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Enjoyable Children's Books That HAVEN'T Been Made Into Films / TV Series

86 replies

UsefulSmartPrettyHappy · 08/01/2023 14:15

I'm just thinking of books to read to my 9 year old that don't have a film or TV series attached to them.

Something I read the other day, about how the films and the merchandise attached to children's books has become more important than the actual books, has made me stop and think.

Most of the books I've read to my ds do have films based on them.

I don't think that's necessarily an awful thing. However, there must be loads of other overlooked and underrated books I could be reading too.

All suggestions appreciated Smile Flowers

OP posts:
PuttingDownRoots · 08/01/2023 14:21

Adventures on Trains (starts with Highland Falcon Thief). In fact, most very modern fiction hasn't had time to be made into a TV series yet....

DD really enjoyed thecRoman Mysteries... and while there was a TV series, its about 20 years ago and not something accessible.

MargaretThursday · 08/01/2023 14:58

The Roman Mysteries were done on the BBC and I have the DVDs of them, so I wouldn't count them.

If I was rich I'd like to have a film company that focuses on doing good adaptions from children's books in keeping with the spirit of the book. Yes, some changes do need to be made, but keeping the characters consistent with the original book (yes, I'm looking at the recent Swallows and Amazon film, Little White Horse and the dreadful attempt of The Dark is rising-the latter has a quite reasonable BBC radio version up now though)

These would be the books I'd start with:

Malcolm Saville: Mystery at Witchend (and maybe other of the Lone Pine series)
Monica Edwards: The White Riders (would be very cinematic), Cargo of Horses, Storm Ahead and maybe more.
Diana Wynne Jones: The ogre downstairs (would be brilliant filmed), Chrestomanci series (less sure on that, not sure it'd work on screen) and maybe The Year of the Ghost and Power of Three
Arthur Ransome: Winter Holiday, Peter Duck
Enid Blyton: Find Outer series. The Secret island (don't think that one's been filmed)
Elinor Brent Dyer: First Few Chalet School books ending with them setting up in England after fleeing Guernsey.
Violet Needham: Possibly the main Stormy Petral lot, but definitely-The Black Riders, The Stormy Petral, The House of the Peladin, The Emerald Crown
Antonia Forest: Maybe the school ones, but I think The Marlows and the Traitors would film well, and I'd like the historical ones-The Player's Boy and The Player and the Rebels too.
Gwendoline Courtney: A Coronet for Cathy
Geoffrey Trease: Bannermere series and Cue for Treason
Noel Streatfeild: The House in Cornwall, The Children of Primrose Lane, Tennis Shoes, Party Frock, White Boots (last 3 under their original names please), The Fearless treasure (possibly done as a history programme)

Possibly:
Jane Shaw's Susan series might film well
Elizabeth Goudge: Island Magic, Linets and Valerians, Smokey House
Joan Aiken: (Wolves was filmed, not particularly well, if I remember rightly) but maybe others from the Dido series, or the go Saddle the Sea trilogy.

Those are a older selection of books, but I think a lot of them would film well. Some could be updated to be more modern, but others were benefit from being set in the original publishing .

DelurkingAJ · 08/01/2023 15:05

Diana Wynne Jones (there’s Howls Moving Castle which has got the Studio Ghibli adaptation and there was a BBC version of Archer’s Goon 25 years ago but I’m not aware of any others and if he likes eg Charmed Life then you’re away.
Terry Pratchett (Diggers, Truckers etc are children friendly)
Rosemary Sutcliffe (there was a version of Eagle of the Ninth a couple of years ago).
Lucy Boston (again Children of Greene Knowe had a wonder BBC version 25 years ago but I’m not aware of anything more recent)
Joan Aiken

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Custardslice3 · 08/01/2023 15:46

The Tom Fletcher books (Christmasaurus, The Creakers...) are good and enjoyable to read out loud and I don't think they've been dramatized? Though I do think The Christmasaurus would make a good movie.

UsefulSmartPrettyHappy · 08/01/2023 17:11

Thanks everyone Flowers

OP posts:
modgepodge · 08/01/2023 17:14

MargaretThursday · 08/01/2023 14:58

The Roman Mysteries were done on the BBC and I have the DVDs of them, so I wouldn't count them.

If I was rich I'd like to have a film company that focuses on doing good adaptions from children's books in keeping with the spirit of the book. Yes, some changes do need to be made, but keeping the characters consistent with the original book (yes, I'm looking at the recent Swallows and Amazon film, Little White Horse and the dreadful attempt of The Dark is rising-the latter has a quite reasonable BBC radio version up now though)

These would be the books I'd start with:

Malcolm Saville: Mystery at Witchend (and maybe other of the Lone Pine series)
Monica Edwards: The White Riders (would be very cinematic), Cargo of Horses, Storm Ahead and maybe more.
Diana Wynne Jones: The ogre downstairs (would be brilliant filmed), Chrestomanci series (less sure on that, not sure it'd work on screen) and maybe The Year of the Ghost and Power of Three
Arthur Ransome: Winter Holiday, Peter Duck
Enid Blyton: Find Outer series. The Secret island (don't think that one's been filmed)
Elinor Brent Dyer: First Few Chalet School books ending with them setting up in England after fleeing Guernsey.
Violet Needham: Possibly the main Stormy Petral lot, but definitely-The Black Riders, The Stormy Petral, The House of the Peladin, The Emerald Crown
Antonia Forest: Maybe the school ones, but I think The Marlows and the Traitors would film well, and I'd like the historical ones-The Player's Boy and The Player and the Rebels too.
Gwendoline Courtney: A Coronet for Cathy
Geoffrey Trease: Bannermere series and Cue for Treason
Noel Streatfeild: The House in Cornwall, The Children of Primrose Lane, Tennis Shoes, Party Frock, White Boots (last 3 under their original names please), The Fearless treasure (possibly done as a history programme)

