In times of war, courage is necessary for survival. Alex is an 11-year-old Jewish boy who lives in the Polish ghetto with his father and great-uncle, during WWII. When Nazis come to his city and clear the town, Alex manages to escape with the help of his family, but is left with only his pet mouse. Finding refuge in an abandoned building on Bird Street, Alex seeks inspiration from his favorite book while he and his pet await his father's return.

Set in 1944 Spain, against the backdrop of the anti-Franco guerrilla warfare. When young Ofelia and her mother go to live with her new stepfather on a rural military outpost, she finds herself in a world of unimaginable cruelty. Soon Ofelia finds the creatures of her imagination in which she used to escape have become a reality and she must battle them to save both her mother and herself. In the terrifying battle that ensues, Ofelia soon learns that...

Max has an active imagination, who will throw a fit if others don't go along with what he wants. Following an incident with his sister Claire and her friends, Max throws a tantrum when his mother pays more attention to her boyfriend than to him - runs away from home. Wearing his wolf costume at the time, Max not only runs away physically, but runs toward a world in his imagination. This world, an ocean away, is inhabited by large wild beasts, including...