Happy National Young Readers Week! In celebration of the annual event, I thought it would be fun to talk about ways to spark your child’s passion for reading. In a world where young children have access to video games, the internet, and other technologically advanced activities to occupy their time and minds, it is even more essential to promote literacy by being creative.
When I was younger (about 8 years old) the most wonderful time of year was the day the Book Fair would take place at my elementary school. My parents would give me ten dollars and I could choose two books to take home. I had a blast looking through rows and rows of books and being able to make my very own decision on which titles I wanted. The book that stood out the most to me when I was a young sprout was The Cat From Outer Space. I can still picture the goofy looking cat on the front cover. It was actually written by Ted Key for Disney back in 1978 and was about a feline extraterrestrial named Jake that talked. I loved that book! However, I am not sure what actually come first…the book or the movie…but I saw the film after reading the book and it really brought the pages of the storybook to life!
Watching Netflix is a wonderful way to share some of the classics your parents once read to you, such as The Velveteen Rabbit and The Little Engine That Could. They offer a list of titles inspired by books that would be perfect to get your kid interested in favorite characters you grew up with, like Kristy and Claudia of The Babysitters Club or Tia and Tony from Escape to Witch Mountain. With this being National Young Readers Week, take the opportunity to celebrate these titles with your child and help them discover the thrills of reading.
13 Great Titles Based on Kids’ Books on Netflix
Here are 13 Great Titles Based 0n Kids’ Books on Netflix, for kids of all ages! For moms, dads and older teens, don’t forget to watch one of the most popular novels that hit the big screen – The Hunger Games – just in time before the sequel hits theaters this November 22!
| Big Kids 1.Hugo 2.Escape to Witch Mountain NEW! 3.James and the Giant Peach 4.The Baby-Sitters Club 5.Goosebumps 6.A Wrinkle in Time |
Little Kids 1. Charlotte’s Web NEW! 2.The Velveteen Rabbit 3.The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Stories 4.The Magic School Bus 5.The Little Engine That Could 6.Stuart Little 2 7.Tall Tales: The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, The Snowy Day, I Stink! and Trashy Town |
Get Creative
Another way to get your child excited about reading is by personalizing their room with their favorite story book pages using these book-covered letters. The craft is actually very simple to do and your child will have fun helping to glue the pages to the letters.
After reading The Little Engine That Could to my son and watching it on Netflix together we decided to get creative and select favorite images out of the book to use to design these craft block letters. The project was a great way to bring books to life in our home!
To re-create this craft you will need:
Favorite book
Craft block letters (available at Joann Fabrics or Hobby Lobby)
Mod Podge
White craft paint
Foam brush
Photocopied pages from your favorite book
Scissors
Click here to learn how to make your own.
Mini Peach Pie Pockets with Cinnamon Whipped Cream
This yummy recipe is inspired by the book and movie James and the Giant Peach and is perfect for introducing the Roald Dahl classic to your child. Click here for full instructions.
Share your idea!
Do you have an idea or craft on ways of getting kids interested in reading? I would enjoy hearing how you are able to bring books to life in your home!
I loved all these ideas. My kids love to read. The school that my children attend have a wonderful program through the school that they love to play on the computer. They also see me reading quite a lot and I think that may help as well. It is amazing to me to watch how learning to read happens. It just happens so quickly that you say to yourself “How did that happen?”
I’ve been very fortunate that both of my kids love books. My oldest is just starting to learn to read, but both love to be read to. We’ve always made reading a book part of their bedtime routine. I didn’t know so many of the classics were available on Netflix. That’s definitely something that I”m going to have to check out since my kids love tv and technology as much as any kid these days.
I love the block letters! This would make a great addition to my grandson’s bedroom!
love the look of the letters,,how cute that would be up on a kidsroom wall
an my kids also loved the bookfair at school
Great, great, GREAT ideas here! I remember the book fairs, too! I always looked forward to them SO much – my parents dreaded it because I got so many books. So many of these never ever go out of style or fashion – they are classics. How many copies of “Anne of Green Gables” or “Little Women” have I gone through, I wonder?
We love Netflix, the options for kids are so vast and it’s such a great value for your money!
love love love the letters!!!! Thanks for the great idea, should be doing this for my baby’s new room. Thanks
We actually subscribed to Netflix today and what a great idea. I used to love Charlotte’s Web and Escape to Witch Mountain! These would both be great to watch and read together. I will have to see what else they have. I wonder if they have Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Dick Van Dyke I loved that too 🙂 I also liked the letters using books to personalize a room. I just hate to ruin the book. I guess I’m a little sentimental when it comes to books.
What a cute idea! We get excited about reading by checking out different new books from the library. The kids can hardly wait to read when we get home to hear the new story
These are great ideas, but i especially like the letters! My kids are homeschooled and sometimes they like to dress up as their favorite character in a book for the day!
I love this! This is great!!!
I am always looking for a good craft to make with my granddaughter when she comes to spend the weekend and I am today running to JoAnn fabrics and looking for the letters so we can make this cute project. Thank you!
We are crazy for Netflix!
My daughter loves reading. Over summer break the local library has a reading program. They read so many hours and they get entered into a contests for some really great prizes. They also get a sign to put out in the yard to tell everyone a “champion reader” lives there. My daughter loves the sign in the yard.
Letters really look super. Great way to get the kids involved and fun
My daughter is just like you were. She loves the book fair! I can’t complain because I am a firm believer that you can never have to many books. I didn’t know that Netflix had some of these movies. I will have to show my daughter. I would love to watch A Wrinkle in Time with her. Thanks!