
Ages 8–12
The Jungle Book
Rudyard Kipling
The Jungle Book, a classic by Rudyard Kipling, is selected for children aged 8 to 12. Compare it with other books exploring adventure, courage, nature and loyalty.
Why it fits: the same classic format, shared themes of courage and loyalty and overlapping age guidance for 8–12.
Classic1894
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Treasure Island book cover
Treasure Island
Robert Louis Stevenson
Ages 10–16
Treasure Island
Robert Louis Stevenson
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson is a classic for readers aged 10+. A useful choice for reading about adventure, courage, loyalty and heritage.
Why it fits: the same classic format, shared themes of courage and loyalty and overlapping age guidance for 10–16.
Classic1883
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Watership Down book cover
Watership Down
Richard Adams
Ages 10–16
Watership Down
Richard Adams
On the shelf for readers aged 10+: Watership Down, a classic by Richard Adams. It connects with courage, loyalty, adventure and nature.
Why it fits: the same classic format, shared themes of courage and loyalty and overlapping age guidance for 10–16.
Classic1972
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An Eagle in the Snow book cover
An Eagle in the Snow
Michael Morpurgo
Ages 9–13
An Eagle in the Snow
Michael Morpurgo
On the shelf for children aged 9 to 13: An Eagle in the Snow, a novel by Michael Morpurgo. It connects with courage, loyalty, heritage and wonder.
Why it fits: shared themes of courage and loyalty and overlapping age guidance for 9–13.
Novel2015
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La Belle Sauvage book cover
La Belle Sauvage
Philip Pullman
Ages 12–16
La Belle Sauvage
Philip Pullman
On the shelf for readers aged 12+: La Belle Sauvage, a novel by Philip Pullman. It connects with courage, adventure, wonder and loyalty.
Why it fits: shared themes of courage and wonder and overlapping age guidance for 12–16.
Novel2017
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