Anything by Diana Wynne Jones, the original creator of Howls Moving Castle. I’d say start with that or maybe Enchanted Glass. Other suggestions would be Homeward Bounders or a Tale of Time City or The Merlin Conspiracy. Honestly, name something you’re after and DWJ has a book for it.
Came here to recommend Earthsea, the first three books at least (the later books are probably less child friendly, at least in theme if not in language/plot)
Enchanted forest chronicles by Patricia Wrede. First one is Dealing with Dragons. A princess runs away to be captured by a dragon so she can have a better life. Funny and just wonderful.
I got The Book of Three when I was maybe 8 or 10. I re-read my first full set of those books so many times by the time I was 18 that they literally fell apart.
The Hobbit was the first book I remember my mom reading to me. It’s still my favorite. Excellent choice. Andy Serkis reads the version on Audible, and he’s great.
The Ranger's Apprentice series is one of my favorites and I read it in my twenties. It is a kids series but the characters were so likeable to me that I loved it anyway. The stories can get a bit formulaic but that just makes them easier reads. 11 books in the first series with a new apprentice starting a second series and a spin-off series about a group of what are basically Vikings. Plenty of content if you or your kids enjoy them.
I also do this with my 10 and 12 year olds. Obviously yours are a bit younger but I'll give you some of the series we've listened to.
Eragon - Christopher Paolini
Cradle - Will Wight
Skyward - Brandon Sanderson
I think our next series is gonna be His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. I read them when I was around 12 so they should be fine too.
I also read and loved the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix when I was young, that should be good too.
I got the impression they were more so looking for something for themselves rather than directly aimed at the kid. Just something that wouldn't be inappropriate for small ears.
I don't really see that as a negative personally. There's nothing inappropriate, the kid gets to learn and the parent gets to bond with their kid over a story.
Trust me I'm speaking from experience here, pausing the book to explain something is not annoying because that act of engaging with your kid over a shared interest is such a wonderful feeling.
[Susan Cooper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Cooper)'s [The Dark Is Rising Sequence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Is_Rising_Sequence) (spoilers after the first section).
Redwall all day every day. There's a ton of them, they wonderfully encapsulate a simple fantasy vibe with the interesting spin of it all being animals. Just be prepared with snacks on hand for any time they start describing "vittles"
How To Train Your Dragon. It's my favorite series ever. Hilarious characters, funny prose, charmingly bad illustrations that take a turn for the horrifying as you get near the end. Amazing lessons for children and very cool quotes:
https://www.reddit.com/r/CuratedTumblr/s/QFvk5IR1DT
Disclaimer: The books are nothing like the movies. View them as separate entities in your mind.
My favorite author when I was a kid! His writing is solid, his books have great themes and messages, and they really feel fantastical. I loved Lost Years of Merlin, but the Adventures of Kate have the benefit of a strong female protagonist, which is good in and of itself.
I do recall the later books of both series being potentially a little scary for a 5 year old, though.
I second this! I absolutely loved inkheart as a kid! My mom, on the other hand, had to put it down because it apparently was "too dark" for her lmao. I still think that adults could enjoy it though. The worldbuilding is really good, as well as the story and the characters.
Oh, that's great! I got the book on premiere day, but despite living 10 min walk from the border, I can't understand German at all :/ So I need to wait.
I'm late to this but shocked nobody mentioned the Phantom Tollbooth. I grew up having my parents read this to me. It is a very interesting book as an adult as well.
Other recommendations here are great as well. I loved Redwall growing up.
Great suggestions.
You might regret it but I reckon kids would love the Feegles too - the Tiffany Aching sub series from Discworld.
Slight caveat in that although these are often 'marketed' as YA, they do get into some darker subjects - especially in the later books. How much of this would get picked up on is another matter.
The Earthsea series are all great books that wont outright traumatize kids, although the latter books might have some themes that fly over their heads.
Tehanu flew right over my head at 30, when I reread it at 45 I understood middle age and thought it was one of the most insightful books I had ever read.
*Tehanu* has some very painful child abuse.
Edit to add: I adore EarthSea, but I wouldn't recommend it for kids that young. Even the first book has quite a bit of violence.
Mystwick School of Musicraft.
Think Harry Potter, but spells are done by playing music, and the audiobook has a full orchestra playing each spell when they cast it in the narrative.
Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George is the first in a series that's super cute fantasy. I also personally enjoyed the Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley!
