Mirrormask (Children's Edition) [Hardcover]

Grade 6-9–Coraline fans too young for The Sandman series (DC Comics) form the most likely audience for this novella of the film MirrorMask. A fitful dream the night before her mothers surgery takes 15-year-old Helena to a world split into light and darkness. The queen of the White City is ill, and only the stolen MirrorMask can save her and her kingdom. As Helenas quest to find the Charm wears on, she realizes that she might not be dreaming after all. McKeans stark but lively pen-and-ink drawings perfectly reflect the narratives sinister humor. The images from the film, however, are drab and unclear. While entertaining, this scant story is less developed than Gaimans other work and, being a movie tie-in, threatens to join the growing pile of pop-culture ephemera all too soon.–Lisa Goldstein, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
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'This book is quite extraordinary. Extraordinary and scary. But also madly inventive and madly funny. It illustrates two things that it is quite crucial to remember for this age group: you are never, ever too old for picture books and that even when you can read quite fluently - which many at the top end of this age range will be able to do - a story shared is a story that doubles in pleasure.' Guardian 'This spectacular book, with its stylish blend of photography, paint, collage and drawing does not look like most children's picture books. It bypasses the cosy, simplified cliches of child appeal, which makes it absolutely intriguing for youngsters. It is atmospheric, sinister, scary and funny This is a book for cool kids who will grow up to be fearless.' Sunday Times one of the most stylish picture books for 5+ a strange, cathartic, visually original book about a scary prediction that comes true, and is also classy and cool.' Sunday Times Books of the Year Gaiman's words and McKean's pictures are a match made in some dark damp inspirational place. With gems like this and 'The Wolves in the Walls' the pair are extending the audience for picture books" Time Out --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Helena is about to embark on a most amazing journey.

Raised in a family of circus performers, she's always dreamed of leading a more ordinary life. But when haunting music draws her into a strange and magical realm, one where anything can happen, her real life is stolen by a runaway from the other side. Helena must rescue the realm from chaos in order to win back her own not-so-ordinary life.

MirrorMask is a breathtaking film written by bestselling author Neil Gaiman and brought to life through the vision of acclaimed artist and director Dave McKean. This original novella is Helena's tale in her own voice, written by master storyteller Neil Gaiman and accompanied by original art by Dave McKean and images from the film; it is a stunning and magical journey.

A professional writer for more than twenty years, Neil Gaiman has been one of the top writers in modern comics, and is now a bestselling novelist.His work has appeared in translation in more than nineteen countries, and nearly all of his novels, graphic and otherwise, have been optioned for films.He is listed in the Dictionary of Literary Biography as one of the top ten living post-modern writers.

Gaiman was the creator/writer of the monthly cult DC Comics series, "Sandman," which won Neil nine Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, including the award for best writer four times, and three Harvey Awards."Sandman #19" took the 1991 World Fantasy Award for best short story, making it the first comic ever to be awarded a literary award.

His six-part fantastical TV series for the BBC, "Neverwhere," was broadcast in 1996.His novel, also called "Neverwhere," and set in the same strange underground world as the television series, was released in 1997; it appeared on a number of bestseller lists, including those of the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and Locus.

Stardust, an illustrated prose novel in four parts, began to appear from DC Comics in 1997.In 1999 Avon released the all-prose unillustrated version, which appeared on a number of bestseller lists, was selected by Publishers Weekly as one of the best books of the year, and was awarded the prestigious Mythopoeic Award as best novel for adults.

American Gods, a novel for adults, was published in 2001 and appeared on many best-of- the-year lists, was a New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback, and won the Hugo, Nebula, SFX, Bram Stoker, and Locus Awards.

Coraline (2002), his first novel for children, was a New York Times and international bestseller, was nominated forthe Prix Tam Tam, and won the Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award, the BSFA Award, the HUgo, the Nebula and the Bram Stoker Award.

2003 saw the publication ofbestseller The Wolves in the Walls, a children's picture book,illustrated by Gaiman's longtime collaborator Dave McKean, which the New York Times named as one of the best illustrated books of the year; and the first Sandman graphic novel in seven years, Endless Nights, the first graphic novel to make the New York Times bestseller list.

In 2004, Gaiman published the a new graphic novel for Marvel called 1602, which was the best-selling comic of 2004, and 2005 saw the Sundance Film Festival premiere of "MirrorMask," a Jim Henson Company Production written by Gaiman and directed by McKean.A lavishly designed book containing the complete script, black and white storyboards, and full-color art from the film will be published by William Morrow in early 2005; a picture book for younger readers, also written by Gaiman and illustrated with art from the movie, will be published by HarperCollins Children's Books at a later date.

Gaiman's official website has 400,000 unique visitors per month in 2004; close to 600,000 per month are expected in 2005. His online journal is syndicated to thousands of blog readers every day.

Born and raised in England, Neil Gaiman now lives near Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he is currently at work on Anansi Boys, the long-awaited follow-up to American Gods.

Young British television actress Stephanie Leonidas reprises her film role as Helena Campbell, the daughter of circus performers who is cast into a dark realm that is part ALICE IN WONDERLAND, part WIZARD OF OZ, and part Salvador Dali. In a moment of rebellion, Helena wishes her mother dead. Later that evening, her mother falls into a coma, and Helena soon falls into a bizarre fantasy world in which a Dark Queen tries to wipe out Helena's past and make her a Dark Princess. Leonidas reads with a rich, sweet voice but lacks the energy and emotional intensity of her on-screen performance. Still, her enticing accent coupled with Gaiman's off-kilter storytelling makes MIRRORMASK a delightful, if at times spooky, family audiobook. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.