Not all villains need such a fully-formed backstory in your tale. Main Characters in Children's Books and YA Fiction - The Novelry Twelve-year-old Shayla is allergic to trouble. Characteristics of tyranny and dictatorship are conveyed in a way thats far from dry. Disney has known how to take advantage of the publics welcoming of the other side of this classic princess story. ), b- Even the most intimidating bully is weak at heart. Madame Medusa, the villain from the first film, isn't too nice herself, as she kidnaps a child and forces her into a small mine to find a diamond. When I wrote my debut middle-grade novel,Boy in the Tower my premise beingThe Day of the Triffidsfor kids I unwittingly side-stepped a lot of issues around evil as the central driving force of the plot. But theres no element of fantasy here. If you have any doubts, consult your trusted professional. Disney wants to convey the message that none of us are perfect and that there are certain actions that lead us to act in a certain way. Another favourite villain is Quilp from Charles Dickens Olde Curiosity Shoppe. Why do the chickens take over, why does the professor do this, why does a banana decide one day, enough is enough? It might be that killing this particular darling doesnt alter how you feel about your story. This publication is for informational and educational purposes only. A scab is something you have to put up with until the time comes when you can pick it off and flick it away. Every time I read this book Im shocked and outraged by the callous disinterest in Matilda her mother exhibits. Here are a few villains to laugh at: AUNT SPONGE AND AUNT SPIKER. Second, is it important to the story thatyou want to tell? By: Disney Books World of Reading: Queen of Hearts Ive never seen a thing like the emotions the Darkling causes. Jadis is the witch who casts Narnia in the Hundred Years Winter with no Christmas. The Brownies' Book was one of the first attempts to try to . This fantastical, sci-fi element flagged it firmly as fiction, providing a safety shield from the dark events that unfold. Look at some of the most famous and wicked villains in childrens and YA books: Lord Voldemort of Harry Potter; the White Witch of Narnia; Sauron of The Lord of the Rings. How can you tell when it is necessary for a reader of any age? Why do the chickens take over, why does the professor do this, why does a banana decide one day, enough is enough? Madeline Millers book shows you how the stories vilify Circe, and in this love letter to her, Circe becomes a new being. In order to have the power to commit this homicidal rampage,Rasputin sells his soul to demonic forces, thereby damning himself for eternity. We had a blast recalling old favorites and discovering new classics (and a shoutout to our gracious judges, who let me sneak in one of my all-time childhood faves, Paul Goble's gorgeous The Girl. A satisfying punishment for a villain in a childrens book often involves exposing their weakness, which theyve previously been wielding as a weapon. Plantar Warts in Children: What Are They and How to Treat Them? They breathe life into our darkest desire to be rotten, to do what is unacceptable, to pursue only our own interests. Trunchbull is made to feel the same level of fear that she inflicted upon all the students at her school. When Gromit finally confronts him with a rolling-pin, Feathers pulls outa gun, which truly escalatesthe situation beyond what is expected in an animated film. Every bit as reprehensible as Lord Voldemort Imelda Staunton (left) as Dolores Umbridge in the 2007 film adapatation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The sinister and the funny. I purposely wrote these additional scenes in sparse detail. Cheers, cheers, and cheers again for a children's book . In their latest book CROWNED: Magical Folk and Fairy Tales from the Diaspora, Kahran and Regis Bethencourt retell fairy and folk tales with Black children as the main characters. Naturally, there issome blurring of criteria, and we attempted to address that in some of the entries. Pennywise is a shapeshifter that changes into peoples fears or loved ones in order to manipulate them and kill them. Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Four Legs Good, Two Legs Bad! While not technically a childrens book, most kids are required to read this in high school, so it should be included. The shortness of her patience and the hotness of her temper are suddenly and shockingly exposed when she attacks one of the children with a pitchfork. Barbara Park's New York Times bestselling chapter book series, Junie B. Jones, is a classroom favorite and has been keeping kids laughingand readingfor over 20 years! The best villains can really make a great childrens book. There's really only one rule at Camp. In the 1st Junie B. Jones book, it's Junie B.'s first day and she doesn't know anything. Theyre not evil, theyre just plants. My top 10 villains in children's literature - Mumfidential THE WHITE WITCH. However the Apparat hides his true intentions behind religion, and pretends to be a friend to Alina when in reality, he is just as bad as the Darkling. The unaddressed shadow side will still sneak out. Polly Ho-Yenis the author of six childrens novels and four childrens picture books. Given their G or PG ratings, thevillains in childrens' films tend to be less severe than their PG-13 or R-rated counterparts. Letitia Slighcarp is a greedy con-artist after Sir Willoughbys money. Top 10 ways to be evil in childrens books. DARTH VADER: (Are You Scared, Darth Vader? In a word: BORING! The narrator wants to find out if Darth Vader is scared of anything. McLeach wants to capture the rare golden eagle, and he will stop at nothing to catch his prize - including kidnapping an eight-year-old boy, fakingthe boy's death so that his family won't look for him, and imprisoning him. Hermione Granger (Harry Potter) 4. All he has wanted is for his people and his kingdom to