6 More Children’s Books That Deserve the Illustrated Treatment

With the forthcoming October 6 release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: The Illustrated Edition, fans can now introduce their children to the world of Hogwarts with over 100 stunning, full-color illustrations. Can you imagine seeing Diagon Alley in a gorgeous print? Or getting a real view of Dumbledore’s sweeping robes and long, silvery beard? There is nothing more magical. Our excitement about this book has got us thinking about some other incredible middle grade stories that deserve the same treatment.

The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The third most translated book in the world, nearly everyone has a copy of The Little Prince on their bookshelf, but can you imagine it coming equipped with detailed, full-color pages of artwork? Not only does the story actually talk about drawings, I can only imagine how beautiful the pictures would be as the little prince describes his home planet (the volcanoes! The trees!). This tale was made to accompany some serious eye candy.

The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan
The first novel in Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, The Lightning Thief would make for a gorgeous book of art. Seeing these mythological characters come to life would be astounding—not to mention the epic battle scenes. With the right illustrations, this book could become even more of a modern classic.

Mary Poppins, by P.L. Travers
One of the most wonderful stories ever written, Mary Poppins is full of some incredible scenes. I’d love to see the tea party on the ceiling with Mr. Wigg illustrated, along with the birthday party at the zoo, as well as the scenes in which Mary and the children travel the world with a compass. You may think Disney’s film did this story justice, but just imagine the beautiful prints this book would inspire.

A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’Engle
We all have our own mental pictures of the planet Uriel, Mrs. Whatsit’s house, and The Black Thing from reading A Wrinkle in Time, but seeing them come to life on the page at the hands of a talented artist would be enchanting. One of the most beloved series in the middle grade canon, an illustrated version of this science fiction fantasy novel would open up a new world to readers. (Lucky for us, there is a graphic novel version.)

The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien
All of Tolkien’s books deserve the illustrated treatment, but especially The Hobbit: which, fortunately, did get it. After reading this book in sixth grade I spent many nights dreaming about what the dragon Smaug actually looked like. To see him, in full color, right in the middle of Tolkien’s lyrical words? Yes, please.

The Indian in the Cupboard, by Lynne Reid Banks
I’m not ashamed to admit that when I was ten, I had my own tiny plastic Indian and a cupboard that I desperately willed to turn my toy real. (And, for better or for worse, if I had read an illustrated copy of The Indian in the Cupboard, I probably would’ve spent a lot more time trying to make my dream a reality.) The tiny cowboy Boone, Little Bear, and Bright Stars are some of the most memorable characters of all time, and it would be incredible to see them come to life in drawings.