Want some easy motivation to get your kids reading more? Try movies based on books, reading the book first!
Reading books that have been adapted into movies or television series can be very motivating! First, read the book, then watch the movie or series. (We know that books and movies both are rewarding but kids *may* think that the movie is the reward.)
Discussing the differences between the book and movie will happen naturally. You might inquire further with questions like these:
- What did the movie change?
- What did the movie leave out or add?
- Which characters were true to the author’s description?
- Was the setting what you imagined? Why or why not?
- Are you glad you saw the movie or do you wish you had skipped it?
- Why do you think that someone picked this book to turn into a movie?
BOOK CLUB IDEA: Recently, my tween’s book club read The Giver and watched the movie. I loved this idea because it gave them a fun activity for their book club meeting, especially for their age group.
BOOK + MOVIE: Below, you’ll find children’s picture books made into movies as well as chapter books made into movies. So, I’ve listed both the BOOK and the MOVIE with the children’s book listed first.
Children’s Picture Books Made Into Movies
BOOK: The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
MOVIE: The Cat in the Hat
BOOK: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrows
MOVIE: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
BOOK: Curious George by Margret and H.A. Rey
MOVIE: Curious George
BOOK: Eloise by Kay Thompson
MOVIE: Eloise at the Plaza
BOOK: Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
MOVIE: Hair Love
BOOK: Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
MOVIE: Jumanji
BOOK: Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
NETFLIX SERIES: Llama Llama
BOOK: The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
MOVIE: The Lorax
BOOK: Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
MOVIE: Madeline cartoon
BOOK: Ordinary People Change the World by Brad Meltzer
TV SHOW: Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum
BOOK: Paddington Treasury by Michael Bond
MOVIE: Paddington
BOOK: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
MOVIE: Polar Express
BOOK: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
MOVIE: Where the Wild Things Are
Chapter Books Adapted Into Movies For Kids Ages 8 – 12
Many wonderful chapter books have been adapted into movies. It’s quite interesting to compare the differences and similarities and a great thinking exercise.
Honestly, it’s impressive how well done most of these adaptations are. You’re going to love watching them!
Read the chapter book which is listed first. Then, decide if you want to watch the movie listed second.
Do you have any favorite adaptations? How about your kids?
Children’s Books Adapted Into Movies: A – I
BOOK: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Louis Carroll
MOVIE: Alice in Wonderland live-action or Alice in Wonderland cartoon
BOOK: American Girl of the Year books
MOVIE: America Girl movies
BOOK: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
MOVIE: Anne with an E (Netflix series)
BOOK: The Baby Sitter’s Club by Ann M. Martin
MOVIE: Baby Sitter’s Club
BOOK: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Because of Winn-Dixie
BOOK: The BFG by Roald Dahl
MOVIE: The BFG
BOOK: The Black Stallion by Walter Farley
MOVIE: The Black Stallion
BOOK: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
MOVIE: The Book Thief
BOOK: The Borrowers by Mary Norton
MOVIE: The Borrowers
BOOK: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
MOVIE: Bridge to Terabithia
BOOK: Call of the Wild by Jack London
MOVIE: Call of the Wild
BOOK: Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman
MOVIE: Catherine Called Birdy
BOOK: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
MOVIE: Charlotte’s Web
BOOK: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
MOVIE: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
BOOK: The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
MOVIE: The Chronicles of Narnia
BOOK: Coraline by Neil Gaiman
MOVIE: Coraline
BOOK: The Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
MOVIE: The Diary of a Wimpy Kid
BOOK: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
MOVIE: Ella Enchanted
BOOK: Enola Holmes by Nancy Springer
MOVIE: Enola Holmes
BOOK: Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
MOVIE: Fantastic Mr. Fox
BOOK: The Giver by Lois Lowry
MOVIE: The Giver
BOOK: The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
MOVIE: The Golden Compass
BOOK: Guardians of Ga’Hoole by Kathryn Lasky
MOVIE: Legends of the Guardians
Children’s Books Adapted Into Movies: H – P
BOOK: Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
MOVIE: Harriet the Spy
BOOK: Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
MOVIE: Harry Potter
BOOK: Holes by Louise Sachar
MOVIE: Holes
BOOK: Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
MOVIE: Hoot
BOOK: Hotel for Dogs by Lois Duncan
MOVIE: Hotel for Dogs
BOOK: How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
MOVIE: How to Train Your Dragon
BOOK: The Incredible Journey: A Tale of Three Animals by Sheila Branford
MOVIE: The Incredible Journey
BOOK: Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
MOVIE: Indian in the Cupboard
BOOK: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
MOVIE: Inkheart
BOOK: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
MOVIE: Hugo
BOOK: James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
MOVIE: James and the Giant Peach
BOOK: Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer by Megan McDonald
MOVIE: Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer
BOOK: The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling
MOVIE: The Jungle Book
BOOK: The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier
MOVIE: The Last Kids on Earth (Netflix series)
BOOK: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
MOVIE: A Little Princess
BOOK: Little Women by Louise May Alcott
MOVIE: Little Women
BOOK: Matilda by Roald Dahl
MOVIE: Matilda
BOOK: Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater, Florence Atwater
MOVIE: Mr. Popper’s Penguins
BOOK: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien
MOVIE: The Secret of NIMH
BOOK: Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene
MOVIE: Nancy Drew
BOOK: Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr
MOVIE: Nim’s Island
BOOK: Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan
MOVIE: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
BOOK: Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie
MOVIE: Peter Pan cartoon or Peter Pan live action
BOOK: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
MOVIE: Pippi Longstocking
BOOK: The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot
MOVIE: Princess Diaries
Children’s Books Adapted Into Movies: R – Z
BOOK: Ramona by Beverly Cleary
MOVIE: Ramona and Beezus
BOOK: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
MOVIE: The Secret Garden
BOOK: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicker
MOVIE: A Series of Unfortunate Events
BOOK: The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
MOVIE: The Spiderwick Chronicles
BOOK: Stuart Little by E. B. White
MOVIE: Stuart Little
BOOK: The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss
MOVIE: The Swiss Family Robinson
BOOK: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
MOVIE: The Tale of Despereaux
BOOK: The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
MOVIE: Peter Rabbit
BOOK: Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
MOVIE: Tuck Everlasting
BOOK: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
MOVIE: The Wizard of Oz
BOOK: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle
MOVIE: A Wrinkle in Time
YA Books Adapted Into Movies For Kids Ages 13+
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
The City of Ember
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Divergent
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Journey to the Center of the Earth
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hobbit
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Everything, Everything
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The Fault in Our Stars
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Twilight
The Maze Runner by James Dasher
The Maze Runner
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
You Might Also Like:
Funny Chapter Books That Kids Love
Best Audiobooks for Families (That Both Boys and Girls Will Enjoy)
Best Coloring Books Based on Children’s Books
EPIC! Children’s EBook Subscription for Kids Ages 12 and Under
published: 2019
updated: 11/2022