be okay. They are mistreated and put into boxes of how they should live their lives. Let us know in the comments! Nicole Kidman as tMrs Coulter in the film adaptation, The Golden Compass. As I was telling the story entirely from Ades perspective, I was able to benefit from thebonus of a limited first-person narrative. Allow readers to fill in the blanks and handle darkness for themselves (Id especially recommend limited first person or close third-person narratives and giving sparse detail), Ask yourself how and why a character becomes evil, Fantasy can be used as a safeguard to explore the actions of villains, Consider how an evil antagonist might meet their undoing through their own design. She wants revenge and she does it wonderfully. The villains in children's books are often what make stories come alive. See the top ten heroes and villains below: Favourite heroes: 1. Fearing a prophecy that says her downfall will be caused by two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve, she ensnares Edward with Turkish delight and promises of making him a prince, all he has to do is bring his brother and sisters to her. There are two points in the series where my fear and loathing for Bellatrix escalates to a frenzied peak, the first is when she kills Sirius Black, the only family Harry Potter has left in the world, and the second is when she tortures Hermione with the Cruciatus Curse and a knife, carving mudblood into her arm. Your email address will not be published. #1 in Series eBook $6.99 QUICK ADD Evil Spy School (Spy School by Stuart Gibbs #3 in Series eBook $8.99 QUICK ADD Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes by Rick Riordan, John Rocco (Illustrator) Explore Series eBook $9.99 QUICK ADD A Hero for WondLa (Search for by Tony DiTerlizzi #2 in Series eBook $10.99 QUICK ADD Masterminds (Masterminds The Wood is a frightful entity. I hope Lucretia Cutter will earn herself a place in the villainess hall of fame by the end of The Beetle Trilogy, but until then, to celebrate these extraordinary fictional women, here in no particular order, are my top 10 female villains in childrens books. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy. These book villains tell their story, you might even relate to them a bit, but the way they do things might not be the right one. She hides behind pink and kittens, and terrifies us a lot more than Voldemort, the main villain of the series, because of how easily she gets away with what she does. His troops end up fighting animated suits of armor. Kids appreciate Orwells insight into the workings of social dynamics. There are places where Brooks leans towards sparse detail to effect, and it is written in first person. Tag Archives: Foxes as villains in children's books Henny Penny and Friends Reimagined: "What's Fair is Fowl, What's Fowl is Fare" Posted on November 9, 2022 by Andrea Immel Reply Stories don't get much sillier than Henny Penny. DOLORES UMBRIDGE (Harry Potter series by J.K. Mrs Coulter is a complex fully-fleshed out character, with vulnerabilities and doubt, as well as being a brilliant, beautiful, ambitious woman, driven by an insatiable appetite for power. 8 Reasons Why Your Children Should Read Fairytales, The Best Fairy Tale Picture Books & Chapter Books for Children, Positive Character Traits Shown in Picture Books. Villains are incredibly motivating for reluctant readers. That guy is always hungry. Hell do anything, including murder and lie, to achieve power. The bad guys were always in the background in these stories. She uses her magic to bind Edmund to herself, and only through the self-sacrifice of the lion Aslan (in a somewhat heavy-handed Christ metaphor) is Edmund freed from her power. Im not sure Im a fan of creating straight-up antagonists in my middle-grade fiction, but if there are characters who act upon their dark side, Im interested in exploring what got them there as J.K. Rowling did for Voldemort. Up until now, the evil stepmothers past was a mystery, but this enthralling book changes everything. Lord Voldemort is the best villain in literature. 2. Given its particular place in cinematic history, the titular Gremlins belong on this list. Ruth Spivak, with updates and revisions by Melissa Taylor. She tortured Harry, she was completely on Voldemorts side, she fought with him. by Adam Rex) You don't even need to love Star Wars to love this book. Because of her dark past, she has always believed the worst of people. (Matilda by Roald Dahl.) Sometimes by digging there,you discover whats foundational and whats more like a stud wall. A great introduction to the Communist Revolution, without needing to know anything about that particular revolution. So who doesnt want a book that smashes the patriarchy with Latinx leads and a queer romance? I mention it here thinking about the upper limits of how evil is portrayed and how Brooks approaches this. He also has a mean temper, which he usually takes out on his pet monitor lizard, Joanna. I'm a mom, writer, & former elementary teacher & literacy trainer. InThe Bunker Diary, a group of six people, including a teenager and a nine-year-old, are kidnapped and trapped in a bunker. My top 10 villains in children's literature - Mumfidential Director Joe Dante claims that the initial trailers for the film made it seem as though it was a children's movie starring the lovable Gizmo. Who was the scariest villain from your childhood? Employ a limited first-person narrative or even a close third and keep details measured to handle difficult circumstances with sensitivity. She is the one behind the scenes, making it happen. Chime in below and tell us who weve forgotten. The language, characters, and plot have survived the test of time for a reason. ), c- Friendship, persistence, and honesty triumph over evil. The penguin rents a room in Wallace's house, and harasses Gromit while befriending Wallace. Except, one thing. author. The 100 Best Children's Books of All Time Although