NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Scholastic,
the global children's publishing, education and media company,
announced today that acclaimed actress Gwendoline Christie will narrate the audiobook
edition of Kaleidoscope, a multi-layered and spellbinding
story about love, loss and friendship by #1 New York Times bestselling author and Caldecott
Medal-winning illustrator Brian Selznick. Christie, who is best
known for her roles in Game of Thrones (Brienne of Tarth),
Star Wars and the forthcoming Sandman on Netflix,
will lend her voice to Kaleidoscope which launches
simultaneously in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook in the U.S.,
U.K., and Canada on September 21, 2021.
Kaleidoscope, one of the most highly anticipated books
this fall, has garnered early praise from independent booksellers
around the country, and has already earned multiple starred reviews
pre-publication with Kirkus calling it "dreamlike," and
Booklist raving, "Selznick has built dazzling worlds." Brian
Selznick, whose previous genre-breaking books include The
Invention of Hugo Cabret which
was adapted into Martin Scorsese's
Oscar-winning film Hugo, said that he worked on
Kaleidoscope for the last five years and that this book
"completely transformed during the pandemic into something unlike
anything else I've ever written or illustrated." The audiobook
edition will feature original music by award-winning composer
Robert Een. For more about Kaleidoscope or to listen to an
audiobook excerpt, visit www.scholastic.com/kaleidoscope.
In making the announcement, Lori
Benton, President, Scholastic Audio, said, "It's no surprise
that Kaleidoscope is one of the most buzzed about books of the
year—a reading experience unlike anything you've ever read. We
couldn't be more thrilled to have the uber-talented Gwendoline Christie voice the audiobook. With
enchanting original music composed to transition between chapters
and Gwendoline's brilliant narration, the audiobook will immerse
listeners in the exciting world of this mesmerizing new masterpiece
by Brian Selznick."
Gwendoline Christie said, "What a
pleasure to communicate the spectacular Brian Selznick's
captivating, wildly imaginative and thrillingly phantasmagorical
collection of stories! Let him gently take you by the hand on this
sensitive multilayered journey through time, space, and emotion.
Brian makes us realize the magic in simply being human."
"Putting together the audio version of Kaleidoscope was a great
joy and an incredible challenge," said Brian Selznick. "The
extraordinary Gwendoline Christie
(with visionary musician Robert Een under the inspired leadership
of producer Paul Gagne), has brought
her own special magic and a deep sense of humanity to the book,
transforming it into something beautiful and mysterious to listen
to. I'm enraptured and I know you will be, too."
About Kaleidoscope:
A ship. A garden. A library. A
key. In Kaleidoscope the incomparable Brian Selznick presents the
story of two people bound to each other through time and space,
memory and dreams. At the center of their relationship is a mystery
about the nature of grief and love which will look different to
each reader. Told over the course of twenty-four chapters, each
featuring an iconic black and white graphite illustration by
Selznick, Kaleidoscope is a feat of storytelling that illuminates
how even the wildest tales can help us in the hardest times.
About Gwendoline
Christie:
Gwendoline
Christie is best known for playing "Brienne of Tarth" on
HBO's highly acclaimed Game of Thrones series where she was
nominated for an Emmy and Critics Choice award for her performance.
She also played "Captain Phasma" in JJ Abrams' Star Wars:
The Force Awakens and reprised the role in the sequel, Star
Wars: The Last Jedi, which grossed over $1.25 billion worldwide. Gwendoline will next be
seen playing the role of Lucifer on Netflix's upcoming series
Sandman, based on the popular comic series from Vertigo and
DC Comics by Neil Gaiman. Gwendoline
most recently starred on stage in Nicholas
Hytner's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream
at the Bridge Theatre as "Titania." She appeared in Armando Iannucci's David Copperfield, Gabriela Cowperthwaite's The Friend
opposite Dakota Johnson,
Jason Segel, and Casey Affleck, and in Jane Campion's Top of the Lake: China
Girl in which she starred alongside Elisabeth Moss and Nicole Kidman. Some of her past credits include
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2, and The
Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.
About Brian Selznick:
Brian Selznick is the Caldecott
Medal-winning creator of the #1 New York
Times bestsellers The Invention of Hugo Cabret, adapted into Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning movie
Hugo; and Wonderstruck, adapted into the eponymous
movie by celebrated filmmaker Todd
Haynes, with a screenplay by Selznick; as well as the
New York Times bestsellers
The Marvels and Baby Monkey, Private Eye. Most
recently, he illustrated the 20th anniversary paperback edition
covers of J.K. Rowling's Harry
Potter series. His books have garnered countless accolades
worldwide and have been translated into more than 35 languages.
Selznick began his career as a bookseller at Eeyore's Books for
Children in New York City and has
worked as a puppeteer and a set designer. He recently collaborated
with Christopher Wheeldon on a new
narrative for a reimagined Nutcracker at the Joffrey Ballet. For
more information about Brian Selznick and his books,
visit http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/brianselznick.
About Scholastic
For more information about
Scholastic, visit http://mediaroom.scholastic.com.
KALEIDOSCOPE
September 21,
2021 | Scholastic Press
ISBN: 9781338777246 $19.99 Hardcover
| ISBN: 9781338794151 $18.99
Audio
ISBN 9781338777253 $19.99 ebook
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SOURCE Scholastic