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As a child, I was a huge reader. I had a library card for as long as I can remember, and I easily went through a book a day. Reading was always a way for me to escape into a world of imagination, and I loved imagining who the characters were and how they would play out in “real life”.
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Fast forward to 2023, and almost everything can be seen on screen. Many books that I knew and loved as a kid have had at least one on screen adaptation at this point. Watching some of my favorite stories come to life has been magical. And as a mom who works to instill the love of reading in her children as well, it’s always interesting to see some of their favorite books make it onto the big screen. (And admittedly, my character voices suck — so it helps to have a voice other than mine that my children can put to the characters!)
Here are 16 children’s books that were made (or are going to be made) into movies. Grab a copy of your favorite — and then get the popcorn ready for a family movie night.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Image Credit: Atheneum Books for Young Readers I can vividly remember this book being read to me by my elementary school teacher. It was indeed a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. The film adaptation of the movie stars Steve Carrell, so even if your children don’t enjoy it, most adults will get some laughs out of it.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day$8.03on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Streaming on Disney+
Alice in Wonderland
Image Credit: Little Golden Books The story of Alice in Wonderland has been brought to life countless times on screen. And whether you’re a fan of Alice, The Queen of Hearts, or the Mad Hatter you’re sure to find an adaptation of the film that you love. Disney Junior even has a series called Alice’s Wonderland Bakery for the smallest Alice lovers! The most recent adaptation of the film was done by Tim Burton, so you may want to give it a quick screen before letting younger kids view it.
In terms of book versions, this one from Little Golden Books is the most kid-friendly — but older kids may want to read the original, too!
Alice in Wonderland$5.99on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Streaming on Disney+
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
Image Credit: Athenium Books for Young Readers This book was a staple for me in my tween/early teen years. From discussions around puberty, to religion and parent/child relationships Judy Blume handles Margaret’s story with amazing care. And even with the book originally being published in 1970, it remains a relatable story of growing pains.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret$7.98on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Now playing in theaters
A Wrinkle in Time
Image Credit: Square Fish If you know what a tesseract is, then you likely read A Wrinkle in Time a time or two. The book used to be required reading on school reading lists; however, it has since been banned and removed from school libraries. Those elements aside, it’s a wonderful story — and the on-screen version is beautifully imagined.
A Wrinkle in Time$7.14on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Streaming on Disney+
Captain Underpants
Image Credit: Scholastic, Inc. If your child is a fan of potty humor and practical jokes, the Captain Underpants series is sure to entertain. George and Harold’s shenanigans were probably the first chapter books my son became interested in and we have countless Captain Underpants stories laying around the house. The on-screen version is technically a series, but still fun for families!
The Adventures of Captain Underpants$7.99on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Streaming on Netflix
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Image Credit: Penguin Young Readers Group Another great story that has been brought to life numerous times on screen. The latest version is another Tim Burton film, however, the 1970s version is still a fun one of nostalgia. There is also a 2023 film, Wonka, being released that is supposed to serve as a prequel to the book, following Willy Wonka in his days prior to opening the chocolate factory.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory$5.94on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) is streaming on Hulu; Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) is streaming on HBO Max
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Image Credit: Scholastic, Inc. Clifford and Emily Elizabeth have numerous books detailing their adventures, and seeing a huge red dog come to life on screen is sure to get some giggles out of the kids. The on-screen version tells the story of how Clifford came to live with Emily, and is fun for children that are into “live action” movies.
Clifford the Big Red Dog$4.99on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Streaming on Prime Video and Paramount Plus
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Image Credit: Amulet Books Another tween favorite, Diary of a Wimpy Kid follows the story of middle school kid Greg Heffley, who journals his daily life in a diary. The book series is fairly new and stories are still being written for the series, but there have been two films made thus far.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid$9.48on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Streaming on Disney+
How to Train Your Dragon
Image Credit: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Toothless is the cutest dragon, and with three movies based off of Cressida Cowell’s story of the same name, families will love this imaginary Viking world. It is a fun coming-of-age story which talks about “rites of passage” and lessons in bravery.
How to Train Your Dragon$10.35on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Streaming on Netflix
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile
Image Credit: Clarion Books Animal lovers will love the story of Lyle the singing crocodile. If musicals are your thing, then the on-screen version will definitely spark joy. Plus, it makes the stories even more fun to read once you hear Lyle’s voice on screen.
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile$6.79on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Streaming on Netflix
Peter Pan and Wendy
At this point, most children know the classic story of the boy who never wanted to grow up. This story has been on screen numerous times, and Hook quickly became one of our family’s favorites. The novel itself was written in 1911, but it — and its variations, like this gorgeously-illustrated version — can easily be found on Amazon. The most recent on-screen version featured a beautifully diverse cast, with Yara Shahidi starring as the first Black Tinkerbell!
Peter Pan and Wendy$17.96on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Streaming on Disney+
Matilda
Image Credit: Penguin Young Readers Group I wanted superpowers after reading Roald Dahl’s Matilda and watching the movie with my siblings. The 1996 version of the film was directed by (and stars) Danny Devito, and is still my favorite of the versions available to watch. But Matilda the Musical also has great reviews!
Matilda$6.78on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Both versions of the film are streaming on Netflix
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Image Credit: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers While technically Miles Morales is a character out of Marvel comics, and some wouldn’t consider that a “book”, the movie is just too good to keep off this list! If you have comic/superhero lovers in your family then you have probably already seen the beautifully-animated movie version.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse$1.50on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Streaming on Hulu
The Bad Guys
Image Credit: Scholastic, Inc. Everyone can change, right? This is a really fun story of what happens when the bad guys go good. It’s also a fun one for animal lovers, since the main characters of the story are animals that are known to be “dangerous”.
The Bad Guys$5.00on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Streaming on Netflix
The Lorax
While many of Dr. Seuss’s books have made it to film/TV, I have found The Lorax to be the most fun and family-friendly (we’re looking at you, Cat in the Hat!). Both the story and movie can be enjoyed by kids of all ages.
The Lorax$7.48on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Streaming on Netflix
The BFG
Another Roald Dahl classic, The BFG is about the unlikely friendship between an orphaned girl named Sophie and a mysterious — big — giant. It was voted one of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of all time, and Disney’s screen adaptation is amazing (but may be a bit scary for very young kids; reviewers recommend it for ages 6+).
The BFG$8.99on Amazon.com
Buy nowWhere to watch: Streaming on Disney+
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