Searching for novels to use for a similar-stories unit in class? Want to stick to a certain theme and/or get multiple books for kids of various ages in the same household to share? Make your own boxed sets! Here are some ideas, mostly for readers aged 7 through 14.

Classic Staples
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll
Call of the Wild by Jack London
White Fang by Jack London

Collected and Myth Taken
Stock up on mythology, legends, fairy tales and plays!
A book of Greek myths
A book of Egyptian myths
A collection of myths from around the world
A collection of Irish fairy tales
Andrew Lang's Fairy Books
Tales of Mother Goose
Grimm's Fairy Tales
Charles Perrault's fairy tales
Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Thomas Malory or William Caxton (also suitable: the version by Roger Lancelyn Green, who has additional books of myths and legends)

Fairy Nice
The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
In the Realm of the Never Fairies: The Secret World of Pixie Hollow with text by Monique Peterson and illustrations by The Disney Storybook Artists, designed by Elizabeth Ryazantseva and Megan Krempels
The Trouble with Tink by Kiki Thorpe and Judith H. Clarke
The Complete Book of the Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker
The Fairy Realm series by Emily Rodda
For additional titles, consult my Fairy Nice booklist.

Fantastic Adventures
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll
The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende
OutCast quartet by Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski
The Owlboy series by Thomas E. Sniegoski
The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DeTerlizzi
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs
The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring by John Bellairs
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
So You Want to be a Wizard by Diane Duane
His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
I included many of these books (with reviews!) on my Fantasy Novels for Kids and Teens booklist.

Turn of the Century: The Pride of the Pioneers
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
All-of-a-Kind Family by Sidney Taylor
Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly

Grand Jetes: For Young Dancers
The Nutcracker and Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman
Noelle of the Nutcracker by Pamela Jean, illustrated by Jan Brett
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
Dancing Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
The Sisters Impossible by J.D. Landis
Susie and the Ballet Family by Lee Wyndham
Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You by Dorian Cirrone
Grab more titles for dancers from the I am a Dancer booklist.

Future Stars: For Aspiring Actors
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen by Dyan Sheldon
In the Cards: Fame by Mariah Fredericks (second in a trilogy)
Dramarama by E. Lockhart
Snag additional books from the But I DO Want to Be Famous! booklist.

Fun Times: Cute Comedies
Each of these titles, except for Sixth Grade Secrets, is the start of a series!
Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary
Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Everyone Else's Parents Said Yes by Paula Danziger
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Sixth Grade Secrets by Louis Sachar

Happy Hauntings: Ghostly Friends
A Doll in the Garden by Mary Downing Hahn
The Ghost in the Third Row by Bruce Coville (first in a trilogy)
The Ghost Wore Gray by Bruce Coville (second in a trilogy)
May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson (first in a trilogy)

Mysteries, Murder, and Mischief
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
The Body of Evidence series by Christopher Golden
(There are ten books in the Body of Evidence series. Start with: Body Bags)
Nancy Drew #1: The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
The Hardy Boys #1: The Tower Treasure by Franklin W Dixon

Comic Relief and True Belief
Confessions of a Closet Catholic by Sarah Darer Littman
A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life by Dana Reinhardt
Goy Crazy by Melissa Schorr
Never Mind the Goldbergs by Matthue Roth

Secrets on the Homefront: World War II
The Diary of Anne Frank
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Classic Inspiration: Love, Loss, and Jane Austen
Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
The Dashwood Sisters' Secrets of Love by Rosie Rushton
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Austenland by Shannon Hale (for adults)

Communication is Key: The Lives of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller
The Miracle Worker by William Gibson
Miss Spitfire by Sarah Miller
Helen Keller by Margaret Davidson, illustrated by Wendy Watson

Newfound Strength
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Reaching for Sun by Tracie Vaughn Zimmer
Hugging the Rock by Susan Taylor Brown
So B. It by Sarah Weeks

Don't Believe the Bullies
The Misfits by James Howe
Freak by Marcella Pixley
Leap of Faith by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

First Crushes
Shug by Jenny Han
Perfect Girl by Mary Hogan
If This is Love, I'll Take Spaghetti by Ellen Conford

Good Grief: Losing a Loved One
The Key to the Golden Firebird by Maureen Johnson
The Alison Rules by Catherine Clark
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
The Pursuit of Happiness by Tara Altebrando
Say Goodnight, Gracie by Julie Reece Deaver
For more on this and related topics, check out my Tough Issues for Teens booklist.

Art for the Heart (Especially for Teen Girls)
Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian
A Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell
North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley
For additional novels with artistic protagonists, view my Portrait of the Artist as a Young Person booklist.

Comedy and Artistry (Comedic illustrated novels)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney - elementary school readers
Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell - middle school
Pair it with Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf by Jennifer L. Holm and Elicia Castaldi, with additional art by Matthew Holm - middle school
So Punk Rock (and Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother) by Micol Ostow, with art by David Ostow - teens

Want more ideas? Need additional suggestions? Feel free to ask!

In honor of the second national Poem In Your Pocket Day (which is technically tomorrow, Thursday, April 30th, 2009) and in time for my monthly post at GuysLitWire, I wanted to share some of my favorite poetry written by guys.

