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Quick answer: If you loved Peter Pan, try Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, Peter and the Starcatchers, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Wind in the Willows and Treasure Island. Each one is a magical classic about childhood, adventure, flying and never wanting to grow up.
J.M. Barrie's story, first a 1904 play and then the 1911 novel Peter and Wendy, follows Wendy Darling and her brothers, who fly with Peter Pan to Neverland. There they meet the Lost Boys, mermaids, Tiger Lily and the fairy Tinker Bell, and battle the villainous Captain Hook. Behind the adventure is a bittersweet story about growing up. Readers love its magic and its sadness. These books share its childhood, adventure and wonder.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens | J.M. Barrie | 7+ | readers who want Peter's origins |
| Peter and the Starcatchers | Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson | 9-12 | readers who want a prequel |
| Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Lewis Carroll | 7+ | readers who like magical lands |
| The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | L. Frank Baum | 7-11 | readers who like journeys |
| The Wind in the Willows | Kenneth Grahame | 8+ | readers who like classic adventure |
| Treasure Island | Robert Louis Stevenson | 10+ | readers who love pirates |
| Mary Poppins | P.L. Travers | 7-11 | readers who like magical nannies |
| The Secret Garden | Frances Hodgson Burnett | 8-12 | readers who like hidden places |
| Pippi Longstocking | Astrid Lindgren | 7-10 | readers who like free-spirited kids |
| The Neverending Story | Michael Ende | 9+ | readers who like fantasy lands |
| Tiger Lily | Jodi Lynn Anderson | 14+ | older readers who want a retelling |
| Lost Boy | Christina Henry | Adult | readers who want a dark retelling |
| Wendy, Darling | A.C. Wise | Adult | readers who like Wendy's view |
| The Little Prince | Antoine de Saint-Exupéry | 8+ | readers who like bittersweet childhood |
| Matilda | Roald Dahl | 7-11 | readers who like clever kids |
1. Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens by J.M. Barrie
Baby Peter flies to Kensington Gardens.
Best for: readers who want Peter's origins.
2. Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
An orphan becomes the boy who never grew up.
Best for: readers who want a prequel.
3. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
A girl falls into Wonderland.
Best for: readers who like magical lands.
4. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
A girl travels to Oz.
Best for: readers who like journeys.
5. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad.
Best for: readers who like classic adventure.
6. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
A boy sails for treasure.
Best for: readers who love pirates.
7. Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
A nanny brings magic to a family.
Best for: readers who like magical nannies.
8. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
An orphan discovers a garden.
Best for: readers who like hidden places.
9. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
The strongest girl in the world lives alone.
Best for: readers who like free-spirited kids.
10. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
A boy enters a book.
Best for: readers who like fantasy lands.
11. Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Tiger Lily's story before Peter.
Best for: older readers who want a retelling.
12. Lost Boy by Christina Henry
Captain Hook's story.
Best for: readers who want a dark retelling.
13. Wendy, Darling by A.C. Wise
Grown-up Wendy goes to rescue her daughter.
Best for: readers who like Wendy's view.
14. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
A pilot meets a boy from a tiny planet.
Best for: readers who like bittersweet childhood.
15. Matilda by Roald Dahl
A clever girl outwits cruel adults.
Best for: readers who like clever kids.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Peter Pan: 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 Peter Pan. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
For Peter's backstory, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens and Peter and the Starcatchers are perfect. If you want more classic adventures, Treasure Island and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz are essential. Older readers should try the dark retellings Lost Boy and Wendy, Darling. The Little Prince shares the same bittersweet view of growing up.
Related: Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie: Summary and Key Takeaways · The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Peter Pan about?
Wendy and her brothers fly to Neverland with Peter Pan and battle Captain Hook.
Was Peter Pan a play first?
Yes. It was a 1904 play before the 1911 novel Peter and Wendy.
Who is Captain Hook?
Peter's pirate enemy, who lost his hand to a crocodile.
What age is Peter Pan for?
It suits readers about 7 and up and is great read aloud.
Is the book different from the Disney film?
Yes. The book is darker and more bittersweet.
Who owns the Peter Pan rights?
Barrie gave them to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
What should I read next?
Peter and the Starcatchers.