The Tale of Despereaux

[Squirrel]

This was a book, from last year (written by Kate DiCamillo). The cover caught my eye, and the simple presentation of the book (which was very nice), so I got it when it was released. And read it, and loved it. It's one of my favorite books. Very sweet, very well written story. But, then, I like books with animal characters. Anyhow, it won the Newberry Medal for best children's book of 2003.

Anyone else read it?



But I bring it up, because, according to the article at animated-news.com, Universal has optioned it, and plans to make an animated feature of it (after they do Curious George). I assume it will be traditionally animated (as I think George will be), or at least, I hope so.

"The Hollywood Reporter, via Yahoo News, has revealed that Gary Ross, the writer of such films as Big, Dave and the director of Pleasantville and this year's hopeful in the Oscar race, Seabuscuit, is getting into animation. 'Universal Pictures has optioned Kate DiCamillo's Newberry Medal-winning novel The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread for Ross and his Larger Than Life Productions banner.'

"Despereaux is 'the tale of three misfits - a banished mouse, a rat who likes the light and a young servant girl with cauliflower ears - whose fates are intertwined with that of a princess' when the little mouse with big dreams falls in love with the beautiful princess, which puts him in danger. DiCamillo will adapt the animated film from her own novel, though Ross is also expected to contribute..."

So, I'm really looking forward to it. It'll be a few years off, if they start now, but still, I'm very eagerly anticipating it. I hope it works out.

[jambo*rafiki]

Awww, that sounds really cute. I'll have to read it sometime. Thanks for telling me (indirectly) which book won the Newbury Medal, because I hadn't heard yet!