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

• 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.

Thanks to Crooked House for the link.

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