It's been 10 years since Megan McDonald's comically capricious and unfailingly endearing character first made her debut in Judy Moody (Candlewick, 2000), winning the hearts and loyalties of a wide spectrum of young readers. Since then, the forever-third-grader has taken center stage in eight more funny-bone-tickling adventures, including the latest, Judy Moody, Girl Detective (August 2010), and played a supporting role in several tales about her younger brother Stink, all humorously and heartwarmingly illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Judy Moody has become a mainstay with kids (13 million books have been sold worldwide), earned numerous awards, and even inspired a feature film (set for release in summer 2011). To mark this milestone, Candlewick has reissued the entire series with an attractive new cover design, available in both hardcover and paperback. In addition, the dedicated Web site has been refurbished, offering colorful visuals and lots of "Way-Not-Boring Stuff to Do." What is it about this character that kids love so much? According to McDonald: "Judy Moody is funny and makes us laugh. We see ourselves in her. Judy Moody has had her share of bad moods and bad days. Ups and downs. She certainly knows disappointment, but she meets each obstacle with imagination and a sense of humor, even if it doesn't always work out perfectly. My hope is that the character of Judy (and all the stuff that happens to her) feels true, like life. The highest compliment is when young readers tell me how much they would like to have Judy Moody for a best friend, or when they think she's going to show up at a book signing!" Mary Lee Donovan, who edits the Judy Moody books, comments on the series' staying power: "I think Judy is popular with kids because she's so real, her environment is so familiar and down-to-earth. She's not perfect...yet for all her foibles, she remains a child deserving of our sympathy. Megan is very good at portraying kids in the midst of their evolution, while revealing-in some mysterious fashion I haven't yet figured out!-the core goodness and innocence which remains the defining mark of childhood." The new cover design updates the series' familiar veneer with bold lines and striking color combinations. Each book features a headshot of the heroine (shown from the nose up, Judy sports the accouterments for that particular adventure and emanates attitude), while a smaller image of the character playfully poses on the title banner. Some content has been added to the paperback editions, including teasers from other books and an interview with the protagonist. Donovan comments on the challenges of keeping this worthwhile series looking "fresh:" the initial design "was becoming less and less revolutionary as time went on," but Candlewick still "felt that there was tremendous value in the original look, a positive association that had been made, and we weren't ready to toss it out completely." Fortunately, Art Director Ann Stott remained involved with the project; she "...took the directive for more color and a refreshed design, and combined it with a nod to the original kraft paper look she'd established. What she came up with is just as eye-catching and bold as the old design, broadcasts Judy's personality, eliminates the ¾ covers which were problematic for libraries and prebinders, and has succeeded in getting people to take a look anew at Judy. Judy Moody is unforgettable, so why should she be forgotten, which can happen if one is content with the status quo." One of the strengths of these books is the harmonious interplay between text and illustrations, which is effectively conveyed through the covers. Donovan comments on the "wonderfully serendipitous" beginnings of Reynolds's involvement with the series: "He was local, he was encouraged by another illustrator to show his work to Candlewick Press, and he arrived in our offices at the very time we were brainstorming about how to present the very first Judy Moody book.... He was also relatively new to the publishing scene, so he brought an enthusiasm and passion to the table that made those early days particularly fun and thrilling. His boxes and boxes overflowing with simple, pure, captivating line drawings charmed us on the spot, as did Peter himself. Here was someone who, like Megan McDonald, had a great affection and affinity for the world of childhood. His whole mission in life is to celebrate and value the whole child, the