So you've zipped through Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third installment in J.K. Rowling's hit series about a boy who finds he's a wizard. Now what to do until the Y2K release of volume 4? Below, some vintage fantasy books that still cast spells on children and grown-ups alike.
-- Daneet Steffens
The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis (HarperCollins): Take one lion, one witch, and one wardrobe, and mix well for an intoxicatingly fantastical brew.
A Wrinkle In Time, A Wind in the Door, et al., by Madeleine L'Engle (Laurel-Leaf): The adventures of the Murry family as they defend the universe against apocalyptic bad guys (''Sky tearers. Light snuffers. Planet darkeners'').
The Dark Is Rising Sequence, by Susan Cooper (Aladdin): Like Harry Potter, Will Stanton discovers on his 11th birthday that he's no ordinary British boy. Steeped in the lore of King Arthur and his faithful Merlin.
Tales of Magic, by Edward Eager Odyssey): Funny, punny (a garden of thyme grows time as well), and liberally peppered with uncontrollable charms.
Five Children and It, et al., by E. Nesbit (Puffin): Wonderful tales rife with magic carpets, Psammeads -- sand fairies to you -- phoenixes, and time travel.
The Tales of Alderley, by Alan Garner (Magic Carpet): Siblings Susan and Colin confront wizards, dark sorcery, and the heinous Svarts.
The Prydain Chronicles, by Lloyd Alexander (Dell): Inspired by rich Welsh legends, this series is a potent combination of orphan heroes, princesses, warriors, and a Chewbacca-like creature named Gurgi.
