90-Second Newbery Nutshell

Saturday afternoon, I sat in an auditorium full of children, parents, teachers, librarians, writers and filmmakers (and many folks with more than one of those titles) to watch the first ever 90-Second Newbery Film Festival!

For an actual low-down of the event, you can't beat this recap from Elizabeth Bird of the New York Public Library, where the event was held.

However, I've always been better at lists than summaries, so I'm going to give you my top five favorite moments, in no particular order:

1. Shaking hands with Jon Scieszka and not saying anything dumb like I want him to be my uncle. (Though that would be awesome.)

2. Snooki or Newbery? A contestant had to listen to a passage from a book a decide whether it was from an award-winning children's book or part of the Jersey Shore star's book. I'll tell you plainly, some really could have gone either way.

3. Festival organizer and emcee James Kennedy introducing the New Zealand production of Bridge to Terabithia by saying, "This is our prestige piece. It has accents!"

4. This animated version of The Black Cauldron. Probably my favorite film of the day, right up there with this Claymation version of Island of the Blue Dolphins.

5. And of course, meeting the aforementioned James Kennedy. (He'd be the one in the bow-tie.)



Good time had by all. Looking forward to next year!