Wimpy Kid’s Hot Mess tour, empowers young readers

Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, has kicked off his Hot Mess tour to promote the series’ 19th book. Starting on October 20, the tour will run through November 3, 2024. Kinney is travelling nationwide in a themed food truck, performing an interactive stage show and donating books.

The tour emphasises the importance of reading freedom, aiming to empower children in their book choices amid increasing book bans. In partnership with First Book, Kinney will donate over 100,000 books to Title I schools and diverse communities. Highlights of the tour include a conveyor belt signing system and a Wimpy Kid-inspired book menu, ensuring fun and inclusivity at each stop.

New documentary on Christopher Reeve’s resilience

The new documentary Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story explores actor Christopher Reeve’s life, focusing on themes of love, loss and resilience.

After a tragic 1995 accident left Reeve paralysed, he became a passionate advocate for spinal cord injury awareness and continued his career in the entertainment industry. Directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, the film highlights Reeve’s journey through grief, adaptation, and advocacy for the disabled community, and it includes deeply personal interviews with his children, capturing his legacy.

Tim Burton, a technophobe who prefers clouds over tech

Tim Burton, the acclaimed director of Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands, has revealed his aversion to technology, stating he is a “bit of a technophobe.”

In a recent BBC News interview, he admitted that browsing the internet often leaves him feeling depressed and prefers to find joy in simpler, more tangible experiences, like observing clouds, which he finds uplifting. Burton is working on his upcoming projects, including the new Beetlejuice sequel and episodes for Netflix’s Wednesday. He remains focused on the creative aspects of filmmaking while steering clear of the digital distractions that can dampen his spirits.

Published in Dawn, Young World, November 2nd, 2024