Alice Through the Years

This month to celebrate the new Alice Through the Looking Glass Movie our Fairy Tale of the month will include a special visit from Alice, and the Mad Hatter. 

To prepare for these events of this week we have taken a journey to explore how Alice has evolved through the years. 

Originally Alice and Wonderland was just a book titled, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, written by Lewis Carroll in 1865. In 1871 Lewis Carroll wrote a second book, Through the Looking Glass that continues the adventures of Alice.  A card game was published in 1882 by Selchow and Righter.

                   

                     

The earliest Musical Performance of Alice in Wonderland was done in 1886 combining his two books in to one play. 1890 Lewis Carroll published The Nursery “Alice” to be read to toddler age children.

                

                    

As years passed several editions continued to be made and released, popularity grew.

                                      

                                      

The first film was created in 1903 entitled Alice in Wonderland. It was a silent film directed by Cecil Hepworth and Percy Stow. In 1951 Walt Disney Productions released a full length animated musical film called Alice in Wonderland. In 1972 a British musical film based on the Lewis Carroll novels was released called, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

     

 In 1985 another two-part, made for television film was aired on TV with Alice being played by Natalie Gregory. Another Alice in Wonderland film was made in 1999 and first aired on television on NBC. Many of the characters were played by well-known actors and actresses including, Whoopi Goldberg and Martin Short.

                                       

 The most recent Alice in Wonderland film was released in 2010. It was produced by Walt Disney Pictures and directed by Tim Burton with many known actors and actresses including, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska, Rhys Ifans, Helena Bonham Carter and others. The sequel to the 2010 film is set to be released this month on the 27th of May! It is called Alice Through the Looking Glass and will have the same cast as the 2010 film.

                                       

                                       

Fairytale of the Month: The Little Mermaid

If you’ve wandered through the Children’s Book section of the BYU store lately, you’ve probably noticed that things have gotten a little “fishy” around here.  There are fish on the walls of the book nook, sea weed hanging from the ceiling, gigantic paper coral and a not-so-friendly looking red crab.  With all of the sea horses and adorable little fish, you may wonder what has gotten into the employees over here in Children’s Book.  We’re fine, doing great actually – just excited for our monthly event, “Fairytale of the Month!”

Several months ago, one of our employees had the idea to get children involved in a more personal way with some of the fairytale stories we often read and see depicted in movies and on TV.  Since then our “Fairytale of the Month” events have become an event that families and employees look forward to.  As employees in Children’s Book, we wanted to give the children a unique and more fantastic experience, so we turned our “Book Nook” into an underwater Mermaid Grotto, perfect to welcome our special guest, the Little Mermaid.  Dressed head to toe in her modest mermaid costume, our little mermaid told the children her story of love and adventure while they decorated paper fish to add to the walls of the grotto.  Intermingled with the storytelling, we conducted drawings to give away free flamingo and turtle stuffed animals.  Just to add to the fun, all of the mermaid books were sold with a discount of 25% to give our guests the chance to take the story home with them.

Overall this seemed to be a well-enjoyed event full of fairytales, fun and friendship.  We all enjoyed being a part of the action and watching people and fairytales come alive.  We’re looking forward to next month’s fairytale, Arabian Nights, and hope that you will join us for the fun!

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Breaking Down Unbroken

True to the promise that I made to myself, I did not watch Unbroken until I had finished Lauren Hillenbrand's accounting of Louis Zamperini's near unfathomable tale of struggle and survival.

The Olympian/WWII veteran's biography has received substantial attention with the release of the major motion picture last December. The film received a substantial $115,637,895 domestically, but the book has performed better in reviews and has sold over 4 million copies as of June 2014.

The true story follows Louis' path from boyhood to manhood, including the transformation from  ruffian to Olympian, and goofy GI to emaciated POW. Hillenbrand tells of early life experiences, character traits, and specific events that mold Louis into the man capable of surviving the impossible. The tale of survival demonstrates the power of positive attitude, even in the most dire circumstances, the value of dignity to a human being, and forgiveness as a means to redemption. In this way, a man's heinous experience can be understood and associated with the everyday issues we all face in life.

Unbroken connects the reader with a real-life hero in Louis Zamperini. The man overcame some of the most cruel adversity with optimism and a sense of humor, but he is not dehumanized as a perfect man. His faults serve as a channel of empathy for the reader, an identifier. Yet, his victories in both common and terrible situations show us the strength of the human spirit when compelled by love, truth, and the will to live.

If you haven't read Unbroken yet, the Fourth of July season is as good a time as any to discover the cost of liberty from a POW's perspective.


Available Here: http://bit.ly/1NDI6ur

Summer Adventures in Utah

Summer Adventures in Utah

In the wake of Memorial Day festivities, those who traveled Provo Canyon this past weekend saw boats, campers and trailers, off-road vehicles, mountain bikes, and all manner of equipment indicating adventure. One reason that Utah is such a special place to live is because there is so much to do in the great outdoors.

Lest anyone is deterred from getting out of the house because of the indecision of what adventures to embark upon, I have composed list of some great places to go see. The BYU Store has an entire section of books displaying Utah and the many natural treasures that are waiting to be seen and experienced.

Escalante

Experience the Escalante/Grand Staircase by spending a few days hiking Coyote Gulch or making a visit to Jacob Hamblin Arch. Traversing through the greenery along the river and amidst the red rock surrounding is truly amazing. 

Jacob Hamblin Arch

 Canyonlands

Along with more great views and large arches, Canyonlands is a special destination because of the amazing history in the ancient Indian Ruins.

Anasazi Indian Ruins

Zions

Perhaps the most famous park in Utah is Zion National Park, known for breathtaking views and hikes. But literally. Three of the most popular hikes are Angels Landing, The Narrows, and The Subway for more technical climbers.

Angels Landing overlook

High Uinta’s

For a different scene, make your way to the most prominent east-west mountain range in the continental U.S. The forested Uinta’s are home to the highest point in Utah at King’s Peak and the picturesque Red Castle Rock. There are thousands of lakes and beautiful forests to be explored in the Uinta Mountains. 

Red Castle Rock

Timpanogos

A local favorite and a perfect destination for a day hike because of proximity. Mount Timpanogos and the various trails scattered through the mountains are beautiful and provide a diversity of views. Summiting Timp to see the sunrise in the east is well worth hiking in the early hours of the morning.

Sunrise on Mount Timpanogos

Honorable Mentions (worth the time!)

Bryce Canyon: Thors Hammer

Capital Reef: Temple of the Moon

Antelope Island: Visit the bison and the Great Salt Lake

As always, safety first. Be prepared with equipment, knowledge of the terrain, and an understanding of the weather forecast. Happy trails!

For more information on Utah hikes and sights, check out the travel guides and photography books available online here.