The Mouse's Tale as published in the classic story Alice's Adventures of Wonderland by Lewis Carroll is a wonderful example of emblematic verse. You have to see it to believe it. No, really. See? It's structured to look like a mouse's tail!

The poem in Carroll's original manuscript, Alice's Adventures Under Ground, was completely different, but it too was emblematic. Click here to check it out.

I've posted about The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald at both Bildungsroman and GuysLitWire. But Fitzgerald didn't only write novels and short stories; he also wrote poems. My favorites include On a Play Twice Seen, in which an audience member connects scenes to memories, and the beautifully haunting We Leave To-night, which was printed in This Side of Paradise.

I could easily ramble on here for days and share quotes from my favorite poems, plays, and songs. I want to make sure you read Fog by Carl Sandburg, which makes me think of cats and San Francisco. I'd like you to visit Robert Frost and let him introduce you to My November Guest and Fireflies in the Garden. I want you to discover what Hamlet wrote to Ophelia and run with the fairies over hill, over dale, as described by William Shakespeare. I urge you to consider the poetry of music and lyrics, such as those by Duncan Sheik.

Most of all, I hope that you hear and see the poetry in your daily life. In the words you speak. In the words that you hear. In the rhythm of your steps (to the beat of your heart).

In the rush, and the wind, and the silence, may the poetry always be there.

Who are your favorite male poets?

S'Wonderland

When Alice follows a white rabbit down a rabbit hole, little did she know she was in store for growing and shrinking, talking animals, a mad tea party, and a trial.

I love Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll for many reasons: the imaginative and lyrical writing, the delightful dialogue, the fantastic fantasy world, the colorful characters, the detailed illustrations by John Tenniel, and, most of all, the independent and thoughtful protagonist. I think the character of Alice is truly great. She's resourceful and spunky. The only big thing upon which Alice and I disagree: she, at the start, thinks books without pictures or conversations are useless. Nonsense, dear child!

A Booklist is Born

Thank you to Rebecca for prompting this booklist! May your class put it to good use.

Recommended Reading: Written by Charles Dodgson Himself
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll
The Complete Works of Lewis Carroll
The Selected Letters of Lewis Carroll
The Annotated Alice - the original text by Lewis Carroll and illustrations by John Tenniel with notes by Martin Gardner

If you have yet to read the original version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, please do. Project Gutenberg has posted the full text and illustrations online. You can visit Google Books.

Recommended Reading: Non-Fiction
Alice's Adventures: Lewis Carroll in Popular Culture by Will Brooker
The Other Alice by Christina Björk - This juvenile biography about Alice Liddell and Charles Dodgson offers humorous anecdotes (42!) and gorgeous illustrations. Sadly, I think it is out of print. Happily, I own a copy. Thank you, used bookstore! Highly recommended.

Recommended Reading: Fiction
Still She Haunts Me by Katie Roiphe - The story of an unlikely friendship between an intelligent man who fit nowhere and the spunky girl who inspired his best-known work. This is a fictional take on the friendship of Alice Liddell and Charles Dodgson, with Charles' real letters woven in throughout the book. Shelved in adult fiction/literature. Highly recommended.

Related Works of Fiction
The Problem of the Missing Miss by Roberta Rogow - Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dodgson team up to find a little girl who has been abducted. A fun, fast-moving historical mystery, shelved in adult fiction or mystery. No fantasy elements are involved. There are just enough references to each author's works to be cute, rather than overdone. To the best of my knowledge, the two men never met in real life. I liked how they worked together in this book. Thanks to Sarah for the recommendation.

Art and Gift Books
All Things Alice: The Wit, Wisdom, and Wonderland of Lewis Carroll compiled by Linda Sunshine
Dreaming in Pictures: The Photography of Lewis Carroll by Douglas R. Nickel
The Art of Alice in Wonderland by Stephanie Lovett Stoffel

Wasted Opportunity
The Baby-Sitters Club #121: Abby in Wonderland by Ann M. Martin - I love the BSC series and I love Alice in Wonderland, so I was plenty excited for this book. Sadly, it let me down. Abby attends an Alice-themed party thrown by her grandparents. The costumes*, the food, and the decorations were all appropriate for the theme, but Wonderland itself did not matter to the story. It could have just as easily have been a fifties-themed party or a Narnia-themed party. The plot of the book did not have any ties to nor parallels with Wonderland. I wasn't expecting it to become a fantasy, of course - BSC stories are dramatic and comedic, but firmly realistic - but I wanted Wonderland to matter, to have been chosen for a reason. In fact, the plot itself was not fully realized. When I read the final page, I felt as if the story was only half-over.
*The grandmother dressed like the White Queen, who is actually from Through the Looking-Glass. The illustrations on the cover did not quite match the descriptions in the book. But I digress.

Attempted Sequels - Related titles that left me lukewarm
Automated Alice by Jeff Noon
Alice Through the Needle's Eye by Gilbert Adair
The Roundhill by Dick King-Smith
Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams

. . . and those I have yet to read:
The Looking-Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
A New Alice in the Old Wonderland by Anna M. Richards
Fantastic Alice edited by Margaret Weiss

Musicalice

My favorite film version of this imaginative tale was made in 1972. As I mentioned in a much earlier post, I first saw this movie as a child and was absolutely delighted to see a brunette Alice (portrayed by Fiona Fullerton) rather than a blond girl.

I refer to this film as "the 1972 British live-action musical Alice's Adventures in Wonderland starring Fiona Fullerton as Alice, adapted and directed by William Sterling, with music by John Barry and lyrics by Don Black based on those by Lewis Carroll."

...and yes, I say all of that in one breath.

I think Charles Dodgson would like this adaptation of his most famous story. It offers a beautiful score by John Barry (Somewhere in Time), and the lyrics by Don Black are nearly lifted directly from the page.

I found many scenes and musical numbers on YouTube, so I compiled a playlist. Then someone uploaded the film in seventeen parts on YouTube. THANK YOU! I have arranged those seventeen parts in order (plus some other Alice-related videos) so you may now watch the movie simply by clicking below:



The movie is available on DVD. The DVD is, of course, better quality than YouTube. Get it. Watch it.

I myself own two copies of the DVD. The soundtrack is available on CD, yet I do not own it because it is packaged with the soundtrack for Petulia, also scored by John Barry, and I just want the Alice soundtrack.

The icon I used for this post captures one of my favorite shots from the film. Look how well it matches Tenniel's illustration.

See all of the icons I made from the film. Thanks for the screenshots, Emily!

Additional Film and Television Adaptations of Alice

(If it's bold, I've seen it from start to finish. If it's italicized, I've only seen a few scenes.)

Film and television adaptations of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland include:

Alice in Wonderland (live-action film, 1903)
Alice in Wonderland (live-action film, 1933)
Alice in Wonderland (live-action made-for-TV movie, BBC, 1946)
Alice in Wonderland (stop-motion film, 1951)
Alice in Wonderland (animated film, Disney, 1951)
The Adventures of Alice (live-action made-for-TV movie, BBC, 1960)
Alice in Wonderland (live-action made-for-TV movie, BBC, 1966)
Alice of Wonderland in Paris (animated film, 1966)
Alice in Wonderland, or, What's a Nice Kid Like You Doing in a Place Like This? (animated made-for-TV movie, Hanna-Barbera, 1966)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (live-action musical film, 1972 - see above for reasons why it's my favorite adaptation)
Алиса в Стране Чудес (animated film, Russian, 1981)
Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland (filmed stage play, 1982)
Fushigi no Kuni no Alice (animated film, Japanese, 1983)
Alice in Wonderland (made-for-TV two-part movie, CBS, 1985)
Alice in Wonderland (live-action + puppetry five-episode TV series, 1985)
Alice in Wonderland (live-action four-episode TV series, BBC, 1986)
The Care Bears Adventure in Wonderland (1987)
Alice in Wonderland (animated film, Australian, 1988)
Alice (live-action + stop-motion film, 1988)
Alice in Wonderland (live-action made-for-TV movie, NBC, 1999)
Alice's Misadventures in Wonderland (live-action film, 2004)

Related Films

I heard about Phoebe in Wonderland in August 2008 and was immediately interested. I watched the trailer online and want to see the film in full.

Alice, Meet Johnny Smith

The Dead Zone was a thought-provoking, creative television series. It brought Alice up more than once.

In Season 1, they closed an episode with a character reading aloud to Johnny from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, after having referenced the story a few times throughout the previous scenes.

Later, for an unrelated episode, they released a still image of Sarah and J.J. reading the book. (I made that picture into an icon.)

In Season 6, the episode Big Top revolved around an Alice in Wonderland-themed fair. The circus performers who were dressed as characters from the book had gorgeous costumes and props. Though I wouldn't wear them together, I seriously want Alice's dress and knee-highs. The episode also made multiple, important references to the show's pilot episode, which made me extremely happy.

Disney's Wonderland

I'd much rather read the original book or watch the aforementioned musical than watch the Disney film. The inaccurate parts of Disney's adaptation annoy me too much. They changed things from the book, then brought in elements from Through the Looking Glass only to change those too. I didn't care for their depiction of Alice as I felt she was not as strong nor as intelligent as she was in the book.

(As a side note, my favorite Disney film is The Little Mermaid. I prefer that film to the original story, largely due to the story's tragic and religious ending.)

Charles in Charge

All of the research I've done about Charles Dodgson makes me feel as though he was an intelligent man who loved math, photography, and storytelling, but he didn't quite fit in society. I do not think he was the creepy guy that some assumptive persons would lead you to believe. I think Charles Lutwidge Dodgson was a smart, creative man who didn't fit into society or at least didn't have equal peers, and I think Alice Liddell was honored by the story she inspired.

Oh, if I could only have a little piece of each: I would love to inspire someone's story, and to share my own stories with the world. I am, at times, the White Rabbit for others, but then the results are for others, and I am peripheral yet again.

I am known to explain the difference between Dodgson and Lewis Carroll any time the opportunity presents itself. (Real name versus pen name. Real person, a really shy person, versus a famous name, a known author.)

How It Started

Have you seen the original manuscript for the first version of the story? Written in Dodgson's own hand, with his own sketches, the story was original called Alice's Adventures Under Ground. It's now available in many different collections and volumes of his work.

Here's one spot where you can read it online.

The Book's Conclusion

I readily admit that I've never cared for the way the book ends. I have two main reasons for this: I felt as though her adventures hadn't quite reached a close, even with the trial and such. She makes a bold declaration, yes, but she was already bold and acted as such throughout the story. Then, when she wakes up, she has lovely thoughts and remarks, yet her sister's thoughts close the tale.

My Personal Conclusion

I love Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Holly Cupala tagged me for this bookish meme.

Tell me about the book that has been on your shelf the longest.

All of my childhood books and some of my all-time favorite books, including The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende, are in storage, sadly. Those would be the longest-running (er, standing?) titles were they truly here in my current abode.

Then there are the oldest books, those published decades ago and passed through many hands before I acquired them, such as some of the well-read books related to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Tell me about a book that reminds you of something specific in your life (i.e. a person, a place, a time, etc.)

Every time I read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I hear Nick's voice (as opposed to my own) so clearly in my head, it's as if he's speaking over my shoulder.

Tell me about a book you acquired in some interesting way (gift, serendipity in a used bookstore, prize, etc.)

I collect (among other things) different editions of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll. It's not a huge collection; I have less than twenty volumes written by Carroll or related to Alice. However, I have a separate bookshelf just for these books and other items from Wonderland, like the DVD of my favorite film version of the story*, some mugs, and a couple of journals, one of which was given to me by someone who might be reading this post! Some of the books were given to me too, such as Adventures from the Original Alice in Wonderland published by Wonder Books in 1951 and a collection of selected songs from the 1985 version of Alice in Wonderland. A few years ago, while wandering through a used bookstore, I was extremely happy to find a copy of The Other Alice: The Story of Alice Liddell and Alice in Wonderland by Christina Bjork, illustrated by Inga-Karin Eriksson and translated by Joan Sandin, a biography I love which had gone out-of-print.

* Go to my big ol' post about Alice and scroll down to the section entitled Musicalice. I still need to buy the soundtrack, which was released by Screen Archives Entertainment a few years ago.

... and I should admit to owning two copies of the DVD. One was a gift. The other I found at a used music and movie shop a year later and, since it cost only five dollars and had a different cover, I bought it in hopes that it was better quality than the first version and/or had other features. It isn't and it doesn't, but that's okay!

Back to the bookshelves: I really prize my Golden books. Not Golden Books - though those are wonderful as well - but books written by Christopher Golden. I have some very special editions. See the last question and answer on this meme for more about that collection.

Tell me about the most recent addition to your shelves.

If you count my library shelves, then my most recent additions would be the ten books I checked out today, which include Kenny and the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi, a volume of sheet music (I'm making copies tomorrow), and three graphic novels published by Minx (which I still can't believe they cancelled less than a year and a half after the imprint was launched!)

Tell me about a book that has been with you to the most places.

Most books just go from the store to my home, unless they've traveled with me on a plane, like I'd Tell You I'd Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter. Though I don't travel often, every time I do, I bring so many books with me that they outweight the clothes I've packed. I'm serious. I pack really lightly, clothes- and stuff-wise, but since I read so quickly, I have to pack at least one book per day I'm going to be gone or I go nuts.

Tell me about a bonus book that doesn't fit any of the above questions.

I have a separate bookshelf just for books by Christopher Golden. Thomas Sniegoski is there, too, actually, as I segue on the top shelf from his solo works to those co-written with Golden, then the rest is silence the remaining shelves are filled with Golden's other works. Look up 'prolific' in the dictionary and you'll see his picture. He's written over 100 solo works, not to mention all of his collaborative projects. I aspire to his productivity and publishing history! Find out where to start: Reading Christopher Golden.

I love cats. Here are some fantastic cat-centric tails tales for kids.

Picture Books

( Read more... )

Beginning Readers

( Read more... )

Early Chapter Books

( Read more... )

Elementary School Fiction

( Read more... )

Middle School Fiction

( Read more... )

Classics

( Read more... )

Poetry

( Read more... )

Special Stories

( Read more... )

Well-Written Stories with Unhappy Endings

These books might make you cry. You have been warned. Read them at your own risk.

( Read more... )

Related Posts

I wrote a piece entitled Favorite Fictional Felines for the August 2006 edition of The Edge of the Forest.

I also prepared a booklist for Be Kind to Animals Week.

Purrsonal Notes

My children have four legs and a tail. They meow, they dance with me, they sit on my books, and they nap far more easily than I do. Twinkie, Hollywood, and Spooky are the only kids I'll ever have.

( Read more... )

Thanks, Addie, for prompting this list. Please hug your many adorable cats for me.

Get your flashlights ready, because this is a book to read late at night when huddled under the covers.

There once was a young girl named Coraline who moved into a new flat with her mother and father. The neighbors are friendly, if not a bit odd and a bit confused, repeatedly calling her "Caroline" by mistake. The little girl is a self-proclaimed explorer, taking walks around the neighborhood no matter what the weather. With both of her parents occupied by work, she counts the doors at home, and figures out how to open up a door which is supposed to open up to nowhere - more specifically, a brick wall...

Coraline's curious nature is akin to that of Alice (in Wonderland), Anne (of Green Gables), and other young heroines that are famous, fantastic, and fictional. Far from being a damsel in distress, Coraline is witty, intelligent and aware. Her 'White Rabbit' comes in the shape of a black cat who has no name; as he wryly explains to her, cats know who they are so they don't need names, unlike insecure human beings.

This intriguing and creepy story is just right for readers of all ages, especially fans of Lewis Carroll and John Bellairs. This book will certainly satisfy loyal followers of the author Neil Gaiman and the artist Dave McKean. I read Coraline immediately upon its release and continue to recommend it on a regular basis. If this book had been released when I was a child, I would have read it as often as I read The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.

Other Versions of Coraline

A graphic novel version of Coraline, adapted and illustrated by P. Craig Russell, is also available. Not only does Russell keep the story in tact, but he brings the characters to life with his beautiful illustrations. The graphic novel is certain to please those who loved the original book. It will also appeal to those who haven't read the book (yet!) and/or those who prefer comics and graphic novels to full-length novels.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love the cat in Coraline? He's one of my favorite fictional felines. Some of my favorite pictures in the graphic novel include him, naturally. I was also amused by the fact that Coraline (at the start of the graphic novel) and I were wearing almost the exact same outfit.

Coraline has also been made into a stop-motion 3-D feature film, which was in February 2009. While I enjoyed it, but I definitely preferred the book to the film. The film had a great many changes, such as making Coraline's family American and setting the story in the USA. I didn't see the need to do that. My favorite elements of the film were the music, the mouse circus, and the cat. There needed to be more of the cat. (You knew I was going to say that, didn't you?)

Key to My Heart

On the afternoon of December 27th, 2008, while waiting for the bus, I spotted a black key on the back of the bench. Clearly, silently, it was awaiting me. Oversized and looking to be made of plastic, it resembled something from a Fisher-Price toddler vehicle, and the rounded top looks like a button with four little holes. Thinking that I could string it onto a thin cord or chain (after washing it, of course) and make it a necklace, I picked up the key with my thick gray glove. I was surprised by its (slight) weight; it was made of metal. Then I saw the inscription on the key and nearly shrieked. Though I managed to contain myself so I wouldn't alarm passersby, I couldn't help grinning like the Cheshire cat. Written on the key was simply:

coraline.com

Yes, I have a key to Coraline's flat. How cool is that?

Otherwhere
Visit MouseCircus.com - Neil Gaiman's official website for young readers - as well as coraline.com

Recommended Reads
If you like Coraline, you'll also enjoy the following books!

For young readers - really, for all ages:
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll
The OutCast series, four books by Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Books by John Bellairs, including The Mummy, the Will, and the Crypt
Books by Mary Downing Hahn, including The Doll in the Garden
The May Bird trilogy by Jodi Lynn Anderson
Prince of Stories: The Many Worlds of Neil Gaiman by Hank Wagner, Christopher Golden, and Stephen R. Bisette (non-fiction)

Related Posts
SparkLife: Coraline
Cats Cats Cats
Favorite Fictional Felines
Sassy Sidekicks of Children's Literature
Prince of Stories: The Many Worlds of Neil Gaiman by Hank Wagner, Christopher Golden, and Stephen R. Bisette

A list of my favorite films, in order of release:

Bringing Up Baby (1938) - comedy
My Favorite Wife (1940) - comedy
Ball of Fire (1941) - comedy
Laura (1944) - film noir
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) - film noir
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948) - comedy
Singin' in the Rain (1952) - best musical movie ever
North by Northwest (1959) - suspense
Charade (1963) - suspense
The Trouble with Angels (1966) - comedy
The Odd Couple (1970) - comedy
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972) - fantasy, musical, NOT the Disney version
The NeverEnding Story (1984) - fantasy
Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer (1985) - fantasy, animated
Anne of Green Gables (1986) - drama
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) - comedy
The Little Mermaid (1989) - animated, musical
Stargate (1994) - fantasy, action/adventure
Anastasia (1997) - animated, musical

As you can tell, my heart belongs to classic films and musicals.

I am a musical theatre girl. I sing, dance, and act. I write songs, scripts, screenplays, and stories. I love directing and choreographing.

I favor intelligent, thoughtful, witty, and clean pictures.

I will watch anything featuring Cary Grant, Gene Kelly, or Barbara Stanwyck.

Gene Kelly was a dancer, an actor, a singer, a director, a choreographer, and a visionary. I want to follow in his footsteps. I would have loved to have worked with him. I've read that he was a taskmaster, but that would be just fine with me.

Cary Grant was talented and classy. (Please join The English Muffin-Lovers Society if you are a Cary Grant fan!) He was able to do comedy and drama equally well.

The same can be said for Barbara Stanwyck. Look at her in Ball of Fire, then Double Indemnity. She was dynamic. Such a commanding presence.

Almost all of my favorite performers, have passed away, including the three I just praised, plus Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, Donald O'Connor, Natalie Wood, June Allyson, and so many others. How I wish I could have worked with them. Oh, Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Wells, if only I could have taken your direction. Rod Sterling, I would have loved to have appeared on The Twilight Zone. The list goes on and on.

Many of my favorite films are based on books.

If there's a film based on a book, I like reading the original book prior to seeing the film, but in some cases, I saw the movie when I was little and had to track down the book years later.

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers is based on a story entitled Love Lies Bleeding by John Patrick using the pseudonym Jack Patrick. I cannot find this story anywhere. I can't find any evidence of it ever having been published. If any of you know where I can find it, please tell me.

( Read more... )

Related Posts: I ramble about films, prompted by tlace; I posted before about my favorite films; and I think highly of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

At Kiba's request, I created a booklist of my favorite dramatic fantasy novels for kids, teens, and families. I feel that many of these titles will appeal to a wide range of ages and inspire re-reads. I have listed ages simply as a general guide; advanced readers may tackle these books at a younger age. I certainly did!

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (for ages 8 and up; great for a read-aloud; beautifully illustrated)

Alice follows a white rabbit down a rabbit hole out of curiosity, and only grows more curious as she grows bigger, gets smaller, attends a mad tea party, talks to animals and flowers, and searches for a way home. This is one of my favorite books of all time. I have a lengthy post dedicated to this book in which I discuss the original book, its sequel (Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There), and the many films and other books it has inspired. I also have an Alice tag for related posts. Curiouser and curiouser.

The NeverEnding Story by Michael Ende (for ages 8 and up)

When a young boy named Bastian "borrows" a book from a shop, he has no idea that he is about to embark on a journey of his own. The book speaks of a place called Fantasia (or Fantastica, depending on the translation) that is built upon the dreams and fantasies of humans. Sadly, Fantasia is crumbling and its Childlike Empress is dying. Because people are not using their imaginations as much as they once were, everything is being overcome by The Nothing, a force which is sweeping the land at an alarming rate. The Nothing's evil henchman is a frightening wolf named Gmork. It is up to Atreyu, a warrior, to stop the spread of the Nothing.

There are no words to describe this story, and there are a million words to describe this story. There are a million stories in this book, and there is just one story. If you clapped for Tinker Bell in Peter Pan but you haven't read this book, you must read it now, because you know what it is to imagine and to believe.

The Fairy Rebel by Lynne Reid Banks (ages 8 and up)

A spunky, diminutive fairy named Tiki befriends a grown-up who wants more than anything to have a child. With her bright pink hair, furry purple wings, and stubborn streak, Tiki is a force to be reckoned with. Tiki decides she's going to help Jan, her human friend, no matter what it takes. She defies the cruel Fairy Queen, who takes action against the little fairy and her human friends.

I really love this book, and I highly recommend it. Read my full-length review of The Fairy Rebel.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (ages 8 and up)

What would it be like to never grow up, or to go on an adventure with someone who will always remain a child? The three Darling children travel with a magical boy named Peter Pan and his sassy pixie friend, Tinker Bell, to Never Never Land, where they encounter pirates, mermaids, and more.

I have a detailed post about this book, similar to that which I have for Alice. I also have a special tag for Tink!

OutCast by Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski (ages 8 and up)
- Book One: The Un-Magician
- Book Two: Dragon Secrets
- Book Three: Ghostfire
- Book Four: Wurm War

In the world of OutCast, everyone and everything is magic. Everyone, that is, except for Timothy. For his own safety, his kind father kept him hidden away for years, providing him with a safe haven and a chance at a decent - albeit magic-free - childhood. When his father passes away, Timothy is flung back into the world. Now everyone knows he exists. Who can he trust? Where can he go? He must decide who his allies are - and quickly, because assassins are coming for him.

OutCast is phenomonal. I devoured each book as it was released. I love the characters, I love the tension, I love the action. Christopher Golden and Thomas E. Sniegoski have created such a fascinating world. They performed a great twist on the typical magical tale (in which the main character is the most powerful and talented magicwielder ever) by making Timothy the powerless one. I hand-sell this series to old and young alike.

I dedicated an entire post to this series.

The Doll in the Garden by Mary Downing Hahn (ages 8 and up)

When a little girl follows a white cat through a hedge, she travels back in time and befriends another girl about her age. With those elements - don't they make you think of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and The Secret Garden a little bit? - and the fantastic writing of Hahn, it's no wonder that I read this book time and time again as a kid and continue to recommend it to this day.

The Brimstone Network by Tom Sniegoski (ages 10 and up)
- Book One: The Brimstone Network
- Book Two: The Shroud of A'ranka
- Book Three: Specter Rising

Anyone who loves action/fantasy stories with good guys, bad guys, cool powers, and kid-heroes will dig Brimstone. In the fight against evil, Elijah Stone was a force of good. He bravely led a group of sorcerers and warriors called The Brimstone Network. After an unexpected attack, the Network is almost all wiped out, and Elijah is among those who have fallen. His son, Bram, inherits the responsibility of leading the Network. Only thirteen years old, this young sorcerer has to quickly learn who to trust and how to channel his true nature as he assembles a new Network and gathers potential members - some of which are just as young and inexperienced as he, but each of which has a special supernatural ability.

Keep reading my review of The Brimstone Network.

Visit The Brimstone Network website.

Young Wizards by Diane Duane (ages 10 and up)
- So You Want to Be a Wizard
- Deep Wizardry
- High Wizardry
- A Wizard Abroad
- The Wizard's Dilemma (my favorite in the series)
- A Wizard Alone
- Wizards' Holiday
- Wizards at War
- A Wizard on Mars (not yet released)

Nita and Kit, two thirteen year olds in Manhattan, discover that magic is real and taking place every day, in every corner of the world. This is set in our world; however adept they become, the teens still have to go to school, do their homework, and clean their rooms. They take the Wizard's Oath and become dedicated to their studies and their work, under the tutelage of adult wizards Tom and Carl. They learn the Speech, which enables them to communicate with other sentient beings - so Kit can then communicate with his adorable dog, Ponch.