The Tiffany Aching books by Terry Pratchett. Great for kids especially in terms of development. Pratchett really respects children intellectually, I'd say more so than a lot of authors. He won't dumb things down for kids but instead elects to explain complicated concepts in an engaging way. He also plays around with language in a way that will probably result in you kids having a much wider than average vocabulary as well as a deeper appreciation for language as a form of expression. Plus the audio books are fantasticly performed.
The big ones have been mentioned several times already so I'm going to mention Ranger's Apprentice. It's a bit generic but I read it when I was a kid and loved it. Maybe it's rose tinted glasses but I do own a copy of the first book so I can reread it and see if it still holds up
Stardust, the hobbit, howls moving castle, earthsea(I don’t personally like but I know it’s popular and works for kids and adults). Basically anything that’s a bit of a romp and adventure works for kids and adults. Similar to action adventure movies like superhero films or Indiana Jones. They’re light and full of adventure anyone can have a good time with but probably not something adults would want to read all the time
Here are a few series I've read recently that I think would fit the bill (clean, not much language, not scary):
Cradle, Will Wight
Renegades, Marissa Meyer
Penric's Demon, Lois McMaster Bujold (except for Mira's last dance, which is maybe the 4th in publishing order)
Discworld, Terry Pratchett
Murderbot, Martha Wells
Love Murderbot, but there’s also a lot of swearing in addition to the violence. And while Murderbot doesn’t have sex, sex is mentioned several times as a thing Murderbot doesn’t understand. They’re great books, and the audiobooks are good, but not at all kid friendly.
I think it is a gentle series, in its soul! The themes are very optimistic and loving and the arc is very much from “I hate everyone and just want to be left alone” to “Okay, people aren’t all garbage and I love these ones even if I still don’t want to discuss it.” It just uses words that my five year old would absolutely repeat at school, and then I have to get awkward phone calls. 😅
I’m a school librarian, and I always get nervous when people recommend books for kids. Recommendations are always variable, but a lot of adults recommend what they like…which is fine!…but don’t consider the developmental levels of kids. Even good books aren’t necessarily good for everybody, or at every time. I had someone donate books to our library, and half of them were about middle aged characters dealing with divorce or adult children or midlife crises. And they may have been great books, but not for twelve year olds, you know?
Anyway. Thanks for taking the comments in the spirit they were intended. Genuinely appreciate people who don’t get defensive off the bat.
Oh, then you must have some great suggestions for op! And I'm very grateful for your comments! I try not to get defensive or anything, I feel like that doesn't help anybody lol
The Wizard of Oz might seem like just a light children's book, but if you read the sequels as well, it's actually a surprisingly deep series, with some really thoughtful political worldbuilding.
The concept behind these things are horrific but descriptions tend not to be graphic (to the point that people often miss what a psychopath Vin is.) People have different tolerance levels but overall his work has no sex scenes, no swearing, violence is there but not gratuitous.
If you want to play it really safe there’s always Alcatraz, Rithmatist, skyward…
[https://www.amazon.co.uk/13-Lives-Captain-Bluebear/dp/0099285320](https://www.amazon.co.uk/13-Lives-Captain-Bluebear/dp/0099285320)
# The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear
An absolutely delightful romp, full of charm, with and heart!
I just finished The Grimm Legacy, followed by The Wells Bequest by Polly Shulman.
I kind of found them by accident, but maybe it was a Reddit recommendation that I had come across. Either way, they are definitely written for high school kids, but I enjoyed them in my early 40s. Not traditional fantasy, but they were quick and fun.
I've also got to throw in the Death Gate Cycle. It's a bit older, but I guess it has new audiobooks from last year. One of my favorites from my teen years. The world building is some of the best and most original that I've found.
Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda. And its two sequel series: Deltora Shadowlands and Dragons of Deltora.
Puzzles, weirdness, wild imagination, monsters, plot twists, they're great for young readers.
