As a kid, I loved going to the library and considered the Scholastic Book Fair as my Super Bowl. And it was a chef’s kiss when a good book had a movie adaptation I could watch after closing the final chapter. Books like Ella Enchanted, the Princess Diaries series, and the Harry Potter saga have film adaptations that, in my opinion, are just as good as the novels. I remember going to their movie premieres and spending my Friday night after-school hangs at the movie theater to judge whether or not the film did the book justice.
Now that I’m a mom, I’ve continued my love for reading book-to-movie (and TV series) adaptations with my kids, too. Since my son was a toddler, we’ve read books like Winnie the Pooh and Night at the Museum and followed them with a family movie night by watching their film versions. So, I can’t tell you how beyond excited I am to start reading the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson & the Olympians series with him when he’s old enough. If you’re looking for books to read with your kiddos—and watch their film adaptations—I have the perfect list for you. Start a family book club and take time to connect by reading one of these books together. Here, I’m listing 47 storybooks and novels that you can read and watch with your kids, categorized by age—so you can easily determine which ones to read!
Editor’s Note: Parents and guardians should review and decide whether any book or movie is appropriate for their children based on ratings and their child’s maturity level.
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Storybooks for Toddlers (Ages 1—3)
A beloved children’s book is even more fun to read when you can watch it come to life on the big screen. Read these classic bedtime stories with your little one and enjoy their movies and low-stimulation shows, too.
This New York Times best-selling book is set to be a movie this year! The pout-pout fish may have a reputation for being the dreariest fish of all, but this book teaches kids that you can turn any frown upside down. Enjoy other books in The Pout-Pout Fish series, too.
In theaters: March 20, 2026
This fun and delightful book by Dr. Seuss will be released as an animated film in 2026, with Bill Hader voicing the Cat. This storybook is the first of The Cat in the Hat series and follows two young siblings on a dreary day while they’re home alone. The Cat in the Hat causes trouble while their mother is gone. Have fun rhyming with your little one, and catch the movie in theaters this year.
In theaters: November 6, 2026
An elephant named Horton discovers that a tiny speck of dust holds the town of Whoville. Horton uses his elephant-sized heart to speak up for the Whos of Whoville and teaches that compassion and determination always win.
Where to watch the movie: Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
If you want to teach your toddler how to care for the planet, Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax is a great one for kiddos. The beautiful Truffula Trees are being chopped down for Thneeds by the Once-ler, and all the nature is gone. But, the Lorax speaks for the trees and saves one seed and shows that they can still save the environment!
Where to watch the movie: Netflix
The Llama Llama books are a hit with little ones, and so is the TV show on Netflix. The original book is a classic rhyme about a little llama who, at bedtime, worries that Mama Llama won’t come back. While Baby Llama cries out for her, Mama Llama is just doing her closing shift! Read this kid-favorite book series and watch the show, too.
Where to watch the series: Netflix
If you grew up reading Curious George as a child, it’s a fun one to reread with your LO. A young monkey named George explores the world with his curiosity. His cute and funny antics sometimes get him in trouble, but this beloved series is all about learning and embracing the beauty of curiosity. Get to know Curious George and The Man in the Yellow Hat in this series, perfect for toddlers. Watch the series on PBS Kids and Curious George 2 and Curious George 3 on Amazon Prime Video.
Where to watch the series: PBS Kids
Where to watch the movies: Amazon Prime Video
In the little town of Chewandswallow, it never rains rain or snows snow. In fact, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the sky drops soup, mashed potatoes, and even hamburgers. The townspeople love their delectable rainfall until the food is more than they can chew. While the book’s and the animated film’s storylines are a little different, both are enjoyable for the entire family.
Where to watch the movie: Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
Emily Elizabeth and her Big Red Dog, Clifford, are always off to new adventures filled with laughter and kindness. Introduce your little one to this kid-favorite children’s book series. If they can’t get enough, watch the cartoon series and the animated movie, too.
Where to watch the series: Amazon Prime Video
Where to watch the movie: Apple TV and Paramount+
The stories of Winnie-the-Pooh and his pals have been around for a century, and they’re still well-loved today. Join Christopher Robin and his friends, Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Owl, Tigger, and Eeyore, in A.A. Milne’s beloved collection of short stories. There are so many wonderful television series and movies out there that beautifully retell these classics. Other Winnie the Pooh movies worth watching include Pooh’s Heffalump Movie, The Tigger Movie, and so much more.