This series is packed with magic and action. (Perhaps I should start saying MAGCTION! for series such as this and OutCast and see if it catches on.) Amazing, descriptive, innovative, touching, and very, very shiny.

The beginning of the first book, So You Want to Be a Wizard, got my attention right away because it reminded me of the opening sequence of The NeverEnding Story. In So . . . , Nita runs into the library to hide from bullies; in TNES, Bastian runs into the bookstore to hide from bullies. I read TNES when I was very, very young - if I tell you how old I was, I'd scare you - and I love the book and the first film. Years later, I read the first few Young Wizards books. Though the first book came out over twenty years ago, the characters have barely aged, and the writing quality has never lessened - only strengthened, in my estimation.

Companion books: The Feline Wizards (for adults and teens)
- The Book of Night with Moon
- To Visit the Queen (aka On Her Majesty's Wizardly Service)
- The Big Meow (read it here)

The Keys to the Kingdom by Garth Nix
- Mister Monday
- Grim Tuesday
- Drowned Wednesday
- Sir Thursday
- Lady Friday
- Superior Saturday
- Lord Sunday (not yet released)

Arthur's in the right place at the right time - or the wrong time, depending on how you look at it. He was trudging along in P.E. class when he saw something out of this world: dimensions cracked and pieces from another place fell into ours, one coming into his possession and leading him on the journey of his life. A mysterious house leads to another Universe where there's a Will, a (hard) way, and seven strange Keepers named after days. With no time to lose, Arthur must quickly determine who's good and who's up to no good, who can help him and who will hurt him.

Watching Arthur evolve, both literally and figuratively, is fantastic. He begins as a somewhat typical kid, troubled by asthma, hanging back from the crowd, then grows braver, stronger, even taller, and he ends as - well, we'll see what happens when the seventh and final book is released! I also don't want to spoil the books for those who haven't read them yet, so let's just say that his trials and triumphs change him a lot along the way.

The Fallen by Thomas E. Sniegoski (for teens)
- The Fallen
- Leviathan
- Aerie
- Reckoning

Eighteen year old Aaron has a recurring dream which is both strange and epic. He feels the weight of armor and hears an odd sound. He realizes the warriors all around him are angels, and that the sound he hears is that of wings unfurling and flapping. Over the course of the first book, he develops the ability to understand any language and discovers that he is nephilim - the offspring of a fallen angel and an earthly woman.

His newfound multilingualism allows him to communicate with Gabriel, his adorable dog, much like Kit can communicate with Ponch in the Young Wizards series.

I run the official site for Thomas E. Sniegoski, as well as the site for The Fallen.

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman (for kids, teens, and adults)
- The Golden Compass (aka Northern Lights)
- The Subtle Knife
- The Amber Spyglass
- Lyra's Oxford (short story)
- The Book of Dust (not yet released)

It all begins when Lyra overhears something she shouldn't have - and this newfound knowledge changes her whole world. A world which seems a lot like our world, except for the fact that every child is born with a daemon, an animal with the ability to shape-shift until its human comes of age. ( Read more... )

Stardust by Neil Gaiman (originally released for adults, then re-released for teens)

Once upon a time, in the town of Wall, a young man asked the object of affection what he could give her to win her heart. Disinterested, she told him to get her the fallen star which shot overhead moments earlier. In a heartbeat, he agrees, and he sets off for the land of Faerie, where the star landed. This is the story of a man on a quest, a star with unexpected personality, a multitude of murderous sons, a gaggle of witches, and many other fascinating characters and storylines, all of which tie up nicely by the end of the book.

The Aldous Lexicon Trilogy (aka Withern Rose) by Michael Lawrence (for teens)
- A Crack in the Line
- Small Eternities
- The Underwood See

Alternate worlds at their finest, with family ties. Sci-fi, alternate reality, and time travel combine into something memorable and mind-boggling.

Additional Titles
Many, many books by Dianne Wynne Jones (kids and teens)
The Runaway Princess by Kate Coombs (ages 10 and up)
The Sight by David Clement-Davies (teens)

The Standbys
There are two additional classic fantasy series which I feel compelled to mention due to their importance to the genre. Though I enjoyed them, I don't worship them as some do. ( Read more... )

Related Booklist: Funny Fantasies for Kids and Teens

Charlotte posted about her favorite fictional room, which inspired Jen Robinson to post a list of her five favorite fictional rooms.

There are so many stories that have full worlds (fantasy or otherwise) that I'd like to inhabit. It's difficult for me to select five specific rooms. Let's see . . .

As soon as I saw the title of Jen's post, I thought of The Velvet Room by Zilpha Keatley Snyder, due to its title and its loveliest - and I knew Jen would list it, too.

I'd love to live in Sunset Towers from The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, of course, so perhaps I ought to say Turtle's room. I want to be Turtle, but that's another story.

