Johnny Depp discusses The Mad Hatter in New Alice in Wonderland movie

Tim Burton's new adaptation of Alice in Wonderland opens in theaters and IMAX 3D on March 5th, and Disney has added another breadcrumb to the trail.

Johnny Depp talks about his experience playing the Mad Hatter in a brief, but fun look behind the scenes. In the new video, we get to hear how Depp approached the zany character, as well as see some of the shenanigans we'll get on the big screen this March.

Take a look at the video below, and don't forget to visit our Alice in Wonderland picturesgallery for a closer look at Depp in character!

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‘Avatar’ = ‘Pocahontas’ In Space

Matt Bateman writing for Huffington Post says ;

James Cameron worked on "Avatar" for over a decade. That makes sense. It takes a long time to create the technology needed and to completely RIP OFF Disney's "Pocahontas." Sure moves borrow from movies all the time, but c'mon James, "Avatar" might as well be "Pocahontas In Space."

He follows with a picture of a book report that points out the amazing similarities.  Read it here:  http://bit.ly/5se0nf

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Are You Ready? Sherlock Holmes Opens Christmas Day

Guy Ritchie's film of Sherlock Holmes opens on Christmas Day.

Read more about it here

Want to rekindle your acquaintance with the master detective?  Find a list of books here.

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With the movie coming soon – time to catch up with Percy Jackson (and use some lesson plans)

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

by Rick Riordan

The escapades of the Greek gods and heroes get a fresh spin in the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, about a contemporary 12-year-old New Yorker who learns he's a demigod.

more synopsis ... also provides links to:

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief is scheduled to release on February 12, 2010 in the United States.

Read an extract

Hear the first part of the book, as read by the author.

  • Video interview with Rick in North Carolina

  • Video interview with Rick in Cincinnati

For Teachers ...

  • The Lightning Thief: A Teacher’s Guide.

A complete Lightning Thief unit

  • The Lightning Thief: A Reader’s Guide.

  • Rationale. A curriculum rationale, based on NCTE models, for those teachers considering Percy Jackson for classroom use.

  • Literature Circle Questions

  • Biographical Information on Rick Riordan.

  • A Readers Theater from Lightning Thief.

  • Percy Party event guide.

  • Project ideas.

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‘Because of Winn-Dixie’: The Musical


Author Kate DiCamillo’s first book, the Newbery Honor-winning Because of Winn-Dixie, is heading to Broadway as a musical. A creative team is not yet in place, but the show will feature a live dog playing the role of Winn-Dixie, trained by Bill Berloni (who trained the dog Sandy, for the musical Annie). “The opportunity to surround Kate’s story with top Broadway artists lends itself to creating an exciting new Broadway musical,” producer Gerarld Goehring said. more » » »

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‘Little Brother’ Takes a Bow at Chicago Theater


Little Brother, the futuristic tale of teen-techno-revolution in a dystopian San Francisco by journalist/blogger Cory Doctorow, has done well since its release last May by Tor Teen. It received excellent reviews, has sold 90,000 copies to date, was nominated for a Hugo Award, and movie rights were recently optioned to producer Don Murphy. Now Little Brother has been adapted for the stage by Chicago’s Griffin Theatre Company. more » » »

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Watch and Read – Holes by Louis Sachar

Hole by Louis Sachar

Hole by Louis Sachar

"If you take a bad boy and make him dig a hole every day in the hot sun, it will turn him into a good boy." Such is the reigning philosophy at Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention facility where there is no lake, and there are no happy campers.

HTML clipboard"It's a strange story, but strangely compelling and lovely too."

Read more about the book, watch the trailer, get lesson plans and more ...