Seriously, who comes up with this stuff? Let’s be besties.Ĭoraline by Neil Gaiman (2002) What’s it all about?Ī young girl finds a mirrored world behind a door in her new house where her Other Parents live.

The bit with the frozen river where the icy waterfall melts and the kids and the beavers sail on a chunk of ice was made up for the film. Let’s have some Turkish Delights first, though. There they must fight an evil queen and her army of mythical creatures to save a talking lion and his worshippers. The children travel through a wardrobe and find themselves in the mysterious world of Narnia. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950) What’s it all about? The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – 2005 Based on:

Also in the book, her brother is a normal boy whereas the film shows him as a bully. Can’t make a kid’s film without a little breaking and entering. In the book, Matilda never goes into Miss Trunchbull’s house, but in the film, she breaks in twice. Matilda by Roald Dahl (1988) What’s it all about?Ī schoolgirl finds out that she has telekinesis and uses it to punish her selfish parents and her cruel headmistress until her sweet teacher adopts her. The ‘05 film is truer to the book but slathered with a little extra Tim Burton-ness. Any differences?ĭahl straight-up hated the ‘71 adaptation because of its wild differences which included huge emphasis on Wonka and turning Slugworth, a minor character, into the film’s baddie. Willy Wonka/Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – 19 Based on:Ĭharlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (1964) What’s it all about?Ī poor boy who has lived on cabbage soup for most of his life finds one of only five golden tickets in existence that permit him and his previously bedridden grandfather (so shady, Grandpa Joe…) to enter Willy Wonka’s secret chocolate factory. There are very few differences between both films and the original story. The ‘89 film was one of the few to get any praise from Dahl, who was famously unhappy with many of his book adaptations, but that’s because it is cartoon perfection. Together, they hang out in his cave house and hide from other giants. The BFG by Roald Dahl (1982) What’s it all about?Ī big friendly giant rescues (definitely not kidnaps) a young girl from an orphanage whilst he’s out blowing dreams into everyone’s heads. He kills Jiminy Cricket when he gives him some advice that the boy didn’t care for.

The book Pinocchio is a bit of a bastard. The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi (1883) What’s it all about?Ī wooden puppet who turns into a real boy and is most famous for having a growing nose when he lies and a tiny insect mate. In honour of International Children’s Book Day on 2nd April, we’ve listed our favourite kid’s books that were made into films, for better or worse… Pinocchio – 1940 Based on:

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