| Reading a book from which a movie is made is | | | | adaptation. The movie, Harry Potter and the |
| almost always a richer experience than simply | | | | Goblet of Fire (PG-13), was released in |
| watching the movie. The experience of | | | | theaters on November 18, while the movie, The |
| savoring the words on the page and allowing | | | | Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and |
| yourself to be taken on a journey inspired by | | | | the Wardrobe (PG) as released on December |
| the author is sublime. As the author paints a | | | | 9.As a family, take the opportunity to read |
| picture with words, your imagination fills in | | | | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire before |
| the blanks until the voices of the characters | | | | watching the movie. Discuss which scenes you |
| and the images of the settings resonate in | | | | think will make it into the movie and which |
| your mind.After reading and thoroughly | | | | they may have to cut. Have family members |
| enjoying a well-written book, watching the | | | | choose favorite characters, and act out some |
| movie adaptation can be a interesting | | | | scenes from the book. These types of |
| experience. The voices and images from your | | | | activities build excitement and set the stage |
| imagination are juxtaposed by those created | | | | for seeing the movie together as a family. If |
| by the actors, the director, and the | | | | you want to go all out, dress in costume to |
| cinematographer. It's not that the experience | | | | see the |
| of watching a movie adaptation is necessarily | | | | |
| bad - it's simply different. It presents a | | | | movie. Afterwards, discuss how the movie |
| wonderful opportunity to demonstrate to your | | | | differed from the book, and, more |
| children the difference between words on a | | | | importantly, how it differed from the scenes |
| page and images on a screen - and to have a | | | | created in family members' imaginations.You |
| great family experience in the process.Almost | | | | can follow the same process by reading The |
| without fail, your children will agree that | | | | Chronicles of Narnia prior to seeing the |
| while they enjoyed the movie, the experience | | | | movie. Younger children may enjoy hearing the |
| created by their own imagination is better. | | | | classic tale of Chicken Little prior to |
| Demonstrating to your child that their | | | | seeing the Disney movie of the same name. |
| imagination is more powerful than a hollywood | | | | Discuss the moral of the story, and, after |
| blockbuster is a very liberating and | | | | watching the movie, talk about how the |
| supportive exercise. Believe it or not, | | | | storyline in the movie demonstrated the |
| going through this process of reading a great | | | | principles of the classic.Brent Sitton is the |
| book and seeing the movie actually reinforces | | | | founder of Discovery Journey, featuring |
| your child's love of reading and the use of | | | | Children's Book and Movie Reviews based on |
| their imagination!Between now and the end of | | | | character traits. Reviews include character |
| the year, there are two opportunities to read | | | | trait examples and fun and educational Family |
| a great book and then to see the movie | | | | Activities. |