As reported earlier, Taylor Lautner, star of the Twilight movie franchise, has been cast as the lead in the film version of Incarceron.  Now there are reports that Emma Watson is the top pick for the female lead.

So what do you think?  I’m still having problems with Lautner as the male lead.  Watson on the other hand seems ideal.

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Giant Steps to Change the World by Spike Lee & Tonya Lewis Lee, illustrated by Sean Qualls

This is a book filled with inspiring people that show children that everyone has the ability to be a hero.  The book contains examples of people who stood up for others, worked with a passion and vision, honored deep values, and led the world to a new place.  Among the heroes on the pages are Langston Hughes, Harriet Tubman, Mother Teresa, and Neil Armstrong.  It is a great mix of male and female and different races.  The heroes will inspire young readers to take that first step to follow in the giant steps that their heroes left behind.

Qualls’ illustrations are amazing.  Done in acrylic, gouache, pencil and collage, the images are bold and strong.  Some are so powerful, they stay with you after closing the book, like the black and white image that represents Harriet Tubman and moves from dark to light.  The illustrations have clear lines, deep colors, and convey the essence of that hero to great effect.

Unfortunately, the text written by the Lees is less successful.  The heroes they have selected are an incredible group of people.  It is the words themselves that fall flat, often being too verbose and roundabout for a children’s picture book.  I was also disappointed that there was not a list of the heroes anywhere in the book with more information.  Readers can look at the endpages of the book to see a quote from each hero, but no further details are given.  That’s just not enough information for young readers.

An inspiring book despite some issues, this book would pair well with President Obama’s Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters.  Appropriate for ages 7-9.

Reviewed from copy received from Simon & Schuster.

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Cinematical has the news that The Perks of Being a Wallflower is going to finally be made into a feature film.  Summit Entertainment holds the rights to the book.  Author Stephen Chbosky will be writing and directing the film, which bodes well. 

The cast includes Logan Lerman and Emma Watson.

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Debut author, Sita Brahmachari, has won the 2011 Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize for her novel Artichoke Hearts.  The UK prize is now in it’s seventh year and was created to “champion new and emerging talent in children’s writing.”

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The movie Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer will be released on June 10, 2011. 

EarlyWord has the news that Candlewick will be publishing five movie tie-ins in May to go along with the film.  Candlewick is also releasing the entire Judy Moody series with new covers to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the books.

• Kids Lit will be moving to a new home at the end of the month:  Waking Brain Cells.

An article in USA Today features Amanda Hocking who has sold her teen paranormal novels primarily in ebook form.  Her series is entirely self-published and is offered for download at $2.99 per book.  Her Trylle Trilogy will debut in the top 50 of USA Today’s Bestseller list on Thursday! 

Has anyone read the trilogy?  What do you think?

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Ribbit Rabbit by Candace Ryan, illustrated by Mike Lowery

Frog and Bunny are the best of friend.  They swim together.  Fight monsters together.  Even share peanut butter sandwiches.  But sometimes something happens and they stop getting along.  Like when they find a robot with a key.  One of them ends up with the robot, the other with the key.  And they don’t want to share.  After a bit of alone time though, they come together ready to share and have fun once again.

Ryan’s text is such fun to read aloud.  It trips, gallops, dashes and dances on the tongue.  The rhythm of the book is a delight and the silly rhymes add joy to the book.  It is impossible to read it without grinning. 

Lowery’s illustrations have a wonderful modern, fresh feel to them.  Done in pencil, screen printing and print gocco, they are finished digitally.  They have a simplicity that works well here.  The soft colors have an intriguing pop to them and the texture from the screen printing adds to the appeal.

Highly recommended, this is a top choice for toddler and preschool story times.  Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from ARC received from Bloomsbury.

Also reviewed by The Bookbag and Young Readers.

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Little White Rabbit by Kevin Henkes

Little White Rabbit set off filled with imagination.  As he hopped through the grass, he wondered what it would be like to be green.  When he went by the fir trees, he wondered what being tall was like.  When he hopped over the rock, he wondered about how it would feel not to be able to move.  When he saw the butterflies, he imagined being able to fly.  But when he saw the cat, he got too scared to imagine anymore.  He hurried back to his family and didn’t stop wondering and imagining.

Henkes is a master of the picture book format.  The simple words here carry the story beautifully, giving just enough detail to keep the book moving.  The focus on wondering and imagining is one that will have young minds wondering along with the book, exactly what I love to see in any picture book. 

The illustrations, done in colored pencil and acrylic paint, are also simple.  They are nice and large, which will work well with a group of preschoolers.  The simplicity speaks to the skill of Henkes as an illustrator.   The double-page spreads of the imaginings of Little White Rabbit offer lots of exploration, moments of quiet, and space for young children to have their own daydreams too.

Simplicity by a master of the genre, this book will be adored by Henkes’ many fans and will find new fans too.  Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from library copy.

Also reviewed by Brimful Curiosities.

Check out the video about the making of this book:

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Twentieth Century Fox Animation will be bringing Roger Hargreaves’ Mr. Men to the big screen.  There are 48 Mr. Men books in the series, which has been adapted for television before.  No writer or director has been announced yet for the project.

Thanks to The Hollywood Reporter for the news.

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The second How to Train Your Dragon film will expand to a larger world, allowing this sequel to be the bridge to at least one more film after it.  The book series has 8 volumes, so there is plenty in the stories to pull from.  There are promises of new dragons, new characters, and yet a focus on the beloved Hiccup and Toothless. 

Thanks to /Film for the news.

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