Where to watch the series: Disney+
Where to watch the movie: Disney+
Like most little ones, Peter sees a blanket of white snow as an invitation to play in this award-winning book by Ezra Jack Keats. The film version of the book takes a holiday spin, as Little Peter is on his way to help his grandmother make a Christmas Eve dinner, but gets distracted playing in the snow. And when his grandmother sparks neighborhood fun by starting a snowball fight, it becomes a wintery day to remember. The sweet animated film is right under 39 minutes long—perfect for little ones who can’t sit still for over an hour.
Where to watch the movie: Amazon Prime Video
Madeline is an adored children’s book. “In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.” While the smallest one was Madeline, she’s the bravest and most courageous of them all.
Where to watch the series: Amazon Prime Video
Where to watch the movie: Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
Books for Little Kids (4—6)
Add these childhood favorites to your book rotation, and then have a family movie night with their movie and television show adaptations.
Arthur the aardvark has been a beloved book character since 1976, making it a multigenerational classic. And kids and parents have been watching the hit TV series since it first debuted in 1996. From learning how to write a story to getting a library card to experiencing camp for the first time, join Arthur and his friends on their childhood adventures in the town of Englewood.
Where to watch the series: PBS Kids
Explore emotions with a little boy named Max in Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are. When Max gets sent to his room after causing a raucous, he escapes to an imaginary island where he becomes king of “The Wild Things.”
Where to watch the movie: Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
For kids who love hands-on learning, there’s no better book series than The Magic School Bus. Dive deep into science with Ms. Frizzle and her entire class as they load up into The Magic School Bus to learn about everything and anything through the wildest of adventures. For the ‘90s and 2000s kids who grew up on this treasure of a series, you’ll be happy to know it made a Netflix revival with a new series in 2017 called The Magic School Bus Rides Again.
Where to watch the series (1994): Peacock and Netflix
Where to watch the series (2017): Netflix
Nothing seems to be going right for Alexander. From gum in his hair to getting in trouble at school, he seems to rack up a list of terrible misfortunes. This popular children’s book teaches kids that everyone can have bad days, and it’s okay!
Where to watch the movie: Disney+
Did you know that 101 Dalmatians was a book before it became a movie? While most kids can recognize the children’s book version, the original is a novel written by Dodie Smith in 1956, and is more suitable to read with a tween. In this children’s book, Cruella De Vil’s fur obsession is taken too far with her mission to snatch up every Dalmatian in London. And when Dalmatians, Pongo and Perdita’s puppies, go missing, all the other dogs in London work together to get them back from the evil Cruella De Vil. Watch the 1961 movie and the 1996 version of 101 Dalmatians starring Glenn Close with the kids.
Where to watch the movie (1961): Disney+
Where to watch the movie (1996): Disney+
Read the children’s book that inspired the 2006 movie. Larry, the night guard, must protect New York’s Museum of Natural History, but what should he do when magic has caused the museum and its relics to come to life?
Where to watch the movie: Netflix
Books for Big Kids (Ages 7—9)
If you have a kid who’s starting to read on their own, these short chapter books are great for a young bookworm who’s interested in watching the movie adaptations. This list contains a few classics you may have grown up reading as a child. Notably, the same author who wrote the Captain Underpants books has a new series called Dog Man, which the kids are loving these days!
A magical wardrobe thrusts four young siblings, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, into the world of Narnia, where they must help their residents claim their land back from the evil White Witch. While some may have grown up watching the movie made in 1988, the latest movie was made in 2005 with famous actors like Tilda Swinton as the White Witch and James McAvoy as Mr. Tumnus. Other on-screen adaptations include the 1967 live-action movie, the 1979 animation, and the 1988 television series, which aren’t available for streaming. And Narnia fans, get ready, because Director Greta Gerwig is bringing the newest version of this epic series to Netflix and IMAX in 2026.
Where to watch the movie (2005): Disney+
Start reading the cherished Harry Potter series with the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. 11-year-old orphan Harry Potter is an outcast living in a tiny closet at his aunt and uncle’s house until a mysterious owl arrives with a letter. Harry is invited to attend Hogwarts, the school of witchcraft and wizardry, where his journey begins as a young wizard. Read each book and then watch all the movie adaptations, along with the TV series that’s set to premiere in 2027.
If your kids love the Ramona series by Beverly Cleary, the book Beezus and Ramona was turned into a movie starring Joey King and Selena Gomez. Beezus’s little sister Ramona is impossible, and even more so when she wants to be part of Beezus’s birthday party. Siblings may relate to this one!
Where to watch the movie: Disney+
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of Roald Dahl’s many books that has become a true classic of children’s literature. Willy Wonka is exclusively opening his famous chocolate factory to five lucky kids and their families. Win a ticket, and witness something spectacular.
