6 Great 2016 Movies Based on Kids’ Books

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, by J.K. Rowling
Releasing November 18th (the same day as the script!), Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a children’s book based on one of the Hogwarts textbooks from the Harry Potter series. The movie, however, promises to give us a look at the author of Fantastic Beasts and his life, many years before Harry Potter even graced the halls of Hogwarts.

The BFG, by Roald Dahl
One of my absolute favorites as a kid. This Roald Dahl classic about a young girl named Sophie and her friendship with a giant is lovely enough, but seeing it infused with the magic of Spielberg? It’s enough to make you teary eyed. The film adaptation of The BFG was released in July, but should be available soon for you and your family to enjoy. I mean, has a film based on a Dahl book ever been anything but delightful?

Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll
The sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass got the Tim Burton treatment again this year when it was released as a movie in May. Alice finds her way back to Wonderland and ends up doing a little time travel to help out the Mad Hatter. Basically anything Tim Burton touches turns to weird gold, so a film version of this magical and quirky book is going to be especially fun to watch.

The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson
Released in October, The Great Gilly Hopkins is based on the 1979 book by the same name. Gilly is a girl being shuffled from foster home to foster home, but her personality is like a firecracker and shines on every page. Hers is a story of compassion, of wit, of love, and of strength—a this book is great read for kids and adults alike. The movie brings Gilly’s larger-than-life personality to the big screen.

The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
In July, The Little Prince was released as a movie and the whole world rejoiced. The whimsical story of the little prince and his new pilot friend translated well to a film just as beautiful and heart-warming as the book.

The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling
The Jungle Book can be a heavy read for some little ones, but its movie counterparts are pretty incredible. Released in April, this live-action remake of the Disney animated classic will leave your whole family smiling and inspired to dive into Kipling’s timeless classic.
What new films based on kids’ books are you excited about?