Traditional Tales vs Movie Magic – which is best?

With the 25th anniversary of World Book Day fast approaching, the talk of reading has never been so present. With many schools and nurseries promoting the special day, and offering equal opportunities for children to get their hands on a book, sparking new conversations as they dress up as their favourite characters – the pressure is on for many parents, as the familiar last-minute scramble for a book-based costume arises.

Based on a recent World Book Day survey, many parents believe that their child’s costume of choice will be a character from the beloved Harry Potter book series. Whilst this franchise offers an incredible insight into the fantastical Wizarding World, with stories for children to indulge themselves into as they grow up, for many youngsters, it’s the early films that have sparked their imagination.

Alongside this, Mirabel from Disney’s latest hit, Encanto, and the ever-popular Elsa from Frozen are also strong contenders, but this leaves us with the question: are film characters really acceptable for World Book Day, or do your little one’s favourites just open up the pathway for them to discover new books that are inspired by the movie magic?

Read on to find out more.

Traditional tales

Classic stories like Alice in Wonderland, Matilda, and even Winnie the Pooh are perhaps some of the best World Book Day staples. Most of the traditional tales you’ll come across have been made into films, so it’s easier for your little one to immerse themselves in the characters’ worlds, without necessarily having to own the book.

Quite often, there’s a reason many traditional tales are still popular to this day, and whether it’s a classic or a comic, introducing your child to recognisable characters and passing on stories that have stood the test of time, is a great way to ignite their love for reading.

It’s clear that Harry Potter is still a favourite, so the illustrated versions of the books are a great way to transport your child into the Wizarding World through reading. Of course, there’s also the movies for you to enjoy with your little one, helping to slowly introduce them to the important themes of the story as they grow up alongside the main characters.

With more books being made into movies, it can sometimes be more convenient to just switch the television on, but World Book Day reminds us that the true magic originates from the pages.

Movie magic

On the other hand, some incredible, revolutionary tales have come out of modern-day cinema, with Disney’s Encanto being one of the newest crazes. The beautiful story opens children up to cultures and magic in a way that hasn’t been seen before. The magic of the movies can truly teach us important lessons, and sometimes be an easier alternative to sitting and reading.

If your child is adamant on dressing up as their favourite movie-character for World Book Day, then you’ll be delighted to know that there are book adaptations of many favourite films, including Encanto and Frozen! Perhaps the movies can be a fantastic gateway to help encourage your child into the world of reading. With hit movies like Spiderman also rising in popularity over the last year, comics are another way to introduce your child to reading, as the stories that the films are based on are continued in paper form.

So really, no matter which medium you choose to enjoy stories with your little one, one can usually be used as a gateway to the other. In the modern day, we’re lucky enough to have many stories available right at our fingertips, with more movies bringing us magic, reinventing traditional tales and creating new classics like never before. There are so many worlds out there waiting for you to discover, and whether you visit by page or on screen, well… that’s entirely up to you.