7 Kid-Friendly Versions of the Stories That Inspired Disney Movies

The Little Mermaid, by Robert Sabuda
So, this one’s a bit of a fudge, because while this book is a book and not a movie, it is a total visual spectacle. Sabuda’s paper skills make him the rockstar of pop-up books. Your kids will be so enchanted by the elaborate 3-D creations, they may not even notice the human skulls in the sea witch’s home. (OK, they’ll notice. But they’ll think they’re cool.) Be warned: true to Hans Christian Andersen’s original story, this version doesn’t exactly end with a wedding.

Mulan: A Story in Chinese and English, by Li Jian
We can all agree that Mulan is a badass, right? If you go back to the source material (a Chinese folk tale), she’s still just as much of a badass, and there’s no sassy dragon. Even better: no handsome prince to get in the way. This version is illustrated in lovely Chinese ink paintings and tells the tale in both Chinese and English characters.

The Frog Prince, by Jess Stockham
If you’re deep into an obsession with Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, then you know it was based on a children’s novel (The Frog Princess) that was based on a Grimm’s fairy tale. The original is kinda creepy: the curse is broken when the princess throws the frog against the wall. This version is nothing but adorable, with lift-up flaps and a lesson about being nice to each other. 

Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen, by Nelly Hofer
The classic fairy tale that inspired Frozen is so different from the Anna and Elsa version, you can pretend it’s a spinoff starring their two little neighbors. Sorta. With more wicked sprites. If your kids can tolerate Marshmallow the snow monster without flinching, they may be ready for this dark tale of a boy with ice in his heart who finds himself in an Elsa-style ice palace, told here with beautiful hand-cut paper art.

The Jungle Book, a retelling of the classic tale by Rudyard Kipling
Between the animated 1967 movie and the new live-action version, Disney’s got The Jungle Book covered. But if it’s time to turn off the TV, and your kid’s not ready for Kipling’s 140-page original work, this one is perfect. It doesn’t totally ignore the scary parts of Mowgli’s story (e.g., oh, that tiger that totally wants to murder him), but it softens them up a whole lot. And the illustrations are—I don’t use this word a lot, so believe me when I say it—darling.

Rapunzel: Based on the Original Story by the Brothers Grimm, by Sarah Gibb
Flynn from Tangled is cute and all, but if I had the choice, I’d rather hang out with Sarah Gibb’s characters. Her soft, whimsical illustrations are so perfectly romantic that even a scary witch and a super-boring tower wouldn’t stop me from jumping into this book and spending all day braiding pretty pink flowers into Rapunzel’s hair. (I’m assuming it would take all day.)

Beauty and the Beast, by Mahlon F. Craft
Have you noticed a theme on this list: that these books have awesomely gorgeous illustrations? It’s true: Disney doesn’t have the market cornered on pictures your kids may become obsessed with. This romantic version of Beauty and the Beast is illustrated with insanely lavish and detailed oil and watercolor paintings. And the story, built from pieces of the original book and various other tellings, is unique, great for older kids, and totally devoid of Angela Lansbury. (You’ll love it anyway.)
What are your favorite classic fairy tales?