Family movie night is one of our favorite ways to spend quality time together. Watching movies together is one way to introduce children to beloved films and treasured stories, or revisit and share the stories you loved as a child.

In this blog post we are sharing our favorite movies based on children’s stories, whether you are looking for books to read together to pair with the film adaptation, or are looking for a list of movies that may lead your child to discover beloved book series they can dive into. Our list includes picks from classic children’s literature, adventure stories, fantasy adventures, and survival stories.

In this blog post:

• 15 great children’s book to movie adaptations
• Bring children’s literature to life with Treehouse Book Studies

15 great children’s book to movie adaptations

Looking for great books and movies to explore with your family? Here is our curated list of children’s stories and with coordinating film adaptations. We recommend using your own discretion when choosing films suitable for your family, and checking with sites like Plugged In or Common Sense Media.

1. Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables is the classic children’s series by Lucy Maud Montgomery that tells of the world of Green Gables, an old-fashioned farm in Prince Edward Island. When 11-year-old Anne Shirley arrives, she discovers she has arrived mistakenly as the Cuthberts wished instead to adopt a boy. Before they can send Anne back, they discover that the feisty red-headed girl has a big heart and great imagination that wins them over completely. This book has been adapted to the beloved 1985 series and more recently a series on Netflix, Anne with an E.

Where to Watch:

• Anne of Green Gables (1985) – Prime Video
• Anne with an E (2019) – Netflix

Age Recommendation: 8+

2. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever begins like any other Christmas pageant: angels, shepherds, and the familiar story of the nativity. But things take a wild and hilarious turn when the unruly Herdman kids show up and insist on being part of the play. What follows is total chaos – equal parts outrageous and heartwarming – as the worst kids in town end up teaching everyone, even the grown-ups, about the true meaning of Christmas and the power of seeing the nativity story with fresh eyes.

Where to Watch: Prime Video

Recommended Age: 7+

3. The Black Stallion

The Black Stallion, based on the children’s book by Walter Farley, tells the story of a unique and enduring bond between a boy and a horse. Alec and the black stallion find themselves in grave danger early on, yet their perseverance leads them to a deep friendship that helps them overcome the odds. The Black Stallion’s mysterious past brings uncertainty to their journey, but one thing is certain: the bond between Alec and the horse is unlike any other. Together, they form an unlikely team that ventures into the thrilling world of horse racing, where Alec finds himself once again facing unexpected challenges.

Where to Watch: Prime Video, Apple TV

Recommended Age: 7+

4. The Borrowers 

The Borrowers by Mary Norton is a fantasy tale about the Clock family, tiny people who live underneath the kitchen floor of an English manor. When one of the family is spotted upstairs by a human boy, will the Clock family remain safe in their hidden home, or will they be forced to find a new home elsewhere?

This story was adapted for film with the movie The Borrowers (1997) and The Secret World of Arietty (2012), an animated film from Studio Ghibli.

Where to Watch:

• The Borrowers (1997) – Prime Video, Apple TV
• The Secret World of Arietty (2012) – Prime Video, Apple TV, HBO Max

Age Recommendation: 6+

5. The Boxcar Children

The Boxcar Children are a series of children’s books about siblings Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. The children are orphans, and the only way they can stay together is to make it on their own.

The stories are named for the home the children make out of an abandoned boxcar they find in the woods, hence the title the Boxcar Children.

These books have been adapted as an animated movie.

Where to Watch: Prime Video

Age Recommendation: 5+

6. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Based on the beloved children’s book by Roald Dahl, the story follows an impoverished but honest boy named Charlie who wins a golden ticket to tour the magical, mysterious, and decadent chocolate factory owned by the eccentric Willy Wonka. This whimsical fantasy is a delightful but cautionary story about greed, temptation, and the reward of a good heart.

Where to watch: Prime Video, Netflix

Age Recommendation: 8+

7. Charlotte’s Web

In this children’s classic by E.B. White, a young girl befriends and tries to save a little pig named Wilbur from the butcher’s block. She is helped by a wise and kind spider named Charlotte who writes messages on her web to show the pig is unique and special. This is a timeless story of friendship, life, and sacrifice.

Where to watch: Prime Video, Apple TV

Age Recommendation: 5+

8. The Hobbit 

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is an intriguing fantasy novel full of adventure, drama, magic, and mystery. Follow along with Bilbo as he goes on a year-long quest with the dwarves to reclaim a wonderful treasure that belonged to them many long years ago. Finding himself in perilous situations and facing even more dangerous enemies, Bilbo and his friends learn the importance of teamwork. By trusting his fellow travelers, and discovering his own strengths, Bilbo becomes a stronger hobbit full of whit, wisdom, and intelligence in this voyage and return story.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Age Recommendation: 7+

9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis is a children’s fantasy novel full of adventure and exploration, betrayal and forgiveness, and the battle between good and evil. During the air raids on London during World War II, four young children are sent to live with a kind, old professor in his large house in the country. During their stay, the children accidentally discover the magical world of Narnia after hiding in an old wardrobe.

