November is National Family Literacy Month.
As the weather cools and less time is spent outside, it is the perfect time to cuddle up with a book. Why not start a Family Reading Time? Maybe set aside a half hour before TV time in the evening for the whole family to sit and read. Or maybe a half hour of reading in the living room after Sunday breakfast? It doesn’t have to be every day. It can be one day week, but setting aside time to read together shows your child that you value books and reading. It can open the door for conversations and quality family time.
Have older kids that read chapter books? Maybe pick a book for the whole family to read (we have several books that we have multiple copies of–just as a reference or children’s librarian). Or maybe choose a book that was made into a movie to read aloud together as a family.
Maybe now is the time to introduce your children to a book you loved as a kid and read it together.
Below you will find some books that have been made into movies, as well as some staff pics for Family Reading Time.
Books for Family Reading Time
Wonder by R.J. Palacio is a great book for kids ages 8-12 (and up) about a boy with a deformed face and an amazing, beautiful personality that we can all learn so much from!
This book was made into a movie with Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson. It’s one of the few movies that is as good as the book!
The Penderwicks is a charming book about four sisters that is perfect for kids ages 8-12.
This book is about four sisters who spend the summer on exploring a beautiful estate and getting into MANY adventures.
Charlotte’s Web is a classic children’s book about a spider named Charlotte who lives in a barn and expresses her feelings to a pig named Wilbur. This book is suitable for kids ages 8-12.
This book has also been adapted into a movie.
The I Survived book series combines history with fiction. They allow kids a look at what it would have felt like to have survived various events in history, such as the Galveston flood or the Destruction of Pompeii.
These books can be a great conversation starter for families and provide a bonding experience.
These books are suitable for children ages 8-12.
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is a classic children’s book and part of the Chronicles of Narnia series that is suitable for children ages 8-12.
This is a beautiful fantasy series about a child who has a magic wardrobe that they walk through into a whole other world.
This book has also been made into a movie.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan is a great book for kids ages 10-14. This series combines mythology with fiction and has been made into a movie.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is a great book for kids ages 9-12 that combines the world of wizardry with the world of private boarding school.
This book has been made into a movie.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of books that have been made into movies or books that would be good for a family reading time. If you don’t see something that appeals to your family on this list, stop in the library and ask the reference or children’s librarians for suggestions of great books that your family may enjoy together.