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Highlanders, the classic illustrated history of the Highland Clans by Sir Fitzroy Maclean, was recently launched during Tartan Week in New York. The Overlook Press, The American-Scottish Foundation, The Gathering 2009, and Visit Scotland, convened on New York's Scotland House for a celebration of the new paperback edition of the book. There was plenty of single malt scotch, and quite a few men turned up in tartan skirts: (from left to right: Lord Jamie Sempill, Philip Riddle, Alan L. Bain, and Donald Maclaren).

The NEA, sponsoring this year's Read Across America, has made available an animated version of Horton Hears A Who. The book, by the inimitable Dr. Seuss, can be downloaded from kidthing. Read Across America is happening Monday March 3, 2008. The theatrical release of Horton Hears a Who is not far behind.

No surprise here. My 5th/6th grade discussion group met on Tuesday to discuss the two WK books, and one topic that came up was "Who would you cast to play Greg Heffley in a film version?" I'm dismayed to say that, other than Frankie Muniz, who's probably too old by now, I'd not heard of any of the actors they suggested!

And you can expect to see him a lot more in the future, now that The Invention of Hugo Cabret (my 2007 Book of the Year, by the way!) is the recipient of the 2008 Caldecot Medal. Newsweek has a very nice interview with author Brian Selznik, in which he talks about his time working in a bookshop and the fact that Martin Scorcesse in making the book into a film (although I kind of wonder if that's totally necessary. And will it be silent?) There are a few spoilers in the article, so if you are planning to read it anytime soon (and why wouldn't you?!) and don't want to know the secrets of the story.....consider yourself warned.

This is kind of an old story by now but the BBC reports about the upcoming Tintin films, one of which is to be directed by Peter Jackson (him of Lord of the Rings fame)and another by Steven Spielberg. According to the article a trilogy of films is to be made (Jackson clearly working on the premise that 3 is a magic number) and will feature the same technology that worked so well for Beowulf. So I guess that means it won't be live action? The article does not mention who will play the boy reporter, but there is already an official Tintin movie site, so you can watch that space for more news. Clearly, some people are very excited about this project. And who can blame them? I for one adore Tintin. When I visited Brussels, all I wanted to do was find a Tintin t-shirt. Forget the chocolate! But as I get older I find that I enjoy book to film adaptations less and less. But I'm looking forward to Snowy becoming the most famous film Yorkie since Toto.

Evidently former British Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo thought it was a good idea. He adapted a version of the epic poem just for kids. I guess you would file that under "not just for grown-ups". You can read what he thinks about the new film adaptation (in 3-D, no less. I did not know it was released in 3-D.)

The following books will be released as films by Walden Media in 2008:

Nim's Island (based on the book by Wendy Orr)
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspin (the incomparable C.S. Lewis)
Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D (I'm sure author Jules Verne would appreciate the extra effort of filming in 3D)
The City of Ember (IMHO, one of the most overrated books in recent memory.)

Let's hope that the good folks at Walden Media have learned their lesson after the "Seeker" debacle and focus on more faithful adaptations. Also, are their any non-fantasy books in the works? Interesting, film-worty stuff happens in the real world, too.

Found this on the Times (that's, of London) website. American director Wes Anderson is directing a feature length adaptation of The Fantastic Mr. Fox, with George Cloony. What I want to know is, does The Fantastic Mr. Cloony speak West Country?

According to ICV2, there will be a board game tie-in to the film version of The Spiderwick Chronicles, due to be released in early 2008. That's kind of cool, and will probably sell like the proverbial hotcakes, since the series is so popular (not sure I would call it a YA series, though, as it is called in the article.) But where's all the hotly anticipated The Seeker memorabilia? ;)

I saw this in the Times On-line: Michael Morpurgo's 1982 War Horse has been transformed into a stage production, due to premier in London's West End in October 2007. This is not to be confused with Dick King-Smith's The Water Horse, due to hit the silver screen at the end of this year. Equine overload? Neigh!

I came across this news item while on-line trying to hunt down a Rainbow Magic Annual for my daughter. Hit Entertainment, license holders for the distribution of Thomas the Tank Engine, Pingu, and the Wiggles--just a few stars in a constellation of children's popular characters--plans to turn the popular Rainbow Magic series of books into a TV show. My daughter will be thrilled. Unlike My Friend Rabbit, I think the Rainbow Fairies (and the Weather Fairies, and the Jewel Fairies, and all the rest of them) are perfect for the jump to the small screen. The stories are slight, the characters stock, and the sugar coating heavy. Now, that may sound like a criticism, but it's not. The Rainbow Magic series is not reaching for any great literary heights, just for the hearts and minds of little girls. And the authors (there are four of them) have succeeded--spectacularly! The open ended format of an animated series will allow for plenty of pretty colors, fairy dust, and fairy fashion without having to worry too much about plot. Again--this is not a criticism! I firmly believe that there is a place for light, escapist fiction--even for the Easy Chapter set. Who wants capital 'L' Literature all the time? While I don't get much enjoyment out of reading the Rainbow Magic books to my daughter (and it pained me that she chose Evie the Mist Fairy over The Wizard of Oz when I asked what chapter book she wanted to read tonight) I know that she enjoys them, and that one day she will enjoy reading them to herself. And reading, after all, is the ultimate goal.