Classic children's fantasy book series in other languages?

[HelenaRavenclaw]

Fantasy book series like Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, The Dark is Rising, His Dark Materials, etc. often come up on this forum. These are quintessentially British series that many of us enjoy re-reading even as adults. They usually feature a group of children bridging our everyday world and a fantasy universe.

Are there any such popular / classic series in other languages, for example a French series that is a blend of a quintessentially French children's story and adventures in a fantasy world? Obviously if there were any modern bestselling global phenomena like Harry Potter in other languages, I'm sure I would have heard about it by now. But just as a people outside the Anglosphere might not be familiar with older fantasy series like Narnia or The Dark is Rising, what foreign language classic fantasy series might we be missing out on? The only (relatively modern) one I can think of is The Witcher (Polish), but based on watching the TV show it's not family-friendly like the ones above.

There's the Neverending story by Michael Ende in German (die unendliche Geschichte), but I'm struggling to think of any others at the moment.

The Inkheart series.

Pippi Longstocking - Astrid Lindgren, Swedish
Silas - Cecil Bødker, Danish
Die Rote Zora - Kurt Held, German

The Mirror Visitor (La Passe-Miroir) by Christelle Dabos

Cornelia Funke - Inkheart series, Dragon Riders series
Tove Jansson - The Moomins series
Tonke Dragt - De brief voor de Koning
Thea Beckman - Crusade in Jeans, Geef me de ruimte series, Children of Mother Earth series
Janusz Korczak - King Matt series, Katjus the Wizard (heard this described as 1930s Polish Harry Potter)

I'm not sure every country has the same tradition of children's literature as English. Trouble is a lot of children's books in translation don't make a big deal of it so it's only as an adult you really think about it.I saw a blogger (who writes about translated fiction so has readers from all over the world) asking about children's literature and a lot of the responses talked about fairy tales rather than books like Harry Potter.

The most obvious classics not mentioned so far would be Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann and the stories of Hans Christian Anderson. All are quite fairy tale like. More realistic in style would be e.g. The Swiss Family Robinson, Heidi, Emil and the Detectives, even Mrs Pepperpot.

My MIL (a native Spanish speaker) claims to have been shocked by children's literature in English when she read to her children, she claimed all her children's stories in Spanish were about flowers and fairies! I'm not entirely sure I believe her though (or think her upper class experience from the 1940s & 50s is representative) because I know that e.g. Isabel Allende writes children's adventure books.

Thanks all. Interesting that most people are thinking of standalone books, not a series. I think The Little Prince (French) is the best standalone fantasy book. I have heard of Cornelia Funke as a relatively modern writer; I think her books are targeted at a YA audience. Some other names (like Pippi, Moomins) I recognise are for younger readers if I'm not mistaken, perhaps more at a Paddington Bear audience rather than a Narnia or Harry Potter audience. I guess there isn't really a "classic" non-English counterpart to Tolkien/CS Lewis/Alan Garner/Susan Cooper!

@HelenaRavenclaw
I think you are looking at this the wrong way. English language literature & films are very dominant in the world of entertainment. Hollywood springs to mind! That's your first hurdle, it's easier and more straightforward, no misunderstandings with translations, laws and royalty

Another observation I have made is, that in the UK, you have a tradition of celebrating old or dead authors by calling them classics and the books as must reads. They are always recommended and are placed on reading lists regardless taking up space for other books. Second hurdle, very little head space for newer talent. My confession: I know the Authors you mentioned and some of their books, but haven't read a single one of them!

And then there is you as a reader. How many languages can you read fluently?
I am bilingual. Third hurdle: Language barrier & a childhood in the UK.

I think if you really want to find out more about childres or young adult fantasy classics in other languages you need to ask on a non English speaking forum.

... I mean there isn't even an English equivalent for this great website!

https://www.jugendbuch-couch.de/themen/fantasy/

My 10 year old ADORED Cornelia Funke's The Thief Lord.

Italo Calvino's Baron in the Trees, Viscount cut in Half and Invisible Knight series.

There's Le Grand Meaulnes by Alain-Fournier which is really really good, a sort of pass though to an alternate world story.

Was going to say like Narnia but actually nothing like and written well before.

There's light childrens fantasy like pippi longstocking too but I think the genre you are looking for is a bit older and better and - having looked a lot in France for my kids - is almost but not entirely exclusively anglophone.

I wouldn't say the Moomin books are for younger readers. For a start, the language is much more complex than normally in books for younger readers, and some of the books are quite dark, and they're all quite philosophical that'll go over the head of younger readers.

In Italy the most prolific 21st century fantasy writer is Licia Troisi. DS, who was brought up on a diet of Narnia, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and Eragon, was not impressed…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licia_Troisi

Otfield Preussler's The Little Witch (German).

For a series (well, duology), the Karolcia books by Maria Krüger (Polish).

Not non-English, but have you read the Prydain chronicles by the American author, Lloyd Alexander? They’re fantasy rooted in welsh mythology, and are a great read. Alexander was inspired by Tolkien, and you can see that in some of the characters and storyline.