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Novel Revisions for Emma Dryden
In her 25 years in children's book publishing, Emma D. Dryden has overseen revisions of countless manuscripts. She is now focusing on revising herself as she embarks on a new chapter of her life. Last May, after nearly 19 years at Simon & Schuster, Dryden was laid off from her position as v-p and publisher of Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Margaret K. McElderry Books. She has just launched a multi-platform venture, drydenbks, through which she will provide editorial and creative services to children's book authors, illustrators, publishers, and agents; conduct workshops; and act as consultant to those seeking to break into or expand their presence in the children's publishing arena.
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Ron Koertge: Around the World, Virtually
Ron Koertge has a few favorite pastimes—on a sunny California day you might find him at Santa Anita Park, racing form in hand, or at one of the Triple-A baseball stadiums within driving distance of his South Pasadena home. But one way Koertge, who turns 70 in April, does not spend time away from his writing is surfing the net. The author of 14 young adult novels, including the newly released Shakespeare Makes the Playoffs, does not have a Web site, nor does he plan on getting one. He does not Twitter. The Facebook fan page for his latest book was created by his publicists. "I just find all that stuff really distracting," he admits. "There's something vampiristic about it. It sucks the life out of me." Which is why his current project—a two-week blog tour—is, well, out of character.
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‘Wonderland' Opens Big, New Alice Titles Hit Shelves
March 5 marked the highly anticipated release of Walt Disney Pictures' Alice in Wonderland, directed by Tim Burton. The film, which features a combination of live action and computer animation with 3D effects, pulled in just over $116 million on its opening weekend, becoming the biggest 2010 premiere so far, and making it the highest grossing March film debut ever. Featuring a star-studded cast, including Johnny Depp as the eccentric Mad Hatter, the film integrates elements of the original Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass (1871), along with some new twists. And the release of the film has generated renewed interest from the book world. From movie tie-ins to newly illustrated editions, we've rounded up recent and forthcoming children's adaptations that transport readers down the rabbit hole.
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In Brief: March 11
This week, the SLJ Battle of the Kids' Books begins anew, Cheerios announces the third winner of its New Author Contest, 'Tunnels' authors tour the U.S., and Sharon Flake meets with students in Harlem.
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Movie Alert: ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid'
With 30 million copies in print and near-permanent residence on bestseller lists, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has established itself as a bona fide publishing phenomenon over the last three years. And now its wimpy star, Greg Heffley, is making his move into another medium: film. On March 19, Fox 2000 will release Diary of a Wimpy Kid, based on the first book in Jeff Kinney's series, which Abrams' Amulet Books imprint published in 2007. And on March 16, three days before the film's release, Abrams will publish The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, Jeff Kinney's account of the moviemaking process.
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Dutton Children's Pre-Empts YA Debut for Six Figures
In a deal for six figures, Dutton Children's Books bought a debut YA novel by a young editor at another Penguin imprint.
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On to Bologna!
As children's publishers from the world over convene in Italy later this month (March 23—26), a number of issues hang in the balance. How will the economy shape this year's fair? Is the age of the big YA fantasy trilogy finally over? Will picture books make a resurgence? What of the co-edition market? The digital revolution? We asked a sampling of Bologna veterans for their take on what to expect at this year's fair, and what they're looking for.
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S&S to Launch New DiTerlizzi Series
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers has just announced a new middle-grade series by Tony DiTerlizzi. The Search for WondLa, about a 12-year-old girl-—raised underground by a robot-—and her search for other humans. The first volume in the series will be published on September 21 with a 300,000-copy first printing. The book will feature two-color artwork throughout and will incorporate "augmented reality" in several places, a first for the publisher. S&S plans to promote the book with a $350,000 marketing campaign. -
HarperTeen Promotion Aims to Combat Winter Blahs
The folks at HarperCollins Children's Books found a way to help teen readers take the chill out of a snowy February with its 28 Days of Winter Escapes Web site, an online promotion with multiple interactive components. These included a calendar spotlighting a different young adult novel each day, links to Twitter and to YA blogs featuring Q&As with authors, games, a widget, a browse-inside-the books option, and a sweepstakes offering a chance to win a signed copy of a book and one of five iPod Touch prizes.
