The Water-Babies heralded the dawn of a golden era in fantasy literature, an epoch that would enchant generations with its vivid alternate worlds and flights of imagination. This seminal work by Charles Kingsley offers a retreat from the harsh realities of adult life, setting the stage for a genre that would be perfected by later classics. Notably, Lewis Carroll's iconic tales, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There (1871), surpass Kingsley in the creation of richly imagined realms. In this illustrious tradition, we also find George MacDonald’s At the Back of the North Wind (1871), James M. Barrie’s Peter Pan (1903), and A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh (1926). These works, unlike Kingsley’s, have retained a stronger hold on the popular imagination, yet The Water-Babies endures, albeit with a shrinking readership.

Beyond his famed fantasy, Kingsley's contributions to children's literature extend to works like Glaucus: Or, The Wonders of the Shore (1855), which explores the marvels of the natural world and served as source material for The Water-Babies. Additionally, his The Heroes: Or, Greek Fairy Tales for My Children (1856) offers a skilled retelling of Greek myths, while his lesser-known works include Hereward the Wake (1866) and Madame How and Lady Why (1870).

The influences on Kingsley’s writing are as noteworthy as his output. John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678, 1684) significantly shaped The Water-Babies, particularly in its intertwining of physical and moral journeys. Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels (1726) also left its mark, evidenced by Tom’s visit to Swift’s fictional Isle of Laputa in the story’s concluding chapter.

Despite its age, The Water-Babies remains a captivating read, offering readers a glimpse into the wonders of aquatic life, populated with enchanting characters and laced with a spirit of fun and moral exploration. Its charm lies not only in nostalgia but in the enduring appeal of a narrative that combines whimsy with wisdom.