Home/Newbery by Year/Newbery Title Index/Newbery Subject Index/Newbery Author Index
This alphabetized list of titles includes the Newbery medalist and honor books that have been turned into films (television or theatrical) or short videos. The listings will indicate the media (DVD or VHS) that I found, production information, and a review. Pay close attention for title changes between the book and the videos. Links embedded in each review will take you to the book review, and vice versa.
Note: This is definitely a work in progress and should take me a year or more to complete.
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Frog and Toad Together. (DVD): Sterling Entertainment, 1985. Two stories from Arnold Lobel's collection are buried beneath the title of the video, called Curious George Comes to America. The Frog and Toad pieces, done in claymation, are remarkably true to the books in tone, spirit and look. They provide a perfect re-enforcement for early readers encountering these marvelous stories for the first time. Book Review
Holes. (DVD): Walt Disney, 2003. The authenticity of this script is never in doubt because Louis Sachar, the author of the book, wrote the screenplay, his first. It features an outstanding cast of adults, who are appropriately menacing, and wonderful ensemble of children actors, led by Shia LaBeouf, a staple of the Disney Channel. The movie is of necessity filled with humor that's far more evident than the dark comedy of the book, but that doesn't weaken the story of a moment.. Book Review
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. (DVD): MGM, 1982. This animated film (entitled The Secret of NIMH) was the first movie made by Don Bluth when he left the Disney studios. It's hews fairly close to the novel, but it's lighter on overtones and turns the rats into cute little creatures. Book Review.
Shiloh. (VHS): Warner Brothers, 1997. This movie hews very closely to the book in that it focuses on the desperate attempts of a boy to save a mistreated dog. The actions of the boy's dad are laudable from a philosophical standpoint but make little sense to the boy (or young readers/viewers) who see that moral posturing means little when a life is at stake. The brutal man who owns the dog (accurately portrayed by Scott Wilson) is sure to earn the ire of youngsters who want Marty to succeed. Book Review
The Tombs of Atuan. (DVD): Lions Gate Home Entertainment, 2004. This is the DVD release of the Sci-Fi Channel's miniseries that condenses LeGuin's Earthsea trilogy into one 172-minute long made-for-cable movie. The actual title of the DVD is Earthsea. It stars a few notable actors, including Danny Glover, Isabella Rossellini and Kristin Kreuk of Smallville fame. The novels are light on action and heavy on philosophizing. The movie is heavy on action and well-crafted special effects.. Book Review
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Copyright David Ross 2003-2005