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Fantasy news round-up, August 2, 2010

Dawn Treader: new movie poster and trailer 
Dawn Treader, the film based on the CS Lewis book from the Narnia Chronicles, is being directed by British filmmaker Michael Apted and has been written by Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely and Michael Petroni. It will be appearing in cinemas around the world from December 10, 2010 onwards.

There has also been a trailer available for the past month:

Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, along with their pesky cousin Eustace Scrubb – find themselves swallowed into a painting and on to a fantastic Narnian ship headed for the very edges of the world. Joining forces once again with their royal friend Prince Caspian and the warrior mouse Reepicheep, they are whisked away on a mysterious mission to the Lone Islands, and beyond. On this bewitching voyage that will test their hearts and spirits the trio will face magical Dufflepuds, sinister slave traders, roaring dragons and enchanted merfolk. Only an entirely uncharted journey to Aslan’s Country – a voyage of destiny and transformation for each of those aboard the Dawn Treader – can save Narnia, and all the astonishing creatures in it, from an unfathomable fate.

German fantasy authors boast worldwide reach
Children’s books by German authors such as Cornelia Funke and Michael Ende are proving extremely popular worldwide. Books lover in the US, Korea and China love reading, amongst many others, Inkheart and The Neverending Story and since the 1960s German children’s books has slowly but surely conquered the international book market.

"I think that many countries experienced this social shift where people began to take kids more seriously and included them more in the conversation. In that sense, German children’s books were on the cutting edge, and that’s what made them a success abroad," says Regina Pantos, chair of the Association for Children’s and Youth Literature.

Daniel Radcliffe turns 21
Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who plays Harry Potter in the film franchise, turned 21 on July 23. Born in Fulham, England in 1989, he had only just turned 11 when he was chosen to play the role of the boy wizard from the books by JK Rowling.

Forbes Magazine names JK Rowling as one of the world’s 30 most inspiring women
After seeking input from ForbesWoman followers on Facebook and Twitter, a list was compiled of the 30 Utterly Inspiring Role Models, and JK Rowling was chosen as one of the 30 women who “make the world a better place”. She’s in good company, with Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, Danica Patrick, Betty White, Elizabeth Glazer, Condoleezza Rice and Hilary Clinton also included in the list.

Ursula Le Guin allows British students to make one of her short stories into a film
Budding producer Rob Watson (Beaconsfield’s National Film and Television School) wrote a letter to Ursula Le Guin in April asking her for film rights to one of her books, and was shocked by its response. The author immediately wrote back and agreed that they could go ahead with the film without paying a penny for the rights. Now Watson is making one of the biggest student films ever. The 20 minute graduation film The Fleet of Vision is to cost £12,000 and will use sets first used in sci-fi epics like Sunshine and Thunderbirds.

“She doesn’t usually give away the rights to her material but she let us have it for free – it was amazing when we got the reply. Most student films are shot on location but we’re doing pretty much all of this on specially-built sets. There’s even professionally-made spacesuits being used,” said Watson.

Penguin Group see spike in First Half Sales and Profit
Sales at Penguin for the first half of the year rose 9 percent, breaking 493 million pounds. Sales at Pearson, Penguin’s parent, also rose 9 percent in the first half of 2010, with adjusted operating profit increasing by 79% to 178m. Overall, the operating profit at the book publisher more than doubled, hitting 44 million pounds (up from 21 million pounds a year ago). Penguin is one of the most famous brands in book publishing, known around the world for the quality of its publishing and its consistent record of innovation. Over the past five years, Penguin’s sales have increased at an annual average rate of 2% and profits at 5%. In the early part of 2010 Penguin grew well ahead of industry in its major markets and produced a substantial profit improvement. Additionally, Penguin continues to extend their reach to new audiences, most recently with the launch of Apple’s iBookstore and iPad where, in the US, Penguin’s Winnie-the-Pooh was the only book pre-loaded onto the device.

Posted: August 2nd, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne, CS Lewis, Cornelia Funke, JK Rowling, Ursula Le Guin

New Winnie the Pooh animation due out in July 2011

Walt Disney will be releasing a new Winnie the Pooh animated movie on July 15, 2011. The movie will be called Winnie the Pooh and will feature songs by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez.  The story will be based on five stories from the original Winnie the Pooh books by AA Milne.

