Watch and Read: Spotlight on Media Tie-ins
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Joy Fleishhacker -- School Library Journal, 09/07/2009
Rockin’ Reads from Disney: JONAS and a New Hannah Book Series
JONAS
Got Jonas Brothers fans? Hot on the heels of their success with Camp Rock (a 2008 Disney Channel Original Movie) and a 3-D concert film (released in theaters in 2009), this popular boy band is now starring in their own television show. JONAS, an original series created by Michael Curtis and Roger S. H. Schulman, debuted on the Disney Channel in May 2009 with new episodes airing through September.
The show is centered around a lighthearted reality-meets-fiction concept (think The Monkeys from the 1960s), with Kevin, Nick, and Joe Jonas portraying the Lucas brothers, three members of an internationally famous band (named “JONAS” after the street on which they live) who try to lead normal lives while dealing with the challenges of their celebrity status. Other characters include Stella Malone (Chelsea Staub), the brothers’ childhood friend and fashion stylist; Macy Misa (Nicole Anderson), Stella’s best pal and the band’s number-one groupie; and Tom Lucas (John Ducey), the siblings’ father and manager. The episodes include original music written and performed by the Jonas Brothers.
The show is currently airing Sunday evenings, and Disney will release JONAS: Rockin’ the House, a DVD compilation, later this month. Kids can visit the official Web site to find out more about the characters, tour the set, and access photos and downloads. Viewers can also take a breezy personality quiz to find out which member of the band they are most in tune with, sample tracks on the “Music Player,” or choose from among several games.
In July, Disney Press launched a tie-in book series (Gr 3–6) with flashy covers featuring fan-tempting photos of the Jonas Brothers at their fashion best. Each volume presents novelized adaptations of two episodes from the series (identified by name on the title page), separated by an eight-page inset of captioned photos from the highlighted shows. It’s all about romance in the first book, Wild Hearts, as Joe struggles with jealous feelings when Stella dates their high school’s football star in the first story, and Nick falls hard for his latest crush in the second. Short and snappy sentences and brief chapters make for a page-turning read, and the humorous dialogue will hold readers’ attention. A second book, Keeping It Real, was also released in July, with more installments in the series to follow soon.
Hannah Montana on Tour
Starring Miley Cyrus in the title role, the ever-popular Hannah Montana, another Disney Channel series, is now in its third season and even made it to the big screen with a tie-in motion picture this past spring. Titles in the “Hannah Montana” chapter book series (Disney) remain hot items in library collections. Disney Press recently launched “Hannah Montana on Tour” (Gr 3–6), a new original chapter book series based on the show’s characters and premise. School’s out, and Miley Stewart is looking forward to a summer spent traveling the globe with her father and brother and performing as her rock-star alter ego, Hannah Montana.
The cover of each book features an image of the stylishly dressed singer, microphone in hand, posed in front of a post-card-style photo of a well-known site from the featured locale. Miley begins the tour with the first title, Ciao from Rome, setting off on an adventure that includes sampling tasty gelato, checking out Italian fashions, and making a new friend. Filled with humorous dialogue, the text is upbeat and fast paced. A four-page, full-color inset of the cast members set against pastel-colored backdrops is included. The tour continues with G’Day, Sydney! with several more international destinations appearing on the itinerary.
Pub Info
JONAS: Rockin’ the House 1. Walt Disney Video. Sept. 2009. DVD $19.99.
HAPKA, Catherine, adapt. JONAS: Wild Hearts. pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-1619-6.
BERGEN, Lara, adapt. JONAS: Keeping It Real. pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-1620-2.
PERELMAN, Helen. Ciao from Rome (Hannah Montana on Tour Series #1). pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-1383-6.
KING, M. C. G’Day, Sydney! (Hannah Montana on Tour Series #2). pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-1813-8.
ea vol: Disney. 2009.
