Sunday, May 11, 2014

Read the Book, Watch the Movie

With Summer fast upon us, I'm sure you're already lining up some fun things for the kids to do.

If you haven't already poked around the blog, please make sure to check out our 100 Things to Do This Summer List, as well as our 50 Classic Kids Movies, 40 Books Your Kids Should Read, and Zoo Photo Scavenger Hunt lists. They will get you off to a great start with fun summertime activity ideas!

BUT, just in case you need any more ideas, I thought I'd put together a brand-spankin' new list just in time for this summer. This is a list of children's books that have then later been made into movies.



The idea is that you can have your child read the book first and then treat him or her with watching the movie. (Or certainly, if any of the books are above your child's reading level - YOU can read the book to your child during story time before watching the movie together.)


1.  Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - 1865 - Lewis Carroll
     Alice in Wonderland - 1951 - Rated G - animated
     Alice in Wonderland - 2010 - Rated PG

2.  The Apple Dumpling Gang - 1971 - Jack Bickham
     The Apple Dumpling Gang - 1976 - Rated G
     The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again - 1979 - Rated G

3.  Babe, the Gallant Pig - 1983 - Dick King Smith
     Babe - 1995 - Rated G

4.  Because of Winn-Dixie - 2000 - Kate DiCamillo
     Because of Winn-Dixie - 2005 - Rated PG

5.  Bed-Knob and Broomstick* - 1957 - Mary Norton
     Bedknobs and Broomsticks - 1971 - Rated G

6.  The Cat in the Hat - 1957 - Dr. Seuss
     Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat - 2003 - Rated PG

7.  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - 1964 - Roald Dahl
     Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - 1971 - Rated G
     Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - 2005 - Rated PG

8.  Charlotte's Web - 1952 - E. B. White
     Charlotte's Web - 1973 - Rated G - animated
     Charlotte's Web - 2006 - Rated PG

     Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang - 1968 - Rated G

10. The Chronicles of Narnia (series) - 1951-1956 - C. S. Lewis
     The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian - 2008 - Rated PG
   
11. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - 1978 - Judi Barrett
     Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs - 2009 - Rated PG - animated
     Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 - 2013 - Rated PG - animated

12. Coraline* - 2002 - Neil Gaimann
     Coraline - 2009 - Rated PG - animated

13. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (series) - 2007-2011 - Jeff Kinney
     Diary of a Wimpy Kid - 2010 - Rated PG
     Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules - 2011 - Rated PG
     Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days - 2012 - Rated PG

14. Ender's Game - 1985 - Orson Scott Card
     Ender's Game - 2013 - Rated PG-13

15. Escape to Witch Mountain - 1968 - Alexander Key
     Escape to Witch Mountain - 1975 - Rated G
     Return from Witch Mountain - 1978 - Rated G
     Race to Witch Mountain - 2009 - Rated PG

16. Fantastic Mr. Fox - 1970 - Roald Dahl
     Fantastic Mr. Fox - 2009 - Rated PG - animated

17. Gulliver's Travels - 1726 - Jonathan Swift
     Gulliver's Travels - 2010 - Rated PG

18. Harry Potter (series) - 1997-2007 - J. K. Rowling
     Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - 2001 - Rated PG
     Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - 2002 - Rated PG
     Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - 2004 - Rated PG
     Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - 2005 - Rated PG-13
     Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - 2007 - Rated PG-13
     Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - 2009 - Rated PG
     Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 - 2010 - Rated PG-13
     Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 - 2011 - Rated PG-13

19. The Hobbit - 1937 - J. R. R. Tolkien
     The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - 2012 - Rated PG-13
     The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug - 2013 - Rated PG-13
     The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies - 2014 - Rated PG-13

20. How the Grinch Stole Christmas* - 1957 - Dr. Seuss
     How the Grinch Stole Christmas (TV Special) - 1966 - Not Rated - animated

21. How to Eat Fried Worms - 1973 - Thomas Rockwell
     How to Eat Fried Worms - 2006 - Rated PG

22. How to Train Your Dragon (series) - 2003-2013 - Cressida Cowell
     How to Train Your Dragon - 2010 - Rated PG - animated
     How to Train Your Dragon 2 - 2014 - Rated PG

