By: Scope Notes,
on 3/19/2011
As you may have heard, there was a memorable meeting of pop culture and children’s lit this week on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice. The contestants were tasked with creating a children’s book and boy did it entertain – often for completely unintentional reasons. Click below to watch.
By: Scope Notes,
on 1/6/2011
Did I expect to see the trailer for Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules already? No.
Am I excited? That’s a yes.
In theaters March 25th.
By: Scope Notes,
on 11/18/2010
In honor of the just-released Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, I bring you the cast of the film trying out their best American accents. Boo-yah!
By: Scope Notes,
on 9/22/2010
Well, the first full theatrical trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I (remember, they’re splitting this one up) has been released, and it promises an action-packed almost-conclusion to the saga. Take a look and see what you think. In theaters Nov. 19.
(Thanks to @kidsmomo for the link)
By: Scope Notes,
on 3/4/2010
The Guardians of Ga’Hoole is one of those sneakily popular series to which scores of kids are devoted. As is the accepted practice for popular children’s books, the powers that be are bringing it to the silver screen (with a little name change). The animation certainly looks nice.
By: Scope Notes,
on 3/3/2010
I was planning on doing an On Hold @ the Library post last month, but when I went to check out the hold shelf at my school library and it was all Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. Every last one. Telling you Jeff Kinney’s series is popular is like telling me I don’t have any trouble spelling the word recieved… recevied… whatever.
With the release of the Wimpy Kid movie nigh (March 19th (click here to watch the trailer)), I saw via Mishaps and Adventures that they put together a little website that lets you create a Wimpy likeness of yourself. Here’s my attempt:
That’s pretty much me. Click here to give it a try. *Note* I had trouble pulling this up in my Firefox browser. It worked great when I switched to Chrome.
By: Scope Notes,
on 1/21/2010
Let the hype commence. The trailer for the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film was just released and it’s looking pretty good. The humor seems to be in line with what you find in the book, which makes me hopeful. It also doesn’t hurt that the cheese touch makes an appearance. Click the image below to head over to Mishaps and Adventures and watch.
By: Scope Notes,
on 9/17/2009
I recently learned about the planned Universal Studios Harry Potter theme park from Educating Alice (who has a nice roundup of related links). I think we can all agree that this is a good idea. Pop culture site BuzzFeed recently posted a video tour of the planned project. Let us have a look:
Dang – looks pretty thorough to me.
On a (loosely at best) related note, did you know that there’s a Harry Potter store in Shanghai?
By: Scope Notes,
on 8/24/2009
Fans of indie-rock-influenced, children’s-choir-aided, group-whistling-festooned music created for soundtracks of children’s books turned into films, take notice. A song from the Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack has hit the web. The singing is a bit jarring at first (courtesy of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O.), but I got into this one pretty quick. Click here, or the image below to head over to pop culture website BuzzFeed and have a listen.
(Thanks to BuzzFeed for the link)
By: Scope Notes,
on 8/7/2009
A new trailer for the Spike Jonze directed Where the Wild Things Are film is up and things are still looking pretty good (although I’m not sure about the dog right at the end). The Arcade Fire soundtrack is still there, but this one features much more dialog than the first preview. In theaters Oct. 16th.
By: Scope Notes,
on 7/30/2009
The look is kinda old-school. Not that I’m against that. Label me cautiously optimistic.
By: Scope Notes,
on 6/12/2009
Man, folks really don’t waste much time these days making silver-screen moves on children’s lit. From THR.com:
Universal has picked up “Lunch Lady,” a children’s graphic novel series written and illustrated by Jarrett Krosoczka, with Amy Poehler attached to star. Poehler will executive produce along with the Gotham Group’s Ellen Goldsmith-Vein set to produce.
Click here to read the entire article. Let me point out that nary a book has been released yet! The series hits shelves in July. And here I’ve been holding off my review until we get closer to the release date. Look for that shortly.
