Are the Hilda books good if you've already watched the Netflix show?
December 2, 2020 5:46 AM Subscribe
Our son (5 years old) is quite enjoying the Hilda series on Netflix. We're thinking of getting him some of the books for Christmas, but we're not sure whether they'll be as enjoyable now that he's watched the show.
Is the show a pretty straightforward adaptation, or do the books have more content that would make them a worthwhile read even if we know the general outlines of the stories?
For bonus points: are there any other graphic novels in a similar vein that a 5-year-old might appreciate? What we love about Hilda is the magic and wonder of it, the way she doesn't seem to care much about what others think, the charming relationship between her and her mother, ... just everything, really. Our son is starting to get beyond little-kid books but isn't quite ready for full-on chapter books yet, so short-ish graphic novels seem like a good in-between. (He doesn't read on his own yet, so we'd be reading these with/to him.)
Is the show a pretty straightforward adaptation, or do the books have more content that would make them a worthwhile read even if we know the general outlines of the stories?
For bonus points: are there any other graphic novels in a similar vein that a 5-year-old might appreciate? What we love about Hilda is the magic and wonder of it, the way she doesn't seem to care much about what others think, the charming relationship between her and her mother, ... just everything, really. Our son is starting to get beyond little-kid books but isn't quite ready for full-on chapter books yet, so short-ish graphic novels seem like a good in-between. (He doesn't read on his own yet, so we'd be reading these with/to him.)
The Johnny Boo graphic novels were a big hit with my kid at that age. Fun to read aloud also.
posted by emjaybee at 6:27 AM on December 2, 2020
posted by emjaybee at 6:27 AM on December 2, 2020
Best answer: Our (4 year old) daughter *loves* Hilda (or "Hiww-da" as she's more often referred to); we've watched the Netflix show and read the first 5 comics (6th is queued up for Xmas). The first 4 books are pretty direct parallels with episodes of the first season, and it looks like 5/6 will be in the second season. So you'll know the stories, and even some of the phrasing and such is identical ("coo-ee!") - it won't be *new*. But they're still *fun*, we read them regularly. They're beautifully drawn, there are some nice nuances and moments that are slightly different/extended/etc, and they're books that she enjoys and I don't mind reading over and over.
For other things like that, we've done quite a bit of Lumberjanes - similar feel, although more focused on friendship relationships than parent/child. It's got a *bit* more sass to it than Hilda ("what the junk!"), but generally quite age-appropriate, and just a lot of fun. We also read Aster and the Accidental Magic, which I quite enjoyed but she didn't take to as much. I'm told that The Backstagers is a similar kind of feel, but haven't read that yet; we've also been recommended (by our local bookstore kid-lit/comics person) The Cardboard Kingdom and Crabapple Trouble, but haven't read either myself.
posted by twigatwig at 6:28 AM on December 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
For other things like that, we've done quite a bit of Lumberjanes - similar feel, although more focused on friendship relationships than parent/child. It's got a *bit* more sass to it than Hilda ("what the junk!"), but generally quite age-appropriate, and just a lot of fun. We also read Aster and the Accidental Magic, which I quite enjoyed but she didn't take to as much. I'm told that The Backstagers is a similar kind of feel, but haven't read that yet; we've also been recommended (by our local bookstore kid-lit/comics person) The Cardboard Kingdom and Crabapple Trouble, but haven't read either myself.
posted by twigatwig at 6:28 AM on December 2, 2020 [2 favorites]
My four-year-old likes the Kitten Construction Company books--they are very cute, silly graphic novels about kittens who are not taken seriously as skilled laborers because they are so adorable.
posted by chaiminda at 7:42 AM on December 2, 2020
posted by chaiminda at 7:42 AM on December 2, 2020
Best answer: My 5yo son loves both the Hilda show and the Hilda books, and enjoys talking about the differences and similarities between them.
He also loves Cardboard Kingdom, which I've recommended here before. And, though they're "officially" out of his age range, he REALLY loves the terrific Witch Boy graphic novel series, which is about as progressive and lovely as one could imagine. They're also about magic and love and acceptance, and make for a nice companion piece to Hilda, now that I think of it.
posted by Dr. Wu at 11:05 AM on December 2, 2020
He also loves Cardboard Kingdom, which I've recommended here before. And, though they're "officially" out of his age range, he REALLY loves the terrific Witch Boy graphic novel series, which is about as progressive and lovely as one could imagine. They're also about magic and love and acceptance, and make for a nice companion piece to Hilda, now that I think of it.
posted by Dr. Wu at 11:05 AM on December 2, 2020
In my experience, kids enjoy the familiar, so having seen a show enhances the familiarity of a story in a book.
posted by theora55 at 12:12 PM on December 2, 2020
posted by theora55 at 12:12 PM on December 2, 2020
The first book is especially good because it's got a lot of extra background stuff, like a detailed picture of Hilda's room.
Also echoing what other people have said about how little kids enjoy seeing the thing they already know in another form.
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 6:55 PM on December 2, 2020
Also echoing what other people have said about how little kids enjoy seeing the thing they already know in another form.
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 6:55 PM on December 2, 2020
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posted by RajahKing at 6:15 AM on December 2, 2020 [3 favorites]