Attn: Education Desk and Entertainment Desk May 3, 2012 No. 135

CHARLES DICKENS FOR ALL AGES

The year 2012 is the 200th birthday of famed Victorian-era author . His writings have inspired everything from Disney animated films to theatre productions. City of Readers has selected several books to introduce young and old readers to the words and ideas of the world-renowned Charles Dickens. Although City of Readers recommends these books, parents are encouraged to review them before letting a child read them independently. City of Readers believes parental supervision and involvement are vital to a child’s development.

Recommendations for spring 2012 For Young Children: Disney’s Oliver and Company, Mouse Works Classic Storybook Collection Disney takes the classic Dickens’ tale of and re-imagines it with a cast of cats and dogs living on the streets of New York instead of London. This children’s book is based on the Disney movie of the same name and includes images and artwork from and inspired by the film. For more information, visithttp://amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com and enter “Oliver and Company” in the search bar.

For Older Children: Dickens’ Stories About Children Every Child Can Read, written by Charles Dickens and edited by Rev. Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, D.D. This collection of short stories features the young characters from Dickens’ novels. The focus is on the children and the unique ways they see the world. Separated from their larger Page 1 of 3 plots and casts of characters, these short stories can be read and enjoyed even if you’ve never read one of Dickens’ novels. Featured characters include Tiny Tim from , Jenny Wren from , and Pip from . Visit www.online-literature.com/dickens/about-children for more information and to read excerpts of the book.

For Teens: , by Charles Dickens “Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show,” opens the tale of David Copperfield. It is the story of a boy who loves his mother and dislikes his new stepfather, of a young man who must survive the hardships of working in a factory in Victorian London, and a man who overcomes his previous life to become a respected member of society. Visit www.online-literature.com/dickens/copperfield for more information and to read excerpts of the book.

For Adults: The Mystery of Edwin Drood, by Charles Dickens When Edwin Drood turns up missing, there are plenty of suspects including Neville Landless, a newcomer to town with a crush on Edwin’s fiancé; and Edwin’s uncle, John Jasper, who is also in love with Edwin’s fiancé. Charles Dickens died while working on The Mystery of Edwin Drood, leaving his last novel unfinished and the mystery unsolved. Over the years, many writers, playwrights, and others have offered their own ending to this unfinished work. Rather than just guess at the ending, this Penguin Classics edition contains an introduction and notes by David Paroissien that looks at the evidence in the novel and information about related topics, such as opium use in the nineteenth century, to help readers find their own conclusions. For more information, visit the Penguin Classics website at www.penguinclassics.com, select “USA,” and type “Edwin Drood” in the search bar.

Page 2 of 3 Special Interest–Plays: No Thoroughfare: A Drama in Five Acts, by Charles Dickens and When a young woman abandons her child at the London Foundling Hospital, she sets in motion a chain of events that lead to a murder attempt and a trip to the Swiss Alps. After leaving her newborn son at the hospital, she asks a nurse what name he has been given by the hospital: Walter Wilding. When she returns for her son years later, she adopts Walter Wilding, believing she has finally been reunited with her son. As an adult, Walter Wilding learns he was not the only orphan given that name and sets out to find his adoptive mother’s true biological son. This stage play, co-written by Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins, is based on Dickens’ short story of the same name. Visit http://home.earthlink.net/~bsabatini/Inimitable-Boz/etexts/No_Thoroughfare_ correct_first_ed.html for more information, including the complete text of the play.

City of Readers is a school-community-business partnership launched by the San Bernardino City Unified School District. It promotes literacy as a gateway skill to success in school and life. Visit www.sbcusd.com/cityofreaders for more information.

30-second Radio/TV segment: In honor of Charles Dickens’ 200th birthday, City of Readers Recommends the following books: Disney’s Oliver and Company, David Copperfield, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and more. For more information, visit the City of Readers website at www.sbcusd.com/cityofreaders. -clbclbclb-

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