Children's Book in Feature Film 3: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Unlike my previous blog posts on children’s books in feature films, the book The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson is much more descriptive than the movie due to its already long length. In the other two books, information had to be added to make a feature length movie, but in this case, information had to be left out to make the movie.

The book and movie have the same underlying theme, plot, and characters. The main characters, Jess and Leslie, find a place of their own, which they turn into a magical place through their own creative imaginations. The very entrance into Terabithia becomes the most integral part of the movie. Les falls off the rope and drowns while going to Terabithia without jess. The bridge in the title is built by Jess after her death and he and he and his sister, May Belle, keep Terabithia alive for Les.

In the movie, they find the abandoned tree house, but in the book, they build a “castle stronghold.” I envisioned it as a clubhouse. In the book, Les related Terabithia to Narnia, and has Jess read these books to understand how things should be in a magical place. In the book, they discuss their foes such as Janice Avery and how they could never defeat Terabithia, while in the movie these foes come to life, and they did battle with them. Janice Avery was a troll. In the book, there is more emphasis placed on the music teacher and Jess’s attraction to her which leads to him going with her to the art museum. This is the fateful day that Les died which causes him intense guilt. More emphasis is also placed on Jess’s two older sisters, Brenda and Ellie, and his jealousy toward them which leads to his insecurities.

Bridge to Terabithia is truly one of the most heart wrenching books that I have ever read. The relationship between Jess and Leslie is special, and the relationship among Jess and his family was complex. This is an excellent book that deals with jealousy love, and death, and the capability to move on and become stronger through the memory of another person.

As I read this book, I kept thinking of the movie My Girl that I watched when I was a little girl. It reminded me of that movie because of the relationship between the main characters and the death of one of them. That movie defined much of my childhood. It was one of the first times that I realized that young people were not immortal.

Many books by Paterson feature themes of the death of a loved one such as Jacob Have I Loved, Master Puppeteer, and Great Gilly Hopkins.

The description in this book jumped out at me. I can see everything that she wants her audience to see. Also, it is never too early to teach children about death and immortality because it helps them be cautious and helps keep them safe.

References

Patterson, D. (Producer). (2007). Bridge to Terabithia [Motion picture]. United States: Walt Disney Pictures.

Patterson, K. (1977). Bridge to Terabithia. New York: HarperCollins.

Children's Book in Feature Film 2: How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss is a masterful storyteller, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas is one of his masterpieces. The movie and the book share the same themes, but many adaptations had to be made to make a movie length version of the book. The movie provides background information for how the Grinch comes to hate Christmas so badly. He had a childhood sweetheart named Martha who he made an ornament for and shaved his face, cutting it in several places, and instead of achieving the desired effect, he was laughed at by the entire class, even the teacher.

Cindy Lou Hoo plays a bigger role in the movie, and gets the Grinch to come to a town gathering where he is again humiliated by the mayor who gives him an electric razor as a gift. This is when he decides to ruin Christmas.

In both the book and the movie, the Grinch dresses up as Santa in order to rob the town of all the Christmas presents. And the Whos realize that Christmas is not just about presents and a feast. They celebrate Christmas anyway, which warms the heart of the Grinch, who gives the presents back and is finally welcomed by the Whos.

In Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the theme is clear. Christmas should exist in one’s heart and not in the feast or the presents. I liked this about the book.

This book reminds me of all of the hustle and bustle of Christmas and commercialization of it. This is why I like this book. I also feel as if Christmas has turned into something that it never should have become.

This book is similar to other Dr. Seuss books in the manner of which they are written. One can clearly name a book as a Dr. Seuss book as soon as they hear the first few words. He has a different style and rhythm than any other. His books are both aesthetically and didactically pleasing. He also always teaches children a moral lesson that they sometimes need.

There is always a new outlet for teaching lessons to children, but nobody, in my opinion, is better at accomplishing this feat than Dr. Seuss. For example, The Lorax teaches children to take only what they need from the environment and not to exaggerate their needs. All Dr. Seuss books are classics for a reason. They are all special in their own way, and they will be used to teach our children for years to come. Parents and children who know Dr. Seuss are blessed.

References

Howard, R. (Director/Producer), & Grazer, B. (Producer). (2000). The Grinch [Motion Picture]. United States: Universal Studios.

Seuss, Dr. (1957). How the Grinch stole Christmas. New York: Random House.

Children's Book in a Feature Film 1: Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg

Chris Van Allsburg is the original author of the infamous Jumanji. The book won a Caldecott Medal in 1982, and the movie that was later developed is quite similar to the original book. The brother and sister in the book, Peter and Judy, are also characters in the movie. The book and movie both begin with two children finding the game, Jumanji. The rule of the game is stated in the book and in the movie. This rule states that the game must be finished once it is started. In both the book and movie, each roll of the dice comes with a clever game direction with jungle undertones. A lion, monkeys, and a tsetse fly make an appearance in both the book and movie. In both the book and movie, when the game is finished, all of the happenings of the game disappear and all returns to normal.

Differences are also apparent. The biggest difference involves the main character in the movie, Alan Parish, played by Robin Williams. This young boy finds the game in a factory, and plays it with Sara, a girl that he adores. He gets pulled into the game for twenty years, until Judy and Peter find the game in the attic. In the book, the children find the game under a tree in the park. In the movie, Judy and Peter’s parents have died and they live with Aunt Nora. In the book, the children’s parents are still alive. At the end of the movie, young Alan and Sara throw the book over a bridge into a river and it washes ashore on a beach somewhere, but in the book, Judy and Peter put the game under a tree and see that it is found by Danny and Walter, children that they know and of whom they are not really fond. In the movie, the game changed Judy and Peter’s life for the better by saving their parents from a plane crash because Alan hires them and discourages the vacation that would have caused their death.

I liked Chris Van Allsburg’s version of Jumanji because it is a suspenseful book for children that is not scary. Children wouldn’t think that the monsters in the book were coming for them because they come from a board game.

I always had a love for adventure growing up which probably made me respond positively to the book. I also had a sister that I liked to play games with and this book reminded me of playing games with her.

Other books by Chris Van Allsburg have also been made into movies. For example, Zathura and The Polar Express are both children’s adventure books that have been turned into feature films. Zathura is a science fiction adventure.

From reading this book, I learned that children’s books can be suspenseful and adventurous without having to scare children and make them have nightmares.

References

Johnston, J. (Director), & Cort, R. (Producer). (1995). Jumanji [Motion picture]. United States: TriStar Pictures.

Van Allsburg, C. (1981). Jumanji. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.