Night at the Museum: The Junior Novelization [Paperback]

Leslie Goldman (Author)

Book Description

Here is a novelized version of the new hit comedy film released by Fox Studios in December '06. It's an expanded version of Milan Trenc's picture storybook for children, The Night at the Museum, which was first published by Barron's several seasons ago. On his very first night at work, the night guard at New York's Museum of Natural History begins to see the museum's exhibits come to life. He tells his son about the many strange things he sees each night. At first reluctant to believe his father's fanciful tales, the son begins to see Dad in a new light when he, too, spends a night at the museum. He discovers that his father's amazing world is real. The film's unusual and entertaining story, starring Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Mickey Rooney, and Dick Van Dyke, is faithfully recreated in this funny and fanciful novelization for young readers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER!

From the Inside Flap

(back cover)
On his very first night as security guard at New York's Museum of Natural History, Larry watches amazed as the museum's exhibits come to life. Later, he tells his son the astounding things he has seen. At first reluctant to believe his father's strange tales, Nick begins to see his Dad in a new light when he, too, spends a night at the museum.

Dinosaur bones can't really come to life . . . or can they?

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764135767
• ISBN-13: 978-0764135767
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #421,515 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Writing Locker Room Diaries was a labor of love, an extraordinary journey in which women of all ages, shapes, sizes, ethnicities and backgrounds invited me into their lives to talk about a deeply personal topic. And look what I found: we all hate negative - oftentimes hateful - feelings about our bodies. This thread wove itself throughout the life continuum, starting as early as age three, with little girls who refused to eat their juice and cookies at school because they were "on diets," to older women who still felt shame about their wrinkles and sags, even though their bodies had given life to others, had sustained them through disease... (thankfully, most of the older women I spoke with had much more positive things to say about coming to terms with their aging physiques!) The book has definitely struck a chord - I was interviewed on the Today Show in July by the lovely Natalie Morales and it was featured in People Magazine as well! I think that's because, despite the aforementioned examples, the book is not just another sad eating disorder tome - it's FUNNY! My humor and own body image foibles (from first time bikini waxing to germaphobic locker room visits) are interspersed throughout, as are quotes from scores of other women, making Locker Room Diaries truly a sort of diary - a peek into the minds of what other women really think. Take a look - I bet you'll relate.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful light read with big ideas, December 1, 2006

By 

ellen "ellen in atlanta" (Atlanta, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Night at the Museum: The Junior Novelization (Paperback)

I loved this little book! Had seen the previews of the movie, and wanted to read the story. It is a charming tale of a divorced father who can't seem to hold onto a job, down on his luck, trying to do his best with his son, who lives with his mom - He finally gets a lead on a job: a night watchman at a museum filled with many wonderful exhibits. He gets the job, and to his amazement, the statues come to life at night! How he manages to bring harmony to his life and the museum is charming - It may be for young people, but the message is for everyone -
Would I love to visit that museum!

5.0 out of 5 stars Manifest Destiny at Home in the Heart, January 3, 2007

By 

Sandy Carlson "SandyCarlson" (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night at the Museum: The Junior Novelization (Paperback)

One age's veni, vidi, vici is another's Manifest Destiny. History is a sequence of stories about one person taking what he wants from another just because he can. It's about the effects of unbridled power. The lesson we all know but never quite process is that we're doomed to repeat the history we don't learn from. We're doomed because the unlearned lessons are about the pain and misery that result from limited knowledge and understanding. These are the limits that kill off the part of us that can empathize with others.

Night at the Museum produced by 20th Century Fox turns the dry thoughts of the above paragraph into an adventure in which T-rex skeletons, wax figures--larger than life, life size, and miniature--and mummies come to life after hours to challenge the perceptions of the new night guard, a divorced ne'er do well on the verge of losing his son to the highly successful bond-trader boyfriend of his ex-wife--herself a non-stop critic of her son's father, Larry.

Played by Ben Stiller, Larry Daley can't seem to get out from under the various forms of despair he experiences until he meets Teddy Roosevelt, played sensitively and humorously by Robin Williams. Teddy is the paragon of honest curiosity, initiative, and courage who mentors Larry in his early days as night watchman. Because Robin Williams is Teddy, he is a very funny wise old sage on horseback in love with Sacagawea under glass.

Night at the Museum appeals to the desire for adventure and romance--Larry loves the Carla the Docent, Teddy loves the Scout--without the violence and sex that can leave a person feeling trampled as the credits roll. There's some violence and the chase that makes an adventure flic worthy of its name, and it's just right. The chase is set in motion by Cecil, Gus, and Reginald the three night guards that Larry has replaced--Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney, and Bill Cobbs, respectively.

Larry does not conquer his demons in the end. He deals with them and they learn to dance with each other and life gets good. And he and his son share a secret that even the neurotic ex-wife won't be able to dismantle.

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Double P-U!, April 18, 2007

By 

Sandy Rhoad "Insatiable reader" (Branchville, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night at the Museum: The Junior Novelization (Paperback)

I bought this horribly written little book for my grandchildren to read before the DVD comes out next week. I read it first - sorry that I did. It stinks! It is written so badly that even a little child would be bored. If the movie is as bad as the book it is no wonder that it became a DVD so quickly. Do not bother with this poorly written rot.