As they explore the world of Narnia, they find a land that is locked in an eternal winter. The children quickly become swept up in a battle between the White Witch and the great lion, Aslan.

Where to watch: Prime Video, Disney+

Age Recommendation: 8+

10. Mr. Popper’s Penguins

Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a heartfelt story about an eccentric house painter who resides in the small town of Stillwater with his family. As he goes through his daily life, he dreams of venturing out of the small town to visit the North and South Poles. Fascinated by these faraway places, he studies maps and atlases dreaming about visiting the continents, while his practical wife handles the duties of daily life.

When Mr. Popper sends a letter to an Antarctic explorer, he is surprised with an unexpected gift, a penguin named Captain Cook. To repair the penguin’s loneliness, Mr. Popper acquires Greta, another penguin, and together they generate a family of penguins.

The story follows Mr. Popper and his brood of penguins as they adapt their home to accommodate the needs of the animals, train them to perform and more. As the penguins charm all who see them, Mr. Popper is faced with hard decisions about what is best for the animals, and what environment they will ultimately thrive in.

Where to watch: Prime Video, Apple TV

Age Recommendation: 6+

11. My Side of the Mountain

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George is an adventure story that begins when 12-year-old Sam Gribley decides to leave his family and their small, cramped New York City apartment to seek a quieter life and explore the world. Told from the first person through journal entries, notes, and drawings, Sam embarks on a journey in the Catskill Mountains, relying on his own survival skills to make it on his own. Along the way, Sam learns how to build fires, forage for food, and catch fish as he seeks independence in the woods. Prepared with only a few items like a pen knife, an ax, and the clothes on his back, Sam quickly learns that surviving in nature involves more than he has read about in books.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Age Recommendation: 7+

12. Paddington

Paddington is a children’s movie based on the children’s book A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond. It is the heartwarming story of a bear from Peru who arrives at Paddington Station and is taken in by the Brown family. As Paddington settles into life in London, his curiosity and good intentions often lead him into unexpected predicaments. From shopping trips and visits to the seaside to attempts at helping around the house, Paddington’s adventures are filled with humor, surprises, and plenty of marmalade. Paddington is beloved for his antics and his unique way of seeing the world.

Where to Watch: Prime Video, HBO Max

Recommended Age: 6+

13. Peter Pan (Finding Neverland)

In the children’s classic by J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan zips into the bedroom of three children named Wendy, Michael, and John when looking for his shadow. After much blundering about, Wendy manages to reattach Peter’s frenetic shadow, and in return, Peter propositions the three siblings to accompany him back to his home in a place he calls Neverland.

To pair with this story, we love the 2004 film, Finding Neverland, which is a heartwarming story about the author.

Where to watch: Prime Video, Apple TV

Age Recommendation: 8+

14. Where the Red Fern Grows

In the children’s chapter book by Wilson Rawls, Billy and his dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann, experience adventure and heartbreak set against the backdrop of the Ozarks during the Great Depression. From the moment Billy decides he will work until he earns enough to buy his dogs, he commits to giving those pups the best life a hunting dog could imagine. Through nightly hunts in the mountains and river bottoms in their own backyard to travelling for competition Old Dan and Little Ann develop unmatched commitment to Billy. Wilson Rawls’ Where the Red Fern Grows tells a story of loyalty, love, and loss that has captured readers for generations.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Age Recommendation: 9+

15. The Wild Robot 

In The Wild Robot, Roz the robot finds herself shipwrecked and stranded, needing to navigate unfamiliar, untamed terrain. She isn’t made for this and she isn’t welcomed by the creatures that call the island their home. Through instinct, observation, and adaptation, Roz not only adjusts to the environment, but the environment also adjusts to her.

What begins as a story of survival becomes an adventure that introduces Roz to her purpose and her family. Peter Brown’s modern classic is as intellectually interesting as it is heartwarming.

Where to watch: Prime Video

Age Recommendation: 9+

Bring children’s literature to life with Treehouse Book Studies 

If you are looking for ways to introduce children to wholesome, beloved children’s stories, Treehouse Book Studies are digital download book studies of children’s literature for ages 5-13. These are designed for use in a homeschool setting as a literature curriculum or as a book study with a small group. These book guides create lasting connections through rich stories while you study themes such as science, nature, geography, history, and language arts, plus fun recipes, hands-on activities, and more. All of the titles in our list are available as standalone book studies in our shop.

What are your favorite movies based on children’s stories? Share your favorites in the comments below.

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