Aisle 13
You Might Also Like…
There are lots of other good stories out there besides the Oz books! Many Oz fans enjoy reading other books as well. For now, you can visit the original version of Aisle 13 by clicking here. In the near future, I hope to slowly move them all over here, and even add some new stories and series.
Bookshop Lobby — Aisle 12
100 Cupboards trilogy
The 100 Cupboards Trilogy by N. D. Wilson. While they are biking in South America, Henry York's parents are kidnapped. Until their fate is determined, Henry lives with his aunt and uncle on a Kansas farm. He discovers one hundred mysterious cupboards behind the plaster of his bedroom wall, each of which leads to a mysterious new world…
Book 1: 100 Cupboards. In the opening novel, Henry is introduced to his new home of Henry, Kansas, finds that his uncle and aunt's house holds its own mysteries, and discovers the mystery of the cupboards behind his wall and how to use them. After making a few trips into other worlds, he also makes some enemies!
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
- Audio CD.
- Audio download.
Book 2: Dandelion Fire. After the discoveries Henry made in the first book, he decides to enter other cupboards in an effort to solve the mysteries of his own origin, and the dandelion magic he appears to wield. But he ends up scattering his aunt, uncle, and cousins throughout several different worlds.
- Hardcover edition.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
- Audio CD.
- Audio download.
Book 3: The Chestnut King. Nimiane and her fingerling warriors are closing in on Henry. To save his family and all the worlds he's visited, Henry must enlist the help of the Chestnut King, who is neither easily found nor convinced.
- Hardcover edition.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
- Audio CD.
- Audio download.
Abadazad series
Abadazad by J. M. DeMatteis and Mike Ploog. Kate (not Katie—Kate) used to love the famous Abadazad books when she was a kid, and she and her younger brother, Matty, would read them whenever they could. But that all ended when Matty disappeared. Now Kate is on a mission to find her lost brother. Could he really be in…Abadazad?
Book 1: The Road to Inconceivable. Kate sets out on her journey. But how can the old lady across the hall know so much about Abadazad? Could she really have been there? Can she help Kate get to Abadazad?
- Richly illustrated hardcover edition.
- El Viaje de Kate, Spanish-language edition.
Book 2: The Dream Thief. Okay, thinks Kate, Abadazad is real—but it's not quite like it was in the books, either. The good news is, she now knows who's responsible for Matty's disappearance. The bad news, it's the worst character in the books, the Lanky Man!
- Richly illustrated hardcover edition.
- El Ladrón de Sueños, Spanish-language edition.
Book 3: The Puppet, the Professor, and the Prophet. Kate's search for Matty continues…
- Richly illustrated hardcover edition.
Will there be more Abadazad? Sadly, no. Read this entry on J. M. DeMatteis's blog for the full story. And here's an excerpt from the unpublished fourth book. Also, some unpublished Abadazad artwork, some alternate covers, with hope for the future, and the proposal that brought Abadazad to life.
Abadazad first started off as a short-lived comic book series. Issues are available for sale.
Issue #1.
Issue #2.
Issue #3.
The Adventures of Akiko
The Adventures of Akiko by Mark Crilley. Akiko is a typical American ten-year-old girl. But for some reason, the residents of the distant planet Smoo think she is perfect to carry out their rescue missions. So when Smoo needs her, Akiko's robot double takes her place on Earth and she flies off on fantastic adventures with her new friends. Find out more at Mark Crilley's website.
Akiko on the Planet Smoo. Akiko receives a mysterious note with no stamp or return address, all it says is "Meet us outside your window at 8:00." Puzzled, she is met by two strange men who take her to the planet Smoo. She is asked by King Froptoppit to find the missing prince. She has help from Spuckler, Mr. Beeba, Gax, and Poog, but can this rescue party actually find the prince on such a strange planet?
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
Akiko in the Sprubly Islands. The adventure continues, as the search party gets lost over the Moonguzzit Sea. Can the queen of the Sprubly Islands help them find their way back on course? Can they even find her at all?
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
Akiko and the Great Wall of Trudd. The search for Prince Froptoppit continues, but Akiko and her search party are getting closer! How will they climb the Great Wall of Trudd? And is their new acquaintance, Throck, a friend or foe?
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
Akiko in the Castle of Alia Rellapor. Akiko's mission is nearing its end. But can the rescue party even find a way into the castle? Can they find Prince Froptoppit once they're in? And will they come face to face with Alia Rellapor herself?
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
Akiko and the Intergalactic Zoo. A new adventure for Akiko and her friends in (as you might expect) an intergalactic zoo.
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback edition.
Akiko and the Alpha Centauri 5000. Akiko and her friends are in a race around the universe!
