Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: If you loved Fantastic Mr Fox, read Roald Dahl's The Twits, Matilda and The BFG, then E.B. White's Charlotte's Web, then Richard and Florence Atwater's Mr. Popper's Penguins, and A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh and Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. All are funny, short stories for young readers.
Roald Dahl's 1970 book follows a clever fox who outwits three greedy farmers. These picks share its humour and quick pace.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Twits | Roald Dahl | 6-10 | reluctant readers |
| Matilda | Roald Dahl | 7-11 | younger readers |
| The BFG | Roald Dahl | 7-11 | Dahl fans |
| James and the Giant Peach | Roald Dahl | 6-10 | readers who like fantasy |
| George's Marvellous Medicine | Roald Dahl | 7-10 | readers who like chaos |
| Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Roald Dahl | 7-11 | readers who love sweets |
| The Witches | Roald Dahl | 8-12 | readers who love Dahl |
| Charlotte's Web | E.B. White | 6-10 | readers who want a classic |
| Mr. Popper's Penguins | Richard and Florence Atwater | 7-10 | readers who like humor |
| Winnie-the-Pooh | A.A. Milne | 3-8 | bedtime readers |
| The Wind in the Willows | Kenneth Grahame | 6-10 | younger readers who love friendship |
| The Tale of Despereaux | Kate DiCamillo | 8-12 | readers who like fairy tales |
| Flat Stanley | Jeff Brown | 5-8 | early readers |
| Pippi Longstocking | Astrid Lindgren | 6-10 | readers who like bold heroines |
| The Wild Robot | Peter Brown | 7-11 | readers who like nature |
1. The Twits by Roald Dahl
Two disgusting people get their comeuppance. Short, gross and funny.
Best for: reluctant readers.
2. Matilda by Roald Dahl
Matilda, a girl with telekinetic powers, outsmarts cruel adults. A short, funny classic.
Best for: younger readers.
3. The BFG by Roald Dahl
Sophie befriends a Big Friendly Giant who blows dreams into children's rooms. Funny and warm, with invented words.
Best for: Dahl fans.
4. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
James escapes his cruel aunts in a giant peach with oversized insects. Funny and weird.
Best for: readers who like fantasy.
5. George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl
George mixes a potion for his grumpy grandma. Silly and quick.
Best for: readers who like chaos.
6. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Charlie wins a golden ticket to Willy Wonka's factory. Sweet, strange and silly.
Best for: readers who love sweets.
7. The Witches by Roald Dahl
A boy discovers that witches are real and want to destroy children. Dark and funny.
Best for: readers who love Dahl.
8. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
Wilbur the pig is saved by a clever spider named Charlotte. The classic about friendship and loss.
Best for: readers who want a classic.
9. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
A house painter receives a penguin and then a flock. Gentle and funny.
Best for: readers who like humor.
10. Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne
Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Christopher Robin share small adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood. Gentle and funny.
Best for: bedtime readers.
11. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad share riverbank adventures in a gentle classic. Cozy and funny.
Best for: younger readers who love friendship.
12. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
A tiny mouse who loves music and a princess is sent to the dungeon. Funny and moving.
Best for: readers who like fairy tales.
13. Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
Stanley is flattened by a bulletin board and goes on adventures. A short classic.
Best for: early readers.
14. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
Pippi, the strongest girl in the world, lives alone with a horse and a monkey. Funny and free.
Best for: readers who like bold heroines.
15. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
A robot washes up on an island and learns to live with animals. Short, illustrated and touching.
Best for: readers who like nature.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Fantastic Mr Fox: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Fantastic Mr Fox. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most.
How to Choose
For more Dahl, read The Twits or Matilda. For funny animals, try Charlotte's Web or Mr. Popper's Penguins. For classic fun, pick Winnie-the-Pooh.
Related: 15 Books Like Wings of Fire Kids Will Love: Dragons, Quests and Animal Adventures · 12 Dystopian Books Like the Hunger Games | Best Books to Read Like Hunger Games
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote Fantastic Mr Fox?
Roald Dahl, in 1970.
Is there a film?
Yes, a 2009 stop-motion film by Wes Anderson.
What age is it for?
About 6 to 10.
Which book here is best for readers who like nature?
Try The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, which suits readers looking for readers who like nature.
Which book here is best for readers who like bold heroines?
Try Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, which suits readers looking for readers who like bold heroines.
Which book here is best for early readers?
Try Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, which suits readers looking for early readers.
Which book here is best for readers who like fairy tales?
Try The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo, which suits readers looking for readers who like fairy tales.
Which book here is best for younger readers who love friendship?
Try The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, which suits readers looking for younger readers who love friendship.