An amazing discovery, the excitement over the release of the first of three new movies based on Tolkien's The Hobbit, and a new book from a Newbery Medal winner were highlights of this week's children's books news.

• There was great excitement over the finding of what may be the first story by Hans Christian Andersen, written in the 1820s. Articles, such as the BBC's Tallow Candle: Hans Christian Andersen's 'first work', popped up in many different countries. To learn more about the author, see Hans Christian Andersen and his Fairy Tales.
• Clare Vanderpool's new book for middle grade readers, Navigating Early, will be released on January 8, 2013. Vanderpool received the 2011 John Newbery Medal for her first novel, Moon Over Manifest. I'll be interviewing Clare in the next few weeks, so if you have any questions you want me to ask her, click on "Comments" below and post them there.
• If you're wondering what age The Hobbit movie is appropriate for, read The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Movie Review for Parents from Carey Bryson, About.com Guide to Kids' Movies & TV. If you're interested in finding the best edition of Tolkien's The Hobbit for your tween or teen, see my article about the 5 Best Editions of The Hobbit for Young People.

(Cover art courtesy of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

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