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Abrams to Publish 'Wimpy Kid' Movie Diary
One of the most anticipated films of 2010—at least on the children's side of things—is the adaptation of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the first book in Jeff Kinney's bestselling series, which arrives in theaters on April 2. To get readers ready, on March 16 Abrams's Amulet Books imprint will publish Kinney's The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, a behind-the-scenes from the author's perspective, about the moviemaking process.
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Obituary: Talivaldis Stubis
Talivaldis Stubis, the prolific graphic designer and artist, died late last year at the age of 83, after a long battle with amyloidosis. Stubis illustrated nearly two dozen books over his long career, including Sir Alva and the Wicked Wizard by Otto Friedrich, Sam's Place by Lillian Moore, and many by the husband-and-wife team Rose Wyler and Gerald Ames...
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In Brief: January 7
This week, the winner of a Lunch Lady contest is revealed, and a new American Girl character is unveiled.
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RH Children's Signs New Sachar Title
Random House's Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers imprint has acquired a new YA novel by Louis Sachar called The Cardturner. The title, by the Newbery-winning author of Holes, was sold by Ellen Levine at Trident to Delacorte's Beverly Horowitz, and RH is planning a May 11, 2010, publication. The U.S. deal also follows a British acquisition; Sarah Odedina at Bloomsbury Children's Books closed on the U.K. and Commonwealth rights to the book earlier this week
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Katherine Paterson: Madam Ambassador
Today Newbery Medalist Katherine Paterson adds the title of National Ambassador for Young People's Literature to her long list of honors. In a ceremony at the Library of Congress this morning, Librarian of Congress James H. Billington will officially name Paterson — who succeeds the first children's ambassador, Jon Scieszka — to the position.
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Melanie Kroupa to Join Marshall Cavendish
Around this time last year, Melanie Kroupa, who had had her own imprint at FSG Books for Young Readers since 2000, was let go as part of Macmillan’s reorganization of its children’s division. But news came late yesterday that Kroupa will be joining Marshall Cavendish Children's Books as an editor-at-large on January 1, reporting to publisher Margery Cuyler.
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CPSIA Stay on Testing Extended Another Year
On December 17, the Consumer Product Safety Commission voted four to one—with Commissioner Robert Adler voting against—to extend the stay of enforcement on the independent lead testing and certification provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act for one more year. The provisions will go into effect on February 10, 2011.
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Autographed Shirt Benefits First Book
Securing a spot on the New York Times bestseller list is a big deal, so it's no wonder that Amy Krouse Rosenthal wanted to mark the occasion when her collaboration with Tom Lichtenheld, Duck! Rabbit!, landed on the list. She decided to circulate a white T-shirt to all the other authors on that week's list, asking each to sign it and pass it along. Every author agreed to participate and the autographed shirt...
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Big Sales, Small Press: Bunker Hill's New England Holiday Hit
A picture book published by a small New Hampshire press could be among the biggest success stories in New England this holiday season. Bunker Hill has already sold through its first printing of 3,500 copies of Willem Lange's Favor Johnson: A Christmas Story, illustrated by Bert Dodson. Last week Favor Johnson was the bestselling children's book at Northshire Books in Manchester Center, Vt., beating out titles from much larger houses...
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Scholastic’s ‘Winter’s Tail’ Makes Waves
A baby bottlenose dolphin who was seriously hurt when she became tangled in a Florida crab trap is the star of Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again by Juliana, Isabella and Craig Hatkoff, published by Scholastic Press in October. Now swimming happily in a pool at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter is making a splash elsewhere as well...
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Licensing Hotline: December 2009
Penguin Young Readers Group is going after boys with three new licenses: the Jim Henson Company's Dinosaur Train, an animated, science-focused series on PBS Kids; Nickelodeon and Dreamworks' Penguins of Madagascar, a TV series based on the feature films; and Chaotic, a trading card/online game and TV franchise. Click through to read about licensing launches for Pinkalicious and Biscuit, a tie-in for Little Pickle Press, and lots more licensing news.
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In Brief: December 17
This week, a famous pianist (and children's author) meets President Obama, and a group of Australian authors welcome the summer in Sydney.
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It's a Story, It's a Cartoon, It's a... Moving Picture Book
Picture books have come a long way, baby. Forget bound sheets of paper or even digital-text e-books. The latest reincarnation of traditional kid lit is so-called "moving picture books." Animators from a company appropriately called Moving Picture Books are turning the kids and animals in famous (and not-so-famous) short stories into cartoon-like characters. The three- to five-minute narrated videos are available for digital download on computers, iPhones, iPods, and iPod Touches...
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Putnam Books for Young Readers' Paulsen Gets Own Imprint
Putnam Books for Young Readers president and publisher Nancy Paulsen is launching an eponymous imprint, Nancy Paulsen Books, with the first titles landing in 2011. Paulsen, who has led the division for 15 years, plans to publish 12 to 15 picture books, middle grade and young adult novels annually. She will continue at the helm of Putnam Books for Young Readers until the company finds a successor—a process that has already begun.
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Dubai Children’s Book Fair Postponed
The first Dubai International Children’s Book Fair, set for February 3-10, 2010, has been postponed indefinitely, according to a brief statement issued by the organizer, the Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation. No official reason was given for the cancellation, although financial problems there are believed to have played a role. It was also unclear how many publishers had signed up to attend the event...
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Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls 'Monday the Bullfrog'
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled some 140,000 Monday the Bullfrog plush books because a plastic eye on the frog of the children’s books can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. Simon & Schuster, which publishes the book, has received reports of three eyes detaching after use, and one book that was packaged with a detached eye. There have been no reports of injuries.
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Hoping for “the Next Stephenie Meyer”
That a publisher is championing the notion it's landed the next Stephenie Meyer isn't very surprising, but Dutton certainly seems to be speaking in more than hyperbole when it compares its newest author to the bestselling author from Utah. Last week the Penguin Young Readers Group imprint laid down a seven-figure advance for three books from Ally Condie, in a heated auction featuring seven other houses.
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‘Amazon Breakthrough Novel’ Contest Goes YA
For the third year in a row, Amazon and Penguin have teamed up for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, an international writing competition that offers new writers a chance at publication. Earlier this week, it was announced that there would be two prizes for this year's competition, one of which will be for the best young adult novel. Also new this year: the competition is open to novels that have been previously self-published. Up to 10,000 manuscripts will be accepted for the contest...
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In Brief: December 10
This week, Grace Lin appears on the "Today Show," dancers take to the stage to celebrate "Beautiful Ballerina," pop-up whiz David A. Carter hits the road, and Carl the Rottweiler visits a local bookstore.
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Q & A with Hilary McKay
Q: Do you have strong childhood memories of reading A Little Princess?
A: Oh, yes. As a child, I read the novel so many times. In fact I read it and reread it until my copy almost fell to pieces. My sister and I knew the novel so well that we could actually recite it. It became almost like theater to us.
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