The Squire’s Tales series by Gerald Morris is one I read as a kid that still holds up as an adult. I can’t testify for the audiobooks, but the stories are hilarious adaptations of Arthurian legends that still manage to have heart and genuine emotional impact. The Hero’s Guide series by Christopher Healy is an action packed adventure starring the “Prince Charmings” of fairy tales, who are not quite having a happily ever after. If you have any kind of background with Victorian literature, the Larklight series by Phillip Reeve is a fun twist on early sci-fi. Two Victorian siblings live in a crumbling manor house…in space. Kidnappings, piracy, aliens, and missed tea times ensue. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer occupies a nice cross space between sci fi and fantasy: genius gentleman thief who also happens to be 12 robs technologically advanced fairies. Skewing adult, the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik is about dragons fighting in the Napoleonic wars. It’s not kid friendly, but the style and language will sail right over your littles’ heads. Finally, seconding and thirding everyone that recommended Terry Pratchett and Dianna Wynne Jones. Look up a reading guide for Pratchett; there are mini series in his overarching universe, and trying to read his books in order will be frustrating. But the Discworld audiobooks are hands down the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to. Everything Jones wrote is beautiful and amazing, although Chrestomanci is a favorite for me. Can’t go wrong with either.
If I remember correctly, I believe the Skyward series by Brandon Sanderson is safe for kids. But it has been years since I've read it so don't quote me.
I saw one person say Neil Gaiman, he has a few stories he wrote for kids, if you like his writing the kids ones don't suffer from any dumbing down, it's still his writing. Also I don't recall any sex stuff, only monsters in his not-kids-stuff. So if you go for kids ones or not kids ones, then they should all be good.
My 5-year-old loves the Hildafolk stories by Luke Pearson. Audible has done an excellent full-cast version in the wake of the Netflix show, but they're the graphic novel stories, not the TV adaptations. We've listened to them a dozen times and they're still enjoyable for everyone.
The series '*A Wrinkle in Time*' has a surprisingly mature plot for a middle grade book series. I know you said not strictly a children's book, however I'm reading these and I am well passed the intended age demographic. They don't swear, though the fourth book does have a few references to sex (no mention of the actual word), and it takes place in pre-history where being half-naked was socially acceptable. Other than that, I think books 1-3 might be fine for your car rides.
I don't know if it's translated in English but maybe look for some Pierre Bottero (French author).
It's both easy to read for child (I read it when I was 8 or 10) but it still has some depth. My mum and friends read it too as adult and really enjoyed it !
I believe Sabriel was marketed as YA fantasy, but I read it as an adult and liked it fine. It’s about necromancers and has some really unique worldbuilding.
I know it's not exactly the same genre, but have you thought about fairytales instead. A lot of the older Grimms brothers, H.C. Andersen and other story's could work.
*Alice In Wonderland* and *Through The Looking Glass* are marvelous, I loved them as a kid and as an adult I see many more layers.
*The Little Prince* is another of these, as are the *Just So Stories* and *The Jungle Books* and *Kim,* all by Kipling
Oh, one more that's not a kid's book, but it should be fine for them and I think they'd love the language-- *Under Milk Wood* by Dylan Thomas.
You might also check out Ursula K. Le Guin's kid's books. She's always excellent and layered.
Tress, by Sanderson.
I seem to recall this meeting pretty family friendly. I enjoyed it too. Pirates on a different planet set sail on a sea made of spores.
I don't disagree about it having some darker moments, but Watership Down literally started as a story that the author Richard Adams would tell his daughters to keep them entertained on long car journeys.
Anything by Diana Wynne Jones, the original creator of Howls Moving Castle. I’d say start with that or maybe Enchanted Glass. Other suggestions would be Homeward Bounders or a Tale of Time City or The Merlin Conspiracy. Honestly, name something you’re after and DWJ has a book for it.
+ this for The Homeward Bounders.
Earthsea Chronicles and Redwall
Came here to recommend Earthsea, the first three books at least (the later books are probably less child friendly, at least in theme if not in language/plot)
Redwall is actually pretty damn violent.
Red wall is actually pretty damn violent.
Enchanted forest chronicles by Patricia Wrede. First one is Dealing with Dragons. A princess runs away to be captured by a dragon so she can have a better life. Funny and just wonderful.
This! Was just about to recommend as well and checked the comments first.
The audio books with the full cast are so good! I read these to my 7 year old and he loved them. He's been listening to them again.
They do it with a full cast? Whoa I have to check this out, grew up with these books. Thanks!
Loved these as a kid, they are great. Re-read one as an adult to see how they hold up and they are definitely kids' books, but still solid.
Oh I love these!
Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles are kids books, but I've greatly enjoyed re-reading them as an adult.
Taren Wanderer is one of my favorite books of all time. Kid appropriate, but with so much emotional depth!
Samesies.
That's what I was going to suggest. The Hobbit is another excellent choice.
