Published in 1865, Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and its sequel, Through the Looking Glass, have inspired numerous movies, stage shows, books, and even video games. The following list offers a multitude of options for those who are “curiouser” about what else lies at the bottom of the rabbit hole. This is by no means comprehensive so if you love Wonderland as much as I do, I encourage you to dive deeper and see what else you might find at your local library. Just be sure to keep your head and mind your mind, unless you don’t mind losing either; you’ll be in good company!
And don’t forget to grab your tickets to the Wonderland-themed After Hours at the Library on April 6, 2018. You’d be mad to miss it!
The author of Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West turns his attentions to Wonderland in this story which follows Alice’s classmate, Ada, down the rabbit hole. This one may be of more interest to you history buffs as it includes a lot commentary on Victorian society (Darwin himself is a guest of Ada’s father).
This is the definitive edition of Lewis Carroll’s works. If you have ever wondered how one might make sense of the nonsense of Wonderland, this book is for you. Martin Gardner decodes the many riddles found throughout the books, giving readers incredible insight into Alice’s adventures.
While not a direct adaptation, this book is clearly inspired by classic Victorian faerie tales like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It is smart and silly and clever and sweet and beautiful and touching. I’m gushing, I know, but it is only because this book is so utterly charming that you cannot help but fall in love. If you’re enchanted by this story, be sure to check out the four other books in the Fairyland series, too!
Did you ever wonder what the Queen of Hearts was like before that obsession with beheadings? Well, wonder no longer because this standalone Young Adult novel explores the origins of everyone’s favorite monarch of madness, long before Alice tumbles out of the rabbit hole.
Perfect for adult fans of the original books, this anthology includes short stories and poems inspired by the oddities of Wonderland. Eighteen acclaimed authors will take you through the looking glass in dark, strange, and unexpected ways!