A side note: How many books have debuted with a “Soon to be a Major Motion Picture!” sticker on the cover? Can’t be many – will Lunch Lady be sporting one?
(Thanks to Gawker for the link)
By: Scope Notes,
on 4/15/2009
By: Scope Notes,
on 3/30/2009
When you’re turning a picture book into a movie, you’ve got a unique problem. Lack of content. Normally, movies based on books have to decide what to cut. Picture book movies have to decide what to add. Herein lies the reason that, as the wonderful children’s lit blog A Fuse #8 Production put it, “there has never been … a successful adaptation of a picture book into a full-screen motion picture.” Agreed.
While Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs looks like it might be a lot of fun, it appears that if you’re looking for something closely resembling the book, you’ll have to keep on a-lookin’.
(Many thanks to EarlyWord for the link)
By: Scope Notes,
on 3/25/2009
Man, if they don’t stop putting out Where The Wild Things Are teasers, people are gonna start thinking that the film may actually be coming to theaters. Take a look at the just-released trailer for the film:
Okay, can we all agree that things are looking pretty good? The visuals are certainly encouraging, but the soundtrack is what seals the deal for me. Wake Up by Arcade Fire is one of the best songs of the last few years, and the fact that it turns up in the film version of my favorite picture book is getting me excited for what’s to come. In theaters October 16.
(Many thanks to Nerdist for the link)
By: Scope Notes,
on 3/17/2009
Neil Gaiman appeared on The Colbert Report last night and the expected ridiculousness ensued. Case in point? This faux accusatory statement from Colbert:
“You’re originally from England, and this is a John Newbery Medal. You took away a Newbery award away from an American writer!”
See how Mr. Gaiman responds by clicking on the video below. Entertaining stuff.
By: Scope Notes,
on 3/16/2009
*UPDATE* The video clip is now online. Click here to watch.
This just in from the 100 Scope Notes Department of Late News:
The recently Newbery Medal-bestowed Neil Gaiman will make an appearance on The Colbert Report tonight (3/16/09) at 11:30p.m. ET. Wondering what Mr. Gaiman thought of the experience? Thanks to Twitter, we know:
Be sure to check it out.
By: Scope Notes,
on 2/9/2009
Unlike some other recent children’s lit film adaptations (*cough* City of Ember *cough*), Coraline has actually been on the radar of film viewers for a bit now. Maybe it’s due to the Nightmare Before Christmas-style animation, maybe it’s the popularity of the book - either way, Neil Gaiman’s recent Newbery win could not have provided anything but a nice publicity boost.
I’m planning on seeing and reviewing the film soon, but here are what the critics are saying. My favorite is the NPR quote:
“This thrilling stop-motion animated adventure is a high point in Selick’s career of creating handcrafted wonderlands of beauty blended with deep, disconcerting creepiness.”
- Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
“The results are nothing short of magical.”
- Tasha Robinson, The Onion (A.V. Club)
“Coraline lingers in an atmosphere that is creepy, wonderfully strange and full of feeling.”
- A.O. Scott, The New York Times
“Selick puts his real faith not in the gimmickry that Coraline’s audiences will think they’ve shown up for, but in the stronger virtues that they’d likely view as old-fashioned: character, and story, and handmade figures, handmade milkshakes, handmade blades of grass, each one moving utterly persuasively as he and his animators tweak it, frame by frame.”
- Bob Mondello, NPR
“For all its visual delights, however, Coraline remains more an engaging spectacle than a connective drama. That is chiefly because of the writing. Director-writer Henry Selick doesn’t reach for the kind of universality that would enrich the movie.”
- Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Read more reviews at MetaCritic.com.