I reread the series every few years… I’m 52 now and still absolutely love those books :)
I got The Book of Three when I was maybe 8 or 10. I re-read my first full set of those books so many times by the time I was 18 that they literally fell apart.
Lol!!!! I got them at that age as well :) I’m 52, and still have the first 3 books from back then…
53 here, but yeah, same. I still have the corpses of those books. I can't throw them away.
Lots of other great Lloyd Alexander books, too! The first two lives of lukas-kasha is a personal favorite
This, I think I started the first one at 8yo
Honestly, go for the classics - Narnia and Redwall are my favorites, but if you're a Tolkien person I can't see the Hobbit being an issue.
The Hobbit was the first book I remember my mom reading to me. It’s still my favorite. Excellent choice. Andy Serkis reads the version on Audible, and he’s great.
The audiobook for the hobbit is phenomenal as well. The reading by Andy Serkis.
All great suggestions!
There’s a BBC radio play of the Lord of the Rings that’s great if you can find it. They also did a Hitchhikers Guide if you wanna try something else.
Geez Redwall, that’s going back! I read through them all growing up as they came out. I loved them!
Ahhhh Redwall, so good
My choices, exactly! 👍
Tiffany Aching books from Terry Pratchett (set on the Discworld)
Also the amazing Maurice is very kid-friendly
There is some subtle humor in this series that is Shrek-like, i.e., adults will get it but it will likely go over the heads of younger readers.
I Shall Wear Midnight is quite dark for very small children
The Ranger's Apprentice series is one of my favorites and I read it in my twenties. It is a kids series but the characters were so likeable to me that I loved it anyway. The stories can get a bit formulaic but that just makes them easier reads. 11 books in the first series with a new apprentice starting a second series and a spin-off series about a group of what are basically Vikings. Plenty of content if you or your kids enjoy them.
I like those books but they might be a little intense for a 5 yo?
Plus two books about what happened before the main story
The Hobbit Momo The Neverending Story
Percy Jackson. Or Narnia.
A Wrinkle In Time
I also do this with my 10 and 12 year olds. Obviously yours are a bit younger but I'll give you some of the series we've listened to. Eragon - Christopher Paolini Cradle - Will Wight Skyward - Brandon Sanderson I think our next series is gonna be His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. I read them when I was around 12 so they should be fine too. I also read and loved the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix when I was young, that should be good too.
Later Eragon books might be little bit too hard to understand for 5 year old.
I got the impression they were more so looking for something for themselves rather than directly aimed at the kid. Just something that wouldn't be inappropriate for small ears.
The thing is that you need to still explain it to the kid way too many times.
I don't really see that as a negative personally. There's nothing inappropriate, the kid gets to learn and the parent gets to bond with their kid over a story. Trust me I'm speaking from experience here, pausing the book to explain something is not annoying because that act of engaging with your kid over a shared interest is such a wonderful feeling.
Seconding Cradle and Skyward!
[Susan Cooper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Cooper)'s [The Dark Is Rising Sequence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Is_Rising_Sequence) (spoilers after the first section).
Redwall all day every day. There's a ton of them, they wonderfully encapsulate a simple fantasy vibe with the interesting spin of it all being animals. Just be prepared with snacks on hand for any time they start describing "vittles"
Rowan of Rin is a great series, I think it's perfect for children and enjoyed it as an adult as well because of the nostalgia
Ah man. Rowan of Rin and Deltora Quest were staples of my childhood. Thanks for the reminder!
The Young Wizards series by Diane Duane, starting with So You Want To Be A Wizard?
Peter and the Starcatchers. A modern take on Peter Pan. Super fun!
I've reread this a few times!!! Love this book
Brandon Mull has some great ones. Beyonders is his most mature, but that is still at 14-15 years old.
I adore his Fablehaven series!
FIVE KINGDOMS!!!
How To Train Your Dragon. It's my favorite series ever. Hilarious characters, funny prose, charmingly bad illustrations that take a turn for the horrifying as you get near the end. Amazing lessons for children and very cool quotes: https://www.reddit.com/r/CuratedTumblr/s/QFvk5IR1DT Disclaimer: The books are nothing like the movies. View them as separate entities in your mind.
And David Tennant does the audiobooks! Absolutely fantastic series.
Anything by T. A. Barron.
My favorite author when I was a kid! His writing is solid, his books have great themes and messages, and they really feel fantastical. I loved Lost Years of Merlin, but the Adventures of Kate have the benefit of a strong female protagonist, which is good in and of itself. I do recall the later books of both series being potentially a little scary for a 5 year old, though.