different child. His work had a directness and innocence that we thought would be a perfect complement to the sometimes rougher edges of Judy. And what a great recipe that turned out to be!" With their irresistible characters, accessible narratives, and plentiful illustrations, the Judy Moody and Stink books have helped many a youngster make the leap from novice to confident reader. McDonald reflects, "I see kids light up when they've been able to complete a whole, entire 'chapter' book of Judy or Stink on their own. Transitioning from decoding words in a reader to reading a whole book on one's own gives kids a real sense of accomplishment. Recently, my niece read her first Judy Moody book on her own. She was literally hugging the book, dancing around the house with glee. It's a real milestone in a child's life." Donovan agrees, "We have received countless letters from people telling us that the Judy Moody books turned non-readers into avid readers. The sense of accomplishment they felt upon completing a 146 or 170-page book was priceless, and immensely encouraging." All of the stories take place during the academic year with the activities of Class 3T providing a basis for Judy's adventures, making these books top-shelf choices for school library and classroom collections. Donovan explains that because the author and illustrator "both spend a lot of time in classrooms and with educators, they are very tuned into what kids are studying and how. As a result, the Judy Moody and Stink books are chock-full of the very stuff that kids are getting in classrooms right now. Teachers, especially, love the way these books tie into their curriculums and can help motivate and excite students." In fact, educators can download book-related "Teachers' Guides" and "Activity Kits" at the Web site. Donovan promises that more titles about Judy and Stink are in the works: "Megan McDonald is like a bottomless well when it comes to potential stories and situations for Judy and Stink. Just goes to show you how well she knows these characters, and how much she loves spending time with them." Will Stink get a birthday party as well? Donovan reveals, "My Magic 8 Ball says, 'Outlook Uncertain.' And that's because we haven't figured out the math yet. He was born in a Leap Year!" And what's the scoop on the upcoming Judy Moody movie? Donovan shares the latest on Judy Moody and the NOT Bummer Summer, from Smokewood Entertainment, which is being directed by John Schultz and goes into production on August 15: "Megan will be spending a lot of time on the set while the filming takes place. As of today, several of the key roles have been cast, including Jordana Beatty as Judy Moody and Parris Mosteller as Stink, both of whom look positively perfect! And Heather Graham will play Aunt Opal, a really fun new character being introduced for the first time in the movie. The movie is live action and will contain plenty of visual and verbal references to events and things from the backlist, so Moody fans will get a kick out of spotting and recognizing them, but the movie storyline itself is entirely new and original. In fact, the screenplay was written by Kathy Waugh and Megan McDonald herself, which is truly 'thrill-a-delic!'" McDonald , who is "Joyful-on-top-of-Spaghetti-and-the-World, is looking forward to reaching new readers: "I'm so fortunate to have co-written the screenplay; I got to shape the story of the movie. It's visual storytelling, but it's still quintessentially Judy Moody. And I'll be on set every day during the filming-a new adventure for me."

Pub Info

MCDONALD, Megan. Judy Moody. Tr ISBN 978-0-7636-4850-3; pap. ISBN 978-0-7636-4849-7. _____. Judy Moody Gets Famous! Tr ISBN 978-0-7636-4854-1; pap. ISBN 978-0-7636-4853-4. _____. Judy Moody Saves the World! Tr ISBN 978-0-7636-4860-2; pap. ISBN 978-0-7636-4859-6. _____. Judy Moody Predicts the Future. Tr ISBN 978-0-7636-4858-9; pap. ISBN 978-0-7636-4857-2. _____. Judy Moody, M.D.: The Doctor Is In! Tr ISBN 978-0-7636-4862-6; pap. ISBN 978-0-7636-4861-9. _____. Judy Moody Declares Independence. Tr ISBN 978-0-7636-4852-7; pap. ISBN 978-0-7636-4851-0. _____. Judy Moody around the World in 8 1/2 Days. Tr ISBN 978-0-7636-4864-0; pap. ISBN 978-0-7636-4863-3. _____. Judy Moody Goes to College. Tr ISBN 978-0-7636-4856-5; pap. ISBN 978-0-7636-4855-8. _____. Judy Moody Girl Detective. Tr ISBN 978-0-7636-3450-6. Ea vol: illus. by Peter H. Reynolds. Candlewick. 2010. Tr $15.99; pap. $5.99.