Where to watch the movie (1971): HBO Max
Where to watch the movie (2005): HBO Max
Young Matilda has extraordinary abilities that her parents fail to see. The only one who believes and acknowledges her is her sweet teacher, Miss Honey. Matilda’s intelligence, kindness, and perseverance are what make her even more powerful in fighting back against the evil headmistress Miss Trunchbull in Roald Dahl’s Matilda.
Where to watch the movie: Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
Where to watch the musical: Netflix
Best friends George Beard and Harold Hutchins create the greatest superhero in the history of their elementary school. This hilarious and fun series tells many tales of the great Captain Underpants. The movie is a kid-favorite to watch with the series, too!
Where to watch the movie: Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
From the same author who wrote the Captain Underpants series, Dav Pilkey has another adventure series kids are loving right now. A “life-saving” surgery saves a police officer and his dog companion when they get wounded in the line of duty by making the two into one—dog and man. Dog Man fights against robbers and crooks, and leads with kindness and empathy. Enjoy this series with your kids, and watch the hit movie, which debuted in 2025.
Where to watch the movie: Netflix
A spider named Charlotte saves a young pig named Wilbur by using her beautifully woven spiderwebs. The town believes it’s Wilbur who’s making them! Charlotte’s Web is a children’s classic and has a couple of movie versions that are worth watching, too.
Where to watch the movie (1973): Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
Where to watch the movie (2006): Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
The Yelnats family is cursed. Stanley Yelnats IV wrongly finds himself at Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention center in the middle of a desert. Forced to dig holes to find lost treasure, Stanley’s story ends up intertwining with the outlaw known as “Kissin’ Kate Barlow.”
Where to watch the movie: Disney+
Together, Jess and Leslie create an imaginary world in the woods called Terabithia. A tale about two friends and loss explores the themes of grief, friendship, and courage. For parents, it’s important to note that this book does talk about the death of a child. This book has become a part of children’s literature. It’s a Newbery Medal winner and was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book.
Where to watch the movie: Disney+
Orphan Mary Lennox finds that her uncle’s mansion with 100 rooms is full of secrets. Mary finds a locked door to a garden and decides to restore it in secret. Read this charming novel and watch the nostalgic ‘90s movie with your kid.
Where to watch the movie: Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
Chapter Books for Tweens (Ages 10—12)
Enjoy reading tween favorites like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and The Baby-Sitters Club series with your tween. Their movie versions are just as fun to watch as they are to read! Get a full recap from your tween on what their favorite part of the book is before you watch their movies.
Middle school isn’t for the faint of heart, and for Greg Heffley, he’s just trying to survive. Kinney’s hilarious and relatable series has resonated with kids since the 2000s. So much so that there are several movies based on the book series. With a variety of different versions, you can catch all the different storylines, like Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011), Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2022), and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Christmas Cabin Fever!
Where to watch the movie (2010): Disney+
Where to watch the movie (2017): Disney+
Moving to a new town isn’t easy, and for 11-year-old Margaret Simon, she’s nervous that she won’t fit in with her new friends Nancy, Gretchen, and Janie. The four have a secret group where they can talk about boys, bras, and their first periods, but they’re shocked that Margaret doesn’t have a religion. What they don’t know is that she has her very own special relationship with God. The movie stars Abby Ryder Fortson, Rachel McAdams, and Kathy Bates.
Where to watch the movie: Netflix
This fun Cinderella story is about Ella of Frell, who’s cursed with the gift of obedience. She must do what she’s told—until she escapes from her wicked stepmother and stepsisters to find a way to break the curse. She encounters ogres, fairies, giants, and the lovely Prince Charmont, who helps her in her quest. Both the book and the movie are editor-favorites!
Where to watch the movie: Paramount+
If you’re looking for books to read with your tween or teen, then add the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series to your TBR list. For Percy, school is a little difficult when his Greek mythology textbook comes to life. And when mythological monsters and gods are after him, he gets caught up in an epic adventure to return Zeus’s stolen property. Our editors are loving the latest season of the Percy Jackson series on Disney+.
Where to watch the series: Disney+
Kristy Thomas has the perfect way for her and her friends to make money and spend time together—with a baby-sitters club. It’s a lot of work to run a small business and maintain their friendships. This series is a millennial favorite.
Where to watch the movie: Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
Where to watch the series: Netflix
Novels for Teens (Ages 13+)
Reading the same books with your kid may be more enjoyable as they get older. Plus, it’s a great way to sit down, connect, and have conversations with your tween on the latest chapter you finished right before you watch the book-to-movie adaptation. Re-read The Hunger Games or start The Summer I Turned Pretty with your teenager.
