Elementary Activities: 25 Ways to Read a Book and Watch a Movie

By: Deborah Pace Rowley

At our house, we are eagerly anticipating the December release of the Hobbit movie. We have been passing around the book and brushing up on all our Tolkien lore to get ready for the big day! Reading books and then watching their respective movies has become a favorite pastime of all my kids. We love to discuss the differences between the books and the movies they inspired. We have shared Harry Potter and the Hunger Games, The Chronicles of Narnia and The Princess Bride along with countless other books and films. The books are always better. Am I right or am I right?!!

Here is a list of 25+ great books you can read with your child. Then you can watch the movie after you finish the book together. My oldest daughter was a nanny this summer and she was able to persuade a very reluctant reader to finish a book with the knowledge that she could watch the movie when it was done!

Book/Movie

Ramona and Beezus by Beverly Clearly

Beezus and Ramona

Judy Moody Series by Megan Jones McDonald

Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer

The Guardians of Ga'hool Series by Kathryn Lasky

Legend of the Guardians

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Ella Enchanted

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Hugo

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate diCamillo

The Tale of Despereaux

Holes by Louis Sachar

Holes

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate diCamillo

Because of Winn Dixie

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Where the Red Fern Grows

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Mr Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater

Mr. Popper's Penguins

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Charlotte's Web  

                        

Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black

Spiderwick Chronicles

How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell

How to Eat Fried Worms

Bridge to Teribithea by Katherine Paterson

Bridge to Teribithea

         

The Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

The Lightening Thief

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Inkheart

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

A Series of Unfortunate Events

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgsen Burnett

The Secret Garden

The Little Princess by Frances Hodgsen Burnett

The Little Princess

Heidi by Johanna Spryi

Heidi

The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit

The Railway Children

The Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls

Summer of the Monkeys

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

James and the Giant Peach

Do you have a favorite book and movie combination that you have shared with your child? Tell us about it below.

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