The multi-talented Neil Gaiman, author of Stardust and writer of one of (in my humble opinion) the best episodes of Dr Who to date – The Doctor’s Wife – is to venture into the world of children’s books after signing a 5-book deal with US publisher HarperCollins. The deal is for three children’s novels and two picture books – one of which will be Chu’s Day, a story about a sneeze-prone panda.
"Chu's Day is the first book I've ever written for really little kids. Ones who cannot read. Ones who can only just walk. Those ones. I hope that they like it, or at least, that they love Adam Rex's amazing illustrations," said Gaiman. He adds that the book will "test his sneeze-resisting powers to the limit – there's the library (dusty books!), the diner (pepper!), and then the circus (all those animals!). How big can a sneeze really be? Just wait and see …"
And just for a giggle - if you haven't seen this brilliant video of an actual sneezing panda and the fright the kid gives the mother - check it out at YouTube now!
Ever had the discussion about who would be at your dream dinner party - alive or dead? People's lists normally include all sorts of people from Lady Gaga to JFK ... but what if you could have a dinner party with your favourite fictitious characters from book or film? Who would you invite? Here is my selection for a dream dinner party...
My dream list of guests is as follows:
Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)
Ron Burgundy (Anchorman)
Ron Weasley (Harry Potter)
Jacob Black (Twilight Saga)
The Doctor (in the form of David Tennant please!)
Aragorn (Lord of the Rings)
Elizabeth Bennett (Pride and Prejudice)
Vianne Rocher (Chocolat)
Sugar Kane Kowalczyk (Some Like it Hot)
Princess Leia (Star Wars)
Yvaine (Stardust)
Lisa Simpson (The Simpsons)
Jean Louise ‘Scout’ Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)
At the start of the night (in the drinking, pre-eating stage of the evening) Scout would be allowed to stay up with her dad to meet the guests and would have her friend Lisa Simpson to talk to once when had been sent upstairs to bed (wouldn’t they just have the best chats ever!)
Friendships that might begin over the first course: Atticus Finch and Elizabeth Bennett. I imagine, as they are both moral but quietly daring for their times, they would get on really well. I can also see Ron Weasley and Jacob Black getting on… that is, unless Jacob sees Ron as one of the pale faces. Yvaine and Princess Leia could talk out of world experiences with the Doctor and compare notes on which planet is the most interesting – or amusing to watch. Ron Burgundy would probably want to “be on” Sugar, and she might just go for it (fuzzy end of the lollipop in that moustache) – unless Aragorn steps in to be her knight in shining armour. And the lovely Vianne, who would no doubt get along with everybody, would bring us the most delectable assortment of treats for dessert.
And as for me? I would be chatting to Elizabeth Bennett and Yvaine as much as I could, having heated debates over moral issues with Atticus and Aragorn and drooling over David Tennant’s Doctor, wishing he would transport me to somewhere really cool. Sugar and Ron Burgundy would be making me laugh all evening and I could spend hours listening to Vianne talk about chocolate. I would be a little overly friendly with Jacob Black and get him to hug me (shirt optional). I would ask Ron W about how his family are doing and get him to teach me a few spells.
And though I would love to see them in the flesh I opted out of inviting the rugged and oh so sexy Mr Rochester and Mr Darcy because let’s face it – they’d make horrible dinner party guests. Rochester would be snapping at people and making them feel awkward and Darcy would just be brooding off in a corner, staring at Elizabeth.
So who would be at your dream dinner party and why....?
LE xxx
"Chu's Day is the first book I've ever written for really little kids. Ones who cannot read. Ones who can only just walk. Those ones. I hope that they like it, or at least, that they love Adam Rex's amazing illustrations," said Gaiman. He adds that the book will "test his sneeze-resisting powers to the limit – there's the library (dusty books!), the diner (pepper!), and then the circus (all those animals!). How big can a sneeze really be? Just wait and see …"