If you were a Meg Cabot fan growing up, the Princess Diaries series and her other books are ones to introduce to your tween or teen. Mia Thermopolis is an ordinary freshman in high school until her dad coughs up that he’s the crown prince of Genovia. Her mom’s dating her algebra teacher, her dad’s royalty, and she doesn’t have a date for the Cultural Diversity Dance. Read this classic YA series and then all the movies, starring Anne Hathaway, right after. Plus, it’s the perfect time introduce the series to your teen, as The Princess Diaries 3 movie is said to be currently in the works.
Where to watch the movie: Disney+
Set in the 1860s Civil War era, Little Women tells the story of sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, sharing their lives as women and sisters, and what it’s like to live by society’s standards.
Where to watch the movie (1994): Netflix
Where to watch the movie (2019): Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
This satirical adventure has become a classic in both the literary and film worlds. Disguised as a pirate, Westley is on a quest to save sweet Buttercup from Humperdinck, the evil prince. This timeless story is well-loved across multiple generations.
Where to watch the movie: Disney+
A pair of thrifted pants mysteriously fits Carmen and her friends. The jeans become a pair of traveling pants, tying the stories of four best friends named Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen. The pants equal love. Love your pals. Love yourself. Don’t forget to read The Second Summer of the Sisterhood along with watching The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2.
Where to watch the movie: Amazon Prime Video
Ander “Ender” Wiggin is set to train against an alien race as one of the child soldiers, but is Ender the military leader that they need? Can Ender live up to the expectations that are set upon him in a war that’s been raging for a century?
Where to watch the movie: Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
The Summer I Turned Pretty series is just as good as its TV adaptation. Every summer at Cousins is magical for Belly Conklin. The beach house is a home away from home. It’s where she grew up with the friends that became her family—where she got to know Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. One summer, everything changes for Belly and the Fisher brothers.
Where to watch the series: Amazon Prime Video
Lara Jean secretly writes love letters to the boys she has a crush on. Never to be sent, the letters serve as a personal outlet for her feelings. That is, until one day when her world is turned upside down as all five of her letters are mailed to the boys. When you can’t get enough, read and watch P.S. I Still Love You and Always and Forever, Lara Jean.
Where to watch the movie: Netflix
This YA romance novel is now a Netflix show! My Life With the Walter Boys is another book series to read if you can’t get off The Summer I Turned Pretty train. A tragic car accident leaves Jackie orphaned, and she’s sent to live with the Walters and their 11 sons. Ranch life living isn’t for a city girl, unless you live with the Walter boys.
Where to watch the series: Netflix
Every year, the Capitol of Panem sends one boy and one girl from each of its 12 districts to fight to the death in the nationally televised event known as the Hunger Games. In this epic series, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers as a tribute to take her sister’s place. Not only does she fight for survival, but she’s started a revolution. Don’t forget to read and watch the rest of the series, along with its prequels.
Where to watch the movie: Peacock
If your teen was a fan of The Hunger Games, then The Maze Runner might be the next series to pick up. The only thing 16-year-old Thomas remembers when he wakes up in the Glade is his name. Trapped with other boys, they must work together to outsmart the deadly revolving maze. But then a girl arrives. The first girl ever, and she gives the group a message: Remember. Survive. Run.
Where to watch the movie: Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
Post-apocalyptic Chicago is now divided into five factions based on particular virtues, and by the age of 16, you must dedicate yourself to one: Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). However, for 16-year-old Beatrice “Tris,” she’s a “Divergent,” a group in which its individuals hold more than one virtue. What seems to be a gift is, in fact, dangerous for a dystopian society. This trilogy is a favorite among teens and adults.
Where to watch the movie: Apple TV
Bestselling author John Green tells a beautiful masterpiece. 16-year-old Hazel Lancaster is terminally ill, and her life has always been lived with limits. When she meets Augustus Waters at a Cancer Kid Support Group, her life changes forever.
Where to watch the movie: Disney+
In this coming-of-age novel, Ponyboy Curtis and his friends understand that life isn’t easy. Get to know the young characters who call themselves the “Greasers” and how they navigate their lives against a rival gang. This book explores loss, life, and friendship. Not only is this critically acclaimed book a movie, but it’s now a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, too!
Where to watch the movie: Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls. But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless king, maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope. This popular book is being turned into a movie (coming in 2027!) starring Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, and Idris Elba—we can’t wait to see it!
In theaters: January 15, 2027
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. With Patty’s passion for writing, experience as a mother of two, and expertise as a pediatric nurse, she brings a thoughtful and informative perspective to The Everymom.