Possibly:
Jane Shaw's Susan series might film well
Elizabeth Goudge: Island Magic, Linets and Valerians, Smokey House
Joan Aiken: (Wolves was filmed, not particularly well, if I remember rightly) but maybe others from the Dido series, or the go Saddle the Sea trilogy.

Those are a older selection of books, but I think a lot of them would film well. Some could be updated to be more modern, but others were benefit from being set in the original publishing .

Enid blyton’s secret island was filmed, about 20 years ago, and it is SO BAD. Hilariously so. It’s so different to the original it is basically a new story to be fair…

MargaretThursday · 08/01/2023 17:23

modgepodge · 08/01/2023 17:14

Enid blyton’s secret island was filmed, about 20 years ago, and it is SO BAD. Hilariously so. It’s so different to the original it is basically a new story to be fair…

Oh yes, you're right, I'd forgotten that: The Secret Series was filmed in New Zealand I think, along with the Adventure series. I think they even had one of the children played both Peggy (Secret) and Lucy Ann (Adventure).
The Adventure series was okay, I think, although not as good as the Castle of Adventure film done in the 80s.

modgepodge · 08/01/2023 18:05

MargaretThursday · 08/01/2023 17:23

Oh yes, you're right, I'd forgotten that: The Secret Series was filmed in New Zealand I think, along with the Adventure series. I think they even had one of the children played both Peggy (Secret) and Lucy Ann (Adventure).
The Adventure series was okay, I think, although not as good as the Castle of Adventure film done in the 80s.

Yes, I bought them all on dvd a little while ago. Haven’t got past the first story of each one as it’s all so dreadful 😂. I seem to remember one was significantly worse than the other but I can’t remember which one as which. I noticed one of the actresses was the same too.

Ticktockwoof · 08/01/2023 18:11

Anything by Penelope Lively - The Wild Hunt of Hagworthy, The House at Norham Gardens.

UsefulSmartPrettyHappy · 08/01/2023 22:37

Thanks again Smile

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WhenIAmOldIShallWearPurple · 08/01/2023 22:46

The Nowhere Emporium (and two sequels) is one that DS10 has enjoyed recently.

Sewannoying · 08/01/2023 22:49

Terry Pratchett (Diggers, Truckers etc are children friendly)

Quite a few TP children’s stories have been turned into to series, including diggers in the early 90s.

UsefulSmartPrettyHappy · 09/01/2023 20:12

Thanks a lot, everyone.

OP posts:
MargaretThursday · 09/01/2023 22:31

modgepodge · 08/01/2023 18:05

Yes, I bought them all on dvd a little while ago. Haven’t got past the first story of each one as it’s all so dreadful 😂. I seem to remember one was significantly worse than the other but I can’t remember which one as which. I noticed one of the actresses was the same too.

I think the Woods of adventure is the most off the wall. It's the one they wrote themselves as they couldn't do the original 2nd in the series (castle) because it had fairly recently been filmed.

UsefulSmartPrettyHappy · 10/01/2023 20:14

Just giving this a quick bump, just in case others have a few more suggestions.

ThanksSmile

OP posts:
Fifthtimelucky · 10/01/2023 23:23

There are masses of good books by Michael Morpurgo book that you could try.

One of my daughter's favourites at that age was the Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson, but some would probably consider that more suitable for girls.

UsefulSmartPrettyHappy · 11/01/2023 14:49

FifthtimeLucky thank you Flowers

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UsefulSmartPrettyHappy · 13/01/2023 15:31

Hope nobody minds me giving this another bump.

OP posts:
faw2009 · 13/01/2023 15:38

Earthsea by Ursula le Guin. Maybe slightly old for a 9 year old. Yes, there is a studio Ghibli cartoon (not that faithful), and I think a series showed up, but n terms of film/TV taking over with merchandise and hype, don't think that applies.

clutchingatpearls · 13/01/2023 15:42

Michelle Paver's Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. So so good.

faw2009 · 13/01/2023 15:44

Also Charlotte Sometimes. Had to Google to check no adaptations. Apparently there is a film of the same name but it's not the book!

HangoverSquare · 13/01/2023 15:46

Hobberdy Dick by K. M. Briggs

BoobsOnTheMoon · 13/01/2023 15:46

The Fablehaven series (plus some spin offs that I forget the names of) by Brandon Mull

Septimus Heape series by Angie Sage

HangoverSquare · 13/01/2023 15:46

faw2009 · 13/01/2023 15:44

Also Charlotte Sometimes. Had to Google to check no adaptations. Apparently there is a film of the same name but it's not the book!

love that book

clutchingatpearls · 13/01/2023 15:48

Our daughter loved My Side of the Mountain. There is a film, but it was made in 1969.

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