Gabor Csupo and AnnaSophia Robb Reunite for Walden Media Adaptation of Lauren St. John’s The White Giraffe

April 24, 2007

Film to be based on forthcoming book to be published by Dial Books for Young Readers/Walden Media

LOS ANGELES (April 24, 2007) - Lauren St. John’s The White Giraffe, a forthcoming children’s book to be released by Dial Books for Young Readers/Walden Media in May 2007, will be developed into a feature film by Walden Media, it was announced by Walden Media CEO Cary Granat and President Micheal Flaherty. Rugrats and Wild Thornberrys creator Gabor Csupo,who made his live-action directorial debut in Walden Media and Walt Disney Pictures’ 2007 hit film Bridge to Terabithia, will direct, and will reunite with Terabithia star AnnaSophia Robb (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Reaping), who is attached to the project.  The film will be released by Twentieth Century Fox and Walden Media through their Fox Walden banner.

The story’s young heroine is Martine, who has been transplanted from England to Sawubona, a wildlife preserve in South Africa, to live with a grandmother she never knew she had after the death of her parents in a tragic fire. Almost as soon as she arrives, she begins hearing stories about a mythical creature living on the preserve: a white giraffe. Her grandmother and others at the preserve insist that the giraffe is just a legend, but one stormy night, Martine looks out her window and locks eyes with Jemmy, a young silvery-white giraffe. As she tries to unlock the mystery behind everyone’s motives to keep the giraffe a secret, Martine must use all her courage and smarts to save her new friend.

“We are so happy to have such a fruitful partnership with Penguin. Together we’ve been able to bring the works of exciting new voices such as Lauren’s to the marketplace, and through our unique alliance, have been able to take the extra step to develop them into great new films," said Granat and Flaherty. “We are also thrilled at the prospect of having two talented artists in Gabor Csupo and AnnaSophia Robb, who were central to the success of our last film adaptation Bridge to Terabithia, on board to bring Lauren’s vision to the big screen.”

Added Lauri Hornik, Vice President and Publisher of Dial Books for Young Readers: “This story is so cinematic—with its sweeping descriptions of the South African landscape and its animal adventure sequences—that it seemed a perfect project for a Dial/Walden collaboration. And the early bookseller response to the novel has been extremely enthusiastic, so we all have high hopes for the whole series.”

The White Giraffe is Lauren St. John’s first children’s book. A well-respected biographer and sports journalist, Lauren St. John grew up in Zimbabwe, where she had a pet giraffe, as well as numerous dogs, horses and warthogs.  This setting inspired The White Giraffe as well as her recent memoir. St. John currently lives in London, England.

Originally released in the United Kingdom in August 2006 by Orion Children’s Books, The White Giraffe will be the first of a multi-book series to be published by Dial and Walden Media. This will be the third book to be published under the publishing joint venture between Walden Media and Penguin Young Readers Group. Previous titles include Joseph Bruchac’s Jim Thorpe: Original All-American, published by Dial Books for Young Readers/Walden Media and the first two books of Bob Fuller’s Paddywhack Lane series by Grosset & Dunlap/Walden Media. Heat, a young adult novel by Mike Lupica released by Philomel last year, is currently in development to be produced as a feature by Walden Media.

Csupo and Robb’s previous collaboration, Bridge to Terabithia, the film adaptation of Katherine Paterson’s award-winning children’s novel, has grossed over $100 million in box office since its release by Walt Disney Pictures on February 16, 2007.

Walden Media EVP production Alex Schwartz and SVP production Jackie Levine will be overseeing the project for the company.

St. John is represented by Valerie Hoskins Associates Ltd and Felicity Bryan Literary Agency. Csupo is represented by Endeavor, and Robb is represented by CESD Agency and Untitled Entertainment.

About Walden Media
Walden Media specializes in entertainment that sparks imagination and engages young people in the learning process. Producing both original works and adaptations of acclaimed children’s literature, Walden Media projects are enhanced by comprehensive outreach and supplemental programs for teachers, librarians, and parents. In August 2006, Walden Media entered into a joint venture with Twentieth Century Fox to market and release family films for audiences of all ages.

About Penguin Young Readers Group
Penguin Group (USA) is the U.S. affiliate of the internationally renowned Penguin Group. Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children’s trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks including Berkley Books, Dutton, Frederick Warne, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, Grosset & Dunlap, New American Library, Penguin, Philomel, Plume, Puffin Books, Riverhead Books and Viking, among others. The Penguin Group is part of Pearson (FTSE: PSON; NYSE: PSO). Pearson is an international media company with market leading businesses in education, business information and consumer publishing. For more information, visit www.pearson.com.