Family The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies  

Walter Graves
42.9k votes 1.7k voters 222k views 303 items

List Rules Upvote the best film versions of classic children's books and memorable childhood stories.

The book might usually be better than the movie, but that hasn't stopped these classic kid's books from being turned into films. This list of children's book to movie adaptations ranks the best of these kid's books that have been adapted into feature films. Children's books made into movies are always fun because children already know the characters. Children's literature is in many ways timeless. The books we were read as a child, we now read to our own kids. This makes children's books a safe bet for film adaptations, and the film adaptations on this list are some of the best. If multiple adaptations of a children's book have been made, we've tried to list the most popular kids books made into movies. Since only the best, famous, and most popular children's books tend to be made into movies, one could also consider this to be a list of some of the greatest children's books of all time.

So what top books were made into movies? This list seeks to answer that question with a thorough look of all books that made it onto the big screen. Cast your votes for the best on this list of books made into movies, or rerank the list and add any great kid's book movie adaptations that are missing!

1
561 121
Charlie and the Chocolate Fact... is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl

Movie Adaptations:
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

2
498 114
Mary Poppins is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Mary Poppins P. L. Travers Movie Adaptation: Mary Poppins (1964)

3
396 92
Charlotte's Web is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Charlotte's Web E. B. White

Movie Adaptations:
Charlotte's Web (1973)
Charlotte's Web (2006)

4
408 102
How the Grinch Stole Christmas... is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Dr. Seuss

Movie Adaptations:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

5
376 93
Alice in Wonderland is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Alice in Wonderland Lewis Carroll, William Glennon

Movie Adaptations:
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Alice in Wonderland (2010)

6
339 95
Winnie-the-Pooh is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Winnie-the-Pooh A. A. Milne Movie Adaptation: Winnie the Pooh (2011)

7
348 100
The Jungle Book is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
The Jungle Book Rudyard Kipling

Movie Adaptations:
The Jungle Book (1967)
The Jungle Book (2016)

8
332 96
The Hundred and One Dalmatians is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
The Hundred and One Dalmatians Dodie Smith

Movie Adaptations:
One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961)
101 Dalmatians (1996)

9
364 114
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz L. Frank Baum Movie Adaptation: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910)

10
281 74
The Night at the Museum is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
The Night at the Museum Milan Trenc Movie Adaptation: Night at the Museum (2006)

11
356 116
Jumanji is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Jumanji Chris Van Allsburg, George Spelvin Movie Adaptation: Jumanji (1995)

12
390 139
The Chronicles of Narnia is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
The Chronicles of Narnia Movie Adaptation: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

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13
283 85
The Polar Express is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
The Polar Express Chris Van Allsburg Movie Adaptation: The Polar Express (2004)

14
348 122
Harry Potter and the Order of ... is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix J. K. Rowling Movie Adaptation: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

15
304 100
The Lion, the Witch and the Wa... is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe C. S. Lewis Movie Adaptation: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

16
249 72
The Lorax is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
The Lorax Dr. Seuss Movie Adaptation: The Lorax (2012)

17
314 112
Harry Potter and the Philosoph... is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone J. K. Rowling Movie Adaptation: Harry Potter

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18
284 97
Matilda is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Matilda Roald Dahl Movie Adaptation: Matilda (1996)

19
258 85
Dumbo, the Flying Elephant is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Dumbo, the Flying Elephant Helen Aberson Movie Adaptation: Dumbo (1941)

20
243 78
Stuart Little is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Stuart Little E. B. White Movie Adaptation: Stuart Little (1999)

21
225 68
Horton Hears a Who! is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Horton Hears a Who! Dr. Seuss Movie Adaptation: Horton Hears a Who! (2008)

22
271 103
Harry Potter and the Chamber o... is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets J. K. Rowling Movie Adaptation: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

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23
269 107
Harry Potter and the Goblet of... is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire J. K. Rowling Movie Adaptation: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

24
211 74
The Cat in the Hat is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
The Cat in the Hat Dr. Seuss Movie Adaptation: The Cat in the Hat (2003)