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
Akiko and the Journey to Toog. Akiko's next adventure takes her to Poog's home planet of Toog.
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
Akiko: The Training Master. Akiko and the gang get a little training in for their adventures at a camp set up for just that sort of thing. Too bad it's not going to be at all easy for them—or their instructors!
- Hardcover edition.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
Akiko: Pieces of Gax. The gang is visiting the upside-down city of Gollarondo, when Gax the robot falls! The good news is he survives. The bad news is he's claimed as scrap and taken to pieces, and part of him are scattered around Smoo! Can Akiko, Mr. Beeba, Spuckler, and Poog get all of him back?
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
Akiko and the Missing Misp. Akiko goes back in time, and helps her friends from Smoo on a mission before they've even met her!
- Hardcover edition.
Before they were put into novels, stories of Akiko and the gang were first told in comic books. They've been collected in the following books.
Akiko on the Planet Smoo. The very first Akiko story, a graphic novel about Akiko's first visit to Smoo. (This is not the same story as the novel above of the same name.)
- Available in four versions (first printing, second printing with new cover, color edition, and hardcover) on Cosmic Therapy's Akiko page (you'll have to scroll down a little bit to find them, however).
Akiko, Volume 1: The Menace of Alia Rellapor I. After returning home from her first trip to Smoo, Akiko is brought back again to rescue Prince Froptoppit. This time, the prince is not only missing, he's been kidnapped by the evil Alia Rellapor. After a number of other adventures, the search party gets lost over the Moonguzzit Sea. Can the queen of the Sprubly Islands help them find their way back on course? (This is a similar, but not the exact same, story as the novel above.)
- Pocket-size graphic novel, which includes Akiko on the Planet Smoo and issues 1-7 of the comic book.
- Paperback graphic novel, reproducing issues 1-7 of the Akiko comic book.
Akiko, Volume 2: The Menace of Alia Rellapor II. The rescue party has a number of adventures, is menaced by one of Alia Rellapor's ships, and finally manages to reach her palace. What might await them inside?
- Pocket-size graphic novel, reproducing issues 8-12 of the Akiko comic book.
- Paperback graphic novel, reproducing issues 8-12 of the Akiko comic book.
Akiko, Volume 3: The Menace of Alia Rellapor III. Akiko finally finds the prince and comes face-to-face with Alia Rellapor. But is she as evil as everyone has been telling her? Can Akiko sort out what's going on?
- Pocket-size graphic novel, reproducing issues 13-18 of the Akiko comic book.
- Paperback graphic novel, reproducing issues 13-18 of the Akiko comic book.
Akiko, Volume 4: The Story Tree. Akiko, Spuckler, Gax, Beeba, and Poog are all sitting under a tree on Earth, telling each other stories about their lives before they met.
- Pocket-size graphic novel, reproducing issues 19-24 (and part of 25) of the Akiko comic book.
- Paperback graphic novel, reproducing issues 19-24 (and part of 25) of the Akiko comic book.
Akiko, Volume 5: Bornstone's Elixir. Akiko's latest adventure takes her back to the planet Smoo, where she is caught in a matter of life and death as she helps to find an elixir to cure one of Mr. Beeba's friends.
- Pocket-size graphic novel, reproducing issues 26-31 of the Akiko comic book.
- Paperback graphic novel, reproducing issues 26-31 of the Akiko comic book.
Akiko, Volume 6: Stranded in Komura/Moonshopping. Akiko and the crew from Smoo crash in rural Japan, and need some help to get things going again. Then, King Froptoppit wants Smoo to have a new moon — so he sends Akiko out to buy one.
- Pocket-size graphic novel, reproducing issues 32-38 of the Akiko comic book.
- Paperback graphic novel, reproducing issues 32-38 of the Akiko comic book.
Akiko, Volume 7: The Battle for Boach's Keep. Spuckler returns to his home, Boach's Keep — only to find that it's been scheduled to be demolished by developers. While Spuckler holes himself up, Akiko approaches the developers to talk them out of it. Let's just say that neither one is terribly successful…
- Pocket-size graphic novel, reproducing issues 39-47 of the Akiko comic book.
- Hardcover library bound edition.
Akiko: Flights of Fancy. Various short tales, reprinted from the Akiko comic book.
- Paperback "High-flying Expanded Edition" graphic novel, reproducing short stories, jokes, and other material from over fifty issues of the Akiko comic book, along with some new material.
- Earlier edition, reproducing material from issues 1-46 of the Akiko comic book, along with some new material. (Oz fans will get a kick out of page 49.)
- Hardcover library bound edition.
