Sideways Stories from Wayside School Louis Sachar’s loopy series revolving around a 30-story elementary school has the perfect blend of wacky characters and winning story lines to translate onto the big screen. From teachers turning students into apples to Way-High-Up Ball at recess, the book provides ample material, all of which revolves around Holes author Sachar’s offbeat humor. Although an animated television series recently premiered on Nickelodeon, a live action film version remains imperative, and Kristen Wiig’s lighthearted comedy would serve the role of lead teacher Mrs. Jewls perfectly. —Tucker Johns
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler OK, fine, so this was already a feature film in 1973 and a TV movie in 1995. But E.L. Konigsburg’s beloved From the Mixed-Up Files boasts such a rich cast of characters and such a dark, complex plot that it deserves a revival. What kid hasn’t fantasized about running away from home, and what kid wouldn’t love to prowl the halls of a museum after all the tourists have left? Claudia and Jamie are the embodiments of childhood curiosity, and their journey of self-discovery has inspired kids since the book’s 1967 release. For kids — and adults — everywhere, it’ll be easy to get lost in the on-screen version of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler’s enchanting world. —Jessica Spiegelman
The Phantom Tollbooth Norton Juster’s masterpiece is the Turkish delight of children’s lit. Milo is transported via tollbooth to a magical land inhabited by numbers and words. He traverses titillating territory to acquire knowledge, stopping in Digitopolis and Dictionopolis along the way. While the 1970 cartoon version did the book some justice, the book’s verbal acrobatics and tantalizing descriptions deserve a CGI-live action hybrid. Juster’s wordplay, combined with the vivacity of self-aware scenery, would dazzle on screen in bold, bright colors and exploding diegetic sound. Golden Compass + Chronicles of Narnia + Alice in Wonderland = The Phantom Tollbooth, a must-make. —Julie Steinberg
Amelia Bedelia Logophiles, children and inner-children alike can’t help but love the slightly dim-witted yet hilarious antics of Amelia Bedelia. While she’s no Dorota, Amelia Bedelia is a maid who is definitely ready for her own book-to-screen transition. With 23 books in the series, there’s enough misinterpretation to fill up at least 90 minutes of screen time. Watching Amelia put clothes on a turkey and draw pictures of curtains in a live action film seems well-worth a $12.50 ticket price. —Gabrielle Olya
The Boxcar Children Mystery, intrigue, abandoned train cars, creepy (but not!) grandfathers — how has The Boxcar Children not been made into a movie yet? Four sleuths are better than one (we’re looking at you, Nancy Drew), and the Alden children are just so resourceful. We would love to see how the boxcar itself would be reimagined by filmmakers and who would be cast for the role of the kids’ wealthy grandpa. With over a hundred Boxcar Children novels written, we smell a franchise brewing. Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny to the rescue! —Julia Rubin