23. The Hundred and One Dalmatians - 1956 - Dodie Smith
     One Hundred and One (101) Dalmatians - 1961 - Rated G - animated
     101 Dalmatians - 1996 - Rated G
     102 Dalmatians - 2000 - Rated G

24. The Hunger Games (series) - 2008-2010 - Suzanne Collins
     The Hunger Games - 2012 - Rated PG-13
     The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - 2013 - Rated PG-13
     The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 - 2014 - PG-13
     The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 - 2015 - PG-13

25. James and the Giant Peach - 1961 - Roald Dahl
     James and the Giant Peach - 1996 - Rated PG - animated

26. Judy Moody (series) - 2000-2012 - Megan McDonald
     Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer - 2011 - Rated PG

27. Jumanji - 1981 - Chris Van Allsburg
     Jumanji - 1995 - Rated PG

28. The Jungle Book - 1894- Rudyard Kipling
     The Jungle Book - 1967 - Rated G - animated

29. The Lorax - 1971 - Dr. Seuss
     Dr. Seuss' The Lorax - 2012 - Rated PG - animated

30. The Lord of the Rings (series) - 1954-1955 - J. R. R. Tolkien
     The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - 2002 - Rated PG-13
     The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - 2003 - Rated PG-13

31. Mary Poppins - 1934 - P. L. Travers
     Mary Poppins - 1964 - Rated G

32. Matilda - 1988 - Roald Dahl
     Matilda - 1996 - Rated PG

33. Mr. Popper's Penguins - 1938 - Richard and Florence Atwater
     Mr. Popper's Penguins - 2011 - Rated PG

34. The Neverending Story - 1979 - Michael Ende
     The Neverending Story - 1984 - Rated PG

35. On Stranger Tides - 1987 - Tim Powers
     Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - 2011 - Rated PG-13

36. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (series) - 2005-2009 - Rick Riordan

37. Peter and Wendy - 1911 - J. M. Barrie
     Peter Pan - 1953 - Rated G - animated
     Hook - 1991 - Rated PG

38. Pippi Longstocking (series) - 1945-2001 - Astrid Lindgren

39. The Polar Express* - 1985 - Chris Van Allsburg
     The Polar Express - 2004 - Rated G

40. The Princess Diaries (series) - 2000-2009 - Meg Cabot
     The Princess Diaries - 2001 - Rated G

41. Ramona (series) - 1950-1999 - Beverly Cleary
     Ramona and Beezus - 2010 - Rated G

42. A Series of Unfortunate Events (series) - 1999-2006 - Lemony Snicket

43. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - 2001 - Ann Bradshares
     The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - 2005 - Rated PG-13

44. The Spiderwick Chronicles (series) - 2003-2009 - Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
     The Spiderwick Chronicles - 2008 - Rated PG

45. The Story of Doctor Dolittle - 1920 - Hugh Lofting
     Doctor Dolittle - 1967 - Rated G
     Dr. Dolittle - 1998 - Rated PG-13
     Dr. Dolittle 2 - 2001 - Rated PG

46. Stuart Little - 1954 - E. B. White
     Stuart Little - 1999 - Rated PG - animated
     Stuart Little 2 - 2002 - Rated PG - animated

47. The Tale of Despereaux - 2003 - Kate DiCamillo
     The Tale of Despereaux - 2008 - Rated G - animated

48. Treasure Island - 1883 - Robert Louis Stevenson
     Treasure Island - 1950 - Rated G
     Muppet Treasure Island - 1996 - Rated G

49. Where the Wild Things Are - 1963 - Maurice Sendak
     Where the Wild Things Are - 2009 - Rated PG

50. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - 1900 - L. Frank Baum
     The Wizard of Oz - 1939 - Rated G
     Oz the Great and Powerful - 2013 - Rated PG


I've listed the year and author for each book and the year and rating for each movie. Please make sure to rifle through boxes in your attic or make a trip to your public library to see which of these classic books and movies you can turn up for your kids for FREE.

And to keep things simple, the list is in alphabetical order (lest we launch into lengthy conversations about rankings). Please use your best judgment as to what reading material and movies are appropriate for your family.

And, finally, you'll note four titles are marked with an asterisk (*). These are holiday-themed titles whose movie counterparts can also be found on our 25 Kid-Friendly Halloween Movies and 40 Kid-Friendly Christmas Movies lists.

Happy reading and watching!

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