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February 1, 2013 by Travis Jonker

Casting Call! Children’s Literature: The Movie

February 1, 2013 by Travis Jonker   32 comments

I’ve found that everyone loves a good celebrity doppelgänger. Even if it’s unflattering, it’s always oddly fascinating. As a guy who was once likened to Paul from The Wonder Years, I can attest to this.

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I think it’s time we put together a list of actors who could play today’s children’s literature luminaries. Although Kadir Nelson, obviously, would have to play himself (reason: too damn handsome).

I posted this question on Facebook recently an received some excellent suggestions, and now I’m hoping to hear from you.

Do you have a good children’s literature celebrity look-alike to share? Are you a children’s lit author or illustrator and have a look-alike people tell you about? Post it in the comments or (if you’re shy) send me an email (scopenotes@gmail.com). Be peppy if possible – I’ll try to post the star-studded cast (and, hey, why not a script concept?) this coming Tuesday.

This will be fun.

(Top image: ‘Highland Theatre‘ http://www.flickr.com/photos/9087290@N02/2732675487 Found on flickrcc.net)

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About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

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Comments

  1. madelyn says

    February 1, 2013 at 3:03 pm

    Ok, I’ll bite. Stanley Tucci as Jon Scieszka?

    • Travis Jonker says

      February 1, 2013 at 3:40 pm

      The brave first commenter! Thank you – I can see that one.

  2. madelyn says

    February 1, 2013 at 3:08 pm

    (Are we allowed to suggest other people? Or did you just want illustrators/authors to do it for themselves?)

    • Travis Jonker says

      February 1, 2013 at 3:39 pm

      Any and all lookalikes that come to mind are welcome!

  3. Heidi Fiedler says

    February 1, 2013 at 3:52 pm

    Helen Hunt as JK Rowling. Blond hair, tight smile, fierce love of children…they are a match!

    • Travis Jonker says

      February 1, 2013 at 4:02 pm

      This is a good one – thanks!

  4. Alpha DeLap says

    February 1, 2013 at 4:04 pm

    Johnny Depp as Neil Gaiman

    • Travis Jonker says

      February 1, 2013 at 4:16 pm

      Yes! Thanks

  5. Lara Starr says

    February 1, 2013 at 5:42 pm

    I always thought JK Rowling and Cate Blanchett looked alike 🙂

    Jarrett J. Krosoczka and Alan Cumming

    And speaking of Karir Nelson, at ALA I was in a loooong Starbucks line and texted back to my colleagues in the booth, “This is going to take a while, the line for coffee is longer than the line to make out with Kadir Nelson!”

  6. Shannon Ozirny says

    February 1, 2013 at 5:50 pm

    Vin Diesel for Gordon Korman!

  7. Shannon Ozirny says

    February 1, 2013 at 5:56 pm

    And Lisa Loeb for Raina Telgemeier. Glasses + Smiley + Brunette + Awesome.

    Such a good crowd-sourcing idea! I have spent about 42% of my day off thinking about this.

    • Travis Jonker says

      February 3, 2013 at 7:06 pm

      Yes to both! Thank you!

  8. PragmaticMom says

    February 1, 2013 at 8:50 pm

    You do not look like Paul in the Wonder Years unless you wore his 60s glasses.

    Jarret Krosoczka played by John Krasinki

    Tommy Lee Jones playing Jack Gantos

    Cynthia Lord played by Amy Adams

    This is kind of fun!

  9. Jennifer Still-Schiff says

    February 2, 2013 at 1:52 pm

    http://www.imdb.com/media/rm820741376/nm0000450

    Philip Seymour Hoffman as Daniel Handler.

    • Travis Jonker says

      February 2, 2013 at 1:55 pm

      Yes! I love this one – thank you

  10. Sondy says

    February 2, 2013 at 2:15 pm

    This is fun! In your script, I think you should have Eric Carle, Barry Moser, and Tommie dePaola playing each other.

    • Travis Jonker says

      February 2, 2013 at 10:23 pm

      This is a lock! Thanks Sondy

    • Cecilia says

      February 4, 2013 at 1:35 am

      Norton Juster should be in that group too.

  11. Matthew C. Winner says

    February 2, 2013 at 10:10 pm

    Josh Radnor (aka Ted Mosby) as Jon Klassen.

    Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Mac Barnett.

    Caroline Rhea as Kate DiCamillo

    • Travis Jonker says

      February 2, 2013 at 10:24 pm

      You, sir, are a genius. Thank you!

  12. Lisa Yee says

    February 3, 2013 at 2:51 am

    Jamie Lee Curtis as Jamie Lee Curtis.

  13. Jeanne Birdsall says

    February 4, 2013 at 10:47 am

    I like where Lisa is going here. If actors can publish children’s books, can’t we act? I’ll play Lisa and she can play me.

    • Travis Jonker says

      February 4, 2013 at 3:00 pm

      Ha! I agree

  14. Erica says

    February 4, 2013 at 10:52 am

    Sam Waterston (or perhaps a younger Tom Bosley) as Jerry Spinelli
    Albert Finney (with a beard, natch) as Gary Paulsen
    Larry David as Louis Sachar

    • Travis Jonker says

      February 4, 2013 at 3:01 pm

      Thanks, Erica – some fine suggestions here!

  15. jarrett says

    February 5, 2013 at 11:34 am

    HA! I’m flattered by all of the recommendations. Like Travis, I too was called Paul Pfiefer. (Until this other kid joined our class later in the year.) And I was also called White Urkel, but that was by my family. (I had it rough: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1036613510539&set=a.1908537628097.107097.1081517815&type=3&theater )

  16. Shannon Ozirny says

    February 5, 2013 at 11:51 am

    I would just like to point out that Jarrett’s comment and link is the best thing of all time.

    That is all.

  17. PragmaticMom says

    February 5, 2013 at 11:59 am

    Jarrett’s TED talk was amazing! I have been social media-izing it like crazy! Jarrett, can I get you into my school for school author visit also? We are in Newton, MA.

  18. LRlibrarian says

    February 5, 2013 at 10:31 pm

    Kevin Spacey must play R. L. Stine. And, only Colin Farrel could play Oliver Jeffers.

  19. Jarrett says

    February 6, 2013 at 5:43 am

    Thanks so much, Pragmatic! I’d be psyched to visit your school! All of the info for my presentations is at http://www.studiojjk.com/schoolvisits.html

  20. Celeste says

    February 6, 2013 at 12:43 pm

    Logan Lerman can play Ned Vizzini!

  21. Paula G. says

    February 6, 2013 at 5:52 pm

    John Krasinski as John Green, and a younger Sean Hayes as Jon Klassen

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