Did you loathe class trips to the media center and silent reading time? Or did you automatically run to the shelf to get the next book in the Goosebumps, Hardy Boys, or Babysitters Club series? As a middle school teacher and mom of young kids, I have seen firsthand that a love of reading depends heavily on interest, and the availability of books on those topics. There is something for everyone (yes, audiobooks count!), and finding a title that you love can be a bit like finding the right show to watch when you’ve finished bingeing all your favorites.
As your kids get older and move away from colorful picture books, you may find that they struggle to find joy in reading and committing to chapter books. With the end of the school year quickly approaching, there is no need to panic about how to keep your child reading: try pairing some popular movies and shows with the books that inspired them—some of these book adaptations may surprise you!
Recent releases
1. Uglies
Uglies is a dystopian sci-fi series with a powerful message about self-image and daring to question societal norms. It is a four-part novel series, by Scott Westerfeld, and Netflix released the first part of the adaptation last year. The movie is rated PG-13 for some violence and strong language.
2. Harold and the Purple Crayon
Harold and the Purple Crayon (2024) is a film based on a children's book, written by Crockett Johnson. The book and movie encourage creativity and the power of imagination. They also do a great job of reflecting the uniqueness that each person has within them. This movie is rated PG and available on Netflix, so the whole family can enjoy a read-aloud and movie night together.
3. Ada Twist, Scientist
Celebrating women in STEM? Yes, please! This title is its own chapter book, but also part of a collection of books called the Questioneers, by Andrea Beaty. The 2023 Netflix series, rated TV-Y, includes four seasons of 15-minute episodes, which are perfect for young kids to watch in between play sessions. You'll meet characters from all the books in these episodes, and your little one won't be able to resist a few reading sessions with you.
4. Dog Man
The new movie that kids are raving about is actually a wonderful comic book series from the author of Captain Underpants, Dav Pilkey. If your child loved Dog Man, they will have plenty to read about in the 13-book series. The movie, rated PG for action and rude humor, hit theaters in January of this year and is set to stream on Peacock in May.
A few other titles for young kids to look out for on the screen and in libraries include: A Tale Dark and Grimm (2021), rated TV-Y7 on Netflix, and the Paddington series, rated PG, which include Paddington 1 & 2, available on HBO Max, Hulu, and Disney+, and Paddington in Peru, which hit theaters in February.
Upcoming book-inspired releases
5. The Twits
A novel written by Roald Dahl-- also known for writing Matilda — is scheduled to arrive on Netflix as an animated film this year. This story of a peculiar couple, whose monstrous appearances reflect their character, teaches kids about the importance of kindness, and the impact of our actions on others. Stay tuned for the release date; you can click "remind me" on Netflix to be notified of when The Twits is available. The expected rating is PG.
6. Princess Diaries 3
Meg Cabot is the author of this blockbuster series, and fans of the G-rated, 2001 movie were thrilled when Anne Hathaway, leading actress, announced the production of the third movie. All we know for now is that filming will begin this year, but lucky for us, we are sure to get some teasers on social media in the coming months.
7. Wicked, Part II
Wicked, rated PG, hit theaters in November of 2024 and received huge box-office success. Clearly fans loved the film, but the ending left us wondering when to expect Wicked Part II. The sequel is set to release in November of this year, but if your preteen can't stand the wait, check out the novel by Gregory Maguire.
"[Wicked] has set a new record as the highest-grossing movie based on a Broadway musical ever."USA Today
8. Bridgerton
It's no secret that this loosely historical romance series is for mature teens only. Netlfix has already released three TV-MA seasons, representing three of the eight novels by Julia Quinn. The show earns its rating with an abundance of nudity, sex, language, and substances. If your mature teen binged this series, they won't be able to put the books down. Season four of Bridgerton is in the works with Netflix, although no release date has been announced. You can also check out Queen Charlotte by the same author!
Titles for teens
Need more titles for your mature teen? There are plenty to choose from!
9. It Ends With Us
It Ends With Us, available on Netflix, was originally written by Colleen Hoover. Hoover also has two more book adaptations coming to theaters soon, including Verity, which will star Anne Hathaway in May of 2026, and Regretting You, which is set to release in October of this year. You may want to read these books ahead of allowing your teen to read them, as they include sex, language, sexual violence, and loss.
10. A Simple Favor
This comedy thriller, written by Darcey Bell, was released in theaters in 2018, starring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick. The sequel, Another Simple Favor, will release on Prime Video on May 1st. Both movies are rated R for sexual content, language, drug use, and violence.
11. The Handmaid's Tale
The dystopian novel series by Margaret Atwood began its first TV adaptation in 2017, and the long-awaited final season aired this week on Hulu. The show is rated TV-MA for sex and nudity, violence and gore, profanity, alcohol, drugs, smoking, and intense scenes. New episodes release weekly on Tuesdays.
12. The Life List
The Life List made Netflix's top 10 this week, and is a PG-13 romantic drama based on the book by Lori Nelson. The carpe diem theme is sure to be uplifting and the perfect choice if you're wanting something less dark and violent than some of the other titles mentioned. The PG-13 rating is for sexual material, drug content, and strong language.
A few other book-inspired movies and shows for teens include: The Hate U Give (PG-13), by author Angie Thomas, Before I Fall (PG-13), by author Lauren Oliver, To All the Boys I've Loved Before (PG-13) and The Summer I Turned Pretty (PG-13), by author Jenny Han and Thirteen Reasons Why, by author Jay Asher.
The list goes on
When we say genre for everyone, we mean everyone! While we can’t name them all here, you can search for themes such as “historical fiction” or “classics” on your preferred streaming platform to find even more titles that are book-adaptations.
You might just inspire a young reader by introducing them to the world of film—or vice versa! If you have a young reader that you’d love to spend more quality time with, watching their favorite book come alive on film together might be just the solution. Grab your pages-- or remotes-- and enjoy literature in its various forms!