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Quick answer: If you loved Pippi Longstocking, read Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, then Roald Dahl's Matilda, James and the Giant Peach and The Twits, then Johanna Spyri's Heidi, and Enid Blyton's The Magic Faraway Tree and Edward Eager's Half Magic. All are fun, wild childhood adventures.
Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking (1945) is about the strongest girl in the world. These picks share its anarchic fun.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Lewis Carroll | All ages | readers who want the source |
| Matilda | Roald Dahl | 7-11 | younger readers |
| Heidi | Johanna Spyri | 8 and up | mountain classics |
| James and the Giant Peach | Roald Dahl | 6-10 | readers who like fantasy |
| The Magic Faraway Tree | Enid Blyton | Ages 6-10 | magical adventure |
| Half Magic | Edward Eager | Ages 8-12 | wish-granting coin |
| Ramona the Pest | Beverly Cleary | 6-9 | readers who like school stories |
| Flat Stanley | Jeff Brown | 5-8 | early readers |
| The Twits | Roald Dahl | 6-10 | reluctant readers |
| The BFG | Roald Dahl | 7-11 | Dahl fans |
| Paddington | Michael Bond | 4-8 | readers who like humor |
| Winnie-the-Pooh | A.A. Milne | 3-8 | bedtime readers |
| Peter Pan | J.M. Barrie | 7-12 | readers who want a classic |
| The Wind in the Willows | Kenneth Grahame | 6-10 | younger readers who love friendship |
| Little Women | Louisa May Alcott | Adult | readers who love sisters |
1. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Alice falls down a rabbit hole into a world of odd characters. The original that inspired everything.
Best for: readers who want the source.
2. Matilda by Roald Dahl
Matilda, a girl with telekinetic powers, outsmarts cruel adults. A short, funny classic.
Best for: younger readers.
3. Heidi by Johanna Spyri
An orphan girl is sent to live with her gruff grandfather in the Swiss Alps and brings joy to everyone she meets. A gentle classic about home and nature.
Best for: mountain classics.
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. The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
Children visit a magical tree where a new land appears at the top. Whimsical and imaginative.
Best for: magical adventure.
6. Half Magic by Edward Eager
Children find a coin that grants half of any wish. Funny and clever.
Best for: wish-granting coin.
7. Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary
Ramona starts kindergarten and gets into funny trouble. Charming and real.
Best for: readers who like school stories.
8. Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
Stanley is flattened by a bulletin board and goes on adventures. A short classic.
Best for: early readers.
9. The Twits by Roald Dahl
Two disgusting people get their comeuppance. Short, gross and funny.
Best for: reluctant readers.
10. 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.
11. Paddington by Michael Bond
A bear from Peru arrives in London and causes polite chaos. Charming and funny.
Best for: readers who like humor.
12. 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.
13. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Wendy, John and Michael fly to Neverland with Peter Pan. A classic of childhood.
Best for: readers who want a classic.
14. 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.
15. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The four March sisters grow up during the Civil War, and Jo dreams of being a writer. A beloved classic about family.
Best for: readers who love sisters.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Pippi Longstocking: 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 Pippi Longstocking. 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 classics, read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. For fun, try Matilda. For friendship, pick Heidi.
Related: Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote Pippi Longstocking?
Astrid Lindgren, in 1945.
What is Pippi like?
Strong, independent and unconventional.
What age is it for?
About 5 to 9.
Which book here is best for readers who love sisters?
Try Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, which suits readers looking for readers who love sisters.
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.
Which book here is best for readers who want a classic?
Try Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, which suits readers looking for readers who want a classic.
Which book here is best for bedtime readers?
Try Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne, which suits readers looking for bedtime readers.
Which book here is best for readers who like humor?
Try Paddington by Michael Bond, which suits readers looking for readers who like humor.
Which book here is best for Dahl fans?
Try The BFG by Roald Dahl, which suits readers looking for Dahl fans.