she's eager to please, Amelia is often misunderstood. The more I interrogated the storyline,the more I felt sure this was the story that I wanted to tell. In my mind, Ades mum had been the victim of a random attack, and this triggered an episode of poor mental health which led to agoraphobia. My final comment on Umbridge vs Lestrange, is that if they were to duel, Bellatrix Lestrange would win, and shed enjoy making Dolores Umbridges death last a long time. Four beautiful sisters who are rumored to be witches, the Bonner sisters are alluring but yet terrifying. You have to be pretty heartless to send 12 children to their deaths every year. Book Reviews 9 of the best children's book characters Our round up of popular characters from much-loved classics. Lateral Thinking: What Is It and How to Exercise It in Children? They believe in the restriction of Downworlders rights, because they fear them. NAPOLEON(Animal Farm by George Orwell.) Quirky characters in the town of Lamonic Bibber round out this laugh out loud and clever book. Wicked witches and evil queens: why children's books need more female villains Published: March 22, 2018 10.09am EDT Authors Anna Cermakova Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow, Centre for Corpus. Theyre indispensible. Its true that throughout history, admirable heroes and heroines have usually been the main characters of stories and tales. Five Things Effective Villains Do in Children's Books Thanks Rachelle. The more I interrogated the storyline,the more I felt sure this was the story that I wanted to tell. Everyone has their favorite villains, although my list of baddies may be longer than most. Their existence permits us to talk about making good choices and being selfless instead of selfish. With the new remake, It came back into our lives. He is willing to destroy Wallace and Gromit's relationship, and his two-faced nature is made all the more eerie by his lack of words. Heroes and Villains, Kids | Barnes & Noble Warden in Holes by Louis Sachar When we first hear of the Warden we only know what Mr Pendanski says, "The person you've got to worry about is the Warden. In bothBedknobs and Broomsticks andThe Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, the Nazi "Blitz" of London prompts the children to be forced to relocate to the countryside. He viciously whips his horses and carries the children away. And the thing with the roses makes him scary in a less traditional way. You might know Ursula, the sea witch in the Disneys retelling, but the Sea Witch from the original tale by Hans Christian Andersen is much worse and more cruel. Children are incredibly familiar with the concept, and more than confident to employ it in their own writing. You have tortured and killed without regret or hesitation; you have betrayed and intrigued and gloried in your treachery. I imagined the backstory off-page, but was wary about how to deliver it. When he does, the threat starts to feel terrifying in a way that the earlier books (in which Voldemort was contained to Hogwarts and the wizarding world) never did. I hope they help you as you set about creating your own villainous characters! And note how in the stories that involve children being seriously injured or killed, fantasy looms again: The High Witch is turned into a mouse, the child-guzzling giants are imprisoned with only snozzcumbers to eat. It won the Carnegie Medal in 2014and caused waves for the shocking nature of its plot. When Im running writing workshops in schools, I have the pleasure of hearing hugely inventive story ideas stewing in kids heads first-hand. In the originalHamlet, Claudius also marries Hamlet's mother and we see that reflected in Scar's pursuit of Simba's mother Sarabi in The Lion King. In the early books, he feels more of a one-dimensional baddie. By treating the villain in childrens books with subtlety, nuance and allusion, you can often trust children to interpret only what theyre ready to grapple with. For me, a villain needs to have a reason. Ive said it before and Ill say it again, stepmothers get a bad rap. However, for some time now, the worlds biggest movie company producing childrens movies, Walt Disney, has decided to give prominence to these characters. At this age, kids can really begin to appreciate dark humor. I always find fascinating the books that makes us wonder how these iconic villains rose to power. While I think there needs to be some consideration of why darkness has risen up in a character to make a story stronger and plausible, I think it can stay off the page. The "Death Eaters", as they are called, most notablyinclude Bellatrix Lastrange (Helena Bonham Carter), who laughs as she murders Harry's godfather Sirius Black. A dragon who was drawn to the fortune of the Lonely Mountain? At the end of the film, after Anastasia defeats him, his soul is taken by the demons and damned to hell once and for all. (Harry Potter series by J.K. Princes and princesses, and heroes and heroines have always been the favorite characters of children's stories. As we know, the government is led by it and women in this society dont benefit from anything. (The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis.) In the first chapter Dahl writes, the parents looked upon Matilda in particular as nothing more than a scab. Strigoi are evil vampires, very different beings from the Moroi, who also are vampiresbut Strigoi are made not born. Did they make the list? Oh boy. You know what comes next. Due to the success of the other two childrens books about villains that we mentioned earlier, Disney has decided to continue to publish more books about villains. Of all the villain characters, Sauron is the worst, evilest, power-hungry villain of them all. It does not substitute the opinion of an expert at any time. Tilda Swinton plays the White Witch in Disney's 2005The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe;Barbara Kellerman plays her in the 1988 BBC adaptation.