Engage Kids in Reading with Great Book and Video Combos!

Reading is an enjoyable pastime for many, and it knows no season. Summer, winter, spring or fall can provide an unlimited number of opportunities to read for pleasure. For a reluctant reader, however, enjoying a good book may not be a favorite activity. In fact, it may be downright unpleasant, especially when reading challenges are experienced by that reluctant reader. In this week's article and as another summer begins, we thought it would be timely to provide some helpful resources to entice and hopefully engage young readers who would otherwise not pick up a book and read it for enjoyment, particularly during this summer vacation time.

So often reluctant or challenged readers respond well and have a preference for sensory experiences, those activities involving at least 1 of the 5 senses. In particular, visuals can be very powerful in their appeal for these readers, providing long-term benefits that improve comprehension and positively impact memory and retention, too. A great way to appeal to the senses and thereby encourage more reading is to pair 2 visuals---a good book with a related video. Of course, the first step would be to engage the child in the new book with a promise to view the video when the reading of the story is completed.

To help make this more convenient for you as a parent or educator, we have gathered together here a great list of revered children's books AND their related videos that re-tell their stories. What could be more effective than this in enticing kids to read---and keep reading all summer long? We can't think of anything better!

Book and Video Combos to Entice & Engage Kids in Reading

The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
(for Ages 2-5)
e-Book: https://www.amazon.com/Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Rise-Shine-ebook/dp/B01M3R3EM5/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1528050593&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Hungry+Caterpillar
Physical Book: https://www.amazon.com/Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Eric-Carle/dp/0399226907/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528050893&sr=8-1&keywords=hungry+caterpillar+book
Video: https://youtu.be/75NQK-Sm1YY

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
(for Ages 3-7)
e-Book: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Engine-That-Could-ebook/dp/B00ADUG31C/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1528050969&sr=1-1&keywords=the+little+engine+that+could
Physical Book: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-engine-that-could-watty-piper/1100035996?ean=9780399244674&st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_New+Core+Shopping+Books_00000000&2sid=Bing_e&sourceId=PLBiP209799&msclkid=20986b937fad183b96a3308747e6b883#/
Video: https://youtu.be/5TPUwrURo6M

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
(for Girls, Ages 8-12)
e-Book: https://www.amazon.com/Anne-Green-Gables-AmazonClassics-Montgomery-ebook/dp/B073QRGDCW/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1528240607&sr=1-2&keywords=Anne+of+Green+Gables+DVD
Physical Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Anne-Green-Gables-Lucy-Montgomery/dp/1420952560/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528240352&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=anne+of+green+gables+book&psc=1
Movie: https://www.amazon.com/Anne-Green-Gables-Megan-Follows/dp/B000XSKDH4/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1528240941&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=anne+of+green+gables+movie&psc=1&smid=A3L2KOXEXJZT5E

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
(for Ages 8-12)
e-Book: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Fern-Grows-Wilson-Rawls-ebook/dp/B004G606EO/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1528241173&sr=8-1&keywords=Where+the+Red+Fern+Grows+e-book
Physical Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Fern-Grows-Wilson-Rawls/dp/0440412676/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1528241173&sr=8-1
Movie: https://www.amazon.com/Where-Fern-Grows-Digital-Copy/dp/B003TNS3HC/ref=sr_1_14?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1528241021&sr=1-14&keywords=classic+books+for+boys

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
(for Ages 10+)
e-Book: https://www.amazon.com/Fish-Tree-Lynda-Mullaly-Hunt-ebook/dp/B00KWG61P0/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1503854188&sr=1-1
Physical Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Fish-Tree-Lynda-Mullaly-Hunt/dp/0142426423/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1503854188&sr=1-1
Short Trailer Video: https://youtu.be/zrPWhRrmaZM

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
(for Ages 10-14)
e-Book: https://www.amazon.com/Lightning-Thief-Percy-Jackson-Olympians-ebook/dp/B00280LYIC/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1503930476&sr=1-1
Physical Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Lightning-Thief-Percy-Jackson-Olympians/dp/0786838655/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1503930476&sr=1-1
Movie: (for rental or purchase) https://www.amazon.com/Percy-Jackson-Olympians-Lightning-Thief/dp/B003JHKORK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1528239509&sr=8-1&keywords=Percy+Jackson+and+the+Lightning+Thief+movie

For information about customizable tools for ALL kinds of challenged or reluctant readers:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of: Brennan Innovators, LLC: www.FocusandRead.com and Pixabay: https://pixabay.com