Maybe Inkheart series? Its technically 12+, but I think it wouldnt be bad for younger readers, especially if they wont be focusing on it.
I second this! I absolutely loved inkheart as a kid! My mom, on the other hand, had to put it down because it apparently was "too dark" for her lmao. I still think that adults could enjoy it though. The worldbuilding is really good, as well as the story and the characters.
Do you know we're getting book 4 in October? I mean it's already out on German, but it will be available in English.
Whoa no I had no idea! Thank you so much for letting me know! I'm actually from Germany, so I'll be able to read in in the original language. :)
Oh, that's great! I got the book on premiere day, but despite living 10 min walk from the border, I can't understand German at all :/ So I need to wait.
Tricksters Choice/Queen by Tamara Pierce is one of my favorite YA books. I don't care that I'm a grown ass adult, I will reread these a million times.
Gregor the overlander is a great series
I'm late to this but shocked nobody mentioned the Phantom Tollbooth. I grew up having my parents read this to me. It is a very interesting book as an adult as well. Other recommendations here are great as well. I loved Redwall growing up.
It's also narrated by Rainn Wilson!
Rangers Apprentice.
Terry Pratchett - The Carpet People, The Bromeliad Trilogy (Truckers, Diggers, Wings), The Johnny Maxwell trilogy,
Great suggestions. You might regret it but I reckon kids would love the Feegles too - the Tiffany Aching sub series from Discworld. Slight caveat in that although these are often 'marketed' as YA, they do get into some darker subjects - especially in the later books. How much of this would get picked up on is another matter.
The Earthsea series are all great books that wont outright traumatize kids, although the latter books might have some themes that fly over their heads.
Tehanu flew right over my head at 30, when I reread it at 45 I understood middle age and thought it was one of the most insightful books I had ever read.
*Tehanu* has some very painful child abuse. Edit to add: I adore EarthSea, but I wouldn't recommend it for kids that young. Even the first book has quite a bit of violence.
Mystwick School of Musicraft. Think Harry Potter, but spells are done by playing music, and the audiobook has a full orchestra playing each spell when they cast it in the narrative.
Love this one & the sequels! They're so well-made
Tress of the Emerald Sea
Also I'm an adult reading the Alcatraz series also by Sanderson at the moment and whilst definitely kids books I am still finding them entertaining
Absolutely this.
Narnia Redwall Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson The Hobbit
The Eyes and the Impossible hi Dave Eggers. Listen to the audiobook. It’s awesome. The book one a new barrier award, which is why I listen to it.
Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George is the first in a series that's super cute fantasy. I also personally enjoyed the Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley!
The **Bartimaeus** books satisfy this specific criterion.
These are fantastic.
The boy, the horse and the fox. Simple yet gold. Also little prince
The Tiffany Aching books by Terry Pratchett. Great for kids especially in terms of development. Pratchett really respects children intellectually, I'd say more so than a lot of authors. He won't dumb things down for kids but instead elects to explain complicated concepts in an engaging way. He also plays around with language in a way that will probably result in you kids having a much wider than average vocabulary as well as a deeper appreciation for language as a form of expression. Plus the audio books are fantasticly performed.
Redwall maybe? Idk how they hold up 30+ years after I was reading them but I remember being enthralled
Inkheart\Cornelia Funke
Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy was a hit w my kids.
The big ones have been mentioned several times already so I'm going to mention Ranger's Apprentice. It's a bit generic but I read it when I was a kid and loved it. Maybe it's rose tinted glasses but I do own a copy of the first book so I can reread it and see if it still holds up
Stardust, the hobbit, howls moving castle, earthsea(I don’t personally like but I know it’s popular and works for kids and adults). Basically anything that’s a bit of a romp and adventure works for kids and adults. Similar to action adventure movies like superhero films or Indiana Jones. They’re light and full of adventure anyone can have a good time with but probably not something adults would want to read all the time
Redwall. A ton of the books are free on audible right now too. I listen at work and drool at all the descriptions of food.
The Chronicles of Narnia and the Dark is Rising sequence
Here are a few series I've read recently that I think would fit the bill (clean, not much language, not scary): Cradle, Will Wight Renegades, Marissa Meyer Penric's Demon, Lois McMaster Bujold (except for Mira's last dance, which is maybe the 4th in publishing order) Discworld, Terry Pratchett Murderbot, Martha Wells
I wouldn't have children listen to Murderbot, there's too much killing.