The Alice Books
The Alice Books by Lewis Carroll. Alice is definitely a British forerunner to Dorothy Gale: A child who ends up in an enchanted land and has many adventures before returning home. Carroll was a big influence on L. Frank Baum, and many other writers, too.
Any Which Wall
Any Which Wall by Laurel Snyder. If you had a magic wall that could take you to any place and any time, where would you go? Would you want to visit castles and desert islands? Would you want to meet famous wizards, terrible pirates, beautiful queens, and dastardly outlaws? If so, then you are just like Henry and Emma, and Roy and Susan—and you will probably like this story a lot. In fact, you might even wish something similar would happen to you!
- Hardcover edition.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
- Find out more about author Laurel Snyder at her website, http://laurelsnyder.com/.
Bigger Than a Bread Box
Bigger Than a Bread Box by Laurel Snyder. When Rebecca Shapiro's parents get a divorce, her mother moves her from Baltimore to Atlanta, where she doesn't know anybody and can't even begin to figure out how to fit in. When she finds a breadbox in her grandmother's attic that can give her anything she asks for, however — so long as it can fit in the breadbox — she begins to believe that things aren't so bad. But then she asks, where does the breadbox get all of the things she asks for?
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
- Audio download.
Bobbie in Bugaboo Land
Bobbie in Bugaboo Land by Curtis Dunham. Bobbie and his dog Sport visit the good kingdom of Fairyland and the neighboring evil kingdom of Bugabooland in search of their friend, Enid. Along the way they meet gnomes, demons, Merlin, the evil wizard Whiskeroo, and Snore, a monster who's mostly nose and who rides across the countryside on the tremendous Undying Worm. This 1907 book was clearly influenced by the success of the Oz books.
- Kindle edition.
- All editions of Bobbie in Bugaboo Land
CJ's Notebooks series
CJ's Notebooks Series by Sherwood Smith. When Smith was eight years old, a girl named Clair walked into her dreams, bringing hints of a world where girls could adventure, live on their own, and best of all, didn't have to grow up. Clair traveled about looking for girls who needed a home. She even came to Earth, where she found CJ, who did not fit. CJ found herself not only taken to another world to live, but she became the princess — Clair's "left hand splat." One of her jobs as princess was to write down their records. Another was to serve as leader for the girls when Clair was busy learning to become queen. The girls had jobs too, as they discovered villains who thought it their business to take a kingdom away from a mere girl. From the shadowy Kwenz, a powerful mage with a very wicked past, to the usurper Glotulae and her son Prince Jonnicake, who in their ridiculous way were just as determined to boot Clair out, there were plenty of chances for adventure. And mystery, like why did kids from other times and worlds show up every now and then?
Over the Sea: CJ's First Notebook. CJ comes to Mearsies Heili, embarks on her first adventures, becomes a princess, and starts recording everyone's adventures.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
Mearsies Heili Bounces Back: CJ's Second Notebook. CJ loves life with 'the M girls'—so she is completely unprepared to be taken away and put in a silken prison in order to forget being a princess. As CJ uses her brains and imagination to get out of trouble, she has to think about what being a princess really means. She also discovers that there are things even tougher to deal with than terrible enchantments, sinister shadows, and lurking villains: teenage boys.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
Poor World: CJ's Fourth Notebook. CJ and the gang of girls from Mearsies Heili like their adventures fun and villains to be defeatable by a well-thrown prune pie. In fact, they laughed at the very idea of stories about kids who have to Save the World… Until it happens to them.
- Kindle edition.
Hunt Across Worlds: CJ's Sixth Notebook. It begins with two kids from Earth who discover a boy from another world being kept hostage. When they rescue him, they end up having to cross the USA before being blasted by magic to Mearsies Heili, where they meet a sailor girl who's been stuck in charge of a Mysterious Magical Object. CJ and the gang try to come to the rescue, discovering that being on the edge of big events can lead to bigger questions.
- Kindle edition.
Edward Eager's Tales of Magic
Edward Eager's Tales of Magic. These books were written by Edward Eager, a playwright and lyricist who turned to writing children's books after discovering the works of E. Nesbit. They are all about magic in the everyday world, and are intertwined in some form or another — but how they are connected can take some surprising turns.
Half Magic. One summer in Toledo, Ohio, Jane, Mark, Katherine, and Martha find an old talisman that works magic. It grants half of whatever they wish for. Can they figure out how it works, and how to tame the magic? And can they use it to help their widowed mother?
- Hardcover edition.
- Paperback edition.
- CD audiobook edition.
- Audiocassette edition.
- All available editions of Half Magic
- Kindle edition.
- Audio download.
