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Quick answer: If you loved Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, read Through the Looking-Glass, then The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, The Phantom Tollbooth and Coraline. All are dreamlike adventures where a curious child tumbles into a strange world with its own logic.
Lewis Carroll's 1865 classic follows Alice as she falls down a rabbit hole and meets the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and the Queen of Hearts. It is full of puzzles, parodies and nonsense that readers of every age enjoy. The books below offer similar topsy-turvy worlds, wordplay and retellings that give Wonderland a fresh twist.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through the Looking-Glass | Lewis Carroll | All ages | the follow-up |
| The Hunting of the Snark | Lewis Carroll | All ages | nonsense poem |
| The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | L. Frank Baum | Ages 8-12 | another magic land |
| Peter Pan | J.M. Barrie | All ages | boy who never grows up |
| The Phantom Tollbooth | Norton Juster | Ages 8-12 | wordplay adventure |
| Coraline | Neil Gaiman | Ages 8-12 | children's horror |
| Stardust | Neil Gaiman | Adult | fairy-tale romance |
| The Neverending Story | Michael Ende | Ages 10+ | story within a story |
| Heartless | Marissa Meyer | Teen | Wonderland origin |
| Splintered | A. G. Howard | Teen | dark Wonderland |
| Alice I Have Been | Melanie Benjamin | Adult | the real Alice |
| The Looking Glass Wars | Frank Beddor | Teen | Wonderland reimagined |
| Five Children and It | E. Nesbit | Ages 8-12 | wish-granting creature |
| The Marvelous Land of Oz | L. Frank Baum | Ages 8-12 | more Oz |
| Howl's Moving Castle | Diana Wynne Jones | Ages 10+ | witty magic |
1. Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
Alice steps through a mirror into a chessboard world. Clever and strange.
Best for: the follow-up.
2. The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll
A crew hunts a mysterious creature. Silly, rhythmic and delightful.
Best for: nonsense poem.
3. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
A Kansas girl is carried to Oz and journeys to find a wizard. A foundation of American fantasy.
Best for: another magic land.
4. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Wendy and her brothers fly to Neverland. A classic about childhood and imagination.
Best for: boy who never grows up.
5. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
A bored boy drives a toy car into a land of puns. Clever and funny.
Best for: wordplay adventure.
6. Coraline by Neil Gaiman
A girl finds a door to a sinister mirror world. Short, creepy and brilliant.
Best for: children's horror.
7. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
A young man crosses a wall to find a fallen star. Witty and charming.
Best for: fairy-tale romance.
8. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
A boy reads a book and enters its world. Imaginative and thoughtful.
Best for: story within a story.
9. Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Catherine, who dreams of a bakery, meets the Jester. Whimsical and tragic.
Best for: Wonderland origin.
10. Splintered by A. G. Howard
A teenager descendant of Alice returns to a twisted Wonderland. Gothic and romantic.
Best for: dark Wonderland.
11. Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin
A novel about Alice Liddell, the girl who inspired the book. Gentle and moving.
Best for: the real Alice.
12. The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
Princess Alyss of Wonderland is exiled and must return. Fast and inventive.
Best for: Wonderland reimagined.
13. Five Children and It by E. Nesbit
Children find a sand-fairy who grants a wish a day. Witty and charming.
Best for: wish-granting creature.
14. The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
The Scarecrow returns to rule, and a boy named Tip gets caught in a revolt. Silly and strange.
Best for: more Oz.
15. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
A young woman cursed to old age meets the wizard Howl. Funny and original.
Best for: witty magic.
How to Choose
For the next Alice book read Through the Looking-Glass. For other classic adventures choose Peter Pan, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz or The Phantom Tollbooth. For eerie versions pick Coraline or Splintered. For retellings try Heartless, The Looking Glass Wars or Alice I Have Been. Alice rewards rereading, so keep an illustrated edition handy, since the Tenniel drawings are part of the charm. Carroll was a mathematician, and many puzzles and jokes in the book play with logic, chess and language. Annotated editions explain these hidden layers and make good second reads. The book is in the public domain, so editions vary widely in price and artwork.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alice's Adventures in Wonderland about?
A girl falls down a rabbit hole into a strange world of talking animals and nonsense.
Who wrote it?
Lewis Carroll, the pen name of Charles Dodgson.
When was it published?
1865.
Is it for children or adults?
Both, as it works as a nonsense adventure and a satire.
Is it in the public domain?
Yes, so free editions exist.
Which edition should I choose?
An illustrated or annotated edition is the best for first-time readers.
What is the sequel?
Through the Looking-Glass.
Are there adaptations?
Yes, many films, stage shows and games.
What should I read next?
Try Through the Looking-Glass or The Phantom Tollbooth.
Which book here is best for boy who never grows up?
Try Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, which is a good fit if you want boy who never grows up.
Which book here is best for fairy-tale romance?
Try Stardust by Neil Gaiman, which is a good fit if you want fairy-tale romance.