Ron Does Stuff

The inaugural Children’s Booker Prize, more “Immortal Universe” shows, a Bridget Jones statue, and a graphic novel version of To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before in this week’s edition.

Booker Prize will now have a children’s award

Both Publishers Weekly and The Guardian report that The Booker Prize Foundation has launched the Children’s Booker Prize, with the winning book and author to be announced in February 2027. The inaugural panel of judges will be chaired by children’s author Frank Cottrell-Boyce and will be “a mixed panel of adult and child judges”.

Publishers Weekly quotes Booker Prize Foundation CEO Gaby Wood as saying that the new prize is “the most ambitious endeavor” of the organization.

“The Children’s Booker Prize is the most ambitious endeavor we’ve embarked on in 20 years—and we hope its impact will resonate for decades to come. It aims to be several things at once: an award that will champion future classics written for children; a social intervention designed to inspire more young people to read; and a seed from which we hope future generations of lifelong readers will grow.” – Gaby Wood, CEO of the Booker Prize Foundation

Meanwhile, The Guardian quotes Frank Cottrell-Boyce as saying that the award will encourage children to read more.

“Every child deserves the chance to experience the happiness that diving into a great book can bring. By inviting them to the judging table and by gifting copies of the nominated books, it will bring thousands more children into the wonderful world of reading.” – Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Shortlisted authors for the Children’s Booker Prize will each receive £2,500, and the winner will receive £50,000.

More ‘Immortal Universe’ shows planned

Readers of the blog will know that I love the Interview with the Vampire, so if the connected shows are just as good, then I can’t wait to get to them eventually. And it looks like there’s going to be more of them moving forward, as revealed by showrunner Mark Johnson.

People reports that Johnson “shared that more of Rice’s characters will get the on-screen treatment in the future, and teased fans to ‘stay tuned.’” People doesn’t say whether Johnson specified particular characters, so I’m not sure whether it’s going to be new shows or just characters showing up in the three existing shows: Interview with the Vampire, The Mayfair Witches, and Talamasca: The Secret Order. Let’s see what we get!

London to unveil statue of Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones

Do you guys realize that it’s been 24 years since the first Bridget Jones film? I just learned that now after I read The Guardian‘s report that London will unveil a statue of Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones at Leicester Square. The statue will be joining those of “Paddington Bear, Mary Poppins, Harry Potter, Batman, Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain, Indiana Jones, Charlie Chaplin and Daniel Kaluuya’s character in Get Out.” My goodness, does the time fly.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before graphic novel

Any fans of Jenny Han’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before series? People has an exclusive cover reveal of its graphic novel adaptation, adapted by writer Barbara Perez Marquez and illustrated by Akimaro and Li Lu. It’s set to be released on May 5, 2026 and is available for preorders.