Today on OOM we’re celebrating the Oscars with some of our favorite books from Scholastic that made the leap from the page to the silver screen. From the hilarious to the dramatic to the action-packed, there’s sure to be a book/ movie combo for everyone to love.
Guardians of Ga’Hoole by Kathryn Lasky: In the first book in this series, readers follows the adventures of Soren and Gylfie as they subvert the attempted brainwashing that takes place at St. Aggie’s, learn to fly, and eventually escape from the evil school. Later they meet with two more orphaned owls, the indomitable Twilight and pensive Digger, and the four form a band as they journey to a refuge that may exist only in legend—the Great Ga’Hoole Tree. First published in 2003, this series flew to the big screen in 2010.
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo: First published in 2007, War Horse was made into a major motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg in 2011. In this moving novel, readers are transported to 1914, when Joey, a beautiful bay-red foal with a distinctive cross on his nose, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. With his officer, he charges toward the enemy, witnessing the horror of the battles in France. But even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey’s courage touches the soldiers around him and he is able to find warmth and hope. But his heart aches for Albert, the farmer’s son he left behind. Will he ever see his true master again?
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick: In addition to being a No. 1 bestseller and a Caldecott Medal Winner, The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007) was made into the award-winning movie Hugo (2011), which in addition to being directed and co-produced by Martin Scorsese, was nominated for 11 Oscars, including Best Picture! The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a spellbinding story set in 1930s Paris about a boy named Hugo—an orphan, clock keeper, and thief—who lives in the walls of a busy train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks—like the gears of the clocks he keeps—with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the train station, Hugo’s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo’s dead father form the backbone of this intricate and tender mystery. Selznick seamlessly weaves the story from narrative to picture to extraordinary effect.
Lost & Found: Three by Shaun Tan: Author and illustrator Shaun Tan received an Academy Award for Best Short Film (Animated) for his film The Lost Thing. The Lost Thing is based on his picture book of the same name which is included in this 2011 anthology showcasing three of Tan’s beloved picture books. Each story illustrates a unique imaginative window to our souls, and his unparalleled ability to share that opening with pictures and narratives that are as unexpected as they are deeply true.
Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine: After being in the works for almost 20 years (!) the Goosebumps series made it to movie theaters in 2015. Instead of being based on one book, the movie stars Jack Black as author R.L. Stine himself, and brings more than 50 monsters from the creepy series to life.
The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins: The New York Times bestselling series by Suzanne Collins was made into four record-setting movies. Set in a dystopian world, the series follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who is forced to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. The series follows Katniss from contender to winner to hero for the people of the twelve districts that lie outside Panem, the harsh and cruel Capitol.
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling: This beloved series about the eponymous boy-wizard was made into eight critically-acclaimed and fan-loved movies. Readers and movie-goers alike followed Harry as he entered Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, learning spells and life lessons while battling the ever-present threat of the evil Voldemort’s return. Fans will be able to explore the Harry Potter world further once Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a “textbook” about the magical creatures in that universe, hits movie theaters in the fall of 2016.