Magic By the Lake. On their first vacation in the country, Jane, Mark, Katherine, and Martha stay in a cottage called Magic By the Lake. Could the entire lake really be full of magic? Well, there's a talking turtle willing to help them find out...
- Hardcover edition.
- Paperback edition.
- All available editions of Half Magic
- Kindle edition.
Knight's Castle. Summer vacation is canceled for Roger and Ann because of their father's illness. But when they go to Baltimore to stay with Aunt Katherine and their cousins Eliza and Jack, they end up having adventures with the likes of Ivanhoe, Robin Hood, and others in the castle they build in the playroom.
- Hardcover edition.
- Paperback edition.
- All available editions of Knight's Castle
- Kindle edition.
The Time Garden. Roger, Ann, Jack, and Eliza are spending the summer at Mrs. Whiton's in Boston while their parents are working in London. Mrs. Whiton has a garden full of thyme. And four imaginative children can have any number of adventures when they have all the time thyme in the world...
- Hardcover edition.
- Paperback edition.
- All available editions of The Time Garden
- Kindle edition.
Magic or Not?. Laura and James move with their parents and little sister to a new home in the Connecticut countryside, with a well in the backyard. Is it a wishing well? They try it, and their wishes are granted, resulting in a number of adventures with their new friends Kip and Lydia. But is the well really magic?
- Hardcover edition.
- Paperback edition.
- All available editions of Magic or Not?
- Kindle edition.
The Well-Wishers. Laura, James, Kip, and Lydia suspect the well's magic (if it ever was magic) is running out. But then the most unpredictable events begin to unfold, and others get involved, and nobody's sure what's going on, or how it will end up.
- Hardcover edition.
- Paperback edition.
- All available editions of The Well-Wishers
- Kindle edition.
Seven-Day Magic. One summer, Barnaby, John, Susan, Abbie, and Fredericka check a small red book out of the library for seven days — and find that it's about themselves! They find that it's a magic book, so they treat it carefully — and still end up in a number of stories, including Half Magic!
- Hardcover edition.
- Paperback edition.
- All available editions of Seven-Day Magic
- Kindle edition.
The Girl Who… series
The Girl Who… series by Catherynne M. Valente. September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. These books are about her adventures there.
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making. In September's first adventure, the new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t…then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland.
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
- Audio CD editions.
- Audio mp3 editions.
- Audio download
- Die wundersame Geschichte von September, die sich ein Schiff baute und das Feenland umsegelte, German-language edition.
- German-language edition CD.
- You can preview this book at both the publisher's and the author's websites. And here's a comic-based review.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There. September has longed to return to Fairyland after her first adventure there. And when she finally does, she learns that its inhabitants have been losing their shadows — and their magic — to the world of Fairyland-Below. This world has a new ruler: Halloween, the Hollow Queen, who is September’s shadow. And Halloween has no intentions of giving Fairyland’s shadows back.
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
- Audio CD editions.
- Audio mp3 editions.
- Audio download
The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two. September misses Fairyland and her friends. She longs to leave the routines of home and embark on a new adventure. Little does she know that this time, she will be spirited away to the moon, reunited with her friends, and find herself faced with saving Fairyland from a moon-Yeti with great and mysterious powers.
- Hardcover edition.
- Kindle edition.
- Audio CD edition.
- Audio mp3 edition.
The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland—For a Little While. This original short story tells the tale of how a girl named Mallow defeated King Goldmouth with the help of the Red Wind, Mr. Map, and many fairyland friends new and old. It later inspired the first novel of this series.
- Kindle edition.
The Grimm Legacy
The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman. Elizabeth Rew is a pretty typical New York City kid, dealing with school and her parents' divorce and everything else life throws at her. But when she gets a job at the New-York Circulating Material Repository — a sort of library for items that aren't books — things start to look up, particularly when she's entrusted to work with the Grimm Collection, where all of the old magic items from classic fairy tales are held. But it seems that some of the Grimm items aren't working right any more. Are they losing their magic, or is someone stealing them and replacing them with copies? And who can Elizabeth trust to help her solve the mystery?
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback edition.
- Die geheime Sammlung, German-language edition.
- Kindle edition.
- Audio download.
You can find out more, and read a sample chapter, at the author's website.
And in the companion book…
The Wells Bequest. When a miniature time machine materializes in his room, Leo doesn't recognize the pretty girl in it — but the other passenger is himself! The mystery leads Leo to the New-York Circulating Material Repository, where he gets involved with its collection of robots, death rays, submarines, and all the other items of classic science fiction stories. And when Leo’s adventure of a lifetime suddenly turns deadly, he must attempt a journey to 1895 to warn real-life scientist Nikola Tesla about a dangerous invention.
