ILLUSTRATED NOVEL INSPIRED BY AN
IDEA FROM STEVEN SPIELBERG IN COLLABORATION WITH
ILLUMINATION'S CHRIS MELEDANDRI TO BE PUBLISHED
WORLDWIDE APRIL 4, 2023
NEW
YORK, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Scholastic,
the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books,
is set to publish BIG TREE, an immersive novel in
words and pictures by Brian Selznick, the #1 New York Times bestselling creator of the
Caldecott Medal-winning The Invention of Hugo Cabret. This new trailblazing tour de
force will be released in hardcover and ebook formats on
April 4, 2023, simultaneously in the
U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New
Zealand. Illumination owns the film rights for the
book.
The story, which began as an original idea from film legend
Steven Spielberg, with guidance by
Illumination Founder and CEO Chris
Meledandri, is Selznick's most broadly reaching and
ambitious work to date. A love letter to the natural world, BIG
TREE follows two tiny sycamore seeds, Louise and Merwin, as
they try to save the world while searching for a safe place to
grow. In the spirit of such timeless classics as Charlotte's Web, The Wizard of Oz and
Alice in Wonderland, BIG TREE is a fast-paced epic
adventure that takes readers on a mesmerizing journey from the
prehistoric age to present day. It is filled with mystery and
danger, humor, heart, and hope, and will captivate readers ages
seven and up. At 528 pages with nearly 300 pages of Selznick's
iconic graphite illustrations, BIG TREE is a breathtaking
visual journey through time, nature and love that will thrill the
whole family. The book will be printed on paper certified by the
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the global standard-setter for
responsible forest management.
In a statement, Brian Selznick said, "Creating this book was a
great joy and an even greater challenge because I was telling a
story about nature from nature's point of view. It grew into a
narrative I'm very proud of, one that reminds us to stop and listen
to the world around us, and to help those who need to be helped.
These themes seem to grow more and more urgent with each passing
day."
Steven Spielberg said, "The tale
of the natural world is the greatest story we have to tell, and
Brian delivers a brilliant chapter of it in the pages of Big
Tree. It was an absolute joy for Chris and me to help
grow the seed of this idea and then sit back and watch Brian's
singular talent produce such a wonderful book."
Illumination's Chris Meledandri
said, "Brian Selznick is a singular talent who immerses the reader
in the natural world with his stunning imagery. In Big
Tree, Brian anthropomorphizes nature in an epic tale that
grips you from start to finish and resonates emotionally long after
you have finished reading."
Ellie Berger, President,
Scholastic Trade, said, "Big Tree is rich storytelling at
its finest, a page-turning adventure with wonderful characters,
about how even the smallest can make an impact and save our world.
We are proud to publish this remarkable and engaging novel that
will be embraced and shared by readers of all ages, for generations
to come."
About Big Tree
A mysterious voice has been calling to Louise in her
dreams. She and her brother Merwin are tiny sycamore seeds trying
to save the world while searching for a safe place to grow. As they
sail into the unknown, far from their Mama Tree, they must use
their wits and imagination to navigate a dangerous world—filled
with dinosaurs, floods, meteors, and volcanoes! Selznick creates a
lush setting featuring an unforgettable cast of
characters—from Mushroom Ambassadors and underwater Scientists to a
wise Ghost Leaf and the mad King Seaweed—taking readers on a
mesmerizing journey from the prehistoric age to the present day.
With inventive storytelling and stunning illustrations, Big
Tree is a spellbinding work from a gifted bookmaker at the top
of his creative form.
About Brian Selznick
Brian Selznick is one of the most innovative storytellers of our
time. His books have sold millions of copies, garnered countless
awards worldwide, and have been translated into more than 35
languages. He broke open the novel form with his genre-breaking
thematic trilogy, beginning with the Caldecott Medal-winning
#1 New York Times bestseller
The Invention of Hugo Cabret,
adapted into Martin Scorsese's
Oscar-winning movie Hugo. He followed that with the #1
New York Times bestseller,
Wonderstruck, adapted into the eponymous movie by celebrated
filmmaker Todd Haynes, with a
screenplay by Selznick, and then the New
York Times bestseller, The Marvels. In praising his
body of work, The Washington Post said, "Brian Selznick
proves to be that rare creator capable of following one masterpiece
with another." The Associated Press called Selznick "one of
publishing's most imaginative storytellers." Selznick's most recent
bestselling novel Kaleidoscope was a New York Times Notable Children's Book of 2021.
He also illustrated the 20th anniversary edition covers of J.K.
Rowling's Harry Potter series, as
well as Baby Monkey,
Private Eye, co-written by his husband David Serlin. They divide their time
between Brooklyn, New York and
La Jolla, California. For more
information about Brian Selznick and his books, visit
http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/brianselznick.
About Scholastic
For more than 100 years, Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL)
has been encouraging the personal and intellectual growth of all
children, beginning with literacy. Having earned a reputation as a
trusted partner to educators and families, Scholastic is the
world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books, a
leading provider of literacy curriculum, professional services, and
classroom magazines, and a producer of educational and entertaining
children's media. The Company creates and distributes bestselling
books and e-books, print and technology-based learning programs for
pre-K to grade 12, and other products and services that support
children's learning and literacy, both in school and at home. With
15 international operations and exports to 165 countries,
Scholastic makes quality, affordable books available to all
children around the world through school-based book clubs and book
fairs, classroom libraries, school and public libraries, retail,
and online. Learn more at www.scholastic.com.
BIG TREE by Brian Selznick
Scholastic Press;
Ages 7 and up
Jacketed Hardcover ISBN 9781338180633; Ebook ISBN
9781338856149
528 Pages; $32.99 US
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SOURCE Scholastic