The film will be directed by Steve Anderson and Don Hall, and the lead story artist will be Burny Mattinson, who worked on the original Winnie the Pooh animation.  Mattinson will be joined by various accomplished animators, including Mark Henn, Andrea Deja, Glen Keane, and Tony Bancroft.

The voice talent for ‘Winnie the Pooh’ will include Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh, Tigger), Tom Kenny (Rabbit), and Craig Ferguson (Owl).

Posted: June 8th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne

The 20 greatest children’s books ever, according to The Telegraph

Some are time-worn classics, some more recently embraced. Lucinda Everett selects the stories that resonate with the young decade after decade. We think that it is a great list and have added some of our favourites immediately afterwards.

1. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
   Far from fading with time, Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale of fantasy has attracted a growing audience in each generation. Rat, Mole, Badger and the preposterous Mr Toad, have brought delight to many through the years with their odd adventures on and by the river, and at the imposing residence of Toad Hall.
2. The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
   The Lord of the Rings is a magnificent achievement, an epic tale of friendship, love and heroism. This book set down the benchmark for all fantasy novels to come, without it the world would be a poorer place. Perfection is a very difficult goal to achieve, the Lord of the Rings comes as close to it as is maybe possible. Readers will be left with dreams of living in their very own hobbit hole and the journey that the Fellowship undertakes will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Tolkien’s narrative is breath-taking and his beautiful descriptions of Middle-earth are a joy to behold.
3. The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
   Harry Potter is an ordinary boy who lives in a cupboard under the stairs at his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon’s house, which he thinks is normal for someone like him who’s parents have been killed in a ‘car crash’. He is bullied by them and his fat, spoilt cousin Dudley, and lives a very unremarkable life with only the odd hiccup (like his hair growing back overnight!) to cause him much to think about. That is until an owl turns up with a letter addressed to Harry and all hell breaks loose! He is literally rescued by a world where nothing is as it seems and magic lessons are the order of the day. Read and find out how Harry discovers his true heritage at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, the reason behind his parents mysterious death, who is out to kill him, and how he uncovers the most amazing secret of all time, the fabled Philosopher’s Stone! All this and muggles too. Now, what are they?
4. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
   Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy astounded the literary world, reaping high praise from adults as well as children. The final book in the trilogy, The Amber Spyglass, was published to great literary acclaim, earning Pullman a place on the longlist for the prestigious Booker Prize and pushing the trilogy toward cult fiction status for both children and adults.
5. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis
   Lucy steps into the Professor’s wardrobe – but steps out again into a snowy forest. She’s stumbled upon the magical world of Narnia, a land of unicorns, centaurs, fauns … and the wicked White Witch, who terrorises all. Lucy soon realises that Narnia, and in particular Aslan, the great Lion, need her help if the country’s creatures are ever going to be free again.
6. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
   A much-loved classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar has won over millions of readers with its vivid and colourful collage illustrations and its deceptively simply, hopeful story. With its die-cut pages and finger-sized holes to explore, this is a richly satisfying book for children.
7. The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
   When Joe, Beth and Frannie move to a new home, an Enchanted Wood is on their doorstep. And when they discover the Faraway Tree, that is the beginning of many magical adventures! Join them and their friends Moonface, Saucepan Man and Silky the fairy as they discover which new land is at the top of the Faraway Tree. Will it be the Land of Spells, the Land of Treats, or the Land of Do-As-You-Please? There’ll be adventures waiting for them, whatever happens; funny, magical adventures that will delight children again and again.
8. Babar by Jean de Brunhoff
   "If you love elephants, you will love Babar and Celeste," writes A. A. Milne in his preface to "The Story of Babar". "And if you have never loved elephants, you will love them now."
9. Treasure Island by RL Stevenson
   ‘Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest-Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!’ Treasure Island is a tale of pirates and villains, maps, treasure and shipwreck. When young Jim Hawkins finds a packet in Captain Flint’s sea chest, he could not know that the map inside it would lead him to unimaginable treasure. Shipping as cabin boy on the Hispaniola, he sails with Squire Trelawney, Captain Smollett, Dr Livesey, the sinister Long John Silver and a frightening crew to Treasure Island. There, mutiny, murder and mayhem lead to a thrilling climax.
