A collection of Harry Potter deluxe editions - all first editions of this particular version - have sold for £17,800 at auction, reports The Guardian. Don’t confuse these deluxe editions with proper firsts. I wonder if the value of collectible Harry Potter books is falling - I think it is.
The Independent tells me about the prequel to Treasure Island, which will be 125 years old in November. John Drake has written Flint and Silver, and he’s prepared to shatter a few myths.
One of the biggest myths that Mr Drake wanted to dispel was that pirates buried their treasure: “This is nonsense. Pirates never bury their treasure. There is no known proven example of pirates burying their treasure on an island. Pirates led short, violent lives and when they got money, they went to an island and spent it on booze and girls and when they’d run out they went and got some more.”
A prize-winning author of children’s books has revealed how she uses rats’ urine to give pages a tinged yellow look. If you meet Emily Gravett in the street just don’t shake her hand - although I’m sure she’d love to talk about her book, Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears.
I listened to this feature about Nancy Drew this morning on NPR - they never once mentioned the factory-style process behind the Nancy Drew books.
Coming to theaters across the country tomorrow are two more films originally based upon novels. Blake Morrison’s acclaimed memoirs And When Did Your Last See Your Father? have been adapted into a film starring Colin Firth and Jim Broadbent of the same name. This novel examines a son’s conflicting memories of his dying father.
Also opening tomorrow, and of a much lighter subject matter is that children’s animated action comedy Kung Fu Panda. This feel good family film was inspired by a series of HarperEntertainment books. There are plenty of these novels so your young readers will have no trouble getting their fill of reading with this entertaining series.
Be sure to read Books to Film for the full list of this Summer’s feature films that were originally based on books.
The Times has a feature on Paddington Bear, who is 50 years old. The Paddington Bear TV series played a small role in my childhood. The five-minute shows would be on just before the six o’clock news on BBC1 just as the children’s TV programs were wrapping up for the evening. The voice of Michael Hordern comes back to me very clearly.
Of course, Paddington did sell out - check out his attempt to flog Marmite, the most disgusting substance known to man.
Batten down the hatches, Ginger Spice wants to be a children’s author.
The book is called Ugenia Lavender, and is about a red haired little girl. Apparently Geri’s imagination is as good as her singing.
The Washington Post is quick to stick the knife into JK after revealing that American school children read books by American authors. Green Eggs and Ham is the top choice of first-graders etc etc.
Geri Halliwell says her Ugenia Lavender children’s books are “a rebirth of girl power.” Lord - give me strength.
Hannah Montana has signed a book deal to tell the story of her life. She’s 15. I won’t say another word.
Saturday April 5th, 2008 from 10am-12pm Story Laboratory will be at The Bookworm Exchange in Seattle Wa. (4860 Rainier Ave. S 98118).
For those of you who have never been, Story Laboratory is a children’s book making workshop that was designed by AbeBooks. It’s a free event and open to children of all ages.
This Story Laboratory session is kindly being held by The Bookworm Exchange who you can contact if you have any questions or would like to reserve a spot for your child. They can be reached at 206-722-6633
Maybe your child will write the next Harry Potter
Margaret Atwood salutes Anne of Green Gables in Saturday’s Guardian. To the outside world, Margaret is Canadian literature so I suppose The Guardian had to ask her to write it.
Anne of Green Gables was first published in 1908, a year before my mother was born, so when I first grinned and snivelled my way through it at the age of eight, it was a youthful 40. I revisited it through the eyes of my own child in the 1980s, when it was approaching 80. Then our family actually went to Prince Edward Island, and stayed in Charlottetown, and saw the sprightly, upbeat Anne of Green Gables musical that’s been running there continuously since 1965. I enjoyed it a lot, but watching a show about an 11-year-old girl with some real 11-year-old girls casts a different light on things: some of that enjoyment was vicarious
More madness! Disney has cast its evil, evil spell on Enid Blyton’s Famous Five. Walt has made them all look like Bratz.
But the Famous Five’s offspring are now multicultural; their enemies include a DVD bootlegger and they sport modern gadgets like iPods and mobile phones.
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This morning NPR had a feature on Harriet The Spy.
In 1964, there were two girl sleuths on American bookshelves. Nancy Drew, with her sweater sets and best chums, and Harriet M. Welsch, who wrote things like this in her precious spy notebook:
“MY MOTHER IS ALWAYS SAYING PINKY WHITEHEAD’S WHOLE PROBLEM IS HIS MOTHER. DOES HIS MOTHER HATE HIM? IF I HAD HIM I’D HATE HIM.”