By Janeen Lewis

Pairing books with movies is an easy way to keep kids reading during summer when learning losses can occur. While parents usually want their children to limit screen time, the silver screen may be the exception that encourages kids to read. This summer, make movies, and the books that inspire them, the double feature that hooks kids on books.

Here is a list of dozens of books in a variety of genres that have been made into movies or streaming shows for kids of all ages. Many of the movies that go with these books can be checked out at the library for free. Fill your bookshelves, pop some corn, and make it a double feature!

Picture Books

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

The Night at the Museum by Milan Trenc 

Eloise at the Plaza by Kay Thompson

Orion and the Dark by Emma Yarlett

Classics

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

The Wizard of OZ by L. Frank Baum 

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

Pipi Longstocking series by Astrid Lindgren 

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel

Snow White by Brothers Grimm

Realistic Fiction

Call of the Wild by Jack London

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson

Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald

Holes by Louis Sachar

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary 

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Historical Fiction

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder 

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp (the movie is titled The Sound of Music)

American Girl series by various authors

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper

Fantasy

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

Doctor Dolittle series by Hugh Lofting (the movie is titled Dolittle)

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (Wonka is the newest movie adaptation)

The BFG by Roald Dahl

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Adventure

Paddington Bear series by Michael Bond

Enola Holmes by Nancy Springer

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan 

The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling

Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr

Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

A Series of Unfortunate Events series by Lemony Snicket 

Science Fiction

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key

Especially for Teens

Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers

Emma by Jane Austen

Persuasion by Jane Austen

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Divergent series by Veronica Roth

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

Double Features for Parents (Not the Kids!) Summer reading isn’t just for children! Here are books made into new and classic movies for parents to enjoy.

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier

The Shack by William P. Young

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

The Help by Kathyrn Stockett

Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love by Matthew Logelin (The movie is Fatherhood)

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

The Life List by Lori Nelson Spielman

Book Talk Watching movies and books together gives parents the opportunity to discuss books with kids. For example, you can ask questions like these:

Which was better, the book or the movie? 

What were some differences between the book and the movie? Did you like the changes?

Did the cast capture the personalities of the characters in the books?

How would you make the book different? How would you make the movie different?

If you could pick any book that wasn’t already a movie, which book would it be and why? Which actors and actresses would you cast in the movie? Would you change the beginning, middle, or ending? 

Janeen Lewis is a mom, freelance writer, and teacher who holds a Master’s Degree in Education. Her favorite book/movie duo is Because of Winn Dixie.