Book-to-Movie

I went to see The Golden Compass this past weekend. It was good, but didn't hold a candle to the book. One of the previews for the movie was Inkheart, also based on a great fantasy book. While I always end up just as excited about these movies as the 10-year-olds are, I am starting to get a little irritated about the sheer number of children's/YA books that are being turned into movies these days. If I loved the book (and chances are, I did), then I always see the movie too...and usually I even like the movie. But it bothers me when the entire New York Three Apples Book Award list is made up of books that have been turned into movies. Of course, the list is composed of student suggestions in the first place, and there is certainly a chance that some of these students ended up reading the books because they liked the movies. So maybe I am being pessimistic to assume that those students are few and far between, but it's discouraging when a whole class responds that they have not read the book, but the movie was really good!

Just FYI, the 3 Apples list for this year is below. How many are not popular movies?

• Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
  
• The BFG by Roald Dahl
  
• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
  
• The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
  
• Eldest by Christopher Paolini
  
• Eragon by Christopher Paolini
  
• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
  
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
  
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling
  
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling
  
• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
  
• Holes by Louis Sachar
  
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
  
• Matilda by Roald Dahl
  
• The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo