10 ideas to bring books to life for children

As a parent or teacher reading books to your children, you may be wondering: Is reading a book to a child enough? Do they understand the moral of the story? Are they going to be able to internalize or make a habit out of the lessons? In our experience of teaching thousands of kids in schools, we learned that the first step is to make the reading as interactive and entertaining as possible. Our favorite tool is to learn by doing — playing. In this way, education becomes automatic. 

This article discusses ideas about how to bring books to life for your children. (This article started out as 10 ideas, but I keep adding more.) Our first three answers are the basics, but feel free to skip to the one that feels right to you. By the way, these are all great ideas to encourage your children to put down those hypnotic digital devices. 

My favorites, and what I think are the most important tips, are #1 and 2. If you read nothing else, read these. These first two ideas changed the way I read and write books; the rest of the ideas are just for fun.

1) The reader is the heart of the story. 

The beloved tradition of reading a book is easily the number one way to bring a book to life and bond with your child or student. One of my favorite children’s authors and illustrators, Mo Willems, says that the text and illustrations are only half the work. The central part—the heart of the book—is the audience reacting to what is on the page. Here are a few tips on how to read a story: 

• It’s important that sharing books with your child is fun. If you are having fun, your child will feel that. Likewise, your child should be having fun. If your child isn’t enjoying the book, ask them to choose a different book. In other words, follow your child’s lead.
• Your storytelling doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to read every word as it is written. You can even ad-lib or stop to point out interesting words or pictures. Just have fun reading with your child. Whether your child realizes it or not, you are a reading role model. 
• Pretend you are an actor. Pause to create suspense. Use different voices for different characters. Try some expressive body language. This will make the story jump off the page!
• Take turns reading with your child. You can both play a different character. However, if they don’t want to read, assure them it’s okay. Encourage them to try again next time; meanwhile, model your love of books.  

2) Talk about the story with your child.

You may think the author has an important moral to teach, but more importantly, you bring your own lessons to the story. Asking questions is a great way to teach your child. It’s not a right-or-wrong test, but it does help you discover areas to explore. If they don’t have an answer, that’s okay. With a good book, we can return again and again, each time with a new perspective and a lesson waiting to be learned. After those questions percolate in your child’s imagination, you may be surprised by what they discover the next time you read the book. Example questions:

• Before you turn the page, ask: “What do you think happens next?”
• If the character in the book has a decision to make, ask: “What would you do now?”
• And, of course, when you finish, ask, “What do you think the moral of this story is?”

Those are my favorite things to ponder, but if you are reading to a younger child, simpler questions are equally good. (I got this idea from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library):

• What is this ____ ? (Animal, plant, color, etc.)
• Can you pronounce this word?

Okay, onto the fun ideas. Pick your favorite one.

3) Do a puppet show.

If you want to up the game with your storytelling, find some stuffed animals or make a sock puppet. You can assign each one a role in the story. Create funny voices for each character. In this way, you are helping your child sympathize with a diverse group of people and circumstances. Making your own sock puppet is super easy: Buy any decorative sock and stick on some googly eyes.

4) Play dress-up.

You can bring the book to life by dressing up as a character in the book. How will any kid refuse an invitation to read The Gruffalo by the Gruffalo with a gruff voice? (Or whatever character you choose.) 

5) Make a meal that’s in the book. 

Try Pancakes, Pancakes! Or, the perennial favorite, Green Eggs and Ham.

6) Draw a picture.

Drawing is a great way to make a story jump off the page. Encourage your child to draw a character from the book. They can use their own style or the style of the illustrator. If drawing a picture sounds intimidating, remind your child that the first, most important step is having fun. They can also just trace the picture. When I was a child, I hung pictures on a window so the light would shine through, making it easy to trace. Don’t forget to showcase your child’s picture on the refrigerator. 

7) Write a story or a poem. 

Your child may find writing a story or poem in the style of the author is just as fun as drawing a picture.

8) Make a sequel.

Is your child sad that a book ended? Why not try making a sequel? For example, suggest your child retell the story from the point of view of a different character. This is an ambitious project. Your child may want to team up with a sibling or friend as an author-illustrator team. 

By the way, kids love making books. Scott has worked with thousands of students with his Make-A-Book Project.

9) Make a crossword puzzle for the book.

Think of a book as raw knowledge. It can be easily forgotten if it isn’t applied. Learning through play is one of the best ways to help a child integrate the lessons. A crossword puzzle or word search is a game that can help make ideas memorable and teach a more extensive vocabulary. You can make your own crossword puzzle at our partner, Reading is Fundamental. 

10) Follow your child’s favorite author or illustrator online. 

Many authors and illustrators have their websites with interactive features. We do!!! (Obviously.) Your child’s favorite book probably has a website listed. Or, do an internet search for their favorite author or illustrator. Their website might even show how they make their books. Our friend Chris Sickels is a fantastic illustrator and posts many pictures of his work process. 

11) Help your child write a letter to their favorite author or illustrator.

Speaking for myself, I love getting fan mail! I’ve received hundreds of letters over the years. It’s my biggest reward — seeing how my books have inspired people to live their dreams. I know many authors are super busy, and many of my own letters to authors have gone unanswered. But that doesn’t mean they went unread. I like to think they inspired the author. Here are some ideas for your letter:

• Tell the author why you are writing.
• Ask them what inspires them.
• Ask them for some writing tips.
• Thank the author for their time. 

12) Attend a storytime (read-aloud). 

Most libraries and bookstores have free story times or what is sometimes called a read-aloud. It’s a great way to discover new books and new friends. You could also create your own storytime and invite some neighbors over. Don’t forget the cookies. 

Our publisher, Magination Press, has an online storytime read by the author. We suggest you read the book with your child first (see idea #1), then watch how the author tells their own story. You may find the different emphasis adds a new level of meaning. 

Here is our friend, Dr Frank, reading his book “A World of Pausabilities.”

13) Bonus activities. 

Many books have bonus activities to help you understand and enjoy the lessons. Our publisher, Magination Press, publishes books by experts, so you will often find a “Note to the reader” that explains the big ideas to adults. As an example, you can see the “Note to the reader” in our latest book, Feel Your Feelings, here online, called Learn Why Fear Is Your Friend. You will get a glimpse behind the curtain about how we use cognitive behavioral theory as the basis of this book. 

We also have free downloadable activities for Feel Your Feelings, like discussion topics and our emoji cutout kit, so kids can make their own emotions. And our other book, Dream It!, also has some bonus activities, like a facilitator’s guide and an Easter egg hunt. 

Summary

Sharing books with kids in an engaging way brings them to life, helps connect concepts to kids’ experiences, and encourages conversations about ideas and feelings.  Any book that interests your child will do, as long as you both enjoy it. If you want to act out some fun emotions, we recommend our book, Feel Your Feelings, and downloading the talking points PDF to spark a conversation about how people experience and handle their feelings.

We hope you enjoy these activities. Let us know your favorite ways to bring a book to life in the comments below.