The Magic Faraway Tree – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Magic Faraway Tree

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book1943

89%

WISE Score

4.6

Amazon

A tree where the top branch is a literal portal to weird lands—it’s like a 1940s fever dream that actually still works for kids.

The Magic Faraway Tree

book

1943

89%

WISE Score

4.6

Amazon

A tree where the top branch is a literal portal to weird lands—it’s like a 1940s fever dream that actually still works for kids.

4.6

Jump to

Also rated on

4.6

View →

Where to Read

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Libby

Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)

Screenwise Verdict

The Magic Faraway Tree is one of those rare 80-year-old books that hasn't completely curdled. While the writing is simple and the characters are flatter than a pancake, the sheer creativity of the different lands keeps it relevant.

It’s the ultimate antidote to 'brain rot' content because it requires the child to do all the visual heavy lifting. Just make sure you grab a revised edition from the last 10 years unless you want to spend your evening explaining 1940s slang and why the kids are constantly threatened with a 'clout' around the ear.

Age Fit

Perfect for 5 to 9-year-olds. It’s a classic 'read-to-me' book for kindergartners and a solid 'I can read this myself' win for 2nd or 3rd graders. Anyone over 10 might find the prose a bit too simplistic.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It centers on siblings going on adventures together, modeling a lot of cooperation and old-school childhood independence. The tone is gentle, though the 'villains' in certain lands can be a bit mean-spirited by modern standards.

Imaginative

The core concept—a tree that hosts a rotating door of magical worlds—is a masterclass in kid-logic fantasy. It’s pure 'what-if' fuel that has influenced everything from Harry Potter to modern portal fantasies.

Safe

Generally very safe, but older editions contain references to corporal punishment ('smacking'). Modern versions have sanitized the names (changing 'Fanny' and 'Dick') and removed the physical discipline, but the 'Land of Dame Slap' still features a teacher who is essentially a professional bully.

Enriching

It’s fantastic for building a child's vocabulary and expanding their sense of wonder. It doesn't offer deep emotional complexity or 'lessons,' but it’s a great bridge from picture books to longer novels.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

The rotating 'Lands' (like the Land of Goodies or the Land of Birthdays) keep the plot moving fast enough for kids with short attention spans.
Moon-Face, Silky the Pixie, and the Saucepan Man are genuinely weird, memorable characters that stick with you.
The short, episodic chapters make it the perfect 'one more chapter' bedtime read-aloud.
It encourages kids to look at the natural world (like a big old tree) and imagine a whole hidden life inside it.

⚠

What to Watch For

Check which edition you have. Older copies have names like 'Dick' and 'Fanny' which will definitely cause a case of the giggles (or awkwardness) in a modern classroom or bedroom.
Dame Slap and Dame Snap are basically child-hating caricatures; if your kid is sensitive to 'mean teacher' tropes, these parts might feel a bit heavy.
The gender roles are dated—the girls often stay behind to tidy Moon-Face's house while the boys go off to investigate the 'dangerous' stuff.

Conversation Starters

"If you could invent a Land to appear at the top of the tree tomorrow, what would be in it and what would it be called?"
"Why do you think the Saucepan Man wears all those pots? Do you think it’s for protection or just because he’s a bit eccentric?"
"If we found a 'Slippery-Slip' in a tree in our park, would you be brave enough to ride it all the way down?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic