Showing posts with label Book News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book News. Show all posts

January 17, 2012

Hunger Games Movie Update

I have had a lot of Hunger Games fans out there asking me for information on the upcoming movie (which I am EXTREMELY excited about!).

Release date: March 23.

Trailers:

You can find tons of information, videos, and pictures about the movie on the IMDb website.

I will definitely be going to the midnight showing!  Book Club is talking about making t-shirts (each with a different tribute) and going together (Totally stole the idea from my mom's book club!).  


December 15, 2011

MASL Announces the 2012-2013 Gateway Nominees!

Yesterday, MASL (Missouri Association of School Librarians) announced next year's Gateway nominees! This is a big deal in school-library land. It's also kind of a big deal for me, since I got to help by being a reader selector this year. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to finish all 26 of the potential nominees, and definitely wasn't able to blog about all of the books I did read. I need to play catch up on my book blogging!

Anyways, here are the 15 Gateway award nominees for the 2012-2013 school year! (Copy/pasted from MASL's website)


Author
Title
Publisher
Cameron, W. Bruce
A Dog's Purpose
Forge Books
Matson, MorganAmy & Roger's Epic DetourSimon & Schuster
Oliver, Lauren
Before I Fall
HarperTeen
Hautman, Pete
Blank Confession
Simon & Schuster
Schroeder, Lisa
Chasing Brooklyn
Simon & Schuster
John, Antony
Five Flavors of Dumb
Dial Books
Condie, Ally
Matched
Dutton Juvenile
Donnelly, Jennifer
Revolution
Delacorte Press
Maberry, Jonathan
Rot and Ruin
Simon & Schuster
Elkeles, Simone
Rules of Attraction
Walker & Co.
Kling, Heidi
Sea
Putnam Juvenile
Bacigalupi, Paolo
Ship Breaker
Little Brown and Company
Quick, Matthew
Sorta Like a Rock Star
Little Brown and Company
Avasthi, Swati
Split
Knopf
Nelson, Jandy
The Sky is Everywhere
Dial Books

July 26, 2011

Harry Potter 7 Part 2 Review and Pictures!

Better late than never!  I have been meaning to post this for quite awhile, but am only now getting caught up on my book blog!  I have been very busy this summer with classes for my master's degree, and with enjoying my summer doing fun things like kayaking, going to and giving storytimes, and reading!

I have only seen Harry Potter 7 Part 2 twice so far, but plan to see it many more times while it is still in theaters.  I have to say that it was my favorite movie yet, with Part 1 being a close second, followed by the Order of the Phoenix.  And while I was initially skeptical of the film-maker's decision to make the seventh book into two movies, I am now very much relieved that they decided to give fans a more complete story.  Shoving it all into one movie would have forced them to make so many cuts that fans (including myself) would have been outraged and disappointed.

As in Part 1, the film makers did a great job of following closely to the book, only making minor changes throughout most of the movie that didn't really affect the storyline.  My one problem with the film was that they changed a little too much at the end.  I suppose it could have been much worse -  they really could have changed much more, and really screwed things up.  However, without giving too much away to those who have not yet seen the film, I will say that I was still disappointed in the way they portrayed the final battle between Harry and Voldemort, and with the aftermath of that final battle.

We saw the movie in both 3D and 2D, and while I didn't mind the 3D version, I think I preferred the 2D version.  They really didn't do much with the 3D aspect of the film - it seemed like almost an afterthought compared to other 3D films.

Needless to say, we had a great time going to the midnight showing at Hollywood Theaters here in Springfield, MO.  Of course, we went in costume!  I was (as my "nametag" depitcs) Hermoine-after-she-takes-polyjuice-potion-and-looks-like-Bellatrix.  My husband, who looks like Harry Potter in real life, was Harry-as-Hargrid.  My oldest brother was Tom Riddle, and my sister-in-law was a fabulous Luna Lovegood you can't see her awesome tights, crazy socks, and pink sketchers in this picture, but they are there!).  While waiting in line, we had out pictures taken several times and ended up on the news!  We spent our time in line drinking butterbeer (delicious!) and doing Harry Potter trivia on my brothers iPad.  Oh, and being admired of course ( :

June 18, 2011

POTTERMORE + New HP Trailer!

Since my last posting, a new trailer has been released for the upcoming Harry Potter movie! AMAZING!  I can't stop watching it.  Can't wait for it to come out!  July 15, I await thee!



Apparently I have been kayaking too much this week (being off in the middle of nowhere means that I cannot learn about Potter news), because I learned about Pottermore from my brother this evening at dinner.  Apparently, on July 15 J.K. Rowling published a website (see full story here) which has a picture of two owls, the words, "Pottermore," a link with a countdown until J.K. Rowling makes an
announcement" (currently we are 4 days, 7 hours, 33 minutes, and 12 seconds away) and J.K. Rowling's signature.  There is a lot of speculation (just google "Pottermore") as to what it could mean, but Rowling's publisher has made clear that it is not a new book.  Oh my geek, I am so curious!  What could it be?

May 4, 2011

Children's Choice Award Books Announced!

Congratulations to the following winners of the 2011 Children's Choice Awards!  The awards were announced yesterday by the Children's Book Council (CBC) as a part of Children's Book Week (May 2-8, 2011).

And the awards go to...(drumroll)...

Author of the Year:

Rick Riordan for The Lost Hero (The Heros of the Olympus, Book 1)
Illustrator of the Year:

David Weisner for Art and Max
Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year


Little Pink Pup by Joanna Kerby
Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year


Lunch Lady and the Summer Camp Shakedown by Jarrett Krosoczko


Fifth to Sixth Grade Book of the Year


The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles Book 1) by Rick Riordan


Teen Choice Book of the Year


Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

April 30, 2011

MASL Announces 2010-2011 Award Winners

Congratulations to the 2010-2011 Gateway, Truman, Mark Twain Award, and Show Me Award Winners! Personally, I am thrilled to see that Hunger Games won first place in both the Gateway and the Truman Awards!  It is truly a fantastic book!


Gateway Award Winners: (Grades 9-12)
1st Place: Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
2nd Place: Graceling, by Kristin Cashore
3rd Place: Wake, by Lisa McMann





Truman Award Winners: (Grades 6-8)
1st Place: Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
2nd Place: Gone, by Michael Grant
3rd Place: Jump in the Cracks, by Stacy DeKeyser

Mark Twain Award Winners: (Grades 4-6)

1st Place: Stolen Children, by Peg Kehret
2nd Place: Found, by Margaret Peterson Haddix
3rd Place: Go Big or Go Home, by Will Hobbs







Show Me Award Winners: (Grades 1-3)
1st Place: Two Bobbies, A True Story, by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery
2nd Place: For the Love of Autumn, by Patricia Polacco
3rd Place: Titanicat, by Marty Crisp



April 28, 2011

New Harry Potter Trailer!

I am thrilled to post that a new trailer has been released for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2!



Thus far, this is my favorite trailer for this movie. I do think that they revealed a little too much (although the Potter fan inside me was positively THRILLED!). It pains me to say that it already looks like they might have messed up the ending. The scene that most concerns me is the one in which Harry tells Voldemort, "Come on Tom. Let's finish this the way we started it - Together!" They definitely did not jump off a cliff in the book! If they mess with the ending of this book, I may have to send a howler to the producer! The rest of the trailer looks amazing though. I can't wait to see what they do with the scene in Gringotts! Next on my agenda: Plan what costume to wear to the midnight showing. In the past, I've dressed up as Ginny (horrible red wig), Harry, Madam Pince, Tonks, and Lily. Who shall I dress up as this time?