buzz

If you're a fan of children's literature but not already familiar with children's author and illustrator Brian Selznick, all of that is about to change.

Selznick's 2008 Caldecott Award-winning book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, is about to be Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese's first 3D family film. Paramount Pictures' much-anticipated Hugo, starring Jude Law, Chloe Moretz, Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Kingsley and Johnny Depp, is set for national release on Nov. 23, 2011.

Meanwhile, Selznick's newest children's novel, Wonderstruck, has just been published by Scholastic Books and is receiving rave reviews.

And the Brian Selznick trifecta continues in January when Chicago Children's Theatre unleashes The Houdini Box, a world premiere musical adventure based on Selznick's popular first novel about a mischievous boy who receives a special box that just might contain the secrets of Harry Houdini's success.

Performances of Chicago Children's Theatre's The Houdini Box are Jan. 24-Mar. 4, 2012 at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, Chicago.

CCT's Chicago run of The Houdini Box will be followed by a suburban remount, Mar. 14-25, 2012 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 N. Skokie Blvd. in Skokie.