Generally, people enjoy books and movies as forms of entertainment and relaxation; yet some prefer their entertainment to contain developmental values as well. This raises the question which one is better for educational and developmental purposes. Unlike watching movies, reading fiction develops various skills that movies do not. Reading fiction develops the reader's imagination in ways that movies cannot because the reader is not confined to the pictures on the screen. Books also develop language skills more than movies because whenever a person encounters a new word it is more likely for him to remember it while reading a book than by watching a movie. In addition, reading fiction also develops concentration skills more than movies because while in movies all details are upfront, in books some details are not revealed immediately.
Reading fiction develops the reader's imagination in ways that movies cannot because the reader is not confined to the pictures on the screen. For example, in "Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire," by J.K. Rowling the contest between Cedric and Harry requires the reader's imagination. Most of the elements that are described in this scene are not realistic and are figments of the author's imagination. While watching this scene in the movie, the viewer sees the moviemaker's interpretation and is unable to imagine for himself. However, during his own reading, the reader gets to envision the scene on his own. Imagination is developed by books better than by movies because movies give the viewer the finished product while books cause the reader to create his own world.
Taking the time to read fiction also develops language skills more than the average movie because whenever a person encounters a new word it is more likely for him to remember it while reading a book than by watching a movie. In books the words are written and therefore the reader knows how to spell them.