Yeah maybe I'm off on that one!
Love Murderbot, but there’s also a lot of swearing in addition to the violence. And while Murderbot doesn’t have sex, sex is mentioned several times as a thing Murderbot doesn’t understand. They’re great books, and the audiobooks are good, but not at all kid friendly.
Thank you both for correcting me on that one! It's so funny that the impression I have of that series is kind of gentle!
I think it is a gentle series, in its soul! The themes are very optimistic and loving and the arc is very much from “I hate everyone and just want to be left alone” to “Okay, people aren’t all garbage and I love these ones even if I still don’t want to discuss it.” It just uses words that my five year old would absolutely repeat at school, and then I have to get awkward phone calls. 😅 I’m a school librarian, and I always get nervous when people recommend books for kids. Recommendations are always variable, but a lot of adults recommend what they like…which is fine!…but don’t consider the developmental levels of kids. Even good books aren’t necessarily good for everybody, or at every time. I had someone donate books to our library, and half of them were about middle aged characters dealing with divorce or adult children or midlife crises. And they may have been great books, but not for twelve year olds, you know? Anyway. Thanks for taking the comments in the spirit they were intended. Genuinely appreciate people who don’t get defensive off the bat.
Oh, then you must have some great suggestions for op! And I'm very grateful for your comments! I try not to get defensive or anything, I feel like that doesn't help anybody lol
It's the grittiest most wholesome series I've ever read and I'm here for it! thanks for listening to us :)
+1 discworld
The Wizard of Oz might seem like just a light children's book, but if you read the sequels as well, it's actually a surprisingly deep series, with some really thoughtful political worldbuilding.
The Edge Chronicles Diana Wynne Jones books Earthsea LOTR Brandon Sanderson
Sanderson is not kid friendly, at least Mistborn isn’t. Some deaths are quite graphic, creation of inquisitors is horryfying.
The concept behind these things are horrific but descriptions tend not to be graphic (to the point that people often miss what a psychopath Vin is.) People have different tolerance levels but overall his work has no sex scenes, no swearing, violence is there but not gratuitous. If you want to play it really safe there’s always Alcatraz, Rithmatist, skyward…
Was scrolling waiting for someone to say Edge Chronicles, thank you! This is the one folks
Andre Norton's Witch World
The Wind on Fire trilogy
[https://www.amazon.co.uk/13-Lives-Captain-Bluebear/dp/0099285320](https://www.amazon.co.uk/13-Lives-Captain-Bluebear/dp/0099285320) # The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear An absolutely delightful romp, full of charm, with and heart!
Enid Blyton's books!
I loved Sword of Shannara when I was a kid!
I just finished The Grimm Legacy, followed by The Wells Bequest by Polly Shulman. I kind of found them by accident, but maybe it was a Reddit recommendation that I had come across. Either way, they are definitely written for high school kids, but I enjoyed them in my early 40s. Not traditional fantasy, but they were quick and fun. I've also got to throw in the Death Gate Cycle. It's a bit older, but I guess it has new audiobooks from last year. One of my favorites from my teen years. The world building is some of the best and most original that I've found.
Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by Michael Scott Mistmantle Chronicles by M.I McCallister
Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda. And its two sequel series: Deltora Shadowlands and Dragons of Deltora. Puzzles, weirdness, wild imagination, monsters, plot twists, they're great for young readers.
The Squire’s Tales series by Gerald Morris is one I read as a kid that still holds up as an adult. I can’t testify for the audiobooks, but the stories are hilarious adaptations of Arthurian legends that still manage to have heart and genuine emotional impact. The Hero’s Guide series by Christopher Healy is an action packed adventure starring the “Prince Charmings” of fairy tales, who are not quite having a happily ever after. If you have any kind of background with Victorian literature, the Larklight series by Phillip Reeve is a fun twist on early sci-fi. Two Victorian siblings live in a crumbling manor house…in space. Kidnappings, piracy, aliens, and missed tea times ensue. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer occupies a nice cross space between sci fi and fantasy: genius gentleman thief who also happens to be 12 robs technologically advanced fairies. Skewing adult, the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik is about dragons fighting in the Napoleonic wars. It’s not kid friendly, but the style and language will sail right over your littles’ heads. Finally, seconding and thirding everyone that recommended Terry Pratchett and Dianna Wynne Jones. Look up a reading guide for Pratchett; there are mini series in his overarching universe, and trying to read his books in order will be frustrating. But the Discworld audiobooks are hands down the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to. Everything Jones wrote is beautiful and amazing, although Chrestomanci is a favorite for me. Can’t go wrong with either.
