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

Walter Graves
43.9k votes 1.7k voters 224.7k 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!
list ordered by

1
575 125
Charlie and the Chocolate Fact... is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Roald Dahl

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

2
506 116
Mary Poppins is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
P. L. Travers Movie Adaptation: Mary Poppins (1964)

3
405 95
Charlotte's Web is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
E. B. White

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

4
419 103
How the Grinch Stole Christmas... is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Dr. Seuss

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

5
386 95
Alice in Wonderland is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Lewis Carroll, William Glennon

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

6
349 96
Winnie-the-Pooh is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
A. A. Milne Movie Adaptation: Winnie the Pooh (2011)

7
356 101
The Jungle Book is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Rudyard Kipling

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

8
343 96
The Hundred and One Dalmatians is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Dodie Smith

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

9
288 74
The Night at the Museum is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Milan Trenc Movie Adaptation: Night at the Museum (2006)

10
370 116
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
L. Frank Baum Movie Adaptation: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910)

11
363 119
Jumanji is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Chris Van Allsburg, George Spelvin Movie Adaptation: Jumanji (1995)

12
291 86
The Polar Express is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Chris Van Allsburg Movie Adaptation: The Polar Express (2004)

13
396 142
The Chronicles of Narnia is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Movie Adaptation: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

14
358 126
Harry Potter and the Order of ... is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
J. K. Rowling Movie Adaptation: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

15
255 73
The Lorax is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Dr. Seuss Movie Adaptation: The Lorax (2012)

16
309 103
The Lion, the Witch and the Wa... is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
C. S. Lewis Movie Adaptation: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

17
322 116
Harry Potter and the Philosoph... is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
J. K. Rowling Movie Adaptation: Harry Potter

18
265 86
Dumbo, the Flying Elephant is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Helen Aberson Movie Adaptation: Dumbo (1941)

19
288 101
Matilda is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Roald Dahl Movie Adaptation: Matilda (1996)

20
232 69
Horton Hears a Who! is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Dr. Seuss Movie Adaptation: Horton Hears a Who! (2008)

21
248 79
Stuart Little is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
E. B. White Movie Adaptation: Stuart Little (1999)

22
278 107
Harry Potter and the Chamber o... is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
J. K. Rowling Movie Adaptation: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

23
277 110
Harry Potter and the Goblet of... is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
J. K. Rowling Movie Adaptation: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

24
216 75
The Cat in the Hat is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Dr. Seuss Movie Adaptation: The Cat in the Hat (2003)

25
225 83
Madeline is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Ludwig Bemelmans Movie Adaptation: Madeline (1998)

26
232 91
Bridge to Terabithia is listed (or ranked) 26 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Donna Diamond, Katherine Paterson Movie Adaptation: Bridge to Terabithia (2007)

27
295 133
How to Train Your Dragon is listed (or ranked) 27 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Movie Adaptation: How To Train Your Dragon (2010)

28
173 54
Curious George is listed (or ranked) 28 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
H. A. Rey, Margret Rey Movie Adaptation: Curious George (2006)

29
223 87
Old Yeller is listed (or ranked) 29 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Fred Gipson Movie Adaptation: Old Yeller (1957)

30
245 107
Harry Potter and the Deathly H... is listed (or ranked) 30 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
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
188 69
Where the Wild Things Are is listed (or ranked) 31 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Maurice Sendak Movie Adaptation: Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

32
193 75
Bambi, a Life in the Woods is listed (or ranked) 32 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Felix Salten Movie Adaptation: Bambi(1942)

33
241 109
Harry Potter and the Prisoner ... is listed (or ranked) 33 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
J. K. Rowling Movie Adaptation: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

34
172 62
Green Eggs and Ham is listed (or ranked) 34 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Dr. Seuss Movie Adaptation: Dr. Seuss on the Loose (1973) (TV)

35
194 79
Around the World in Eighty Day... is listed (or ranked) 35 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Jules Verne Movie Adaptation: Around the World in 80 Days (2004)

36
151 52
Clifford, the Big Red Dog is listed (or ranked) 36 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Norman Bridwell Movie Adaptation: Clifford's Really Big Movie (2004)

37
200 93
Shrek! is listed (or ranked) 37 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
William Steig Movie Adaptation: Shrek (2001)

38
163 66
Freaky Friday is listed (or ranked) 38 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Mary Rodgers Movie Adaptation: Freaky Friday (2003)

39
208 100
Harry Potter and the Half-Bloo... is listed (or ranked) 39 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
J. K. Rowling Movie Adaptation: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

40
184 83
The Secret Garden is listed (or ranked) 40 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Frances Hodgson Burnett Movie Adaptation: The Secret Garden (1993)

41
145 54
Escape to Witch Mountain is listed (or ranked) 41 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Alexander Key Movie Adaptation: Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)

42
171 80
Gulliver's Travels is listed (or ranked) 42 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Jonathan Swift Movie Adaptation: Gulliver's Travels (2010)

43
143 59
A Journey to the Center of the... is listed (or ranked) 43 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Jules Verne

44
223 122
James and the Giant Peach is listed (or ranked) 44 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Roald Dahl Movie Adaptation: James and the Giant Peach (1996)

45
215 119
Little Women is listed (or ranked) 45 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Louisa May Alcott Movie Adaptation: Little Women (1994)

46
148 66
The Incredible Journey is listed (or ranked) 46 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Sheila Burnford Movie Adaptation: Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993)

47
153 76
Heidi is listed (or ranked) 47 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Johanna Spyri Movie Adaptation: Heidi (1937)

48
132 60
Mr. Popper's Penguins is listed (or ranked) 48 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Richard Atwater, Florence Atwater Movie Adaptation: Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011)

49
119 50
The Rescuers is listed (or ranked) 49 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Margery Sharp Movie Adaptation: The Rescuers (1977)

50
178 101
The Neverending Story is listed (or ranked) 50 on the list The Greatest Children's Books That Were Made Into Movies
Michael Ende Movie Adaptation: The NeverEnding Story (1984)