Children’s Books and Movies Through the Decades

Creating family memories inspired by books is a beautiful thing. and that is why we started a monthly Family Dinner Book Club six years ago. Reading together does make a difference.

Last year we focused on kids making a difference, the year before that was all about character strengths and the year before that we traveled the world through books.  This year, we are going to focus on books throughout the decades that have also been turned into movies.

About Our Theme This Year

Each month we will read a book from a different decade and watch the movie variation of the book too.  This creates a wonderful conversation starter to compare and contrast the book with the movie.  A few of the picks are old Family Dinner Book Club favorites that will be revisiting, but most are new to the FDBC line-up.  Also, most are chapter books with the exception of a few.

We want you and the families that you work with to join us.

What is a Family Dinner Book Club?

Each month:

• On the first of each month, we provide all the details for your dinner.
• Sarah from Chef Sarah Elizabeth will share a themed menu to compliment the theme for the month.
• Laura from Sunny Day Family will share an activity.
• And, I will share a book list that compliments the themes plus conversation starters and a family service project idea.

Books for Families

Do you need a holiday gift for a family?  Grab a few or all of the books on this list, and you have the perfect holiday gift!

School and Library Connections

I created a letter that you can send home with families introducing the Family Dinner Book Club and inviting families to join in 2020.  Click HERE to download, print, and pass out the letter to families.

Family Dinner Book Club Line-Up

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

They say the book is always better than the movie and I’ll think you’ll find that to be the case in this list too.  But, I love to watch the movie version of a book after reading the book first.  It’s great to talk about how moviemakers interpret the books.

January: 1900s

The Wizard of Ozby Frank L. Baum kicks off our Family Dinner Book Club.  Follow the yellow brick road as Dorothy ventures from Kansas to munchkin land.  After enjoying the book, settle in for the movie.

See the activities here: Wizard of Oz Game

See the menu here: Yellow Brick Road Menu

February: 1910s

Fly away with Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie.  Read aloud or listen on audiobook and then enjoy the movie.

See the activities here: Peter Pan Lunchbox Quotes

See the menu here: Peter Pan Menu

March: 1920s

A classic on many shelves is The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. Spring into a new season with revisiting this story and then watching the movie.

See the activities: Book Nook and Reading Quote Printable

See the menu here: Velveteen Rabbit Vegetarian Menu

April: 1930s

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers has been read by several generations.  Chances are that the kids will have seen the movie first with this one.  But, try the book too.

See the Book Menu

See the Chalk Activities

May: 1940s

We’ve all read E.B. White’s, Charlotte’s Web but have you read Stuart Little by E.B. White?  Meet the little guy in the story and then again in the movie.  Which will the kids like better- book or movie?

See the Book Activities

See the Themed Oversized Menu

June: 1950s

It was hard to pick a Beverly Cleary story because they are all so good.  But, to go with one that was turned into a movie, we chose Beezus and Ramona.  The movie version is called Ramona and Beezus and let’s just say that it is loosely based on the book.

See the Menu

July: 1960s

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl is a classic story and I’m guessing that Sarah will have a peach themed menu for us.  Almost thirty years later, the book was turned into a Disney movie.

Insect Activities

See the Menu

August: 1970s

Imagine food raining from the sky.  That is what happens in Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett.  Then, compare the book with the newer movie version.

Food Art Activities

See the Menu

September: 1980s

The very talented Chris Van Allsburg wrote Jumanji in the 80s and then a movie was made about the book a decade later starring Robin Williams.

Make Your Own Game Activity

See the Themed Menu

October: 1990s

Most people think of Shrek the moviewhen they hear the name.  But, Shrek was actually a book from the 1990s first written by William Steig.

Build a Fairy Tale Storytelling Activity

See the Shrek Menu

November: 2000s

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell is the story of Hiccup who has to pass the test of catching and training a dragon.  Can he succeed?  There are several books in the series if you enjoy the first one.  You’ll also want to watch How to Train Your Dragon movie.

Get the Viking Menu Here

Try These Dragon Crafts

December: 2010s

Choose to read the chapter book Wonder by R.J. Palacio or the picture book version, We’re All Wonders.  The books are a beautiful message of being kind. After reading, compare and contrast with the Wonder movie.

Wonderful Menu Here

See the Kindness Activities

Printable Book List of Books Through the Decades

Grab a printable book schedule and the conversation starters to use each month to hang on the fridge or tuck in your lesson plan book.

All of the fun begins on January 1, 2020.  We will have your themed menu, easy activity, conversation starters, and family service project ready on the first.  Join our Family Dinner Book Club email notifications to learn when new book clubs are released each month.—>SIGN UP FOR FREE HERE.

Plus, you can follow along and get more ideas at our Family Dinner Book Club Facebook Page where families share pictures of their dinners and we share bonus resources.