10. The Railway Children by E Nesbit
    When Father goes away with two strangers one evening, the lives of Roberta, Peter and Phyllis are shattered. They and their mother have to move from their comfortable London home to go and live in a simple country cottage, where Mother writes books to make ends meet. However, they soon come to love the railway that runs near their cottage, and they make a habit of waving to the Old Gentleman who rides on it. They befriend the porter, Perks, and through him learn railway lore and much else. They have many adventures, and when they save a train from disaster, they are helped by the Old Gentleman to solve the mystery of their father’s disappearance.
11. Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
    Arthur Ransome was a prolific writer of children’s books. Born in Leeds in 1884, it was his father, a nature-loving history professor, who inspired his love of the outdoors and nurtured a passion for fishing. As a child he enjoyed active, outdoor holidays: sailing, camping and exploring the countryside. He used many of these holiday settings for his children’s stories, notably the much loved Swallows and Amazons, a book that sits comfortably in the category of "timeless classic" and remains one of his most popular titles for young people.
12. Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne
    AA Milne’s first stories about Winnie-the-Pooh, the most famous bear in the world, were published eighty years ago. Discover what happens when Pooh goes visiting and Piglet meets a Heffalump, not forgetting when Eeyore loses his tail and Pooh finds one!
13. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
    Charlie Bucket finds a Golden Ticket which wins him a whole day at Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory in this captivating favourite by Roald Dahl.
14. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
    The Gruffalo certainly lives up to its reputation as a classic read for both children and parents. The fantasy story captures the imagination of pre-schoolers as it takes them on a journey with mouse as he strolls through the wood and meets the beast himself, the Gruffalo. As the mouse revisits inhabitants of the wood with the Gruffalo, the mouse successfully convinces the beast that he, the mouse, is the scariest creature in the wood.
15. Peter and Wendy (Peter Pan) by JM Barrie
    Peter Pan, the “boy who would not grow up,” originally appeared as a baby living a magical life among birds and fairies in J.M. Barrie’s sequence of stories, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens. His later role as flying boy hero was brought to the stage by Barrie in the beloved play Peter Pan, which opened in 1904 and became the novel Peter and Wendy in 1911. In a narrative filled with vivid characters, epic battles, pirates, fairies, and fantastic imagination, Peter Pan’s adventures capture the spirit of childhood—and of rebellion against the role of adulthood in conventional society.
16. Watership Down by Richard Adams
    Fiver could sense danger. Something terrible was going to happen to the warren – he felt sure of it. So did his brother Hazel, for Fiver’s sixth sense was never wrong. They had to leave immediately, and they had to persuade the other rabbits to join them. And so begins a long and perilous journey of a small band of rabbits in search of a safe home. Fiver’s vision finally leads them to Watership Down, but here they face their most difficult challenge of all…Published in 1972, "Watership Down" is an epic journey, a stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival against the odds.
17. The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson
    ‘I’m Tracy Beaker. This is a book all about me. I’d read it if I were you. It’s the most incredible dynamic heart-rending story. Honest.’ Tracy is ten years old. She lives in a Children’s Home but would like a real home one day, with a real family. Meet Tracy, follow her story and share her hopes for the future in this beautifully observed, touching and often very funny tale, all told in Tracy’s own words.
18. The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr
    This book has enduring charm and young children will delight in the preposterous notion of a tiger creating mayhem in the house.
19. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
    The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first published by Frederick Warne in 1902 and endures as Beatrix Potter’s most popular and well-loved tale. It tells the story of a very mischievous rabbit and the trouble he encounters in Mr McGregor’s vegetable garden!
20. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
    Maurice Sendak’s children’s picture book has become an acknowledged classic. A winner of the Caldecott Medal for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year in 1964, Where the Wild Things Are is a timeless masterpiece that can be enjoyed equally by children and grown-ups.

So there ends The Telegraph’s collection of the 20 greatest children’s books ever. Fantasy Book Review would like to suggest 5 more titles that we believe worthy of appearing in such a list:

1. The Iron Man by Ted Hughes
   Mankind must put a stop to the dreadful destruction caused by the Iron Man. A trap is set for him, but he cannot be kept down. Then, when a terrible monster from outer space threatens to lay waste to the planet, it is the Iron Man who finds a way to save the world.
2. The Spook’s series by Joseph Delaney
   A wonderful and terrifying series by a new writer about a young boy training to be an exorcist. Thomas Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son and has been apprenticed to the local Spook. The job is hard, the Spook is distant and many apprentices have failed before Thomas. Somehow Thomas must learn how to exorcise ghosts, contain witches and bind boggarts. But when he is tricked into freeing Mother Malkin, the most evil witch in the County, the horror begins…
3. The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness by Michelle Paver
   Thousands of years ago the land is one dark forest. Its people are hunter-gatherers. They know every tree and herb and they know how to survive in a time of enchantment and powerful magic. Until an ambitious and malevolent force conjures a demon: a demon so evil that it can be contained only in the body of a ferocious bear that will slay everything it sees, a demon determined to destroy the world. Only one boy can stop it – 12 year old Torak, who has seen his father murdered by the bear. With his dying breath, Torak’s father tells his son of the burden that is his. He must lead the bear to the mountain of the World Spirit and beg that spirit’s help to overcome it. Torak is an unwilling hero. He is scared and trusts no one. His only companion is a wolf cub only three moons old, whom he seems to understand better than any human. Theirs is a terrifying quest in a world of wolves, tree spirits and Hidden People, a world in which trusting a friend means risking your life.
4. The Death Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean
   When Pepper Roux was born his aunt foretold that he would not live past 14 years of age. Throughout his childhood his parents haven’t bothered with him much, knowing that his life would be short-lived. So when Pepper wakes up on his 14th birthday he knows this will be the day that he’ll die. But as the day wears on, and Pepper finds himself still alive, he decides to set off to sea in an attempt to try and avoid death for as long as possible. As time goes on Pepper steps into many roles and personas and has numerous outrageous adventures. But can he stay one step ahead of death? Or will fate catch up with him? And, if he does live, which of his many lives will he choose to adopt? This riot of a story is a wonderful adventure, and Pepper is an unforgettable character who stays with you long after his story has been told.
5. The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
   The Edge Chronicles is a young-adult fantasy novel series by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. It consists three trilogies and three additional books. Originally published in the United Kingdom, this bestseller series has since been published in the United States, Canada and Australia as well. To date, more than two million copies of the novels have been sold.

Posted: April 14th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne, CS Lewis, JK Rowling, JRR Tolkien, Julia Donaldson, Kenneth Grahame, Michelle Paver, Philip Pullman, The Edge Chronicles

Fantasy news round-up – April 14, 2010

Harry Potter to be re-cloaked
JK Rowling‘s Harry Potter series is to be given a fresh set of covers. Publisher Bloomsbury has taken the decision to give the books a facelift in a bid to attract new buyers and boost sales. The publisher has seen profits fall by 35 per cent in the past year in the absence of a new Harry Potter book. It is hoped that the fresh image will appeal to a new generation of readers and offset the profits lost to there not being an eighth novel.

New From HarperCollins: The CS Lewis Bible and A Year with Aslan
In conjunction with the new Dawn Treader books to be released this October, HarperOne will also release The CS Lewis Bible and A Year with Aslan: Daily Reflections from The Chronicles of Narnia. The CS Lewis Bible is one of the most anticipated Bibles of our time. This NRSV Bible provides readings comprised of over 600 selections from Lewis’s celebrated spiritual classics, a collection that includes Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Problem of Pain, Miracles, A Grief Observed, The Four Loves, and The Weight of Glory, as well as letters, poetry, and Lewis’s lesser-known works. Each reading, paired alongside relevant passages in the Bible, offers C. S. Lewis as a companion to a reader’s daily meditation of scripture. As people engage in their devotional Bible reading, they will also gain insight from his writings and spiritual journey as they invite Lewis into their spiritual discipline. A Year with Aslan will select the most thought-provoking and poignant passages from all seven books in the series, and provide reflective questions that get the heart of what matters most.

Ted Nasmith’s latest project with a Sean Bean connection
According to George RR Martin’s “Not a Blog” the latest Calendar of paintings of locations from his “Song of Ice and Fire” fantasy series will be illustrated by none other than LOTR illustrator Ted Nasmith. According to Martin’s website, the calendar will be debuting from publisher Bantam Spectra at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con in July.

The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ to be released as app
Philip Pullman, of the His Dark Materials trilogy, has already made a name for himself among many as anti-religious, whether you think he deserves derision for it or not. And his latest novel, due in stores May 4th, will likely only further cement his religious detractors. "The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ" tells the story of Jesus and his twin brother, Christ. Pullman, who wanted to comment on "the dual nature of Jesus Christ." Enhanced Editions and Canongate have released an app for the book, priced at $16.99, that includes the full text of the tale, the audiobook read by Pullman, and more than 20 minutes of interviews with the author. It was released on Palm Sunday, and is available now on iTunes.

Apple iBooks now available through App Store
Apple has launched iBooks, the company’s official e-book reader for the iPad. The app uses a shelf metaphor to display ePub titles a person has imported through iTunes, or bought through the iBookstore, to which the app opens access. A copy of Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne is included by default; books can be sorted title, author or genre, or manually rearranged.

2009 Bram Stoker Awards Winners
Superior Achievement in a Novel: “Audrey’s Door” by Sarah Langan
Superior Achievement in a First Novel: “Damnable” by Hank Schwaeble
Superior Achievement in an Anthology:  “He Is Legend: An Anthology Celebrating Richard Matheson” edited by Christopher Conlon
Brian Lumley and William F Nolan received lifetime achievement awards by the Horror Writers Association.  The Complete list of winners can be seen here.

Posted: April 14th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne, CS Lewis, George RR Martin, JK Rowling, Philip Pullman

Fantasy news round-up – April 11, 2010

Game of Thrones re-cast sees Ehle replaced by Fairley
Michelle Fairley is set to replace Jennifer Ehle as Catelyn Stark in the HBO production of Game of Thrones. Ehle played Catelyn in the pilot episode but the Irish-born Fairley will step into her shoes for the remaining nine episodes. The fantasy series, based on the George RR Martin books, also stars Sean  Bean, Lena Headey, Mark Addy, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Peter Dinklage. Fairley is also set to play Mrs. Granger, a muggle dentist and mother of Hermione in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Production will begin this June in Belfast.

A Game of Thrones book review

More delays expected on Guillermo del Toro’s The Hobbit
Information has come to light on yet another delay for Guillermo del Toro’s The Hobbit. The accusatory finger is pointing unwaveringly at MGM’s financial situation. Pre-production for the double feature began mid-2008 with del Toro, Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens writing the scripts but the project was riddled with lawsuits with New Line and the Tolkien Estate, reaching a settlement in September 2009 when New Line had to pay an undisclosed sum to the estate. Jackson then revealed in November 2009 that the anticipated finish date for the scripts would be the beginning of 2010, delaying the start of production by several months to the middle of summer. Filming was due to take place throughout 2010 in New Zealand (a break is planned half way through shooting to allow del Toro to edit The Hobbit while sets are readied for the second part) with del Toro renovating the Hobbiton sets in Matamata. Jackson has kept the Rivendell scale model from filming The Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as the Bag End set, which he has used as a guesthouse. With the court case sorted, things seemed to be going a bit too smoothly. Now MGM, which holds the distribution rights – and $3.7 billion debt – is causing problems for the little man with hairy feet’s quest. Warner Bros and MGM have an agreement to produce and distribute the films but MGM’s financial difficulties have delayed them. TORn’s source said, “At this stage we are all working and hoping for the best case scenario. Without a doubt, the MGM situation carries great importance.”

The Hobbit book review

Health and safety fears scupper Pooh sticks race
Winnie-the-Pooh fans were left high and dry when the World Pooh Sticks Championships were cancelled because the Thames was flowing too fast. The event, which is in its 27th year and is held on the river in Little Wittenham, was scrapped today because of Environment Agency fears over health and safety. On Saturday the agency put up red flags warning off boats on a stretch of the Thames from Radcot Lock to Hurley Lock and organisers said they were unable to get their safety boats to Days Lock. In its 27-year history no one has ever fallen into the water and it has only been cancelled once before – in 2001. Pooh sticks was invented by the writer AA Milne as a game for his son, and first featured in his book, The House at Pooh Corner. Each year up to 3,000 people from across the world attend the championships and it raises about £1,500 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and local charities. About 150 people who still turned up to the event, unaware of its cancellation, were given cups of tea.

The Gruffalo will soon be available in Arabic
Arab parents will soon be able to read one of the world’s most popular bedtime stories to their children in their own language, with The Gruffalo to be published in Arabic for the first time. Eleven years after The Gruffalo’s release, Arab children will finally have access to the best-selling book by Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler thanks to a deal between Bloomsbury Publishing and the Qatar Foundation. Bloomsbury, the UK company behind the Harry Potter series, will become the first western publisher to launch a full catalogue out of the Middle East next week when it unveils six new books in Qatar. The catalogue, led by an Arabic edition of The Gruffalo, which has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide, is a result of the partnership Bloomsbury forged with the Qatar Foundation in 2008 aimed at promoting the reading culture in the Middle East.

Stephenie Meyer’s new vampire book will benefit the Red Cross
When Stephenie Meyer published "Breaking Dawn," it brought to an end her wildly popular "Twilight" vampire saga. So any new book in the pantheon is both unexpected and welcome. On Tuesday, fans were thrilled to learn that "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner," a new novella, will be available in June. Now that it’s out there, Meyer is making two charitable moves with the novella. From June 7 to July 5 it will be available for free download at breetanner.com. Secondly, for each actual sale of the book — which costs around $10 online — $1 will be donated to the American Red Cross. On her website, Meyer specifies that the donation will be designated to provide relief to victims of the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, and others in need. In addition to supplying emergency relief, one of the primary missions of the American Red Cross is "the collection, processing and distribution of lifesaving blood and blood products.

Posted: April 11th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne, George RR Martin, JRR Tolkien, Julia Donaldson, Stephenie Meyer

Stephen Slesinger sues Disney over Pooh royalties

Winnie-the-Pooh is at the centre of a legal storm over his adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood.

The firm founded by the man responsible for making the bear with very little brain big in the States is dragging Disney through the courts in a bid to get allegedly unpaid royalties.

Lawyers for Stephen Slesinger Inc filed papers at Los Angeles District Court last week calling for redress, claiming "past improper business practices" on behalf of the Mickey Mouse company.

Disney has denied the claims, with a spokeswoman adding that the issue had already been dealt with in past court judgments.

Slesinger purchased the US and Canadian distribution rights for Pooh from AA Milne in 1931.

After a makeover which included the addition of a red shirt, the bear became a global phenomenon.

In 1961, some eight years after Slesinger’s death, the rights were licensed to Disney, which proceeded to produce a series of successful films, TV shows and spin-off books and toys.

Eric George, lawyer for Slesinger, said the family are owed 1.5% to 2.5% in royalties.

A spokesman for the firm said Disney has been concealing the amount of money it has earned from Pooh mechanising.

Disney has retorted that the latest legal move is "baffling", citing a September 25 decision by Judge Florence-Marie Cooper that rejected the Slesinger company’s claims.

(Source: The Press Association)

A.A. Milne was born in London on the 18th of January 1882. It was in 1923 that Winnie-the-Pooh made his first appearance in the poem Teddy Bear. E.H. Shepard, born in 1879, became known as the ‘Man who drew Pooh’. Shepard’s illustrations of Winnie-the-Pooh and the friends of the Hundred Acre Wood have become classics in their own right and are recognised all over the world.

Posted: November 15th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne

Return to the Hundred Acre Wood review

A.A. Milne’s stories about Pooh and his forest friends have been loved by generations of children and their parents ever since the publication of Winnie-the-Pooh in 1926.

Now, eighty years on, David Benedictus takes up the pen where Milne left of. Return to the Hundred Acre Wood is the much-anticipated official sequel to Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner.

One Sunday morning I popped into Waterstone’s to pick up a gift card for my little sister’s birthday (I chose the one with The Gruffalo on in case you were wondering) and in the car on the way there I thought it would also be nice to pick up a new book to read to my three-year old daughter at bedtime. The several complementary reviews that I had already read on David Benedictus’s Winnie-the-Pooh sequel played a large part in me taking it down from a shelf as soon as I had walked through the door.

I must at this point say that my daughter loves Winnie-the-Pooh. Not the original creation of Milne and Shepard but Walt Disney’s affectionate, charming and respectful animation. I thought it would be interesting to see if she grew to love the books as much as the she already does the film.

We read a chapter each evening and, over the course of ten nights became completely immersed in the world of Christopher Robin, Pooh, Owl, Eeyore and, making her debut, Lottie the Otter (after I’d finished the last page I closed the book and asked Edie to name all the characters on the front and back cover. She got them all, even Lottie which I did not think she would).

David Benedictus had brought his own style to the sequel but has, like Disney, shown great respect to the legacy that Milne established. He has instilled an old-fashioned feel to Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, keeping the setting of England in the 1920’s and, after careful consideration I realised that there really was no other way that it could have been done – both the reader and the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood do not like change.

My favourite moment – although on this point I have to admit to more than a negligible amount of bias – is the game of cricket between the two-legs and the four-legs; it really is wonderful fun and it may not be too long before snout before wicket (Pooh), arguing with umpire (Kanga) and feet of the ground (Roo) become lawful dismissals in the beautiful game.

I think that David Benedictus has done a sterling job in taking on such a difficult task and has created a book that will be as much a companion of today’s generation as its predecessor was for those who are now parents and grandparents. Mark Burgess’s decorations, in the style of E.H. Shepard, are the ideal accompaniment to this charming and delightfully entertaining book. Highly recommended.

David Benedictus brought Winnie-the-Pooh to life in his dramatisations starring Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Fry and Jane Horrocks. He published his first novel at 22, and saw his second adapted for film by Francis Ford Coppola.

David assisted Sir Trevor Nunn at the RSC, was Antiques Correspondent for the Evening Standard, a commissioning editor for Channel 4 and produced a A Book at Bedtime for BBC Radio 4.

Mark Burgess has been an illustrator of children’s books for over twenty years. Mark studied Fine Art at the Slade School in London. He then worked for a short time at London Zoo and in a library in Cambridge before becoming a full-time artist and writer. Mark was also the colourist for E.H. Shepard’s drawings in When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six.

When Mark’s not working he loves reading, gardening, walking in the woods near his house, and finding special warm places for his cat to sleep.

“He’ll get it wrong,”says Eeyore, “ see if he doesn’t. What does he know about donkeys?”
Of course Eeyore is right, because I don’t know; I can only guess. But guessing can be fun too. And if occasionally I think I have guessed right, I shall reward myself with a chocolate biscuit, one of those with chocolate on one side only so you don’t get sticky fingers and leave marks on the paper, and if sometimes I am afraid that I have guessed wrong, I shall have to go without.”
David Benedictus: Exposition

Posted: November 10th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne, Fantasy Book Review

First chapter and cover of Return to the Hundred Acre Wood revealed

Dutton Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, today revealed the much-anticipated cover and first chapter including art of Return to the Hundred Acre Wood, the first authorized sequel to A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh and The House At Pooh Corner in more than 80 years. This is the first glimpse readers will have of the new book, which was announced in January 2009. No review copies have been released, and the manuscript has been under lock and key at Penguin since it was delivered earlier this year. The remainder of the book is embargoed until October 5th when it lands in stores nationwide.

Written by David Benedictus and illustrated by Mark Burgess, Return to the Hundred Acre Wood continues the adventures of Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore and friends. Egmont Publishing will publish the book simultaneously in the UK. Penguin Audio will publish an audio version of the book read by Grammy Award-winner Jim Dale. The book has an announced first printing of 300,000.

Across the country, fans young and old are rediscovering the charm of Winnie-the-Pooh. Bookstores nationwide have created "Pooh-tiques", dedicated spaces for Winnie-the-Pooh and friends. Many of these stores are hosting Pooh tea parties leading up to October 5. Tea parties include honey flavoured food, count-the-honey-candies-in-the-jar contests, story times with favourite Pooh books, bring-your-favourite-bear-from-home story times, and activities such as "pin the tale on Eeyore."

Dutton’s Publishing History With Winnie-the-Pooh Dutton officially introduced Christopher Robin and his "silly old bear" to the US in 1926 with the publication of Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne and illustrated by E.H. Shepard. However Pooh had a significant walk-on role in 1924 with the publication of When We Were Very Young by A.A Milne with illustrations by E.H. Shepard. Milne and Shepard went on to collaborate on two more titles: Now We Are Six in 1927 and The House At Pooh Corner, which introduced Tigger, in 1928. Together, these four books form the basis of the original Pooh books. Newly-designed editions of all four books were published September 3rd.

Author David Benedictus’ manuscript was inspired by his familiarity with Winnie-the-Pooh’s adventures after having worked on Audio CD adaptations of previous Winnie-the-Pooh stories. David has collaborated with illustrator Mark Burgess to create what is sure to become another treasured Winnie-the-Pooh book. Grammy Award winner Jim Dale will read the audio version of the book, which will be released simultaneously by Penguin Audio.

Posted: October 4th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne

Winnie-the-Pooh floats back on screens in 2011

Winnie-the-Pooh, the honey-loving, cuddly bear beloved by generations of children, is to hit the big screen again in 2011 with another animated version of his adventures, US media said Tuesday.

Disney is hoping the new film chronicling the tales of Pooh and his friends, Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger and Owl will prove as big a hit as the last screen animation in 2005, The Hollywood Reporter said.

British author A. A. Milne’s much-cherished fictional bear has enchanted children since his original books “Winnie-the-Pooh” (1926) and “The House at Pooh Corner” (1928) were first published.

Milne named Winnie-the-Pooh after a teddy bear owned by his son — Christopher Robin Milne.

Posted: June 4th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: AA Milne

Winnie-the-Pooh to hit the main stage theatre

Main Stage Theatre Set To Present WINNIE-THE-POOH 6/6, 6/13, 6/20, 7/11, 7/13-16, And 7/19

From the stories of AA Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh comes this sweet musical touring production of Winnie-the-Pooh.  Pooh, The Bear of Very Little Brain, and all his friends – Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore, Owl, Kanga, Roo and Christopher Robin are all on hand for grand adventures.  From the arrival of Roo and Kanga’s bathtub, to the search for Eeyore’s missing tail, the Heffalump hunt, and especially Eeyore’s birthday these friends see each other through thick and thin!

This adaptation has been dramatized by le Clanché du Rand, with music by Allan J. Friedman

Winnie-the-Pooh will be performed Saturdays, June 6, 13 & 20 and July 11 & 18 at 1:00pm and 4:00pm, and Monday – Thursday, July 13 – 16 at 9:45am and 11:30am.

School groups should call 713-524-9196 ext 101 for available field trip times for July 13 – 16. The show is directed by Daria James and will be performed at Main Street Theatre (Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX  77006).

The show is recommended for pre-Kindergarten and up.All tickets cost $8.  Group discounts available.  No children under 3 allowed in the theatre (including sleeping babies). Special Discounts for School Groups, Day Cares and Camps: Call 713-524-9196 x101 for more information.

For more information, visit www.mainstreettheater.com.

AA Milne was born in London on the 18th of January 1882. He began his writing career with humorous pieces for Punch magazine. It was in this publication, in 1923, that Winnie-the-Pooh made his first appearance in the poem Teddy Bear. Milne also wrote plays and by the time When We Were Very Young, his first book of poems for children, was published in 1924; he had already made his name as a dramatist and novelist.

Posted: May 10th, 2009
Author: Floresiensis
Categories: AA Milne