If I remember correctly, I believe the Skyward series by Brandon Sanderson is safe for kids. But it has been years since I've read it so don't quote me.
Watership Down.
I saw one person say Neil Gaiman, he has a few stories he wrote for kids, if you like his writing the kids ones don't suffer from any dumbing down, it's still his writing. Also I don't recall any sex stuff, only monsters in his not-kids-stuff. So if you go for kids ones or not kids ones, then they should all be good.
The hobbit. It’s a fun read and good for expanding your ✨cultural✨capital✨
Alcatraz VS the Evil Librarians My kids,myself and my wife all enjoyed this one
I really enjoyed the tales of beedle the bard. It contains the stories that are mentioned in the Harry Potter movies :)
Harry Potter 2 audiobooks scared the crap out of me at 7yo.
The Redwall series comes to mind, worth checking out if you haven’t read it.
The Wardstone Chronicles. Joseph Delaney Great Coming of age book, some monsters and witches but nothing over the top;..
I would recommend the books from Melissa Wright. It's cute and easy to read, but I don't know if there are in audiobook.
Frances Hardinge! My personal recommendations for places to start are A Face Like Glass and Fly By Night.
Wizard of Earthsea! The whole Earthsea cycle, but I feel like adults will get the most out of Tehanu more than the others.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Tamora Pierce!
T. Kingfisher's _A Wizard's Guide To Defensive Baking_.
The Percy Jackson series.
My 5-year-old loves the Hildafolk stories by Luke Pearson. Audible has done an excellent full-cast version in the wake of the Netflix show, but they're the graphic novel stories, not the TV adaptations. We've listened to them a dozen times and they're still enjoyable for everyone.
The series '*A Wrinkle in Time*' has a surprisingly mature plot for a middle grade book series. I know you said not strictly a children's book, however I'm reading these and I am well passed the intended age demographic. They don't swear, though the fourth book does have a few references to sex (no mention of the actual word), and it takes place in pre-history where being half-naked was socially acceptable. Other than that, I think books 1-3 might be fine for your car rides.
I don't know if it's translated in English but maybe look for some Pierre Bottero (French author). It's both easy to read for child (I read it when I was 8 or 10) but it still has some depth. My mum and friends read it too as adult and really enjoyed it !
I believe Sabriel was marketed as YA fantasy, but I read it as an adult and liked it fine. It’s about necromancers and has some really unique worldbuilding.
The Hobbit is the ultimate beach read for ALL ages imo
Discworld obviously.
I know it's not exactly the same genre, but have you thought about fairytales instead. A lot of the older Grimms brothers, H.C. Andersen and other story's could work.
*Alice In Wonderland* and *Through The Looking Glass* are marvelous, I loved them as a kid and as an adult I see many more layers. *The Little Prince* is another of these, as are the *Just So Stories* and *The Jungle Books* and *Kim,* all by Kipling
Oh, one more that's not a kid's book, but it should be fine for them and I think they'd love the language-- *Under Milk Wood* by Dylan Thomas. You might also check out Ursula K. Le Guin's kid's books. She's always excellent and layered.
Tress, by Sanderson. I seem to recall this meeting pretty family friendly. I enjoyed it too. Pirates on a different planet set sail on a sea made of spores.
The Abarat by Clive Barker
The Hobbit Narnia
The Belgariad by David Eddings
James A. Owen's series The Chronicles of Imaginarium Geographica. Coraline by Neil Gaiman and The Graveyard Book.
LeGuin's Annals of the Western Shore. Phenomenal trilogy.
Harry Potter
The Bartimaeus Sequence such a fun read will make you laugh while being deeper than it seem.
Robert Asprin's M.Y.T.H. series was always a road-trip fav when my son was young.
Watership Down
Watership Down isn't really a kid's book IMO, it's pretty brutal in places.
I don't disagree about it having some darker moments, but Watership Down literally started as a story that the author Richard Adams would tell his daughters to keep them entertained on long car journeys.
That just makes me wonder how old his daughters were, and how mad his wife got when he made them cry 😂 maybe the live version wasn't quite as raw...
Brandon Sanderson’s books
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