Great Children's Book Series, Other Than Harry Potter

It seems to be common knowledge these days that Harry Potter is the end-all, be-all of contemporary children's literature. Now that the seventh book has been published, the series has come to a close, and children the world over are finishing the book and realizing that there will be no more future tales of the hero to whom they've grown so attached, people will be scrambling for the next great children's series. Who will write it? When will it come out? This article will tell you that these great series have in fact already been written and are sitting patiently on the shelf of the nearest library or bookstore, waiting for the next child (or child at heart) to pick them up and take them home.

#1: The Spiderwick Chronicles, by Holly Black

Although aimed at early readers, the Spiderwick Chronicles are all of the best things about children's literature in one six book series. Recently turned into a motion picture opening in theatres in February of 2008, the Spiderwick Chronicles tells the story of a young boy who moves into an old house with his mother, brother and sister (both older) after the death of his father. He discovers secret rooms, a world invisible to the naked eye, and a war waged among the realms of Faerie.

Holly Black makes fairy tales believable both to child and adult, and this is where the magic of her stories lies. Black herself seems so well-acquainted with the mystical and whimsical that readers are drawn into her stories quickly and completely. Although the complete text of the Spiderwick Chronicles, as a series, is smaller than a single book in the Harry Potter series, there is just as much depth, passion, and intrigue as the entire series. Often overlooked, these books are great for young readers, older readers with learning disabilities, and people of all ages genuinely interested in myth. Fans of Black's work can move onto her novels for teens when they're ready-Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside are all just as excellent as the original children's series.

#2: The His Dark Materials Trilogy, by Phillip Pullman