Weekly book agenda: 'Twilight,' 'Wimpy Kid,' Ian McEwan's 'Solar'

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A graphic novel based on Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series is out March 16. The same day, The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary continues a hit children's book series with a film tie-in. And on March 18, the bestselling, Booker Prize-winning author Ian McEwan releases his newest novel, Solar, in the UK.

'Twilight: The Graphic Novel'
March 16
USA/UK

A graphic novel of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga will be published in the US and UK on March 16. Korean artist Young Kim created the art and adaptation for Twilight: The Graphic Novel, reportedly working side-by-side with Meyer. Yen Press will publish Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1 in the US; in the UK, Atom will publish the title on the same date. A release date for the second volume has not yet been announced.

'The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary: How Greg Heffley Went Hollywood'
March 16/17
USA/UK

The latest installment in Jeff Kinney's bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid children's book series is a companion to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie, due out internationally beginning March 19. The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary will include movie stills, storyboards, drawings, and behind the scenes information to humorously chronicle the making of the movie, based on Kinney's first Wimpy Kid novel. The series, which chronicles the comic adventures of protagonist Greg Heffley, has repeatedly made bestsellers lists in the USA and UK.

'Solar' by Ian McEwan
March 18/30
UK/USA

The latest novel by Booker Prize-winning novelist Ian McEwan will tell the story of a Nobel prize-winning physicist who receives an invitation to travel to New Mexico - an opportunity that offers him a chance to, according to the book's description, "extricate himself from his marital problems, reinvigorate his career, and very possibly save the world from environmental disaster."

PEN/Faulkner Awards ceremony
March 23
Washington DC

Sherman Alexie, Barbara Kingsolver, Lorraine M. López, Lorrie Moore, and Colson Whitehead are in the running for the 2010 PEN/Faulkner fiction award, a prestigious US prize. Nominees include Alexie's tragicomic story collection War Dances, Kingsolver's historical novel The Lacuna, López's Homicide Survivors Picnic and Other Stories, Moore's post-9/11 novel A Gate at the Stairs, and Colson Whitehead's coming-of-age story Sag Harbor. The winner - whom the PEN/Faulkner Foundation recognizes as the "best among equals" - receives $15,000, while each of the four finalists receives $5,000.
http://www.penfaulkner.org/

Bologna Children's Book Fair
March 23-26
Bologna, Italy

Now in its 47th year, the Bologna Children's Book Fair is the most significant annual international book fair in the children's publishing world. In 2009, about 1,300 exhibitors came from 67 countries, with those numbers expected to grow in 2010. While the fair is not open to the public, it sets the tone for the year ahead in children's book publishing, directly affecting what readers will find on shelves in the months and years to come. According to The Bookseller, the young adult sector is likely to be especially solid at the 2010 fair, driven by the success of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight books.
http://www.bookfair.bolognafiere.it/en/info/

'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls'
March 30
USA

The Quirk Classics series combines "popular fanboy characters like ninjas, pirates, zombies and monkeys" with classic public domain book titles. Quirk Books' first title, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith, made US and UK bestseller lists and is now being made into a film. Due out March 30 is a prequel, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls, by Steve Hockensmith.

International Edible Book Day
April 1
Worldwide

International Edible Book Day has been held every year since 2000 on or around April 1, coinciding with April Fools' Day. Creators Judith A. Hoffberg and Béatrice Coron invite people from all over the word to submit edible creations in the shape of books or in any way "bookish." Groups from Australia, Brazil, India, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, Russia, and Hong Kong have taken part in the event, holding small events at which they display their edible creations, take pictures, and submit them to the Edible Book Day website. All are welcome to participate; for more information, visit the event website.
http://www.books2eat.com


Apple iPad roll-out
Beginning April 3

Since the first rumors of Apple's iPad began, analysts have said the tablet computer was likely to revolutionize the e-reader market. The iPad's full-color display, iBook store offering titles from major publishers, and user-friendly size make the iPad a competitive and highly anticipated choice among e-reader fans. Apple is due to release the iPad in the US on April 3, then in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK by late April. The iBooks application will be offered in the US as a free download on April 3, according to Apple, and will be available in additional countries within the year.