Books that are Better than the Movie

This week I am going to focus on “Books That Are Better Than the Movie”. The short answer is “all of them!” I often recommend a book only to hear the response, “I saw the movie.” Then the child usually refuses to touch the book. This is so irritating to me, since seldom does the movie compare with the book. I sometimes say to the child, “The movie has very little to do with the story in the book.”

When my son was in second grade, his teacher read The Secret Garden to the class, then they saw the movie. My son turned to his teacher and asked her, “Didn’t they read the book?” So here are some books that have been turned into movies, but are definitely better than the movie.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Mary Lennox, an orphan, is sent to live with her uncle in England. She is spoiled and bossy. Mary hears from a servant about a garden that is locked up and determines to find the key in order to get inside. Of course she does and through working in the garden to help it live and be beautiful again, she transforms not only the garden, but herself in the process.

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Anne Shirley, another orphan, is adopted by Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. Anne is the polar opposite of Mary Lennox. She is lovable and exuberant and full of life. She makes hilarious mistakes, but is always contrite and earns the love of everyone who is in her life. (This is on my top ten children’s books of all time list. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit Green Gables in Prince Edward Island last summer.) There are movie sequels to Anne and they each drift further and further from the books.

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. Opal, a ten year old girl, has moved to Florida with her preacher father after her mother abandons them. She is in the local Winn Dixie grocery store and takes home a stray dog to love. The story of the local people and how Opal makes friends in her new town is wonderful. Kate DiCamillo also wrote the Newbery winner The Tale of Despereaux.

Bridge to Terebithia by Katherine Paterson. Jesse, a country boy, befriends a new girl at school who can outrun all the boys in the recess races. Leslie and Jesse invent a magical land called Terebithia which is from the Narnia books which Leslie has read. The friendship grows, but does not cross into a boy-girl relationship. One day when Jesse is away, Leslie is killed and Jesse has to learn to deal with the death of his friend.

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes. This is a wonderful historical fiction book about the Revolutionary War and also about the life of an apprentice. Real life people make their way into this story such as Paul Revere, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and others.

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Although this was not actually a movie, but a television series, it still fits in with my theme. The television series is good family material, but they often seem to have little to do with the books other than the characters. Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about her family and what life was like many years ago. Many people have enjoyed reading about Laura as she grew and married. Some have capitalized on the popularity of the series by continuing on with her daughter Rose and even backtracking to write about Laura’s mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink. Carol Ryrie Brink wrote about her grandmother’s life in the mid 1800s. Story after story about Caddie and her family fill this book and the sequel “Magical Melons” which has been reprinted under the title of “Caddie Woodlawn’s Family”. One of my favorite stories is called “PeeWee”. I also enjoy the story of Hetty visiting the doctor’s family and getting to know Annabelle the doll. Of course the stories are the main thing, and there are few illustrations, but I really like Kate Seredy’s line drawings.

I suggest that you read one of these books to your students, then watch the movie and do a comparison of the two. This may help them realize that even when a movie is well made, there are always changes and parts left out. So, if you enjoyed a movie, read the book. It is bound to be better.

Have a great week,
Audrey

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