I feel I can say that, because another movie about the fate of an entire world depending on a small child inspired me to become a reader.
My logic goes, "The Neverending Story taught me that childlike-reading (i.e. reading aloud-like) keeps The Nothing from destroying your hope, just as The Dark Is Rising would teach that self-reliance dissolves The Darkness."
Granted, some kids might be too scared to watch the movie through to Will's triumphant victory, and the beginning might have been a little too disconnected to sit through; but if your mind is open enough to wait until the story really starts, you're in for some inspirational gut-feelings!