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Quick answer: If you loved Redwall, try Mossflower, Mattimeo, Watership Down, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, The Tale of Despereaux and Warriors: Into the Wild. Each one is an animal adventure with brave heroes, epic battles, quests and plenty of feasting.
Brian Jacques's first Redwall novel follows Matthias, a young mouse at the peaceful Redwall Abbey, who searches for the legendary sword of Martin the Warrior when the one-eyed rat Cluny the Scourge lays siege to the abbey. Readers love its heroic animals, riddles, battles and famous descriptions of food. These books share the same classic adventure spirit.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mossflower | Brian Jacques | 9-13 | readers who want more Redwall |
| Mattimeo | Brian Jacques | 9-13 | readers continuing the series |
| Watership Down | Richard Adams | 12+ | older readers |
| Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH | Robert C. O'Brien | 8-12 | readers who like clever animals |
| The Tale of Despereaux | Kate DiCamillo | 8-12 | younger readers |
| Warriors: Into the Wild | Erin Hunter | 8-12 | readers who like animal clans |
| Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Capture | Kathryn Lasky | 8-12 | readers who like owls |
| Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 | David Petersen | 10+ | readers who like graphic novels |
| The Wind in the Willows | Kenneth Grahame | 7-11 | readers who like classics |
| Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy | Tui T. Sutherland | 8-13 | readers who love dragons |
| The Hobbit | J. R. R. Tolkien | 9+ | readers who like classic quests |
| The Rats of NIMH | Jane Leslie Conly | 8-12 | readers who want a sequel to Mrs. Frisby |
| Poppy | Avi | 8-12 | younger readers |
| The Mouse and the Motorcycle | Beverly Cleary | 7-10 | younger readers |
| Fablehaven | Brandon Mull | 9-13 | readers who like magical creatures |
1. Mossflower by Brian Jacques
A prequel telling how Martin the Warrior helped free Mossflower Wood.
Best for: readers who want more Redwall.
2. Mattimeo by Brian Jacques
Matthias's son is kidnapped by a fox and his gang.
Best for: readers continuing the series.
3. Watership Down by Richard Adams
Rabbits flee their warren and journey to a new home.
Best for: older readers.
4. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
A mouse seeks help from intelligent rats.
Best for: readers who like clever animals.
5. The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
A brave mouse sets out to save a princess.
Best for: younger readers.
6. Warriors: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter
A house cat joins a clan of wild cats.
Best for: readers who like animal clans.
7. Guardians of Ga'Hoole: The Capture by Kathryn Lasky
A young owl escapes a sinister school.
Best for: readers who like owls.
8. Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 by David Petersen
Mice warriors protect their territories in a medieval world.
Best for: readers who like graphic novels.
9. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Mole, Rat, Badger and Toad share adventures.
Best for: readers who like classics.
10. Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland
Five dragonets are destined to end a war.
Best for: readers who love dragons.
11. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
Bilbo joins a quest to reclaim a dragon's treasure.
Best for: readers who like classic quests.
12. The Rats of NIMH by Jane Leslie Conly
The story of the rats continues.
Best for: readers who want a sequel to Mrs. Frisby.
13. Poppy by Avi
A deer mouse stands up to a tyrannical owl.
Best for: younger readers.
14. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
A mouse befriends a boy with a toy motorcycle.
Best for: younger readers.
15. Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Siblings discover a preserve for magical creatures.
Best for: readers who like magical creatures.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Redwall: 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.
How to Choose
Continue with Mossflower and the rest of the long Redwall series. For heroic animals, try Mouse Guard, Warriors or Guardians of Ga'Hoole. If you want classic animal fantasy, choose Watership Down or The Wind in the Willows. Younger readers can start with Poppy, The Mouse and the Motorcycle or The Tale of Despereaux. Redwall books are known for their descriptions of feasts, so some families make a themed snack night when reading together, which turns a long book into an event. If your child loved the riddles and the search for Martin's sword, The Hobbit and Fablehaven both mix quests with puzzles, and Wings of Fire is a good next step for kids who want a big series with lots of books.
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
What age is Redwall for?
It is usually recommended for ages 9 to 13.
How many Redwall books are there?
There are twenty-two novels.
Do I need to read Redwall in order?
No. Most books stand alone, though publication order is a good guide.
Is Redwall violent?
It includes battles and some deaths, but it is suitable for most middle-grade readers.
Was Redwall made into a TV show?
Yes. An animated series aired in the late 1990s.
Is Redwall good as a read-aloud?
Yes. Its dialogue, songs and accents make it great to read aloud.