Let’s look at children’s books that have been made into movies. There are lessons here if you want to write for children, but first let’s look at some movie book tie-ins.

The Cat in the Hat Movie

Reaction to The Cat in the Hat movie was mixed. There were reports of children who were frightened by it, and some who loved it. This diversity of opinion is also true of the adult population who loved the classic Dr Seuss story as a child. Some were horrified that the movie was not completely true to the book. How do you make a short children’s book into a movie?

Other Famous Children’s Books Made Into Movies

Polar Express and Jumanji, both picture books by Chris Van Allsburg, relied a lot on visual spectacular. Then there are E.B. White’s Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web, and of course the Roald Dahl classics, Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Willy Wonka). And of course the powerhouse of current children’s literature in terms of sales and popularity, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

What Can We Learn from the Movies?

If you are interested in writing for children, you can learn a lot from the movies. Some authors such as Matthew Reilly and Janet Evanovich are quoted as saying they write visually. They visualise how the book’s characters and the action of the plot, will translate to the screen. This is a useful technique when writing.

Compare the book and the movie. Look for where the movie deviates from the book, and where it follows the book. The important thing is does it retain the essence of the story, although some people would argue that it should always be exactly true to the story.

When comparing differences and commonalities, elements to look for may include -

- Visual elements
- Plot extensions or variations
- Additional or extra characters
- More or less emphasis on specific characters
- Changes in location
- Changes in dialogue

Ask yourself

- What else is different?
- Why did this change need to be made in the movie context?
- Did you prefer the movie or the book? Why?
- Did your children prefer the movie or the book? Why?

This excercise starts you thinking about the elements and structure of a story.

Writing for Kids & Teens