25
291 129
How to Train Your Dragon is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
How to Train Your Dragon Movie Adaptation: How To Train Your Dragon (2010)

26
218 82
Madeline is listed (or ranked) 26 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Madeline Ludwig Bemelmans Movie Adaptation: Madeline (1998)

27
226 89
Bridge to Terabithia is listed (or ranked) 27 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Bridge to Terabithia Donna Diamond, Katherine Paterson Movie Adaptation: Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

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28
217 85
Old Yeller is listed (or ranked) 28 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Old Yeller Fred Gipson Movie Adaptation: Old Yeller (1957)

29
168 53
Curious George is listed (or ranked) 29 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Curious George H. A. Rey, Margret Rey Movie Adaptation: Curious George (2006)

30
238 103
Harry Potter and the Deathly H... is listed (or ranked) 30 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows J. K. Rowling Movie Adaptation: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)

31
182 67
Where the Wild Things Are is listed (or ranked) 31 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Where the Wild Things Are Maurice Sendak Movie Adaptation: Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

32
189 73
Bambi, a Life in the Woods is listed (or ranked) 32 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Bambi, a Life in the Woods Felix Salten Movie Adaptation: Bambi(1942)

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33
234 105
Harry Potter and the Prisoner ... is listed (or ranked) 33 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban J. K. Rowling Movie Adaptation: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

34
169 61
Green Eggs and Ham is listed (or ranked) 34 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Green Eggs and Ham Dr. Seuss Movie Adaptation: Dr. Seuss on the Loose (1973) (TV)

35
191 78
Around the World in Eighty Day... is listed (or ranked) 35 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Around the World in Eighty Days Jules Verne Movie Adaptation: Around the World in 80 Days (2004)

36
148 51
Clifford, the Big Red Dog is listed (or ranked) 36 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Clifford, the Big Red Dog Norman Bridwell Movie Adaptation: Clifford's Really Big Movie (2004)

37
182 78
The Secret Garden is listed (or ranked) 37 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
The Secret Garden Frances Hodgson Burnett Movie Adaptation: The Secret Garden (1993)

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38
195 90
Shrek! is listed (or ranked) 38 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Shrek! William Steig Movie Adaptation: Shrek (2001)

39
142 52
Escape to Witch Mountain is listed (or ranked) 39 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Escape to Witch Mountain Alexander Key Movie Adaptation: Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)

40
201 96
Harry Potter and the Half-Bloo... is listed (or ranked) 40 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince J. K. Rowling Movie Adaptation: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

41
158 65
Freaky Friday is listed (or ranked) 41 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Freaky Friday Mary Rodgers Movie Adaptation: Freaky Friday (2003)

42
220 118
James and the Giant Peach is listed (or ranked) 42 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
James and the Giant Peach Roald Dahl Movie Adaptation: James and the Giant Peach (1996)

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43
168 79
Gulliver's Travels is listed (or ranked) 43 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Gulliver's Travels Jonathan Swift Movie Adaptation: Gulliver's Travels (2010)

44
213 115
Little Women is listed (or ranked) 44 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Little Women Louisa May Alcott Movie Adaptation: Little Women (1994)

45
139 58
A Journey to the Center of the... is listed (or ranked) 45 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
A Journey to the Center of the Earth Jules Verne

46
144 64
The Incredible Journey is listed (or ranked) 46 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
The Incredible Journey Sheila Burnford Movie Adaptation: Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

47
150 73
Heidi is listed (or ranked) 47 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Heidi Johanna Spyri Movie Adaptation: Heidi (1937)

48
175 97
The Neverending Story is listed (or ranked) 48 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
The Neverending Story Michael Ende Movie Adaptation: The NeverEnding Story (1984)

49
129 59
Mr. Popper's Penguins is listed (or ranked) 49 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Mr. Popper's Penguins Richard Atwater, Florence Atwater Movie Adaptation: Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011)

50
115 49
The Rescuers is listed (or ranked) 50 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
The Rescuers Margery Sharp Movie Adaptation: The Rescuers (1977)