When it comes to TV time for my daughter, I have always been selective about what I let her watch. I was a Disney kid (still am!), and she is too now. We have branched out beyond Disney as she has grown up, but we still watch a lot of it. Lots of the shows she watches are based on some of our favorite characters from kids books. I am thrilled that there are so many TV shows based on children’s books that teach the same lessons I want her to learn, through the characters we have grown to love.

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Fancy Nancy

Airs on Disney Channel

Fans of Nancy Clancy will love seeing the vivacious character brought to life on screen, along with her loving family and her fun group of friends. Just like in the Fancy Nancy Books by Jane O’Connor, Nancy wants everything in her life to be fancy, and she does everything she can to make her life, and the life of those around her, magnificent. Both the show and the books introduce kids to lots of larger vocabulary words, and even some French words. My daughter uses lots of Nancy’s vocabulary in her everyday life now. I also appreciate how Nancy’s tries her best to make life “magnifique” for all those around her, and tries to see the best in every situation with the help of her family and friends.

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Magic School Bus Rides Again

Streams on Netflix

This series is a sequel to the original Magic School Bus TV show which was based on the classic series of Magic School Bus books by Joanna Cole. In the original series (which many parents may remember), Ms. Frizzle’s class goes on incredible field trips on the Magic School Bus and learns all about the world. In The Magic School Bus Rides Again, Ms. Frizzle hands the reins over to her sister Fiona Frizzle. Fiona has the same passion for learning and fantastical field trips as her sister. So she also takes the class on wild rides in the famed bus. My daughter loves the crazy trips that the class goes on. I love all of the topics they cover and the throwbacks to the show I loved as a kid (including a remake of the theme song by Lin Manuel Miranda).

Related Post: I Let My Toddler Watch TV – and It’s Helping Her Learn to Read!

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Streams on Amazon Prime and PBS Kids

Everyone’s favorite big red dog and his owner, Emily Elizabeth, have been featured on several television shows over the years. The latest version was just recently released and follows Emily Elizabeth and Clifford as they learn important lessons and explore their town with their friends. A previous Clifford show that my daughter particularly enjoyed was Clifford’s Puppy Days, which explored Clifford’s life with Emily Elizabeth before he became a big dog. She loved the interactions between Clifford and his animal friends, and I appreciated the lessons that Clifford learned along with the children watching.

Llama Llama

Streaming on Netflix

The Llama Llama book series by Anna Dewdney are beloved by parents and kids. The sweet rhyming text and colorful illustrations touch on a variety of familiar situations for kids – from getting angry to not wanting to go to bed to heading to school. The television version of these stories brings the sweet characters to life. They also show Llama learning important lessons with the help of his mother and his neighborhood friends. Several of the episodes take their stories from the popular book series. I appreciate the familiar situations that the show touches on, and my daughter loves the funny animal characters.

Vampirina

Airing on Disney Junior

This colorful series is loosely based on the children’s book Vampirina Ballerina by Anne Marie Pace. The book introduces readers to Vampirina, a little vampire who wants to be a ballerina. As she begins taking ballet classes, she faces certain difficulties and must learn to accept what makes her different. The television show follows the same concept, following a young vampire girl named Vampirina, who moves with her family from Transylvania to Pennsylvania. As they try to blend into the neighborhood around them, Vampirina learns to be proud of herself and her family, makes friends, and finds her way in the world. My daughter loves the silly and spooky things around Vampirina’s house, and I appreciate the messages that the show shares.

What are your favorite TV shows based on children’s books? Share them in the comments below!

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