Children’s Books Produced into Feature Films

1. Horton Hears A Who
By: Dr. Seuss, 1954

Movie By: 20th Century Fox Animation, 2008

This is a classic Dr. Seuss story about one brave elephant and his determination to keep the “Whos” safe because “A person’s a person, no matter how small.” The story begins when Horton the elephant, hears a small speck of dust talking to him. The tiny speak of dust is home to a city called “Who-ville” populated by the “Whos.” The major of “Who-ville” asks Horton, who can only hear him, to protect his town from harm. While trying to protect the speck of dust, the other animals in the jungle, who can not hear the “Whos,” torment Horton and take the clover that the speck of dust is on. Horton finally finds the clover again, but the other animals, Vlad Vladikoff, the Wixkersham Brothers and the Sour Kangaroo cage Horton. Horton tells the “Whos”, that unless that are hear by the other animals, they will be boiled in “Beezelnut Oil.” The “Whos” find anything they can to make noise, but it is not enough. The major of Who-vile searches for anyone left in the town and finds a very small who named JoJo. JoJo’s loud “YOPP”, was the final addition that the “Whos” needed to make the other jungle animals hear them. After hearing the “Whos”, the other jungle animals vow to help Horton protect the tiny town.

I had not read the book in a while, so I decided to re-read the story first, then watch the movie. I thought overall, the movie kept pretty much to the plot of the book. However, I did notice a few expected differences between the book and the movie. The most obvious difference between the two was the movie’s addition to the “Whos” of “Who-ville”. In the book, the author focuses mainly on Horton. However in the movie the viewer is introduced to the major of “Who-ville” and his family. The movie also shows the major’s only son to be JoJo, the young who, who saved “Who-ville.” The book makes no mention of this relationship. Another difference between the movie and the book is the addition of the character Morton. In the movie, Horton has a small mouse friend named Morton, who plays a major part; however, the book does not mention this character at all. I think the addition of Morton and the focus on the Whos, enhances the story. Both the book and the movie send a powerful message of treating people with respect.

2. Because of Winn-Dixie
By: Kate Dicamillo, 2000
Movie By: 20th Century Fox, 2005

This story is about a young girl, Opal, and her big, ugly, happy dog she calls Winn Dixie. After moving to a new town with her preacher father, Opal finds the dog in a local supermarket and brings him home. After much pleading, she convinces her father to let the dog stay. She names the dog Winn Dixie after the supermarket she found him in. Because of Winn-Dixie, the preacher tells Opal ten things about her absent mother, one for each year Opal has been alive. Winn-Dixie becomes more than just a dog to Opal, he becomes her best friend. Winn-Dixie is better at making friends than anyone Opal has ever known. Through Winn-Dixie, Opal makes several unusual friends in the new town she lives in. Opal spends the summer collecting stories about her new friends, and thinking about her mother. Her new friends include the town librarian, an ex-convict that works at the local pet store and enchants the animals with his guitar and the town “witch” who relieves Opal of much sadness left by her mother’s abandonment seven years earlier. She teaches Opal that the most important thing is not to judge people by their past, but by what they are doing now. Through Winn-Dixie and her new friends, Opal learns to let go of the heartache left by her mother.

After watching the movie, I was pleased to see that the movie followed the story line with few discrepancies. One discrepancy I did find was that the movie did not follow the same sequence of events that the book did. Although all the characters were portrayed in the same way in the movie, the book did a better job of describing the relationships that Opal formed with the characters. Another change that the movie made was when Opal asked her father to tell her things about her mother. In the book, Opal’s dad listed ten things about Opal’s mother. In the movie Opal’s dad describe her mother but did not list ten things including that she was an alcoholic.
Overall, I feel that this is an exceptional bookand movie for young readers. Both the book and the movie teach valuable lessons about friendship and forgiveness.

3. The Polar Express
By: Chris Van Allsburg, 1984
Movie By: Warner Brothers Entertainment, 2005

The book, The Polar Express, is one book that I look forward to reading to my students each year. I enjoyed looking at the rich colors of the illustrations which I feel make the book so special. This is a story of a young boy who boards a magical train during the night of Christmas Eve. The train is called the Polar Express and takes the boy and the other passengers on board to the North Pole. When the train arrives at the North Pole, the children see all the elves in the center of the city ready to send Santa off. The conductor informs the children that this is where Santa will give the first gift of Christmas. The children make their way to Santa’s sleigh where is picks the young boy to receive the first gift of Christmas. The boy chooses a bell from his sleigh and puts it into the pocket of his robe as the elves cheer Santa off into the night. Later in the train, the boy realizes his robe has a hole in it and the bell has fallen out. When one of the other children suggests looking for the bell, the train suddenly lurches forward as it started back to the children’s houses. The next morning, the boy finds a small present with the silver bell and a message from Mr. C inside.

This is wonderful story about believing in the spirit of Christmas. While I read the book each year to my students, I also let my students watch the movie, The Polar Express. I think the movie does a wonderful job of staying true to the story line of the book. The movie depicts the rich illustrations found in the book. The illustrations come to life in the movie though a form of animation. The movie does extend the plot of the story and adds a few extra characters, but this only enhances the story line. I think the book and the movie are equally captivating and engaging for people of all ages.