8 Children's Books That Need To Be On TV

On Thursday, Ellen DeGeneres announced that she was teaming up with Netflix to bring Dr. Suess' Green Eggs and Ham to series. Though I will be well into adulthood the time the series premieres in 2018, I am already gleefully awaiting the opportunity to binge watch all 13-episodes. The classic children's book first hit the shelves in 1960, following Sam-I-Am as he pesters the protagonist to try green eggs and ham. Despite the already rich material in the book, the series boasts even more adventure: "In this richly animated production, a 13-episode introduction, standoffish inventor (Guy, by name) and Sam-I-Am of worldwide fame, embark on a cross-country trip that tests the limits of their friendship."

All of this excitement got me thinking about my favorite books from childhood. Some of my all time favorites — like J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series and Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar — have already been brought to the big and small screens. However, there are so many other books that I loved as a child that a new generation of kids (and adults) can experience in a fresh and exciting way. Here are eight of my favorite childhood books that should be turned into a series.

1. Barbara Park's Junie B. Jones Series

If you haven't read about the precocious Junie B. Jones then you've been missing out. A television series would work perfectly, following Junie through her first days of school as she clashed with her arch nemesis, Meanie Jim, and expressed her disgust for yucky blucky fruit cakes.

2. Judy Blume's Fudge Series

Though Ramona and Beezus (2010) was made into a film several years ago, the girls' neighbors, Peter Hatcher and his little brother Fudge, seem all but forgotten about. A television series could chronicle Peter dealing with his younger bother's grave offenses. From Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing to Fudge discovering the value of money in Double Fudge, the series would have a plethora of subjects to choose from.

3. Dr. Suess' Oh, The Places You'll Go

I received this classic Dr. Suess book for my Kindergarten graduation many moons ago, and I still have it on my book shelf. This series could follow a different protagonist every week on various adventures, teaching children that the world has endless possibilities and that all obstacles can be overcome.

4. Don Freeman's Corduroy

This is a bit of a cheat because this actually was a series for a bit. However, Corduroy could really excel as a series with new technology and cutting edge animation. The book is about a teddy bear who isn't purchased because he's missing a button, until one day a girl name Lisa buys him. The series could follow Lisa and Corduroy on their many adventures, emphasizing that imperfections are what make us all unique.

5. Laura Joffe Numeroff's If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is about child who gives a mouse a cookie and then he demands a laundry list of other things. The series could focus on sharing, and would mesh well with Numeroff's other publications, including If You Give a Pig a Party and If You Give a Dog a Donut.

6. Peggy Parish's Amelia Bedelia Series

Amelia Bedelia is a perpetually confused housekeeper. Since she is constantly taking her employers directions literally, chaos ensues. The number of scenarios that Amelia could find herself in would be endless and hilarious in series form.

7. Jon Scieszka's The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

Scieska's book was an absolute favorite of mine as a child. The book is composed of several unconventional and uproariously funny fairy tales. From Little Red Running Shorts to Chicken Little, each episode of the series could focus on a different story. New twists on classic fairy tales could easily be added as the series continued.

8. Barbara Bottner's Bootsie Barker Bites

Bullying is such an important lesson in society today. Bootsie Barker Bites tells the story of a young girl who must contend with Bootsie's bullying. The series could talk about why bulling is unacceptable and and the steps that could be taken to prevent and counteract it.

Images: YouTube (1); Amazon (8)