The interest in reading printed books has tapered off in this digital age as shown<br />by reports of continual loss from many book publishers over the years. What to<br />do to whet reading habits, especially among the young? What are the options<br />in store in book publishing? What can publishing experts predict? What can we<br />say how to whet reading habit? We know that without reader, more publishers<br />will wind up their business. Thus, new ways and outlets have to search.<br />Though Malay hikayat are considered important, they are not interesting. To<br />make them interesting, relevant and acceptable to young readers, publishers<br />must recognize the twin purposes of instruction and delight that have long<br />been accepted as the primary goals of books for children and the fact that they<br />are important and form a distinctive category of readers with separate needs<br />and interests. Only by making the books interesting, relevant and acceptable<br />to them, Malay hikayat can hope to live on. Though physically weak, they are<br />spiritually, emotionally and imaginatively strong. Stories about animals, fantasy<br />and legends are popular with them. They love the illustrated books, cartoons,<br />comics, movies and others on Pak Pandir, Pak Belalang, Singapura Dilanggar<br />Todak, Puteri Gunung Ledang, Hang Tuah dan Hang Jebat. These stories are<br />also among the  nest examples of moral tales that encourage them to focus on<br />self-improvement like Aesop fables, stories from Grimn’s brothers. This means<br />that integration of visual and verbal elements has remained a signi cant feature<br />to attract children. In this paper, we argue that publishers must adapt stories<br />from Malay classical literature to illustrated books, movies, comics, movies,  lms<br />and e-books. Linking the best visual and verbal elements in these publications<br />is the way forward to teach literacy, history and moral to young readers.