So your child has read the Harry Potter books, and seen the movie. Maybe, in view of all the recent controversy about the boy wizard, you are wondering if you did the right thing to permit this: She's now a devoted fan of fantasy literature, and longs to get her hands on more stories of strange worlds and wondrous events. You're afraid this taste may lead to a fascination with the occult.

Or maybe, given all the controversy, you've forbidden your child access to Potter and company. But you keep hearing how these books have turned reluctant readers into bookworms. If only there was some other series that could work the same “magic” with your child.

Try Redwall. Often appearing on the “young adult” shelf of bookstores and libraries, this 14-volume series by Brian Jaques (pronounced jakes) has been a delight to the 10- to 16-year-old set ever since it began appearing in 1986. And unlike many series, the quality of the writing seems to get better and better; the last five volumes — from The Long Patrol through Taggerung — have been New York Times bestsellers.

Jaques first began telling stories of talking animals to children at a school for the blind in England. As a result, the written versions of his stories have lushly detailed descriptions that paint vivid pictures for readers; and the many characters speak various British dialects, making it easier to distinguish among them.

Mossflower Country, where the stories take place, is reminiscent of medieval England, except that it is populated by talking animals. Redwall Abbey is the story's monastery — a place where the animal monks live a celibate life of study. They have no religion per se, but are committed to virtuous living and service to others. At the same time, the monastery is a communal home to many animal families, who work and play together under the leadership of the monks. Mice, badgers, hedgehogs, squirrels and otters live in idyllic harmony.

Does that sound too dull? Fear not. Marauding bands of barbaric vermin — weasels, foxes, and rats — show up regularly to pillage, plunder and enslave the more gentle species. But the peace-loving animals of Redwall are no pacifists. Whenever things look bleak, a hero rises to the occasion, rallies the good guys, and wins the day.

Jaques has managed 14 variations on this theme so far, with fresh personalities and plot twists every time. And those who shy away from too much magic will be pleased to know that beyond the help of an occasional prophetic dream or vision, Redwall animals solve their problems through their own courage, cleverness, strength and willingness to work with others. The evil animals, on the other hand, have “seers” who seem to be sly, self-serving individuals with powers that are largely bogus.

When Maryanne Smith was 9 years old, she didn't care much for reading. But her older brother told her about the talking mice and squirrels of Redwall and this young animal lover just had to give them a try. Here at last, was a reason to use those phonics skills her teachers had drilled into her, because these were stories worth reading: “The Redwall books are magical, and by that I don't mean spells and Harry Potter stuff,” says Smith. “They're magical because the author makes you feel like this world of talking animals really exists somewhere.”

Now a teen-ager, Smith has read all 14 books, some of them more than once.

A spokesman for Penguin Putnam, who wanted to remain anonymous, often accompanies Jacques on book signing tours. He confirmed this learning phenomenon: “It'll striking to me how many kids approach Brian, saying that they never liked reading before, and have gone from reading nothing to reading voraciously, thanks to his books.”

He also noted that, judging from Jaques' fan mail, young readers seem to absorb the books' emphasis on personal courage and responsibility. “Brian calls them ‘My Redwall Warriors.’”

Laura Berquist, home schooling authority and director of Mother of Divine Grace correspondence school, often recommends the Redwall series to clients whose children are reluctant readers. She knows of children who have advanced several grade levels in reading ability in a very short time. They loved the Redwall stories enough to struggle through them, making quick progress.

More than that, Berquist believes these fun and exciting books are good for children: “It's a mistake to oppose fantasy to realistic fiction. It's true that fantasy stories couldn't happen in the real world exactly as written, so in that sense they aren't 'true.’ But good fantasy does speak to the world we live in, because good and evil don't change.

“Often these stories highlight good and evil in a way that would get lost in a true-to-life story. A good book reflects truths about the real world and the moral order, and Brian Jaques' books do just that.”

Some have raised objections to the amount of violence and warfare in Jaques' novels. But it is the battle scenes that are a large part of Redwall's appeal to boys. Berquist doesn't see this as a problem. “These books don't saturate the imagination with gory details. Battle and warfare is part of reality, and the wars in Redwall are always just and purely defensive. The books don't teach a child to delight in the actual killing.

“Boys enjoy the planning and strategy involved in war, and seeing the good guys win,” she said. “It's a natural inclination, which we don't want to discourage.”

Jerry Lademan, 14, has that natural inclination for battle strategy. A Redwall fan for the last four years, he notes that these books don't insult his intelligence with “sterotypes where the bad guys are inept fighters whom the good guys beat with no difficulty. Both sides have good tactics and skill as fighters. And Brian Jaques shows that no one wins a war without terrible loss; often important [good] characters get killed. This makes it more suspenseful … you really don't know who's going to be left in the end.

“But he shows that honesty and integrity will prevail.”

Daria Sockey writes from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.