Sunday, January 8, 2012

Originals and Derivatives, Take Two

Just two more quick examples of original works and later derivative works; that is, books (or movies) that share a premise, or a style of illustration, or a plot.

Another Wendy Mass novel: 11 Birthdays.  Two kids relive their shared 11th birthday over and over and over again... until they can figure out how to break the spell.  Sounds a little like a movie that was popular a while ago, doesn't it? 


My husband came home from the library and told me that our 3-year-old had picked out her own book and that it was about fall and was by the same author as Leaves by David Ezra Stein.  Wondering why the author had done another book on the same topic, I went to see my daughter's selection.  It turned out to be The Bear's Winter House by John Yeoman, illustrated by Quentin Blake and first published in 1969.  But my husband was right - the subject matter (although not the plot) and, even more so, the illustrations, are eerily similar to Stein's.  The bears even have the same sweet, curious, gentle look about them.  Did Stein know of this book when he wrote his?

1 comment:

  1. Your husband was right? In any case, maybe someone should contact a copyright lawyer.

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