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For years now, my son and I’ve adopted a sacred weekly custom we name “Friday Night time Film Night time.” By the point Friday rolls round on the finish of a protracted week, I really feel just like the human model of a puddle, and the one factor getting me by means of the day is our chorus, “Friday Night time Film Night time.” The custom includes us getting pizza and watching a children film collectively. As story time is a giant a part of our every day routine, a few of our favourite films have been variations of the youngsters’s books we get pleasure from studying collectively.
At the present time of streaming films although, choice fatigue can hit me like nothing else after we’re scrolling by means of our film choices collectively. To save lots of you just a little time in your subsequent film evening with the kiddos, I’ve gathered collectively an inventory of what I’d take into account the all-time greatest film variations of youngsters’s books. You’ll discover classics from the Eighties and 90s, newer variations, animated movies, and live-action remakes. The films star teen witches, Paris schoolchildren, legendary heroes, frazzled bears, and dragon greatest mates.
I hope these books and movies stick in your coronary heart like they’ve in mine.
The All-Time Finest Film Variations of Youngsters’s Books


Kiki’s Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono
Hayao Miyazaki’s 1989 film adaptation of this magical coming-of-age novel by Eiko Kadono will perpetually stay one in every of my all time favourite films. Studio Ghibli creates such a good looking and comforting world on display screen. The visuals are breathtaking, as is at all times the case for a Miyazaki film, and the characters make heartfelt connections with one another. Kiki’s struggles to seek out her spark, each for her wavering magic and her ardour for all times, are endearing and relatable. I might put this film on repeat every single day and by no means get bored.
The Youngsters Are All Proper
Signal as much as The Youngsters Are All Proper to obtain information and proposals from the world of child lit and center grade books.


Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer, the 1998 movie adaptation of Ludwig Bemelmans’ basic kids’s ebook is such an beneath the radar gem! Frances McDormand stars as Miss Clavel and actually shines in her function. As a guardian now, I’m so charmed by McDormand’s care of her class of ladies. She creates a pleasant stability of kindness, firmness, good humor, and genuine care as their trainer. Regardless of the brief nature of the image ebook, the film does a wonderful job of staying true to the unique story whereas additionally including in some enjoyable adventures with Madeline and her neighbor Pepito, the mischievous son of the Spanish ambassadors.


Mulan: The Legend of the Woman Warrior by Faye-Lynn Wu, Illustrated by Pleasure Ang
Whereas there are a whole lot of Disney films on the market (and I do like to wax poetic concerning the animated Robin Hood or The Emperor’s New Groove), it’s the 1998 adaptation of Mulan stands the take a look at of time as the very best Disney film. Mulan makes for such a memorable heroine. In contrast to many Disney princesses, she doesn’t wait to be rescued or use magic to get herself out of hassle. She protects her household, stands up for what she believes in, disregards gender norms, and works onerous to grow to be a very good soldier.


A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
Whereas Winnie the Pooh will at all times maintain a tender spot in my coronary heart, I discovered the current Paddington films, together with Paddington, Paddington 2, and Paddington in Peru, to be extraordinarily properly carried out variations of Michael Bond’s basic ebook sequence. Paddington makes for a lovable hero, the solid is improbable, and the movies promise a candy sense of group and a splash of enjoyable journey. Paddington 2 particularly has a jailhouse subplot that was charming and– dare I say–harking back to a Wes Anderson movie. a film sequence is nice when the sequels maintain up in addition to the primary film. I watched these movies a few months in the past with my son, and he’s nonetheless asking for marmalade sandwiches in his lunchbox.


How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
These books and movies have left an enduring affect on my son and me. Like studying the books collectively, watching the flicks collectively brings us nearer. We share within the laughter, suspense, and transferring moments. We develop inside jokes as we quote the flicks to one another at random. In case you don’t have this custom already, I hope these great film variations of youngsters’s books encourage you to begin a “Friday Night time Film Night time” with somebody you’re keen on, too.
Craving extra ebook to movie concepts? Check out these 8 Recent and Forthcoming Children’s Book Adaptations or this Guide to YA Book-to-Screen Adaptations 2025.