Watch the Coraline trailer:
By: Scope Notes,
on 8/5/2008
Lots of reading, not a lot of reviewing. That seems to be the way things are going lately. So while I could bore you by waxing philosophic on “Once Upon a Time in the North” (outstanding!) or “The Calder Game” (solid!), how about we just take a look at the latest, most hot off the press-est images from the upcoming “City of Ember” film:
More Ember
The City
The Mayor
Pipe Works
Click here to see the entire gallery at IESB.Net
By: Scope Notes,
on 7/30/2008
The Harry Potter film saga keeps rolling on. The trailer for the new installment “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” was just released:
(Thanks to BuzzFeed for the link)
By: Scope Notes,
on 6/29/2008
I may have recently made a bit of a subtle jab at the outbreak of children’s lit-related television and movie adaptations of the past few months, but I’m better now. Better enough to bring you the most recent trailer for The Tale of Despereaux:
The CGI looks pretty good, but will the film live up to the book’s high standard? We find out on December 19.
By: Scope Notes,
on 6/6/2008
In a stunning move, the International Children’s Literature Commissioner announced this morning that there will henceforth be no more television and movie adaptations of beloved kids books.
Citing oversaturation, the Commissioner explained that the ban would last one year, or until “People have a chance to write more stuff.” In front of a packed audience, a tired looking Commissioner rattled off a list of popular children’s titles that would soon be making the transition.
“Olivia, Scaredy Squirrel, Where the Wild Things Are. Sadly, that’s just the recent picture book tally.”
After taking a moment to regain his composure, the Commissioner continued.
“Okay, chapter books: City of Ember, Geronimo Stilton, Ranger’s Apprentice, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Tale of Despereaux, Guardians of Ga’Hool, I could continue.” Muted gasps were audible among the crowd.
When questioned about his reasons for the ban, the Commissioner responded by saying,
“We’ve got to be proactive. Some of these books should stay books. I’ve got five words for you: Love You Forever the movie.” The assembled crowd nodded in quiet understanding.
By: Scope Notes,
on 5/23/2008
Looks like Scaredy Squirrel will soon be making the gentle glide to the small screen. From Publishers Weekly:
Kids Can Press has inked a deal with Nelvana Studios and Nelvana Entertainment to develop the character of Scaredy Squirrel, star of three picture books by Mélanie Watt, into a TV series.
After mulling over the idea, I have to say that I think it would make good TV. Scaredy would translate well into an animated series. We’ll find out soon.
(Thanks to Publishers Weekly for the link)
By: Scope Notes,
on 5/20/2008
Why did “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” break the bank while “Golden Compass” underperformed in the U.S.? That’s the question Time magazine aims to answer as “Prince Caspian” hits theaters. Click the image below to read all about it.
By: Scope Notes,
on 5/16/2008
City of Ember: dystopian masterpiece? Agreed. Film masterpiece? We shall see. Take a look at the just-released trailer:
Lina and Doon are a bit older than I imagined, and the mayor (Bill Murray) is a bit more slender, but all in all it don’t seem too shabby an effort.
Brilliant. Made me laugh aloud!
Where to start, so many, so little time . . .
You are a true poet! This is an excellent form of poetry – but one that is far beyond my capabilities. I hope to see more, though!
I’m off to the bookshelves to see what I can find! Fun fun fun!
[...] stumbled upon book spine poetry through Travis Jonker’s children’s literature blog, 100 Scope Notes. Travis borrows the idea from Nina Katchadourin, who has some wonderful compositions in her [...]
What a wonderful idea! Here’s my first attempt: http://lightairspirit.wordpress.com/2010/03/06/book-spine-poetry/. I can’t wait to try it with middle schoolers and YA titles.
Ha! I am going to have to try this one. I love reading the spines of books.
That turned out great!
Seriously – whoa.
I have to admit that I think it’s really cool.
But what if you drop it? I mean, if you drop a book, you might dent it a bit but it’ll still work. I guess I am probably the kind of person who would drop my iPad (just after the warranty ran out) and be out of luck. Then it’s back to the boring ol’ library for me.
You can’t find a bigger book advocate than me BUT I also think this is the future. I was a voracious SF reader as a tween/teen/young 20s adult and THIS is just what I’ve been waiting for. The future I imagined and read about is happening NOW!