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.



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