This summer: Read the book, then watch the movie

Summer reading is a staple for kids, as libraries around the world can attest, and recently I had the idea to take it to a new level. 

There are countless books with movie adaptations, and we love a good family movie night. Many of our favorite movie quotes are now part of our daily lexicon. We often quiz each other with, “Name the movie!” 

What if I could bring together our love of reading and of movie nights?

This summer, I gave my kids this challenge: “Every time you finish reading one of the books on this list, we can watch the movie version.” 

We are having so much fun with this summer goal! The kids are plowing through the books at an impressive rate. (And I have no qualms about letting them listen to these as audiobooks, too. Whether it’s in the car or for afternoon “quiet time” at home with some coloring pages or a puzzle, audiobooks are one of my favorite tools in my parenting arsenal.)

After we watch the movie, we have a little conversation about how it differs from the book and why we think those changes were made.

If you’re looking to encourage your kids to read and build a family culture around great stories, check out these books we love and then watch the movies. I hope this summer challenge is as fun for your family as it has been for mine!

Disclaimer: Some of these titles may be too scary or intense for younger children. We recommend you read reviews and make your own judgment call about whether they are appropriate for your family.

The Chronicles of Narnia are our favorites! These books are a powerful Christian allegory that offer kids great examples of courage, kindness, sacrifice, and mercy. 

I recommend starting with this title in the series. Everyone should enter Narnia for the first time through the wardrobe, as Lucy did. 

You might not think of this one as a movie for kids, but with lots of song and dance numbers, it has been beloved since our kids were young. My toddlers especially love the “Lonely Goatheard” scene! 

The film is replete with Catholic references and a beautiful message about following God’s call and taking a stand against evil, even at great cost. 

What book to read first? I recommend Maria von Trapp and Her Musical Family.

Some of the language in the book is outdated, and the movie has some intense scenes. But the story is a classic with a powerful message: Greatness is about how you act, not what you have. The young heroine endures terrible hardships but gives a shining example of kindness and resilience throughout it all.

When a Swiss family is shipwrecked on a tropical island, they must band together and use their wits to survive. Their delightful tale offers a model of ingenuity, inventiveness and family unity.

Healing and hope bloom in this sweet story of friendship and renewal. We especially appreciate the book’s emphasis on prayer and faith (as in Dickon’s Doxology scene), which sadly was lost in the movie version.

There are many adaptations of this classic story, all of which can spark great conversations about adventure, justice, and charity to those in need. 

My kids enjoy listening to Robin Hood: A Musical Adventure on their Yoto players, and older kids can read The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle. We like the Disney movie version, but other adaptations would be fun to watch, too!

The Swiss Alps come alive in this heartwarming tale of a spirited girl and her grandfather. Outdoorsy families will appreciate this moving story about the healing power of nature and friendship. 

The Chronicles of Prydain are a great read for kids who love adventure and humor. This one may be best for older kids, who will enjoy the story while learning about virtue, honor, and courage.

Wilbur and Charlotte are dear and familiar names to generations of children, and they exemplify friendship and kindness. I didn’t know there was a movie version until recently but we are looking forward to checking it out! (Remember this one has a sad ending though!)

This book series is an all-time favorite in our home. The movie is a little long and may go over the heads of younger kids, but all ages can appreciate Anne’s imagination and sense of adventure. And we all cheer for her as she slowly settles into the home, friendships and family she always wanted.

I can’t wait to read this treasure of a book with my kids this summer. The story offers so many powerful lessons about family, forgiveness, love, faith, and being true to who you are. We plan to watch both the 1994 and 2019 movie adaptations as they are both wonderful. 

The book is such a thought-provoking story, and the movie is nothing like it. But if you think of them as two separate things, both can be enjoyable. My kids just finished the book and couldn’t put it down.

This science fiction story has a great message about love and family, and how good it is that each person is unique. The movie is another adaptation that isn’t much like the book, but we enjoy both nonetheless.

This series might not be right for every family, but my kids love it as much as I did when I was their age. Besides being hilarious and a gripping story, the books have a great emphasis on love, loyalty, and standing up for what’s right. I like Haley Stewart’s take on the Christian framework behind the series.

My disclaimer as a Catholic parent is that the series shifts to a more intense and darker tone after the fourth book, so I opted to have my more sensitive child wait until age 10 to read the last three books in the series. And the final book contains a morally problematic scenario, so I always sit down and talk to my kids about it after they finish that book. But overall we find so much goodness and fun in this unforgettable series.

Definitely for middle schoolers and older, due to intense themes, this book is a modern-day fairy tale with magical elements and themes of justice, redemption, and friendship. The story fits together like a puzzle in a way that is deeply satisfying.