Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Family movie night? There's an app for that

Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

By Monica Wyatt, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

A classic that both adults and kids love.

Book Lewis Carroll Literary Fiction 1865
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 6+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Beth R.
Beth R. Adult
March 13, 2023
age 6+
CSMContentDefault
CSMContentDefault Adult
July 7, 2014
age 4+

Nonsense wrapped up in delightful language

My 4 year old loved this. She had me read this and Through the Looking-Glass to her twice in two weeks. The language is very much of its time, but wonderful if your child likes that kind of thing. I skipped a few pages of extended word play where there's not a lot of plot progression - especially the Knave of Hearts trial - but that was about it. There are some allusions to violence. The famous, "off with his head!", of course, which never amounts to anything, but also the Mouse's tale in the beginning is indeed not a happy one. There's also the scene in the kitchen where the peppery cook throws pans at people. However, none of it bothered my 4 year old, even though she's coming out of a sensitive phase. Probably because it's all so over the top.
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

What strange and marvelous creatures will Alice find down the rabbit hole, and what amazing thing will happen next? The inventive language and charming fantasy make this a classic that both adults and kids love. Older ones will appreciate the satire, but some younger children will be confused or bored. Updated illustrations are appealing to children.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (18 ):

Though there are many video versions and a lot of simplified retellings of this story, all kids deserve to know this wonderful adventure as Lewis Carroll wrote it. But it takes a particular kind of child to enjoy this: Complex language, nonsense, and the lack of a sensible plot are not to every child's taste. The book needs to be thoughtfully read aloud by an adult; few children will read this on their own. But, read aloud, the rhythmic poems can delight kids for their sounds and silly images.

The book works on two levels: as a delightful children's fantasy and as an impish poke in the eye to adults. Alice's strange new world remains just enough like the polite society of Victorian England that we can recognize it -- but it isn't terribly polite, allowing adults to understand much of the book as satire. Of course, kids usually don't see the satire; they simply enjoy the nonsense. If you've forgotten how to do that, Alice can help you remember.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the strange creatures in Wonderland. Which is the strangest?

  • Why do you think the queen is so mean? Are you confused by parts of the story? Which parts?

  • Do you like stories you don't understand right away? Why, or why not?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate