Best and Worst Children’s Books Turned Into Movies

When I first read that Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are was headed for the big screen, I cringed.  I still haven’t recovered from what Simon Birch did to A Prayer for Owen Meany.   But then I saw the trailers and, well, you know the rest.  It looks breathtaking, and Maurice Sendak has put his stamp of approval on the project.

Sometimes when a children’s book is brought to life it’s a true treasure, exactly as you had imagined it … or sometimes even better.  And sometimes, it’s a terrible flop.  Hollywood.com recently share their list of the best and worst children’s book movie adaptions.  Check them out:

They like:

• The Chronicles of Narnia:  The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
  
• Charlotte’s Web (1973)
  
• The Jungle Book
• Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
  
• James and the Giant Peach
• The Iron Giant
• The Princess Bride
  

This is a great list except for James, which I still can’t sit all the way through.

On their “wish it had stayed a storybook” list:

• The Cat in the Hat
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
  
• Ella Enchanted
• Curious George
• Eragon
• Jumanji
• The Secret Garden

I’m not sure I can forgive them for putting Curious George on this list, and Jumanji? Come on!  But I think time has taught us to leave Dr. Seuss alone and in print.

Also on Babble, be sure to check out 10 kids movies that were better than the book.

Now tell us, what kids’ movies do you think were great, and which do you think should have never been made?

Related Posts:

• 10 Movies that Won’t Drive Mom to Drink
• Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to Charlie From ‘Willy Wonka’?
• Rich or Rehab: Whatever Happened to the ‘Free Willy’ Kid?
• Five Movies That Came From Books No One’s Heard Of
• Interview with Wild Things’ director Spike Jonze

Tags: children's books, childrens movies, Dr. Seuss, entertainment, kids books, kids movies, Movies, where the wild things are