The Reading Parent
  • Home
  • Start Here
    • About
    • Contact
  • Quick Literacy Tips
  • Keating

Award Winning Beverly Cleary

3/30/2016

 
Picture
I remember devouring the entire Mouse series in a weekend. That's how good they were. The only other books to come close were Nancy Drew and Harry Potter. That might say something about my reading taste, but as a kid, Beverly Cleary was it. 

In about 2 weeks, she will turn 100. So, let's celebrate her birthday by consuming her books and the movies that go with them.

If you wanted to get a jumpstart on her birthday, you could get one of her books and read it by April 12. You could do what I did as a kid and start with Ralph S. Mouse.

She's won the Newbery Award outright  and has honorable mentions in the category for a couple of her Ramona books.

But, one of the movie adaptations also won an award - the Carnegie Medal of Excellence. And you guessed it, it was a mouse movie. Ralph S. Mouse.

​Having a movie night - what a great way to celebrate a birthday.

Picture
This is the cover of the original award-winning movie adaptation by Churchill Films.

It can be hard to come by, but it's a great movie. It's 120 minutes in length.

​You can buy it as a DVD on Amazon.
Ralph S Mouse MoviesPicture
This is the newer, easier to come by adaptation of the Mouse collection. The best part here is, you get all of the mouse stories in one package.

​Run time is 195 minutes for all 3 Mouse stories, plus 4 bonus stories.
Picture
Here's the book! A fun story about a little mouse who can no longer stay at the Inn.

Guided Reading Level: 0
176 Pages


Enjoy!

Books and Matching Movies

2/10/2016

 
There's no such thing as a kid who hates reading. There are kids who love reading, and kids who are reading the wrong books.
-James Patterson


​Watching good movie adaptations after reading books
​

We all want our kids to read for enjoyment. Sometimes that happens and sometimes it doesn't. And sometimes, we want our kids to read, so we reward it with watching the matching movie. Trouble is, sometimes those movies are horrible. Or the books were unenjoyable.

Of course, you always need to judge your kid and interest, but here is a group of books plus their movie counterparts that are great together. And furthermore, as long as you discuss the similarities and differences, likes and dislikes, reading books and watching the matching movie is a good part of your child's required literacy digest.

​1. Charlotte's Web
 E.B. White's book is a perennial favorite. This book combines talking animals with a great plot line.

It's content is suited for an even younger audience than its reading level, making this a favorite read aloud.

The reading level on Charlotte's Web is level R, which is an on-track 4th graders. But you could start reading this book to your kid in 2nd grade. Or wait until they want to read it on their own.

​The movie to watch with this one is the original from the 70s. I've watched both versions and the original animated version is just a more enjoyable viewing.

Book Guided Reading Level: R
Movie Rating: G, 94 minutes
Charlotte's Web
Charlotte's Web, the book
​Charlotte's Web, the movie
Jumanji
Jumanji, the book
​Jumanji, the movie
2. Jumanji
This book is a great example of the power of illustrations. Chris Van Allsburg is fantastic at telling a story through images.

Because of this, his books lends itself especially well to a movie. The book is already so visual that the movie producers didn't need to imagine as much. 

This book and movie duo is great for kids who have a lot of energy and love a good adventure. The reading level is spot in the middle of 2nd grade, but older kids enjoy this set as well.
Book Guided Reading Level: M
Movie Rating: PG, 1 hour 44 min
3. Where the Red Fern Grows
This book always makes me cry when I read it. But, I read it again and again and I've never met anyone who didn't love it just the same, despite its heartache. 

It's an upper level reading book, so you'll want to read this book together over time or hand it off to a confident reader.

For those who are unfamiliar, it's a story of a boy coming into his own with the help of his hunting coons. 
Book Guided Reading Level: X
Movie Rating: G, 97 minutes
Where the Red Fern Grows
Where the Red Fern Grows, the book
​Where the Red Fern Grows, the movie
The Witches
The Witches, the book
​The Witches, the movie
4. The Witches
Like most Roald Dahl books, this book has an underbelly. This book's reading level puts it in the middle of 4th grade, and I would recommend not starting it sooner than that.

The book explores seemingly caring adults, who are actually witches, trying to rid the world of children by turning them into reviled creatures. Like mice.

The boy and his grandmother hatch a plan but it ends on a sour note. This is a great movie/book duo for right around Halloween.

This book is frequently on the list of banned books across the United States, so you could discuss why this book in particular would be banned and why others are not. What makes it uncomfortable?
Book Guided Reading Level: R
Movie Rating: PG, 91 minutes

Other great books and matching movies:

  • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
  • The Neverending Story
  • Harriet the Spy
  • The Indian in the Cupboard
  • The Giver
  • Divergent Series
Enjoy!

      Sign up for the Reading Newsletter

    Subscribe
    Picture
    Land Of Nod: Design for Kids and People That Used to be Kids


    ​Categories

    All
    Award Winning Books
    Baby Books
    Banned Books
    Big Kids
    Books And Movies
    Boy Readers
    Elementary
    Gift Guides
    Ideal Bookshelf
    Middle School
    Picture Books
    Poetry
    Pre K
    Quick Literacy Tips
    Reading And Art
    Reading And Science
    Reading Intentionally
    Reading Reflections
    Reading To Your Kids
    Read Joyfully
    Read Real Books
    Sunday Stories
    Therapeutic Reading
    Upper Elementary
    Writing

    Archives

    December 2019
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

Picture
For Educators

​
Copyright © 2019
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Start Here
    • About
    • Contact
  • Quick Literacy Tips
  • Keating