The Best Children’s Books That Could Inspire Video Games

There are so many amazing children’s books out there, and new ones are being published every single day. Some are classic, like Secret Garden and Matilda, and some are more modern, such as The Paper Kingdom and Kunkush.

It’s rare for these addictive books to be turned into video games, no matter how fantastic they may be. It’s exciting to share the books that we loved with the children in our lives, and having games would take this to the next level. Keep reading to see which children’s books deserve the video game treatment.

8

Sulwe

By Lupita Nyong’o

Sulwe is a story about a young girl who is insecure about her dark skin. She wishes to look more like her family and friends to be beautiful. However, a journey through the sky changes her views and teaches her just how perfect she is without changing a thing.

This book is so magical and would make an incredible video game. You could follow the young girl on her magical journey through the stars, and each star and planet could give you a different puzzle to solve.

7

The Borrowers

By Mary Norton

The Borrowers is a book about tiny people who live inside normal-sized people’s houses. The family the book follows is discovered, and an exterminator is called. The Borrowers then go on an epic adventure to find a new (safer) home to live in.

The Borrowers would make for a great video game as is. You have a couple of options: One idea is that the video game would follow the world of the little people trying to survive in a house, similar to the Pikmin series. The other would be following the story more closely as the Borrowers try to find a new home.

6

Matilda

By Roald Dahl

Matilda is one of the most iconic children’s books out there. It’s had multiple renditions, including movies, musicals, and even a movie version of the musical. The book surrounds a young girl who’s neglected by her parents. She has the power of telekinesis and uses it to defeat her bullies and find happiness with her new adopted mother.

Since there have been so many remakes of this book, it would be best to start the story after she has been adopted by Ms. Honey. It can follow her learning how to master her powers, and maybe facing a new enemy.

5

The Paper Kingdom

By Helena Ku Rhee

The Paper Kingdom explores a young boy named Daniel who has to join his parents at their job as nighttime cleaners. To entertain him, Daniel’s parents turn the office into a paper kingdom. They create dragons, castles, and more, which all teach him that anything routine can become magical with a little imagination.

If a video game was created based on this book, they wouldn’t have to change much. It could be an entire world based completely on paper. There would be different areas to explore with different puzzles, similar to Spiro or Psychonauts.

4

A Wrinkle In Time

Madeleine L’Engle

A Wrinkle in Time is a book about a young girl whose father has been missing for a long time. They figure out that her father has discovered time travel and is lost. The girl and her younger brother go on an intergalactic journey to save him.

This video game could be an open-world journey where you play as the girl trying to find her father. In the book, there are guides, planets, and battles, all of which would make for a brilliant game.

3

Secret Garden

By Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden follows a young, recently orphaned girl sent to live with family in England. She’s known for her bad temper and uncaring attitude. Through her time in the Secret Garden, she finds herself learning the secrets of the manor, and caring more and more about other people.

There are so many routes a Secret Garden game could take. It could loosely follow the idea of the garden itself, or it could follow the storyline more, and the main character could gain friendship points throughout the game.

2

Kunkush

By Marne Ventura

Kunkush is a book about an Iraqi refugee family that was separated from their cat, Kunkush while being transported to Greece. Strangers help search for the cat to unite it with their family.

This would be a fantastic video game. Not only could it shed light on the journey of refugees, but the game could easily center on tracking down the cat from Iraq to Greece. The game could be a series of puzzles or even an adventure game.

1

The Last Of The Really Great Whangdoodles

By Julie Andrews Edwards

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles is a fantastic story written by an awesome woman. The book follows three children who join a professor on an epic journey to find the last Whangdoodle. They face many challenges, including gumtrees, creatures called sidewinders, and an evil prime minister in charge of the land.

This book has so many fantasy elements that would make for the perfect game. There would be levels that start with meeting the professor, then learning enough to travel on their journey, and finally facing fantastical creatures. It would be similar to Alice: Madness Returns, but more kid-friendly.