My Dog Skip : Best Movies from Children’s Books

So has everybody made plans to take their young’uns to see “Where The Wild Things Are,” the movie based on the classic children’s book by Maurice Sendak? The book is a staple in young people’s libraries and now is a film from director Spike Jonze.

Why not, then, a look at the best movies based on children’s books? (For this list, I considered only live-action movies, not cartoons.)



To be sure, the bulk of the children’s movies I’ve seen were when I was a kid, and then when my kids were kids. This leaves several blocks of time when I was not seeking out such fare at the cinema. (I also must confess that I have never read nor seen “Where The Red Fern Grows,” which I’m sure is high on the list of many.)

Also, there have been some excellent books — such as “Charlotte’s Web and “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” — that have been justly honored for their quality. But I thought the movies were average. And don’t expect to find either version of Roald Dahl’s “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory,” for I am in the minority by being unimpressed with both versions. (But fear not, Dahl fans, the author is represented in the list.)

So let’s get to my favorite movies based on children’s books. When you’re done, please leave your suggestions. Thanks:

10. Harriet the Spy (1996), Louise Fitzhugh: A young girl has a habit of writing things down in a notebook. When she loses it, and it is discovered by her classmates, some hurtful things she wrote become public. Michele Trachtenberg (”Gossip Girl”, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) stars in title role.

6. My Dog Skip (2000), Willie Morris: A shy boy (superbly played by Frankie Muniz of “Malcolm in the Middle”) finds his only friend in a dog, and the two set out on great adventures. The movie also has strong performances from Kevin Bacon and Diane Lane. Don’t forget to bring your handkerchiefs!

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