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I love Spike Jonze. And so does Maurice Sendak, author of the iconic 1963 children’s book Where the Wild Things Are. Reportedly, a film adaptation of Sendak’s bedtime classic had been in the prenatal stages since the early ’90s and made no progress because the author couldn’t find a director with enough artistic passion and overall charisma to hand his masterpiece to.

Until he saw Jonze’s Being John Malkovich.

Nearly two decades in the making, and more than 9 years since the debut of its conceptual theatrical trailer, Where the Wild Things Are will hit movie theaters in less than two weeks. And it looks pretty damn incredible. So in honor of the many trials of the film’s development, the talent of its director, and, of course, the brilliant work it is based upon, I count down the 33 best children’s book screen adaptations cinema has ever seen. In two parts (Part II next week).

* – Illustrated story book, as opposed to children’s novel

33. The Polar Express* (2004)

Robert Zemeckis’ first go-’round with motion-capture animation (to be followed by ’07’s Beowulf and this year’s upcoming A Christmas Carol), The Polar Express, seemed to focus more on the five roles of Tom Hanks and spending its $170 million budget than transposing the graceful text and Caldecott Medal-winning artwork of Chris Van Allsberg’s 1985 picture book on screen. But the film has, since its release, become a Christmas event for many families across America—and it’s deserving of at least modest recognition.

32. Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

This film is the fifth to star the Muppets, the second to do so in a story inspired by a prior work (1992’s The Muppet Christmas Carol), and the tenth of eleven live-action studio films based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s timeless epic caper Treasure Island, first published over 125 years ago. But it’s the only picture in cinematic history to feature Tim Curry as Long John Silver. (Pretty schweet.)

31. The Black Cauldron (1985)

Based on two books—The Book of Three and The Black Cauldron—in Lloyd Alexander’s five-piece mythological oeuvre The Chronicles of Prydain, Disney’s The Black Cauldron became a cult favorite of the animated fairy tale variety some years after its ’85 release. And I must say, I’m as much a fan as most others. This film was also featured in the 15 Most Memorable Film Wizards of the Past 35 Years.

30. Charlotte’s Webb (2006)

A seamless live-action movie version of E.B. White’s multiple awards-winning kid’s novel with which it shares its title, Gary Winick’s Charlotte’s Web includes a lovely cast of real and computer-generated animals, and charming actors; a sincerity and passion for the source material; and a stylistic modishness that warmed the hearts of audiences and critics alike. And if you’ve seen it, or have read White’s book and plan to see it, you (will) know why.

29. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs* (2009)

Judi Barrett wrote the popular children’s picture book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in the late-’70s; her husband Ron supplied the illustrations. 31 years after being published, Sony Pictures Animation and Columbia Pictures released a feature film version. And, quite honestly, I doubt too many people expected success from the latter. But after topping the box office during its first two weeks and placing second this weekend behind only Zombieland, success is all it’s seen. Kinda like Judi and Ron Barrett’s hardback.

28. Bambi (1942)

Typically mentioned among the best, most influential of Walt Disney’s early film projects, Bambi, which ranked third in the Animated category of the AFI’s 10 Top 10 series, first hit theaters during the time of World War I, when the movie’s pro-animal rights subtext struck controversy and therefore led to initial box office failure. But its legendary nuance was first purported in Felix Stalten’s 1923 novel Bambi, A Life in the Woods—a fact often looked over when considering Disney’s revolutionary legacy.

27. Zathura* (2005)

John Favreau’s screen translation of Zathura, another popular children’s book from author and illustrator Chris Van Allsburg (The Polar Express, #32; Jumanji), surpassed all expectation upon release in November of 2005 with unconventional visual effects, family charm, and stellar execution of each.

26. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

The only reason Harry Potter wouldn’t make an appearance on such a list would be if I chose not to consider J.K. Rowling’s series one for children. As it turns out, I do. As do most others. And, as it also turns out, Harry makes not one but four appearances on this list; this is just the first.

25. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

Ian Fleming is most notable for creating James Bond—bad ass, good looking, charismatic James Bond, international superspy. But, as it turns out, Fleming was just a sissy hiding behind one of his heroic inventions. How else does one explain his novel Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car? Certainly far from the secret agent bravado of Bond, Chitty got the Hollywood treatment all the same. And director Ken Hughes’ movie version, staring the goofy Dick Van Dyke (a perfect contradiction to Bond), is actually pretty good.

24. Meet the Robinsons* (2007)

A couple of terrific veteran actors (Angela Bassett, Tom Selleck), one cult favorite (Adam West), and a handful of character role-players (Harland Williams, Tom Kenny, Nicole Sullivan, to name a few) offered their distinctive voices for this brainy, very silly ’07 Disney Pictures film, based upon William Joyce’s brief but ambitious children’s picture book A Day with Wilbur Robinson, published in 1990. But it wasn’t solely the voice cast that elevated Meet the Robinsons to acclaim and great financial success; it was more the hand of director Steve Anderson, who ironically also contributed his voice.

22. Peter Pan (1953, 2003)

Be it Walt Disney’s animated ’53 version of the J.M. Barrie stage play The Boy Who Couldn’t Grow Up, or P.J. Hogan’s 2003 film, the only quality live-action transposition of a number of Barrie’s plays and novellas featuring the title character, the story and mythology of Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, and Never Land is timelessly fantastical and will stay that way for as long as adults dream to be young again and youngsters anticipate, fear, and explore their youth and the prospect of growing up. These two features detail that range of emotions better than any others starring Pan, and are therefore as undyingly significant as the work(s) they were inspired by and founded upon.

21. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Twice more after this…

Stay tuned for Part II, which will be posted next week. While you’re waiting, chew some gum and blow some bubbles. (Always a fun time.)