Elementary schoolers can be some of the most avid readers, and little can be compared to the joy of a child when their favorite book is adapted into a movie. Video Librarian has compiled a list of excellent children’s book-to-film adaptations for your library collection that elementary schoolers will love—whether or not they’ve already read the book.
Flora and Ulysses (2021)
Based on the children’s book by Kate DiCamillo, Disney’s Flora and Ulysses is a fun-filled superhero adventure about a girl named Flora (Matilda Lawler) and her squirrel Ulysses. Flora’s life and family are changed inevitably when she discovers Ulysses isn’t just a normal squirrel; he has incredible superpowers.
Read our review of Flora and Ulysses
Purchase the Flora and Ulysess book
National Velvet (1944)
“A girl and her horse” films have long captivated young viewers. One such long-lasting movie is based on the 1935 book by Enid Bagnold and features a young Elizabeth Taylor. National Velvet is the story of Velvet Brown and her inspiring belief in herself to win a Grand Nationals horse race.
Purchase the National Velvet book
Purchase the National Velvet on DVD
The Bad Guys (2022)
Based on the children’s graphic novel series by Aaron Blabey, The Bad Guys is a hilarious, family-friendly tale about criminal animals who must work to defy everyone’s expectations of them. Mr. Wolf, Mr. Shark, Ms. Tarantula, Mr. Piranha, and Mr. Snake have always been “the bad guys.” It’s what everyone expects from such scary animals, after all. But, Mr. Wolf wonders one day, what if they tried to be good for a change?
Purchase The Bad Guys on DVD
Purchase The Bad Guys book series
The Phantom Tollbooth (1969)
In 1961, Norman Juster wrote the children’s novel The Phantom Tollbooth, and the 1969 book-to-film adaptation is still a captivating tale for today’s elementary schoolers. The animated fantasy adventure film follows a boy named Milo who receives a special delivery in the form of a tollbooth. When Milo enters the tollbooth, he’s transported to a fantastical land, where he’ll learn many lessons about words and numbers.
Purchase The Phantom Tollbooth book
Dreamscape Media Adaptations
Although they are not feature films, Dreamscape Media has produced beautifully animated adaptations of children’s books. Blending audio and visual components, these videos bring diverse fiction and nonfiction books to life on the screen. From Malala (Raphaële Frier’s story of Malala Yousafzai’s activism) to Your Legacy (Schele Williams’ celebration of African people throughout history), Dreamscape Media’s book-to-video adaptations offer so much for elementary schoolers to learn from.
Learn more about Dreamscape Media in our distributor database
Read about Dreamscape Media's Fireside Reading Series
Check out more of our reviews of children’s films for suggestions in developing your library’s film collection and perhaps even more book-to-film adaptations your elementary school patrons will love.