Staff Picks Blog

Well, bummer and double drat! The reviews are coming in for this week’s release of the first movie based on the hit Judy Moody series of transitional fiction for kids. It’s called Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer. Unfortunately, the film isn’t stellar (or even close.) Too bad, as I’m sure the promotional hype will generate even more demand for Megan McDonald’s popular books. Interestingly enough, McDonald co-wrote the apparently frantic script. And there are or were plans for more Judy Moody movies in the future. See what you think of the critics’ comments:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/judy-moody-and-the-not-bummer-summer,1180545/critic-review.html

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2011-06-09-judy-moody-not-bummer-summer_n.htm

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110610/entlife/706109947/

No doubt parents with kids under nine years old will still end up taking their kids to see it before it’s released in downloadable or DVD formats. If so, you’ll have kids clambering for more Judy Moody books. Here’s a library catalog screen listing all of the titles available to kids at Iowa City Public Library:

http://catalog.icpl.org/search/X?%28judy%20%29+and+%28moody%29+and+%28juvenile%29&b=&Da=&Db=

The film industry seems to be having some difficulty really focusing on quality productions these days when developing new movies based on famous children’s novels. Next big summer kiddie flick up is Jim Carrey’s new version of the classic 1938 children’s novel, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, coming out June 17^th (Father’s Day weekend.) Here’s the movie’s official trailer:     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBVTtaJbMUI

And for those who loved the 2006 Disney/Pixar animation flick Cars, its sequel (Cars 2, of course) comes out on June 24^th.