5 activities to spark your child’s interest in novels

Many young adult and children’s books have been adapted for the big screen. It’s not uncommon for there to be major differences between the original story and the film. To prove to your child that reading has the power to awaken the mind’s eye, suggest that they read a novel and then watch the film adaptation. Afterward, ask your child to reflect on their observations:

• What differences were there between how you’d pictured the main character and how they were portrayed in the film?
• Which did you like better, the book or the movie? Why?
• Did the movie include all the details described in the book?
• Etc.

Some kids absolutely hate when the ending of a book is spoiled for them. Others like having an idea of how things play out, because it motivates them to read what happens. If your child is the curious type, try suggesting that they begin their next read by flipping to the last page. Then, have them make a few predictions:

• Guess how the story begins
• Imagine possible plot catalysts
• Imagine possible storylines for the main character that explain the ending
• Guess two of the main character’s personality traits
• Etc.

This activity requires that all (or almost all) members of your family read the same novel. Once everyone has finished the book, prepare a themed dinner inspired by the story and discuss the reading during the meal. To guide the conversation, try asking some of the following questions:

• Who was your favourite character and why?
• What’s the moral of the story?
• Which part did you find the most interesting?
• Did you know how the story would end?
• If you had to write a sequel, what would the first sentence be?
• Etc.

To introduce your child to different book genres and help them discover their favourites, start by asking them to choose a theme (e.g., pirates, vacations, science). Next, ask them to find two books of different genres related to that theme. They can pick from any of the most popular genres:

• Adventure
• Crime fiction
• Fairy tales
• Dark fantasy
• Psychological fiction

Once your child has read both books, ask them questions such as the following:

• Which book did you like best and why?
• Do you think you preferred it because of the genre or the author’s writing style?
• Can you name three major differences between the two genres?
• Etc.

If you child is a budding artist or already a die-hard comic book fan, this is the perfect activity to get them interested in reading a novel. Here’s what they’ll need to do:

• Read a novel of their choice
• Summarize the story
• Turn it into a comic strip
• Etc.