Lloyd Alexander

  • 40

    Catalog books

  • 34

    Works

  • 1973 to 2016

    Strongest span

Who This Author Is

Lloyd Alexander’s books blend everyday youth with mythic adventure. Time Cat follows boy Jason and his talking cat Gareth through landmark moments in history, combining curious travel with quiet lessons about courage, choice, and the pull of stories across time.

The Fortune-Tellers pairs Alexander’s warm voice with spare picture-book pacing, offering a gentle exploration of foresight, chance, and how small decisions shape experience. Both titles showcase his talent for folding imaginative premise into humane, understated storytelling that honors young readers’ intelligence.

Best Place To Start

The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man

Penguin Group USA • 2000 • quick commitment

It stands out because it asks for less time than many of the longer volumes on this page.

Author At A Glance

Best known for: Imaginative time-travel children's fiction • Gentle mythic tone • Warm character-driven adventures

Genres and themes: Children's fantasy • Time travel • Friendship and loyalty • Myth and folklore

Who this author is best for: Good for middle-grade readers who enjoy thoughtful, quietly adventurous stories with a touch of myth.

Start with Time Cat for a longer adventure or try The Fortune-Tellers for a brief, illustrated tale.

Top Books To Start With

  1. The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man

    Penguin Group USA • 2000 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 2000 • 128 pages.

  2. The Town Cats and Other Tales

    Penguin Group USA • 1998 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1998 • 126 pages.

  3. The Wizard in the Tree

    Penguin Group USA • 1998 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1998 • 144 pages.

  4. The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain

    Penguin Group USA • 1996 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1996 • 122 pages.

  5. Time Cat: The Remarkable Journeys of Jason and Gareth

    Penguin Group USA • 1996 • standard commitment

    It helps anchor a specific period of this author’s publishing run instead of blending into the undated shelf clutter.

  6. The Fortune-Tellers (Picture Puffin Books)

    Penguin Group USA • 1997 • quick commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1997 • 32 pages.

  7. The Iron Ring

    Penguin Group USA • 1997 • standard commitment

    UPB note: one of the most common used-copy publishers for this author • year signal: 1997 • 283 pages.

  8. The Castle of Llyr: The Chronicles of Prydain, Book 3 (50th Anniversary Edition)

    Square Fish • 2016 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2016 • 224 pages.

  9. Black Cauldron 50th Anniversary Edition

    Holt & Company, Henry • 2015 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2015 • 224 pages.

  10. The Rope Trick

    Puffin Books • 2004 • standard commitment

    UPB note: year signal: 2004 • 195 pages.

How The Picks Compare

  • The Town Cats and Other Tales is the easier short commitment, while The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man asks for more reading time up front.
  • The Town Cats and Other Tales gives you an earlier look at this author’s shelf, while The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man leans later in the catalog.

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