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Candlewick Launches Marketing Program for Indies
Candlewick Press in Somerville, Mass., affirmed its commitment to independent bookstores with the launch of a new marketing program aimed specifically at frontline indie booksellers, CHIRP. In a bit of double entendre, "CHIRP," short for Candlewick's Handselling Indie Recognition Program, also refers to a short, lively, high-pitched sound, the kind someone makes when they're excited about a book.
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New Children's Bookstore to Open Near Salt Lake City
As far back as junior high school, 28-year-old Michelle Witte knew she wanted to have her own bookstore. But she put the idea on hold while she attended college, where she majored in journalism. Then after five years as an associate editor at Gibbs Smith, Witte decided early last month that the time was right to start a children's bookstore. She's already got a name picked out, Fire Petal Books, and a location, a 1,400 sq. ft. space in Centerville, Utah, just outside Salt Lake City.
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In Brief: March 4
This week, President Obama writes a proclamation for Read Across America Day, the Children's Book Council reveals the Children's Choice finalists, two "angelic" authors go on tour together, a Louis Sachar novel has its theatrical debut, and Scholastic's 'Be Big' publishing program for Clifford.
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Q & A with Elisha Cooper
Author of such picture books as Ballpark, Dance!, and Beach, Elisha Cooper has transported young readers to numerous child-pleasing locales. His latest book takes them to yet another. Due from Orchard, Farm follows the workings of a Midwestern farm over the course of a year.
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Sedaris Teams with Falconer for Next Book
David Sedaris's next title to be illustrated book of animal fables.
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What's Old Is New for Pooh
Starting this spring, Penguin Young Readers Group's Grosset & Dunlap imprint will publish a variety of formats under the Classic Pooh brand, through a deal with Disney Licensed Publishing. The books, to include hardcover picture books, board books, paperback storybooks, sticker books and novelty books, will feature artwork inspired by the classic E.H. Shepard illustrations and editorial content tied to the world of A.A. Milne's original stories.
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Galleys on the Go Give Readers an Early Look at Debut Novel
Authors have been known to embark on pre-pub tours to spark interest in forthcoming books. But first novelist Lauren Oliver, whose Before I Fall will be released by HarperTeen next week, devised a more, well, novel plan to give potential fans a heads-up about her book: she sent two ARCs on the road. And she's also done her part to spread word of the novel online and in person.
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Rendezvous with Readeo
With a new subscription site called Readeo.com, which launches this week, children and adults in different cities can see live video of each other sharing digital picture books. All that's missing: snuggling while reading the stories. So far four publishers—Candlewick Press, Simon & Schuster, Chronicle Books, and Blue Apple Books—are licensing titles to Chicago-based Readeo. In return, they receive an undisclosed percentage of Readeo's revenues—and expose their books to a new audience.
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Q & A with Ricky Gervais
British comedian, actor, and writer Ricky Gervais's Flanimals and More Flanimals, illustrated by Rob Steen, introduced a cast of absurd creatures, which are now taking on additional zany dimension in Flanimals Pop-Up, due from Candlewick. Gervais spoke with Bookshelf about this and his earlier book projects.
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Dutton to Publish First John Grisham Series for Kids
Penguin Young Readers Group in the U.S. and Hodder & Stoughton in the U.K. announced today that they will be publishing bestselling author John Grisham's first series of books for children. The middle-grade series will focus on 13-year-old Theodore Boone, a legal whiz kid. In the first book, Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, Theo gets caught up in a high-profile murder trial in his town. It's scheduled to be released by Dutton Children's Books on May 25, and on June 10 by Hodder in the U.K. The second book, as yet untitled, is scheduled for release in 2011.
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Numbers Down, But Spirits Up, at 2010 Toy Fair
The number of publishers exhibiting at Toy Fair continues to decline, with fewer than 25 of the 1,100 booths at the show featuring publishing houses this year, versus about 30 last year and 40 to 45 five years ago. Bargain book vendors and liquidators now take up some of the space previously held by traditional publishers in the Children's Books & Music section of the show, which ran from February 14-17 at the Javits Center.
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