Children's Literature and Movies

It is a fact that nobody would have ever thought that children's literature would become a megahit of all time? But for many years there is a trend that the hollywood producers does not depend upon children's literature for making it a movie.Thinking that no one would go to children's movies and, therefore, not make enough money, G rated movies were considered losers. Finally, Disney started making animated movies again and children and adults flocked to the theaters. As animated movies became more and more realistic, classic children's books and stories became popular at the box office again. This kind of profit guided movie companies to make live action movies from classic children's literature.

Movies are the perfect vehicle for children's fairy tales. These fairy tales are centuries old but there is reason that they have survived through the ages. Their themes, characters, and magic appeal to children and adults because they resonate with everyone. Who doesn't want to read to see a story about a beautiful young girl who tames a beast and makes him her prince? Who doesn't want to find his true love without ragard to her wealth or station? When they were written, they appealed to the rich and poor alike. Of course, Disney did the world a great service when they created the exquisite Beauty and the Beast or Cinderella. They are the kinds of movies that children watch over and over again. Snow White, which was made decades ago, is still a classic today. DVDs and video tapes enable parents and children to enjoy the same movies.

One of the most often viewed movies of all time is the Wizard of Oz. How many of us Baby Boomers sat with our parents and watched this timeless classic over and over again when it aired each year. I'll never forget the first time I saw the movie in color instead of plain old black and white. I was astounded by the incredible beauty of Muchkin Land and the Emerald City. Nothing could have prepared me for the beauty I saw. Although the illustrations in the book The Wizard of Oz are clever and interesting, nothing can compare with the beauty of the movie. Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion are forever embedded in our conscious memory forever.

Certainly we cannot mention children's literature and the movies without mentioning Harry Potter. The books and movies have become a cultural phenomenon. Who would have ever thought book stores would stay open all night so that children and adults could buy another book in the Harry Potter saga? Who would have thought a poor children's story writer would become a billionaire just by writing some of the best children's literature ever? Love Harry Potter or not. No one can negate the power of the series. Boys who have never really liked to read learned to love books by reading Harry Potter or having the books read to them. The movies made from the Harry Potter series are some of the most successful movies of all time.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was recently made into a movie. The movie was made from the first and most famous story. The books so brilliantly written have warmed the hearts of children and adults for decades. C.S. Lewis would be so surprised to learn that his classic stories were so gorgeously made into a film that would appeal to everyone.



ABC FUN
Children's Literature News:
Are you smarter than a 16-year-old? (Times Online)
Employers often complain about graduates' grammar but pupils at Harrow are still made to sit a literacy test. Try it!..


Shemaroo - an alternative wave in home viewing
May 26, 2008 8:24:34 PM IST Bollywood Trade News Network Shemaroo Entertainment Pvt...


Breast-Feeding Doesn't Contribute to Cavities - MedicineNet.com
MONDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Breast-feeding will not ratchet up the risk of toddler tooth decay, new research claims. Cavities affect one in four young children, but the contributing factors are more likely to be smoking during pregnancy ...


Industry Sectors - Daily Telegraph
Bebo founder Michael Birch has launched an online video dictionary website called Wordia.com, his first new venture since he sold the popular social networking site. Edward Baker, Wordia's founder and a former TV quiz show developer, used the 299th ...


Making kids laugh
London, Making kids laugh 17.01.08 Fun guy: Michael Rosen will be running through his A-Z of poetry Look here too Celebrating the year of the rat Imagine Children's Literature Festival 14-22 February, Southbank ...


Shemaroo Entertainment Creates an Alternative Wave in Home Viewing
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Monday, May 26, 2008 -- Shemaroo Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. in its Home Video business has set upon creating an alternative wave in Home Viewing with the launch of VCDs & DVDs specially ...


Carla Marinucci: UPDATE - Gore cancels appearance at Boxer fundraiser - San Francisco Gate
I just got a call from Vice President Al Gore. He told me that he needs to travel abroad tomorrow for an exciting and urgent mission that could result in a major breakthrough in the fight against global warming. Unfortunately, this means that we must ...


Memory failure
A miscellany of thoughts, newsclips and ephemera. 15.8.08 Memory failure When people ask about what I've read this summer, and I mention the Summer Reading Challenge , they blanch...


Childrens Story Hour set for October 12 at GGC Library (The Weekly)
LAWRENCEVILLE (September 29, 2008) EUR As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, Georgia Gwinnett College will host a childrens Story Hour and college students and faculty will read to children in both English and Spanish to awaken in children, the joy of reading and expand their interest in books...


US-LIFE Summary (Reuters via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News)
New Elmo and Guitar Hero top 2008 toy wish list..


For avid readers
Now a treat for children in Malayalam. Photo: M. Moorthy Options for your ideas: Encouraging creativity...


Independent, The (London) - Give children books, not SATs
August 28, 2008 -- SCHOOLS The children's laureate, Michael Rosen, is a fierce critic of the Government's education policies. He's against testing - and wants pupils to...


L'inglese e gli errori di spelling «Aboliamo le regole, è tempo perso» (Corriere della Sera)
15/09/2008 - Regno Unito, si discute della proposta di John Wells, professore di fonetica allUniversity College di LondraRegno Unito, si discute della proposta di John Wells, professore di fonetica allUniversity College di Londra..




ABC FUN




Technorati Tags: , ,