The book is now the basis for the animated film, “Ferdinand,” which opened in theaters Friday, with the main character voiced by the wrestler-actor John Cena.

“Ferdinand ” is a first-rate animated tale adapted from the beloved 1936 children’s book about a pacifist Spanish bull who just loves to sit around and sniff flowers. It’s often dark ...

The beloved children’s book “The Story of Ferdinand” by Munro Leaf, with illustrations by Robert Lawson, was published in 1936. But the simple, pacifist story about a bull who would rather ...

In 1936 the book, The Story of Ferdinand, was published. Two years later, Disney turned it into an Oscar-winning short film. Now, the beloved story has gotten its first major movie adaptation.

Any picture book that a parent can read to kids in a few short minutes, no matter how delightful, requires fattening up to become a film. Sometimes Hollywood’s crassness kills the charm.

Ferdinand still ends up in the bullring, where, in the film’s touching finale, his peaceful nature triumphs over all. The movie ends up right where the book does, but after a longer trip.

"Ferdinand " is a first-rate animated tale adapted from the beloved 1936 children's book about a pacifist Spanish bull who just loves to sit around and sniff flowers.

Ferdinand still ends up in the bullring, where, in the film’s touching finale, his peaceful nature triumphs over all. The movie ends up right where the book does, but after a longer trip.

“Ferdinand” is a first-rate animated tale adapted from the beloved 1936 children’s book about a pacifist Spanish bull who just loves to sit around and sniff flowers.