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Quick answer: If you loved The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, read L. Frank Baum's The Marvelous Land of Oz, then Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Phantom Tollbooth and Wicked. All send curious heroes into strange worlds filled with odd characters.
L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel follows Dorothy, swept from Kansas by a cyclone to the land of Oz, where she meets the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion. It is imaginative, charming and quick to read. The books below offer similar fantasy worlds and childhood adventures, from classics to modern retellings.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Marvelous Land of Oz | L. Frank Baum | Ages 8-12 | the next Oz book |
| Ozma of Oz | L. Frank Baum | Ages 8-12 | more Oz |
| Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Lewis Carroll | All ages | down the rabbit hole |
| Through the Looking-Glass | Lewis Carroll | All ages | the follow-up |
| Peter Pan | J.M. Barrie | All ages | boy who never grows up |
| The Phantom Tollbooth | Norton Juster | Ages 8-12 | wordplay adventure |
| Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Roald Dahl | Ages 7-12 | candy fantasy |
| Wicked | Gregory Maguire | Adult | Oz retold |
| The Last Unicorn | Peter S. Beagle | Ages 12+ | lyrical quest |
| Pinocchio | Carlo Collodi | All ages | wooden puppet |
| Five Children and It | E. Nesbit | Ages 8-12 | wish-granting creature |
| A Wrinkle in Time | Madeleine L'Engle | Ages 9-13 | space-time adventure |
| Howl's Moving Castle | Diana Wynne Jones | Ages 10+ | witty magic |
| The Neverending Story | Michael Ende | Ages 10+ | story within a story |
| Stardust | Neil Gaiman | Adult | fairy-tale romance |
1. 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, strange and fun.
Best for: the next Oz book.
2. Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Dorothy returns to a land beyond Oz. Fun adventure with new characters.
Best for: more Oz.
3. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Alice follows a white rabbit into a strange world. A classic of nonsense and wit.
Best for: down the rabbit hole.
4. Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
Alice steps through a mirror into a chessboard world. Clever and strange.
Best for: the follow-up.
5. 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.
6. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
A bored boy drives a toy car into a land of puns. Clever, funny and thoughtful.
Best for: wordplay adventure.
7. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Charlie wins a tour of Willy Wonka's factory. Silly, dark and delicious.
Best for: candy fantasy.
8. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
The story of the Wicked Witch before Dorothy. Dark and political, for older readers.
Best for: Oz retold.
9. The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
A unicorn searches for others of her kind. Beautiful and bittersweet.
Best for: lyrical quest.
10. Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi
A puppet longs to become a real boy and makes mistakes. A classic with surprising darkness.
Best for: wooden puppet.
11. 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.
12. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Meg searches for her missing father across the universe. A classic.
Best for: space-time adventure.
13. 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.
14. The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
A boy reads a book and enters its world. Imaginative and thoughtful.
Best for: story within a story.
15. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
A man crosses a wall to find a fallen star. Charming and witty.
Best for: fairy-tale romance.
How to Choose
For more Oz begin with The Marvelous Land of Oz. For similar classics choose Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Peter Pan or Pinocchio. For witty modern children's fantasy pick The Phantom Tollbooth or Howl's Moving Castle. For older readers try Wicked or Stardust. Many of these classics are in the public domain, so illustrated editions vary a lot. Look for editions with the original illustrations by W. W. Denslow, which give the 1900 book its distinct look. Younger children may enjoy Oz as a read-aloud, a chapter a night. Older children can read it independently, and adults often notice the social satire behind the fairy tale. If you want more of the world, the Oz books by Baum and later writers fill many shelves. For modern readers, Wicked offers a darker, political twist on the same land.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Wonderful Wizard of Oz about?
A Kansas girl is carried by a cyclone to Oz and journeys to find a wizard who can send her home.
Who wrote it?
L. Frank Baum.
When was it published?
1900.
How many Oz books did Baum write?
Fourteen.
How is it different from the film?
The book has silver shoes instead of ruby slippers and more adventures along the way.
What age is it for?
Roughly ages 6 to 12.
Is it in the public domain?
The original text is, so many free editions exist.
What should I read next?
Try The Marvelous Land of Oz or Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
Is Wicked for children?
No. It is written for adults and contains mature themes, so it suits older teens and adults.
Is Oz the same as Narnia?
No. Oz has a lighter, more whimsical tone and a very different kind of magic.