|
|
 On Tuesday, May 8, Maurice Sendak, beloved children’s author and illustrator passed away at the age of 83. Although Where the Wild Things Are, Sendak’s most beloved book, was never a favorite of mine as a child (I preferred the rhyming stylings of Dr. Seuss and the collage art of Eric Carle), I do have fond memories of Max and the wild things. I’m sure most of us can probably recall a favorite book or character from either our own childhood or from reading out loud to a child.
Picture books are an integral part of childhood. They introduce concepts and themes, visually stimulate the eye, and invite interaction between adult and child. It is not surprising that many of them have been the inspiration for films. A number of these picture books, like Mo Willems’ Knuffle Bunny and Don Freeman’s Corduroy, have been made into short films released through Scholastic Storybook Treasures and similar companies. Some, however, have been given the red carpet treatment and released in theaters. Either way, there is something magical about seeing a beloved picture book re-imagined on screen.
|
 A few weeks ago, my sister called to ask me a question: “Who writes the Castle mysteries?”
Well, being of fan of the TV series and the mystery novels, as well as being a librarian with access to the Library of Congress catalog, I answered truthfully: “I have no idea.”
|
When I was growing up, musicals were an important part of my movie education. I adored Mary Poppins, cried over Fiddler on the Roof, and spent many an afternoon daydreaming about a pair of ruby slippers. Then, during my teenage years, I discovered Singin’ in the Rain and fell in love. I watched that movie every single day for an entire week. There was just something so winsome and happy about it. Could life really be all that dreadful when people were bursting into song and dance numbers during a rainstorm?
When Moulin Rouge hit the silver screen in 2001, it reinvigorated a fading genre and ushered in a new age of movie musicals. Musicals over the past decade have been an eclectic mix of charming, timeless, quirky and irreverent, but each one draws its essence from the classic movie musicals of the mid-1900’s. The runaway success of a recent string of Disney musicals and hit TV shows like Glee and Smash means that the movie and TV musical has a new generation of eager viewers.
|
 From the earliest days of television, there were spin-offs. Series that featured characters who started on one series and then graduated to a series of their own. Even The Andy Griffith Show began as an episode of Make Room for Daddy (a.k.a. The Danny Thomas Show).
|
In my last post, I wrote about HBO’s stunning high fantasy series Game of Thrones. I adore Game of Thrones and would firmly classify it as one of a kind, but I also have a long standing appreciation for supernatural television dramas. Filled with vampires, werewolves, magic, apparitions and other fantastical beings, supernatural dramas often create stories out of folklore, myth and urban legend. Television that falls within this genre can be whimsical, romantic, serious, or scary, but most all of them feature forces for good battling against evil.
If you’re in the mood for a supernatural TV series, browse the HCPL catalog and request a season today!
Kimberly’s Supernatural TV Picks:
|
 No, that’s not a typo. This is a Springtime edition of Happy Holidays, because this weekend brings us both Passover and Easter. These are celebrations that bring families together and encourage even the youngest members to participate. While tradition usually dictates our observance of the holidays, there are also DVDs and videos for children that give us the true meanings of the holidays – and some of the fun things, too.
Passover
|
 Last year, HBO premiered Game of Thrones, a new television series based on George R. R. Martin’s high fantasy series A Song of Fire and Ice. After a slow start, the show swept the fantasy world, garnering praise from critics and fans alike. This Sunday, Game of Thrones returns with its highly anticipated second season. I, for one, have been counting down for months, excited to see where the series leads. (I know, I know. If I had read the novels in the break between seasons, I wouldn’t be so anxious about what’s in store for the characters I love and loathe.
|
 And now for a different kind of March “Mad”-ness: the return of AMC’s Mad Men on Sunday, March 25. The series, which premiered in 2007, has garnered a lot of attention and praise, earning several Emmy and Golden Globe Awards. The drama, set in the 1960s, looks at the world of advertising executives of Madison Avenue. While the advertising game and its strategies are part of the story, the main draw is the private lives of the men and women
|
St. Patrick’s Day, the day when everyone is just a little bit Irish, is just around the corner! Last year for St. Patrick’s Day, I blogged about movies produced, directed, written or acted by Irish citizens that showcase Ireland as it really is. This year I decided to take a more whimsical approach to the holiday: Movies with green in the title. Most of these movies have nothing to do with Ireland, but St. Patrick’s Day can always use an extra bit of green!
If you’re in the mood for a movie with a green title this St. Patrick’s Day, browse the HCPL catalog and request one. And don’t forget to wear green tomorrow!
Kimberly’s Movie Picks:
|
The Harris County Public Library Website by Harris County Public Library is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. It is designed for 1024x768 resolution and Internet Explorer 7+, Firefox 3+, and Safari 3+ browsers. For additional information, see our Credits page.