Every writer has a dream of seeing their manuscript published. To hold the bound pages and sniff the fresh ink would bring a euphoric state of mind. Those who’ve never slaved over writing a manuscript may not be able to relate.

Then there is the ultimate dream the dream of having your book optioned for a movie! I’m talking the double payday. During a break in my “binge blog pre-scheduling”, I surfed the net to see how many books for children have actually made it to the big screen. Here is a list of just a few:

• Harry Potter
• The Giver
• The Fault in Our Stars
• Coraline
• My Dog Skip
• Jurassic Park
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
• If I Stay
• Hugo
• A Monster Calls
• Black Beauty
• Charlotte’s Web
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid
• Divergent
• Holes
• Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
• Matilda
• Paper Towns
• The Book Thief
• The Lorax
• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
• The Chronicles of Narnia
• Twilight
• Love Simon
• The Hunger Games
• Goosebumps
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower
• And so many more.

I perused to see what was interesting about the books, meaning I read a LOT of opening pages on Amazon and book blurbs (for the books I haven’t read yet). The honest truth is what we’ve all heard so often. You just need a damn good story! (And, of course, good writing skills and voice.)

It’s an interesting list, and it’s not absolute. If you want to check other stories that have made it to the “big screen”, go to this Wikipedia link. Some books I’ve listed are not on the Wikipedia site yet though. But have fun reading, or watching (if that’s what you choose), about the ones that are there.

P.D. Pabst
Blogger and writer of MG/YA fiction.