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback edition.
- Kindle edition.
- Audio download.
You can find out more, and read a sample chapter, at the author's website.
Imaginalis
Imaginalis by J. M. DeMatteis. Mehera Crosby is twelve years old, and her life is upended when her favorite book series is canceled. It's upended even more when she discovers that the characters she so loves are alive, trapped in a strange and deadly limbo — and it's up to her to rescue them.
- Hardcover edition.
- Kindle edition.
- Read the opening pages of the book right here.
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Edwards. You may know her better as singer and Oscar-winning actress Julie Andrews, but under her married name she's also written many books for children. The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles tells the story of the whangdoodles, who were the wisest, kindest, most fun-loving creatures on the earth — until people stopped believing in them. But an open-minded professor who still believes and three children set out on a fantastic journey to Whangdoodleland. Along the way they meet many fantastic characters and encounter many dangers!
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback editions.
- All editions of The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles
Leave It to Chance series
Leave It to Chance by James Robinson and Paul Smith. Chance Falconer wants to be like her father, the magical protector of Devil's Echo. But her father doesn't want Chance in danger's way. Despite his best efforts, Chance manages it anyway. With her unusual pet, George, and a friendly female cop, Chance starts to fulfill her dreams in this series of graphic novels.
Book 1: Shaman's Rain. In an effort to prove herself to her father, Chance runs up against a threat to all of Devil's Echo that would even challenge her father.
- Hardcover edition.
- Paperback edition.
Book 2: Trick or Threat. Whether she's watching a parade, going off to school, or hanging out at the mall, adventure just seems to always follow Chance. These three stories introduce new characters and challenges.
- Hardcover edition.
- Paperback edition.
Book 3: Monster Madness. The third volume of Chance's adventures.
- Hardcover edition.
- Paperback edition.
The Neverending Story
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. Bastian Bux is an outcast at school, but finds solace in reading. Imagine his surprise, then, when he reads a mysterious new book and slowly realizes that he has become a part of the story.
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback editions.
- CD audiobook editions.
- Audiobook mp3 edition.
- Audio download.
- Die Unendliche Geschichte, the original German language text.
- Hardcover edition.
- Paperback editions.
- Various editions.
- Also available from Amazon.de.
- Hardcover edition.
- La Historia Interminable, Spanish-language editions.
- L'histoire sans Fin, French-language editions.
- Chinese-language edition.
- Film adaptation of the first part of the book.
- Blu-Ray
- DVD, Region 1 encoding, NTSC format
- Amazon Instant Video.
- Blu-Ray
- The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter, film adaptation of the second part of the book.
- DVD, Region 1 encoding, NTSC format
- Amazon Instant Video.
- DVD, Region 1 encoding, NTSC format
New Fairy Tales by Rosemary Lake
New Fairy Tales by Rosemary Lake. Lake is a writer who uses the form and style of classic fairy tales, but gives them a contemporary twist, very much in the spirit of Oz.
Once Upon a Time When the Princess Rescued the Prince. A collection of some of Lake's short stories.
- Paperback edition.
- You can find out more about Lake, and read some of her other stories, at her website, http://www.rosemarylake.com/.
The Phantom Tollbooth
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Milo is just a bored kid who thinks his life has no excitement or adventure. So when the large, mysterious package arrives, he decides to take the trip through the Phantom Tollbooth to the lands of Dictionopolis and Digitopolis. The adventures he has there are nowhere near boring...
- Hardcover editions.
- Paperback editions.
- Large print hardcover edition.
- Kindle edition.
- CD audiobook.
- La Caseta Mágica, Spanish-language edition.
- Live action/animated film adaptation.
- DVD, Region 1, NTSC format.
- Amazon Instant Video.
- DVD, Region 1, NTSC format.
- A Guide for Using The Phantom Tollbooth in the Classroom. For teachers.
- The Phantom Tollbooth: Teacher Guide. For teachers.
Zauberlinda, the Wise Witch
Zauberlinda, the Wise Witch by Eva Katherine Gibson. This 1901 book was one of the earliest imitators of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and yet it's also a fine modern fairy tale in its own right. Annie is swept underground into a magical adventure, where she meets many strange new friends, learns important lessons, and is befriended by Zauberlinda, the Wise Witch. Can she find her way home?
- Hardcover edition, with new afterwords by Phyllis Ann Karr and Sean P. Duffley
- Digital download/.pdf file
- All available editions of Zauberlinda, the Wise Witch
If you'd like to search Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, or Abebooks.com for your own needs, you may use these search boxes:
Bookshop Lobby — Aisle 12
