10 Authors Like Roald Dahl: Whimsical Tales for Young Readers

Fans of the world of Willy Wonka and Matilda will want to check out our list of the best authors like Roald Dahl to go on their next imaginative journey.

Among children’s authors, few are quite as famous as Roald Dahl. The author of classic books like James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG, and Matilda, Dahl is considered one of the world’s greatest storytellers. His unforgettable characters have charmed generations of readers and inspired countless movies, musicals, and television adaptations.

These treasured works of children’s literature feature the iconic illustrations of Quentin Blake. Born in England in 1916 and passing away in 1990, Dahl wrote 17 children’s novels during his lifetime that have been translated into 68 languages and sold 300 million books worldwide. In 2025, his influence on children’s literature remains unparalleled, with new adaptations continuing to introduce his magical worlds to fresh generations of readers.

Beyond writing, Dahl served as a fighter pilot in World War II, which sparked a love of adventure that permeates many of his books. His signature style includes a masterful mix of whimsy with a touch of dark humor, creating stories that appeal to both children and adults. These carefully selected authors share similar qualities, making them some of the finest children’s book authors for readers seeking that distinctive Dahl magic.

For more recommendations, you might also enjoy exploring authors like Harlan Coben, authors like Gillian Flynn, best detective novel series.

Here Are The Best Authors Like Roald Dahl

1. Lemony Snicket, 1970 - Present

Lemony Snicket is the pen name of Daniel Handler, an American author who created the beloved A Series of Unfortunate Events books. This series began with The Bad Beginning in 1999 and concluded with The End in 2006. The 13-book series follows the Baudelaire siblings—three orphaned children who must escape the villainous Count Olaf, who seeks their inheritance at any cost.

This popular series has sold over 60 million copies since the first book’s publication. Handler, born in California and educated at Wesleyan University, created the character of Lemony Snicket as both narrator and investigator of the Baudelaire children’s misfortunes. Like Dahl’s work, the series combines dark humor with genuine emotion, creating stories that acknowledge life’s difficulties while maintaining hope.

The success of the Netflix adaptation and the continued popularity of the books in 2025 demonstrate how Snicket’s distinctive voice—pessimistic yet oddly comforting—resonates with readers who appreciate literature that doesn’t condescend to young audiences.

“In this book, not only is there no happy ending, there is no happy beginning and very few happy things in the middle.” — Lemony Snicket, The Bad Beginning

2. Neil Gaiman, 1960 - Present

Neil Gaiman is a versatile author who has written everything from short stories to novels about Greek mythology for adults, but his children’s books share remarkable similarities with Roald Dahl’s work. Born in Hampshire, UK, Gaiman immigrated to the United States at age 32 and became known as one of the creators of modern comics through his award-winning Sandman series.

Coraline, published in 2002, tells the story of a girl who discovers a parallel world that mirrors her own but proves dangerously different. This acclaimed novel won the ALA Notable Children’s Book, Child Magazine Best Book of the Year, and Publishers Weekly Best Book awards. Like Dahl’s stories, Coraline doesn’t shy away from frightening elements, trusting young readers to handle complex emotions and genuine peril.

Gaiman’s ability to blend the fantastical with the genuinely scary, while maintaining underlying themes of courage and family, makes him essential reading for Dahl fans. His respect for children’s intelligence and emotional capacity mirrors Dahl’s approach to storytelling.

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” — Neil Gaiman, Coraline

3. David Walliams, 1971 - Present

David Walliams is an English comedian who has successfully transitioned into children’s literature, often being called “the new Roald Dahl” by critics and fans alike. Born in London in 1971, he studied drama at the University of Bristol before changing his surname from Williams to Walliams to avoid confusion with another performer in his college group, Equity.

His 2008 debut children’s novel, The Boy in the Dress, was followed by Mr. Stink in 2009, which won the Children’s Award in the People’s Book Prize in 2010. Walliams has also written The World’s Worst Children series, featuring short story collections with distinctly Dahl-like mischievous characters and moral lessons.

With 50 million children’s books sold to date, Walliams has proven his ability to capture Dahl’s signature blend of humor, heart, and slightly subversive storytelling. His writing style frequently draws comparisons to Dahl due to its strong satirical humor and memorable, eccentric characters.

“Spending so much time alone had turned Chloe’s imagination into a deep dark forest. It was a magical place to escape to, and so much more thrilling than real life.” — David Walliams, Mr. Stink

4. Norton Juster, 1929 - 2021

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Norton Juster originally pursued architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, earning most of his income through his architectural career while writing became his passionate side pursuit. His most famous work, The Phantom Tollbooth, and The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics showcase his unique ability to make learning entertaining.

The Dot and the Line was adapted into an Academy Award-winning short film, while The Phantom Tollbooth became a beloved musical play. Juster’s work shares Dahl’s gift for wordplay and his ability to create fantastical worlds that serve as vehicles for both entertainment and education, never talking down to young readers.

His mathematical and architectural background brought a unique precision to his storytelling, creating logical fantasy worlds where impossible things follow their own internal rules—much like Dahl’s chocolate factories and giant peaches.

