Books Based on Videogames for Take Your Child to the Library Day

Today, it’s Take Your Child to the Library Day, a day I didn’t know existed until last week and one I’m delighted to find. As a voracious reader, it’s no surprise that I actually like to encourage anyone to read, and what better way to do so than through videogames.

Admittedly, this listicle won’t just include novels, as I’m aware there are a bunch of popular series that have manga and graphic novel adaptations, too. So, to encourage kids to read, let’s have a look at some great examples.

Five Nights at Freddy's

While Scholastic does advertise the Five Nights at Freddy's books as being for those who are 12 and up, I know for a fact that they’re also targeted to younger kids by the vast selection of FNAF toys at my local supermarkets. Considering how popular the horror series is for all ages, if you have a child with a love for horror, they may enjoy the novels.

None of the Five Nights at Freddy’s books are canon in regards to the games, but they offer a fun source of entertainment for anyone who would genuinely like to explore the lore of the series. There are novels and graphic novels, with the most recent stories set around the location of Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex.

Minecraft

I was pleasantly surprised (and a little bit confused) to find that Minecraft has multiple official novels. The first of the Minecraft books was released in 2017, the first being Minecraft: The Island.

However, while the Minecraft novels aren't directly based on the games, it’s best to think of the series published by Del Rey Books as set in the world of Minecraft. These aren’t meant to represent any lore; It’s all about a world where rules don’t make sense and the importance of courage and creativity. Much like the game itself, it’s very much about exploration and discovering new things.

Pokémon

Unsurprisingly, there are a number of novels that are about Ash and his friends designed for kids; however, that’s not all you can find. After all, even in my childhood, I was engrossed in the Pokémon Special manga, which is very much appropriate for children. Even as a child, I loved reading about the adventures of Red, and they gave me an extra appreciation of the game's protagonists.

While the novels are perfect for early readers, older kids may appreciate the depth of the Pokémon Special manga. Plus, it has an overarching storyline that is pretty interesting and is one you can easily immerse yourself in.

The Legend of Zelda

Following on from my previous manga mention, let me include The Legend of Zelda manga. If your child has ever watched you play Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, you may have been afraid of them taking over your save file. As that younger sibling who exasperated my brother by playing Wind Waker and Ocarina of Time and just not progressing anywhere in the game.

But you don’t need to worry about the difficulty scale if you have kids who just want to know more about the lore and story. It’s a fun way to get your kids invested, but I’d probably advise older kids to read it.

Kingdom Hearts

Do you have a Disney-obsessed child? Do you like Final Fantasy? Then I have great news because Kingdom Hearts has a manga series. Surprisingly, the manga series is pretty good, and it’s accessible for kids, which makes sense, considering the original Kingdom Hearts was designed for those who are seven and up.

If you want your kids to read something light, I’d actually recommend it. If your child does feel the need to play the games afterward, then I’m sorry. But at least with the manga, they’ll understand the lore… Right? Right?

Sonic the Hedgehog

There are Sonic the Hedgehog graphic novels, that should not be confused with the graphic novels by Archie Comics; however, in recent years, they’ve had a reboot through IDW. If your kids enjoy Sonic the Hedgehog, they may enjoy reading the graphic novels, which are set separately from the games.

The art style is good, and they’re pretty accessible for all ages. So, why not give them a go? After all, they’ve been published since 2017, and each issue is published monthly. There are several collected volumes, and it’ll be a great way to introduce your kids to new characters.

Hello Neighbor

The Hello Neighbor books are a collection of prequels based on the stealth horror game of the same name. I was surprised to find there were Hello Neighbor books, but after hearing that they’re pretty popular among kids, I’m not surprised. So, if you have a child who likes horror and may not care much for Five Nights at Freddy’s, why not give it a go?

Hello Neighbor is a game that focuses on you sneaking into the house next door as you try to find out what’s in the basement. So, it’s no surprise that the prequel series was such a success, as it builds on the same curiosity that will keep you invested in the game.

Last Descendants: Assassin’s Creed

But wait, Assassin’s Creed isn’t for kids, you may shout. But alas, you may be surprised to find that there’s a specific series targeted towards a younger audience! While other Assassin’s Creed novels (attempt to) follow the games, this is an original trilogy that was published in 2017 that focuses on a younger audience.

Naturally, I’d recommend this for older kids, as it tells the story of two organisations who are trying to get a powerful legendary relic known as the Trident of Eden. With teenage protagonists, it’s a fun read for younger teens.

As you can see, these are only a small selection of books that you could pick up for younger kids and teens. Do you know any other books that you’d recommend to kids for Take Your Child to a Library Day? Let us know in the comments!