Writing Children's Fantasy Novels
An Introduction to Three Types of Fantasy Stories for Kids
Some of literature's most enduring and best loved children's books fit into the fantasy category. This article is a brief introduction to three different styles.
Fantasy is one of the most popular genres in children’s books, and many children continue to read fantasy into their teens and adulthood. Many picture books are pure fantasy, such as William Steig’s Shrek, but it is in the older categories, when new worlds are created through words alone that this genre really comes into its own.
Fantasy can be divided into three simple categories:
- When Strange Things Happen Within the Reader’s Everyday World.
Paul Jennings’ short stories work on this premise. Something or someone triggers supernatural or fantastical intervention into a very ordinary situation. The writer begins this sort of story by taking an everyday situation and saying, ‘What if?’
Some writers find their inspiration by taking well known characters or situations from fairy tales or movies, and applying them to a modern setting. An example would be taking the Elves from the fairytale “The Elves and the Shoemaker”, and putting them to work for a child who doesn’t want to have to do household chores.
2. When a Whole New World is Created, with no Reference to the Reader’s World.
Ursula le Guin’s Earthsea Quartet is a well-known example of this. Nothing references back to the real world, everything is imagined, from politics to social structures to the geography, clothing, food and language. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is another example of this style of fantasy
3. When the Characters Flit Between the Reader’s Known World and a Fantasy World.
This opens up many opportunities for reflecting on imagination, truthfulness and the values of the reader’s world. One well known example is the “Narnia” series by C S Lewis. Four everyday children move into a parallel world where they are the long anticipated Kings and Queens who will rule the Kingdom wisely and justly, even though in everyday life they are neither noble, nor particularly wise or just.
Another example is Harry Potter, who moves from a dull suburban world where he is an emotionally abused orphan to a magical world where he is an important figure in the making.
Fantasy Meets a Deep Need in Many Readers
It’s not hard to see how fantasy writing can fulfil children’s deepest desires to be seen as special, important or powerful. All children feel these needs, but many are brought up in families where these needs are not met, or they are considered unacceptable. These children quickly learn to feel ashamed of their feelings and to hide them away.
Fantasy Helps Children Feel Better About Themselves and to Have Hope
When they can read about characters who feel the same way they do, but are empowered by magic to achieve remarkable things, bringing great admiration from other people in the community, they are given hope and a measure of relief from their longings.