“So many things are possible just as long as you don’t know they’re impossible.” — Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth

5. Andy Stanton, 1973 - Present

Andy Stanton is an English children’s author best known for his Mr. Gum book series. He briefly attended Oxford, where he studied English but left to work as a scriptwriter and cartoonist. His career as an author began with You’re A Bad Man, Mr. Gum! in 2006.

This debut book launched a nine-book series that won the Red House Children’s Book Award, two Blue Peter Book Awards, and the inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize—a fitting honor given the obvious influence Dahl’s work had on Stanton’s writing. His standalone books include Danny McGee Drinks the Sea and The Story of Matthew Buzzington.

Stanton’s irreverent humor, absurd situations, and delightfully ridiculous characters create the same sense of joyful chaos that characterizes Dahl’s best work. His ability to surprise readers with unexpected plot twists and laugh-out-loud moments makes him a natural successor to Dahl’s comedic legacy.

“He would much rather hear a piano being demolished by illegal bulldozers than a Mozart concerto.” — Andy Stanton, You’re a Bad Man, Mr. Gum!

6. Louis Sachar, 1954 - Present

Louis Sachar is the author of the Sideways Stories from Wayside School series, which explores the hilarious consequences of a school accidentally built sideways as a 30-story skyscraper. This architectural mistake creates the perfect setting for the wonderfully absurd students and situations that fill each story.

Sachar graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in economics but quickly discovered his passion for writing. He published Sideways Stories from Wayside School in 1978, and eleven years later, his book earnings allowed him to retire from his other career and write full-time. His Newbery Award-winning novel Holes demonstrates his ability to craft mysteries that span generations.

Like Dahl, Sachar excels at creating institutional settings—schools, camps—where the adult authority figures are often as eccentric as the children. His gentle satire of educational systems and his celebration of childhood’s inherent weirdness echo themes central to Dahl’s work.

“They had never had a nice teacher. They were terribly afraid of nice teachers.” — Louis Sachar, Sideways Stories from Wayside School

7. Astrid Lindgren, 1907 - 2002

Swedish author Astrid Lindgren created both fiction books and screenplays, drawing heavily from her childhood memories in Nas. Her most famous creation, The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking, has been translated into 60 languages and continues to captivate readers worldwide.

Lindgren also wrote Mio, My Son, which won the Children’s Book Award in 1956. Her books have sold over 170 million copies in 109 different languages, making her the 18th most-translated author in the world. On her 90th birthday in 1997, Lindgren was named International Swede of the Year.

Like Dahl’s protagonists, Pippi Longstocking is a child who operates outside conventional adult expectations, creating her own rules and approaching the world with fearless curiosity. Lindgren’s celebration of childhood independence and her gentle mockery of adult pretensions align perfectly with Dahl’s worldview.

“I have noticed several times that people don’t think I know how to behave even when I’m trying as hard as I can.” — Astrid Lindgren, Pippi Longstocking

8. Polly Horvath, 1957 - Present

American-Canadian author Polly Horvath writes books for young readers that blend the everyday with the extraordinary. Born in Michigan, she began writing as a child and also studied dance in Toronto. Her 1999 novel The Trolls was a National Book Award finalist and won a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award honor.

Horvath won the National Book Award for her 2003 novel The Canning Season, and another of her works, Everything on a Waffle, received a Newbery Honor. Many of her books have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, and her works have been translated into 25 languages.

Horvath’s books are renowned for their unpredictability and odd but thoroughly likable characters, qualities that make her remarkably similar to Roald Dahl. Her ability to find magic in mundane situations and her gift for creating memorable, slightly eccentric families place her firmly in Dahl’s tradition.

“It’s not the natural disasters you have to fear. It’s the ones that are inside of you, waiting to happen.” — Polly Horvath, The Trolls

9. Maryrose Wood, 1962 - Present

Maryrose Wood created The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, a series about three children raised by wolves who are connected to the mysterious Ashton Place mansion and their brave governess who helps them discover their true history. NPR named these books among the Best Books of 2015.

The six-book series begins with The Mysterious Howling and features plenty of witty observations and eloquent monologues balanced with abundant humor, making them remarkably similar to Dahl’s sophisticated approach to children’s literature.

Wood’s series combines elements of mystery, historical fiction, and comedy while maintaining the same respect for young readers’ intelligence that characterizes Dahl’s work. Her ability to create an immersive Victorian setting populated with memorable characters demonstrates the timeless appeal of well-crafted children’s literature.

“A well-organized stocking drawer is the first step toward a well-organized mind.” — Maryrose Wood, The Mysterious Howling

10. William Steig, 1907 - 2003

William Steig was a prolific children’s author with numerous National Book Award finalist works to his credit. He created well-known stories like Doctor De Soto, Dominic, and Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. Interestingly, Steig began his career drawing illustrations and cartoons for The New Yorker and didn’t start writing children’s books until age 61.

His picture book Sylvester and the Magic Pebble won the Caldecott Medal, and he also wrote Shrek!, which became the basis for the beloved animated film series. Steig’s late start in children’s literature proves that great storytelling can emerge at any stage of life.

Like Dahl, Steig understood that children appreciate stories that don’t talk down to them. His books combine sophisticated humor with genuine emotion, creating tales that work on multiple levels for readers of different ages. His influence on contemporary children’s literature continues to inspire new generations of writers and illustrators.

“I wish I were a rock,’ he said, and he became a rock.” — William Steig, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble