35+ Children’s Books Made into Movies
We have family Friday movie night almost every week and have for nearly five years – it’s such a fun way to kick off the weekend!
We have homemade pizza and then pile on our super-cozy big (not Intstagram-worthy) couch in the basement and watch a movie. Usually with a treat.
It’s one of our favorite family rituals.
And what’s better for family movie night than a movie that’s been adapted from a beloved children’s book?
It’s so fun to read a book together and then watch the movie version – you can talk about what the movie makers changed, how it was different from how you imagined it, and what you liked and didn’t like better about the movie versus the book.
Here are more than 35 children’s books made into movies that might be the perfect fit for your next family movie night.
35+ Children’s Books Made into Movies
The Story of Ferdinand. It’s something of a trick to turn a picture book into a full-length movie but this one does it fantastically. We laughed our heads off at this movie. (Book // Movie)
Anne of Green Gables. The movie version is VERY faithful to the book and I’ve probably seen the movie at least 50 times. (Book // Movie)
A Wrinkle in Time. I haven’t seen the movie version of this one but if you love the book, you might not be able to resist watching it come to life on the screen. (Book // Movie)
Paddington. This beloved bear gets into all sorts of scrapes that are just as fun to watch on screen as they are in a book. (Book // Movie)
The Spiderwick Chronicles. This is one of those rare instances where I’ve seen the movie but not read the book! (Book // Movie)
Bridge to Terabithia. I mean, just be prepared to bawl your eyes out. (Book // Movie)
Ella Enchanted. This is a fairly terrible movie adaptation of the most delightful book, but if you can just see them as their own separate things, the movie isn’t so bad (and I live for the singing scene). (Book // Movie)
Fantastic Mr. Fox. My girls all went through stages of listening to this on repeat and the movie is really well done. (Book // Movie)
Jumanji. I probably wouldn’t show my girls the new Jumanji yet, but the old one with Robin Williams is a fun one for younger audiences. (Book // Movie)
Matilda. This is my favorite Roald Dahl book and the movie version is a win (even if, per usual, it’s not as good as the book). (Book // Movie)
Inkheart. A man who can read characters and objects out of books? Sign me up. (Book // Movie)
The Tale of Despereaux. This is the best book about a little mouse in a castle won the Newbery. (Book // Movie)
Mr. Popper’s Penguins. I have this movie checked out from the library right now for an upcoming movie night! (Book // Movie)
Mary Poppins. This is one of those books where a lot of people prefer the movie (the book version of Mary Poppins is a lot stricter and less lovable than Julie Andrews). (Book // Movie)
Charlotte’s Web. This book is such a beloved classic and the movie version manages to be just about perfect. (Book // Movie)
Ballet Shoes. Until I was working on this post, I didn’t even know there was a movie version but now I’m dying to watch it. (Book // Movie)
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. This is such a lush, magical movie version of the beloved book. (Book // Movie)
Heidi. I think this is the sweetest book and you can’t go wrong with a Shirley Temple movie. (Book // Movie)
Freaky Friday. We haven’t read the book (I read it decades ago when I was young) but we all laughed ourselves silly at the movie version. (Book // Movie)
Harry Potter. We’ve only let Ella watch the first couple of movies with us on account of the fact that we don’t want terrified children sleeping in our bed for the next year. (Book // Movie)
Babe. I love Dick King-Smith and Babe is his most famous. The movie is a little offbeat, but delightful. (Book // Movie)
Holes. This book was on my list to read to the girls and then I can’t wait to show them the movie. (Book // Movie)
The Lightning Thief. Ella just started this book, although I think the movie might be a bit much for the younger girls right now. (Book // Movie)
The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Despite the massive size, you can read this 500+ page book in a few hours since it’s mostly wordless. (Book // Movie)
How to Train Your Dragon. There are about a million (e.g. 12) books in this series and the movie version is excellent. (Book // Movie)
