Board games based on children’s books are not new. But in this digital age they do offer a low-tech way to “experience the world of a book in a new form.” In the latest “Horn Book” issue March/April 2012, a number of board games were discussed. Actually, they were tested by the children of staff members. Here are some that were reviewed:
—–The Maisy game and The Pigeon Wants A Match were both match games for ages 3 and up. The Maisy books lend themselves to this format, while “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” is lost in this simple game. Other games that succcessfully have used children’s books are The Very Hungry Catepillar game–a game of counting, colors, and contrasts, Where the Wild Things Are–players imagine that they are characters in the story, and The Diary of a Wimpy Kid–teen humor.
These are just some of the games that were tested by this group. If a child has not read the book, he/she may be encouraged to do so by playing the game. If the child has read the book or is familar with its characters, playing the game will bring double enjoyment. Maybe they are old-fashioned fun, but they do generate interest and could lead to more reading.