# 156 Compare and Contrast: Children's Literature in Books and in Movies

     

     Tiny Others by Lynda is now available in paperback with a list price for USA currency of $9.95.  (The eBook price for Kindle and Nook remains $3.99.) The paperback is already listed on Amazon.com as well as Amazon's European markets such as amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom), amazon.de (Germany), amazon.fr (France), amazon.es (Spain), and amazon.it (Italy). 

     Within a month, the book will also be available through bookstores, online retailers, libraries, and other academic institutions.

     For more information about Tiny Others, click on the following link.

         https://www.amazon.com/author/ebooksbylynda 

   
      Before I begin with the current post, I want to welcome our newest audience from Switzerland.  You represent the 56th country to join us on one or both of my two blogs.  We appreciate your interest in, and support of, children's literacy.

     And now on with our discussion of paired children's classics and movies.       

     When J.K. Rowlins first published Goblet of Fire, the first of her Harry Potter books, one of the strongest readers in my fourth grade class persuaded his mother to buy him the audio version.  After listening to the entire thing, he came to school and recommended the "book" to his classmates.     

     The young man's mother was a parent helper in our classroom, and she carefully explained her reasoning. Some of it was probably valid.  "The book," she told me, "was too long for him, even though he was able to read most of the words, but he was excited about the story, and at least he was hearing the author's real words."  (The movie didn't even have that to offer.)

     So which is actually better, a 90 minute movie or a 500 page book?

     In truth, you can't compare them very well. They are no more alike than apples and oranges.  Movies have voices, color, and music. Unfortunately, however, they sometimes change characters and often take out whole sections of the story. 

     I believe that both media are valid and useful for kids, but the movies should be offered only after the book is read, and then followed by a good discussion of the relative differences.

     Here is a list of children's classics that have movies available from Amazon.com:

          Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
                  Book by Roald Dahl,  Movie 1971 with Gene                             Wilder 
          Bambi
                  Book by Felix Salten, Movie by Disney 1942
          Pippi Longstocking
                   Book by Astrid Lindgren, Movie with Inger                                 Nilssen in 1969
          Johnny Tremain
                    Book by Esther Forbes, Movie with Hal                                       Stalmaster by Disney
          Davey Crocket
                     Book (several biographies available), movie                                with Fess Parker by Disney in 1950's
          Treasure Island
                     Book by Robert Louis Stevenson, Movie by                                 Disney with Bobby Driscol in 1950
          Peter Pan
                      Book by J.M. Berrie, Movie by Disney in 1953
           Anne of Green Gables
                       Book by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Movie                                   with Megan Follows

     There are others, of course, but some of the older movies are no longer available.  I have always loved George Selden's The Cricket in Time Square, but my favorite film for it has become hard to find. (It may still be available for VHS if you still have the technology to view or copy it to DVD.)

     I hope you enjoyed these somewhat unusual suggestions. Don't overlook the possibility of using the movies as a useful reward for finishing the reading of a book too.

     Until next time...please keep reading.