Modern Fantasy

Modern fantasy has roots in folktales, legends, and myths. Fantasy takes us beyond the world we know and defies the natural laws of physics. There are two categories that modern fantasy stories are classified under; low fantasy and high fantasy. Low fantasy stories take place in the real world, but magical elements make them fantasy. High fantasy stories take information and experiences from the real world and project them into "another world".

Some examples of categories in Modern Fantasy:

Animals- attributes human feelings, thoughts, and language through animals that have human characteristics
Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Whittington by Alan Armstrong
Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rats by Lynne Jonell

Toys and Objects- demonstrates belief in human characteristics children give their playthings
Winnie the Pooh by A.A Milne
The Mouse and His Child by Russell Hoban
Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins

Miniature Worlds- highlights human emotions by displaying them in action on a miniscule level
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
The Littles by John Peterson
The Doll People by Ann Martin

Time Warps- focus on a central character going through difficult adjustment periods, such as loneliness, alienation, and sensitivity associated with time travel
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass


Motifs in Modern Fantasy:

• Magic
• Other Worlds
• Good vs. Evil
• Heroism
• Special Character Type
• Fantastic Objects

More great examples of Modern Fantasy books:
http://www.librarything.com/tag/modern+fantasy



Johnson, Denise. The joy of children's literature. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Pub, 2009. Print.