Alice doesn't describe her room at home before entering Wonderland; her (first) story begins and ends outside on the riverbank. (Note: Her second story, Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, showcases her drawing room. In fact, the story begins and ends there, in her home.) But back to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Have I shared with you all how much I love the scene that takes place in the White Rabbit's house? I haven't, actually. Oh, Bill! Oh, the pebbles! Oh, I'll stop now.

The Childlike Empress is a bit trapped in the Ivory Tower, so I wouldn't select that room, though I'd jump at the chance to portray her in something. Let me go get a grain of sand...

I'd rather have Mary's garden than her room, so that doesn't count.

Anne Shirley's room at Green Gables would be a fantastic place, of course. I'd gladly room there while Matthew and Marilla were still alive and well.

Let's throw in Claudia Kishi's bedroom (since all of The Baby-Sitters Club meetings took place there. I'd love to sit in on a meeting, flip through the BSC notebook, and be in that group of friends. I might snack on pretzels alongside Dawn and Stacey, but I'd pass on the junk food! I would peek in Claudia's hollow books and check out her art pieces in progress.

Last but not least, I would crash in Jenna Blake's dorm room. From the very first time she entered the room in Body Bags, the first book in the Body of Evidence series, I pictured her dorm room looking like the apartment in Three's Company. I don't know why, but it stuck, and that's what it is in my brain every time I read any of the ten books in the series by Christopher Golden and Rick Hautala.

What are your favorite fictional rooms?

Imagine taking a trip halfway around the world, then finding out that you're half-goddess. What would happen when you went back to your normal life in your boring American town with your non-magical family and friends? Meet Morgan, Connecticut teenager and unlikely half-goddess, as created by author Maryrose Wood. Morgan was first introduced in Why I Let My Hair Grow Out, which detailed her magical, memorable trip to Ireland. Her story continues in the sequel, How I Found the Perfect Dress, which is just as wacky and fun as the first book.

How I Found the Perfect Dress is summed up perfectly in this quote:

With only ten days left before the junior prom, this is how things stood: I had a guy I was crazy about who couldn't take me to prom because he was leaving the country (if he didn't end up in the hospital first), another guy who wanted to take me but I wouldn't let him, a pair of stinky sneakers to steal, a fabulous dress on layaway, and a crabby leprechaun who had to be convinced to escort a pair of excitable plastic gnome sisters to the Spring Faery Ball.

I can so totally make this work. - Page 140

Maryrose Wood's offbeat contemporary YA fantasies are fun. These quick reads offer plenty of comedy, romance, and magical mischief. While Wood uses elements of classic fairy tales and Irish mythology within the stories, she always keeps things light and funny. Lewis Carroll's Alice would definitely like the scene in the second book in which Morgan follows a sales clerk through a dressing room mirror. I know I did.

Most of all, I enjoyed the characters. In addition to the mere mortals, Wood has populated her stories with goddesses and gods, royal faeries, garden gnomes, talking dolphins, and even a snarky leprechaun. Leading lady Morgan is more punk-rock than princess, more comfortable in funky boots than high heels. Morgan's conversations with her wide-eyed little sister Tammy are classic. In fact, most of my favorite moments in the second book are scenes with the sisters. With her energy and insatiable curiosity, Tammy jumps right out of the book and into your heart. I think she'd be friends with Charlie from My So-Called Family by Courtney Sheinmel because he could answer all of her questions, and Batty from The Penderwicks books by Jeanne Birdsall because both girls are happily hyper. Of course, I also approved of kind, collegiate Colin.

My favorite quotes from How I Found the Perfect Dress include:

"Tinker Bell pajamas!" - Tammy, Page 1

Mom slammed her lips shut, but I could tell what she was thinking. She was thinking that Tammy wouldn't grow up to be president now because her plastic princess tiara was slowly turning her brain into glitter. - Page 7

"Morgan!" Tammy ran into my room and started jumping on the bed. She was wearing a pink poofy princess skirt over her grass-stained soccer uniform. "Get dressed and come outside. I want to practice my new soccer moves!" - Page 98

Tammy shrugged. "He said that the Day of the Gnomes came early because of a 'girl bull warning.' But I don't believe that. There are no girl bulls. Bulls are boy versions of cows."

I had to think for a minute to decode that one. "Global warming, Tam. That's what he meant."

"Bulls don't glow either." - Pages 98-99

I did so many rainbow checks I gave myself a stiff neck from looking up, but it was a beautiful sunny day, with a cloudless blue sky overhead. - Page 103

As soon as the Subaru was parked Tammy jumped out, dressed in her soccer uniform and shin guards, with twelve sparkly barettes in her hair. - Pages 128-129

Colin showed up an hour later, frazzled and pale, but putty in the hands of a cute, manipulative kid. [ . . . ] Reluctantly Tammy changed out into her soccer clothes too and went outside, where she promptly starting chasing imaginary butterflies. - Page 155

I kept folding Colin's clothes, trying to fill each T-shirt and pair of chinos with all the stuff I felt but couldn't say. - Page 181

Boy, this is definitely a different spin on the "Heather has two mommies" concept, I thought. - Page 228

Read my review of How I Found the Perfect Dress at SparkLife.

If you discovered that you were half-god or half-goddess, who would you like be your mythical parent? Please post your answer at SparkLife!