Which Cartoons About Animals Were Adapted From Children’S Books?

I’m all about quick lists when recommending animal cartoons that began as children’s books, so here are favorites I keep coming back to: 'Curious George' (H. A. Rey) turned into a lively series and a couple of films; 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' (Beatrix Potter) has been adapted numerous times including the gentle 'World of Peter Rabbit' specials and modern versions; 'The Gruffalo' and 'Room on the Broom' (Julia Donaldson) are award-winning animated shorts that feel like pages come to life; 'Charlotte's Web' got a classic animated film; 'Clifford the Big Red Dog', 'Franklin', 'Little Bear', 'Spot', and 'Maisy' all moved from picture books to kid-friendly TV shows.

I also love telling people about 'Babar' and 'Moomin' for a slightly older, European-flavored vibe, and 'The Berenstain Bears' for that cozy family moral storytelling. These adaptations vary wildly in tone and style, but what ties them together is a clear lineage from book to screen — which is probably why they still feel so comforting to watch.

Growing up, my Saturdays were a mix of picture books and cartoons, and I loved tracing the path from page to screen. A lot of animal-centered cartoons actually started life as children’s books: for instance, the cuddly world of 'Winnie-the-Pooh' by A. A. Milne spawned not only the Disney films but countless TV shorts that kept Christopher Robin’s meadow alive for generations. Beatrix Potter’s 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' also hopped from page to screen in several adaptations, including the cozy 'The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends' and modern CGI takes simply titled 'Peter Rabbit'.

Some of the best small-screen animal stories come from picture books that became animated shorts — 'The Gruffalo' and 'Room on the Broom' by Julia Donaldson (with Axel Scheffler) were turned into beautiful BBC shorts that feel like storybooks in motion. Classics too: 'Charlotte's Web' was adapted into an animated film in the 1970s, and 'The Rescuers' drew from Margery Sharp’s novels to create a Disney adventure about mice rescuers. Other staples include 'Curious George' from H. A. Rey and Margret Rey, 'Clifford the Big Red Dog' from Norman Bridwell, and 'The Berenstain Bears' by Stan and Jan Berenstain — all of which became TV series that kept the book’s spirit intact.

There are also comforting, lower-key adaptations: 'Little Bear' from Else Holmelund Minarik, 'Franklin' by Paulette Bourgeois, 'Kipper' by Mick Inkpen, and 'Spot' from Eric Hill all became gentle cartoony shows for younger kids. If you like a touch of European whimsy, 'Babar' and the 'Moomin' stories have long-running animated versions. I still get a soft spot in my chest whenever I see these — they’re like bookmarks in time, perfect for revisiting with a mug of tea and the crackle of a nostalgic cartoon intro.

These days I split my evenings between bedtime stories and streaming, so I’ve paid attention to which animal cartoons started as books. If you want short, faithful adaptations, check out 'The Gruffalo' and 'Room on the Broom' by Julia Donaldson — the animated versions are beautifully illustrated and retain the rhymes and pacing of the books, which makes them perfect for reading-along with kids. For classic chapter-book-to-television transitions, 'Winnie-the-Pooh' and 'Paddington' (from Michael Bond's 'A Bear Called Paddington') have had multiple series and specials that carry the books’ charm.

For preschool-friendly picks, the list is long and comforting: 'Spot' from Eric Hill became a lively little series, 'Maisy' from Lucy Cousins keeps the bold shapes and simple storytelling, and 'Clifford the Big Red Dog' translates the picture-book warmth into episodic lessons about friendship. If you like slightly older storytelling, 'Babar' and 'The Wind in the Willows' have more whimsical, sometimes oddly Victorian, animated takes that still feel rooted in their source texts. My tip: always pair a short episode with the original book — half the magic is watching kids recognize phrases or pictures from the page on screen.