Black Beauty. I mean, can you go wrong with a horse movie? (No). (Book // Movie)
A Series of Unfortunate Events. Ella and Ani are currently blowing through this series on audio and I think they’ll get a kick out of the movie version. (Book // Movie)
A Little Princess. Bart and I both sobbed our eyes out at the end of this movie (the ending is different than the book). (Book // Movie)
The Borrowers. I’ll admit, I find this book a little odd. But my girls loved it. (Book // Movie)
Ramona and Beezus. To be honest, I don’t think the movie is that close to the book, but it’s DELIGHTFUL. (Book // Movie)
Where the Red Fern Grows. Another one where you should just buy stock in Kleenex. (Book // Movie)
Winnie the Pooh. I think Disney did such a good job making these classic into movies. (Book // Movie)
101 Dalmatians. Even a non-animal person like me finds myself thinking “I could go for 100 dogs. . .” (just kidding). (Book // Movie)
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM. We just read this book and now I’m looking forward to watching it for movie night sometime soon! (Book // Movie)
Watership Down. I haven’t read this book in 25 years but I’ve heard raves about the Netflix series. (Book // Movie)
The Giver. This one is a bit old for my girls right now, but I LOVE this book. (Book // Movie)
Nanny McPhee. The book versions are called Nurse Matilda, and we haven’t read them yet, but we LOVE the movies. (Book // Movie)
The Miracle on 34th Street. This is such a beloved Christmas story. A perfect seasonal read aloud or movie option! (Book // Movie)
And if you’d like a printable copy of this list of children’s books made into movies that you can take to your library or screenshot on your phone for easy access, just pop in your email address below and it’ll come right to your inbox!
Any favorite books made into movies I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments!
My family liked the movie versions of: Stargirl, Timmy Failure, Horton Hears a Who, Gulliver’s Travels and ~ surprisingly ~ Goosebumps.
We loved several other Roald Dahl book/movies too! The BFG, James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were all huge hits (both book and movie) for my 6 year old!
Stuart Little! Old Yeller! Pollyana!
Also, I HATED The Wrinkle Time movie. Like so much.
I’m with you. I hated what was done with “Wrinkle in Time”. The movie was absolutely disappointing.
Wrinkle in Time was awful. It started out with so much potential, but I had to force myself to finish it. My kids loved the book & also hated the movie.
This is a great list! Thank you!! We also like Peter Pan/Hook, the Wizard of Oz and Stuart Little.
Wonder is also a great book and movie adaptation!!
The Indian in the cupboard and Tuck Everlasting
Love the list! Thank you! I agreed with you on so many and, like you, hadn’t heard of the Ballet Shoes movie!
However, be careful with the Secret of Nimh. The book is just so amazing, in an absolute league of its own, but the movie doesn’t really even follow the story, it is dark and my kids found it quite scary. Stick with the book, or at least preview, on this one! 🙂
The Black Cauldron (Lloyd Alexander) is another book with a movie that doesn’t match up, but it is worth seeing how Disney handled it. (Like Secret of NIMH, it should be previewed because of dark content.)
It’s based on a true story but apparently there’s not a book to go with it, but the movie, Dreamer, is one of my favorite movies, especially for tween-aged girl, especially if she loves horses.
I absolutely love Nanny McPhee! Lots of good suggestions in the comments, too.
Me and my girls really enjoyed the new Disney+ tv version of Percy Jackson. I thought it was a lot less violent than the movie version.
When I read Babe to my fourth graders many years ago, I thought it would make a great movie… and it was! Offbeat, yes, but thoroughly charming! Sorry, but if you read Hugo Cabret in just a few hours, you are probably not taking the time necessary to appreciate Selznick’s brilliant artwork. A few other book/movie suggestions: the captivating and beautiful Black Stallion, The Secret Garden, Little Women 1994 or 2019, Old Yeller, Wonder, Disney’s 2016 Jungle Book, Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, The Princess Bride, 2020’s Call of the Wild, Pollyanna, and of course, The Wizard of Oz! For the latter, it’s fun to compare the differences between the book and the movie, as there are many!