Weston Woods Studios

Weston Woods Studios is a production company that makes audio and short films based on well-known books for children. It was founded in 1953 by Morton Schindel in Weston, Connecticut, and named after the wooded area near his home. The company's first project was Andy and the Lion in 1954, and its first animated film was The Snowy Day in 1963. Starting in 1968, Weston Woods began a long collaboration with animator Gene Deitch and opened international offices in Henley-on-Thames, England, UK, in 1972; Canada in 1975; and Australia in 1977. In addition to making the films, the company also conducted intrviews with the writers, illustrators, and makers of the films. The films appeared on children's television programs such as Captain Kangaroo and Eureeka's Castle.^[1] In the mid-1980s, the films were released on VHS under the Children's Circle titles.

Beginning in 1968, the company also made filmstrips and audio recordings synchronized to them, which became known as the Picture Book Parade. Many of these recordings were narrated by actor Owen Jordan and were different recordings from the films.

In 1996, the company was acquired by Scholastic Corporation.^[2]

See also

Children's literature portal

• Reading Rainbow

References

1. ^ "Hand-to-hand Comedy" (7 September 1990). Retrieved on 25 October 2008.
2. ^ "Scholastic—About Us", Retrieved on 25 October 2008.

External links

• Scholastic Corporation Web Site
• Weston Woods at IMDb
• "Imagination and Innovation: The Weston Woods Story" at Amazon
• Opening and closing credits featured on the "Children's Circle" videos