Experts > Cornelia Funke

Cornelia Funke's Top Book Recommendations

Want to know what books Cornelia Funke recommends on their reading list? We've researched interviews, social media posts, podcasts, and articles to build a comprehensive list of Cornelia Funke's favorite book recommendations of all time.

1

Igraine the Brave

Igraine dreams of being a famous knight like her great-grandfather, but castle life is boring. Until the nephew of the baroness-next-door plans to capture the castle for their singing spell books. At the moment of the siege, her parents mistakenly turn themselves into pigs. Aided by a Gentle Giant and a Sorrowful Knight, Igraine must be brave, and save the day -- and the books. less
Recommended by Cornelia Funke, and 1 others.

Cornelia FunkeOh Igraine! It was so much fun to write this book, and I think I did some of my best illustrations for this story. I owe it all to T. H. White and my love for his book the Once and Future King. Originally, I wanted to just write a short story about magical books and a girl who wishes to be a knight (the kind of girl I am!) but then it grew and grew. (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

2

Dragon Rider

With lonely Ben aboard, brave dragon Firedrake seeks mythical place where silver dragons can live in peace. Over moonlit lands and sparkling seas, they meet fantastic creatures, summon up surprising courage - and cross a ruthless villain with an ancient grudge determined to end their quest. Only a secret destiny can save the dragons and bring them the true meaning of home. less
Recommended by Cornelia Funke, and 1 others.

Cornelia FunkeThis book is my love song to all the fabulous creatures of this planet. (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

3

The Thief Lord

Two orphaned children are on the run, hiding among the crumbling canals and misty alleyways of Venice. They are soon befriended by a gang of street children and their mysterious leader, the Thief Lord. The greatest threat to their freedom is a beautiful magical treasure with the power to spin time itself. less
Recommended by Cornelia Funke, and 1 others.

Cornelia FunkeI owe this book to the children I worked with as a social worker. (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

4

Inkheart Trilogy Collection

Titles In This Set: Inkdeath, Inkheart, Inkspell

Inkheart

Meggie loves books. So does her father, Mo, a bookbinder, although he has never read aloud to her since her mother mysteriously disappeared. They live quietly until the night a stranger knocks at their door He has come with a warning that forces Mo to reveal an extraordinary secret - a storytelling secret that will change their lives forever.

Inkspell

Although a year has passed, not a day goes by without Meggie thinking of the extraordinary events of Inkheart, and the story whose...
more
Recommended by Cornelia Funke, and 1 others.

Cornelia FunkeInkworld is about my obsession with books. (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

5
Jacob has uncovered the doorway to another world, hidden behind a mirror. It is a place of dark magic and enchanted objects, scheming dwarves and fearsome ogres, fairies born from water and men born from stone.

Here, he hunts for treasure and seeks adventure in the company of Fox - a beautiful, shape­shifting girl, who guides and guards him.

But now Jacob's younger brother has followed him into the mirrored world, and all that was freedom has turned to fear. Because a deadly curse has been spoken; and Jacob must risk his life to reverse it, before his brother is turned...
more
Recommended by Cornelia Funke, Zoe, and 2 others.

Cornelia FunkeReckless is my journey around the world in fairy tales. (Source)

ZoeThese books are mostly about boys, for a change. The Mirrorworld is a place where fairytale creatures are real and the impossible is possible. (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

Don't have time to read Cornelia Funke's favorite books? Read Shortform summaries.

Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:

  • Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
  • Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
  • Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.