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April 10, 2009 by Betsy Bird

Fusenews: Fortunately It Landed In the Water. Unfortunately, There Were Sharks in the Water.

April 10, 2009 by Betsy Bird   4 comments

  • From Cynopsis Kids:

Brilliant Films teams with Mike Newell (Prince of Persia, Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire) to direct its new feature film The Box of Delights .  The movie is based on John Masefield’s 1935 kid’s novel of the same name.  Frank Cottrell Boyce (Millions, Hilary and Jackie) joins the team to adapt the screenplay from the original book.  Brilliant Films’ great Joe Abrams and Rory Gilmartin will executive produce along with Newell.  The story revolves around an old man who asks Kay (12) to protect The Box of Delights, a device that allows him to change size and travel through time.  However, Kay is in danger, but when he asks for help  no one believes him.  The BBC produced a mixed live-action/animated six-part series based on the book in 1984.

I found this news odd.  A 1935 children’s novel is being turned into a film?  How did that happen?  It makes a little more sense when you discover that it was a British series in 1984.  Clearly someone was fond of the television series when they were a kid and wanted to redo it.  So, naturally, I had to see if there was a version of the book in print.  The surprising thing?  In 2007 the New York Review of Books reprinted this title in full.  All our copies are currently checked out (in response to the news, I have to imagine), but in the event that this movie actually takes off, it might be a boon for NYRB.  Fascinatin’ stuff.

  • You know who I love?  Sara Antill.  You know why I love her?  Because the other day I was scrolling through my PW Children’s Bookshelf, as per usual, and I run across this picture of a fella who looks familiar to me.  Could be the spitting image of David Paterson, son of Katherine Paterson, who spoke in my children’s room the other day.  Come to think of it, the picture also seems to sport the face of a familiar looking woman.  Could be that Ms. Brenda Bell who, coincidentally enough, ALSO spoke at my last Children’s Literary Cafe?  Then I take a closer look and lo and behold Publisher Weekly‘s Ms. Antill not only attended the gathering, not only shot pictures of the talk, but wrote it up in a snazzy little piece called From Page to Stage.  I had moderated a discussion between these two playwrights, allowing them to talk about book and folktale to stage adaptations.  I never really like to report on my own Literary Cafes, however, as I am lazy.  Ms. Antill has not only done the dirty work for me, but has done so better than I ever could.  Kudos to her!  Kudos indeed.


  • Speaking of old books becoming movies, I mentioned a little while ago my surprise that no one was cashing in on the recent remake of Escape to Witch Mountain by republishing the original book by Alexander Key.  Now I read in Publishers Weekly that Sourcebooks is doing exactly that.  It’s a little late for a movie theater tie-in, so they’ll be putting out a paperback in tandem with the DVD.  Better late than never.  Thanks to PW Daily for the link.


  • I don’t own an iPhone or iPod Touch myself, but I understand what an application is.  It’s something you can download to the device that allows you to… do stuff.  That’s the technical definition.  I’m sure you’ll find someone else putting this into layman’s terms if you’re confused.  Anywho, this hadn’t really crossed over into the children’s literary realm until Houghton Mifflin went and created a Curious George’s Dictionary app.  No fooling.  I’m curious to see whether or not this catches on or is just the usual flash in the pan matter.  Thanks to PW Daily for the link.


  • To the best of my knowledge the Newbery has never been revoked from a title.  The same cannot be said of other children’s awards, though.


  • My real name is Elizabeth.  My nickname is Betsy.  My nickname of my nickname is Bets and bets are what I am laying on the chance of this news story becoming a picture book at some time.  As long as the author doesn’t name it something like Sophie Tucker and the Delicious Baby Goats, I think they’ll definitely have a hit on their hands.  Note to Self: Become so famous that someone names a heroic goat-eating dog after me.


  • Daily Image:


A city animal mobile.


My mother tends to complain that mobiles are often incorrectly made.  They display the images not so that the baby can see them, but so that adults can.  In this particular case, however, I don’t think it’s going to be an issue.  Perfect for the budding little Gorey or Gaiman in your midst.

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Thanks to Crooked House for the link.

Filed under: Fusenews

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About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

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About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shelf Elf says

    April 11, 2009 at 9:00 am

    Betsy – I’m SO excited about the film news on The Box of Delights. This was perhaps my absolute favourite book as a child. My dad is a Brit and a friend of his sent us a video version of the TV series, which we watched every Christmas. It became a tradition. I was of course thrilled to see that it had been released in a new edition by The New York Review after ages of being out of print. One of my best gifts ever received was an old edition of the book, tracked down after much effort by my husband, and given to me in a gorgeous box one Christmas. I hope beyond hoping that the movie does justice to this dear story. If Frank Cottrell Boyce is involved, there’s a good chance.

  2. yukari says

    April 12, 2009 at 11:54 pm

    I also don’t have an iPhone or iTouch but would seriously consider getting one if there was a Dewey or library catalog app. Because I’m so lazy it would be oh-so helpful to have such a thing when I’m searching for books for kids in my library, instead of walking the 20 paces to our OPAC computer. (I know, this comment had very little to do with what you posted but the thought just popped into my mind.)

  3. KHazelrigg says

    April 13, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    Au contraire, I think Sophie Tucker and the Delicious Baby Goats is a fabulous name! I’d pick it up off the shelf!

  4. Fuse #8 says

    April 13, 2009 at 5:25 pm

    Upon further consideration I would like to amend the title. It would now read Sophie Tucker and the Succulent Baby Goats. Catchy, non?

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