If your kids enjoyed the movie, then read the book!

Could it be even better than the movie?

HARRISBURG — What do an awkward middle schooler, a principal-turned-superhero and a young wizard have in common?

All three—a Wimpy Kid, Captain Underpants and Harry Potter—are the subjects of successful book and movie franchises. And while the original book series about these characters have been enormously popular, they are rivaled by their wildly successful spin-off movies.

Since each of these franchises began as beloved books, students who have only seen the movies are missing out by not giving the books a try. Some students have found pleasure in reading for fun after discovering the well-crafted book of a favorite movie. And by reading what they truly enjoy, they will read more and, chances are, become better readers. The U.S. Department of Education says that students who read more for fun on their own time generally have higher reading scores.

Reading for enjoyment has valuable, long-term benefits, too, because research has shown that good readers do better academically, get more years of schooling and are more successful in their jobs.

Reading for fun is less prevalent during the teen years when many older students are busy and make little time for reading. Nearly half of 17-year-olds read by choice just once or twice a year, according to Common Sense Media. But if they are encouraged to read what they want, some will find time for personal, pleasurable reading.

Anne McGill-Franzen, a researcher in reading education, thinks it’s vital that students like books and stories that they read. “Whatever the topic is, if it gets them into reading and into thinking of themselves as readers, it’s worthwhile.” She feels strongly that children should be able to choose what they read, even if it may not be great literature. What’s most important is that they are reading.

So, adults should refrain from judging their kids’ reading selections. They might be reading what their friends are reading—and that may be a book that inspired a movie they just saw and loved.

Reading advocates are quick to point out the advantages that books have over their movie counterparts. For one, books more fully challenge the mind and imagination. Blogging on “6 Reasons the Book is (Almost Always) Better than the Movie” on barnesandnoble.com, writer Rich Santos says, “Five hundred different readers of the same book may have 500 different ideas of a character’s appearance.” That goes for the physical setting as well. Reading prompts the mind to be creative.

Books also are not as limited by time in telling their stories. They have the freedom to go deeper into plot and character development. Santos writes, “Most movies do their thing in 1.5-3 hours. … This condensing of books into movies leads to deleted parts from the book or abbreviation of developments within the book.” Many of us have been disappointed by a movie that omitted a favorite scene from the book.

Parents of younger children can establish the practice of seeing a movie and then reading the book, or vice versa. A Pennsylvania grandmother reports that when her grandchild visits for a week each summer, they read a book at bedtime together and end the week by watching the film version. Afterwards, they enjoy talking about how the book and movie are different.

With or without a movie, reading aloud is a strong and lasting influence on a child. Pam Allyn, author of “What to Read When,” says that “reading aloud to a child every day is a powerful and simple way to turn a child into a lifelong reader.”

Reading to kids while sharing a book teaches them letters, their sounds and words. They begin to connect written words with spoken words, and before long, they’re reading. The U.S. Department of Education found that children who are read to at least three times a week at home are nearly twice as likely to score in the top 25 percent in reading than ones who are read to less often.

Here are a few reading tips to help parents ensure that their kids enjoy the book as much as the movie:

· Read with expression. Raise or lower your volume to fit the action. Use various character voices.

· Explain unfamiliar words to your child.

· If your child can read, ask if he or she would like to read, too.

· After reading, ask questions about the story and discuss what is taking place.

Now, aren’t you inspired to seek out some great book-movie combinations? Here are some of the best: (Parentheses denote movie titles that vary from the book titles.)

· Anne of Green Gables

· Captain Underpants

· Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory)

· Charlotte’s Web

· Diary of a Wimpy Kid

· Fantastic Mr. Fox

· Harriet the Spy

· Harry Potter

· Holes

· James and the Giant Peach

· Jumanji

· (Lemony Snicket’s) A Series of Unfortunate Events

· The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

· Mary Poppins

· Matilda

· Mr. Popper’s Penguins

· Peter Pan

· Pippi Longstocking

· Star Wars

· The Tale of Despereaux

· Tuck Everlasting

· The (Wonderful) Wizard of Oz

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“Literacy is for life” is a statewide awareness campaign that is part of the Keystones to Opportunity (KtO) initiative, directed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and funded through the federal Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program. The KtO grant supports programs that advance literacy skills in children from birth through grade 12 through professional development, screening and assessment, targeted interventions for students reading below grade level and research-based methods of improving classroom instruction and practice. The “Literacy is for life” campaign aims to educate everyone about the need for students to hone their skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening in order to improve their chances of success for whatever path in life they take.