The judging panel, which revealed its decision at the London International Book Fair at Olympia, had over 100 applicants from which to choose.
The panel's goal was to commission an author who would appeal to children and adults.
McCaughrean sold the judges on her ability to deliver the magic to both young and old with a sample chapter and synopsis of a follow-up "fairy" tale called Captain Pan.
Captain Pan
With the title Captain Pan Peter Pan fans are given a hint of what happens when the boy who can fly "grows up."
The children's hospital has given McCaughrean a few guidelines.
They have said that the authorized book must feature the original characters, including: Peter, Wendy, Tinkerbell and Captain Hook.
David Barrie, the original author's great-great-nephew, was one of the judges on the panel.
He said "choosing a winner was a tough challenge."
Barrie added:
We were presented with lots of wonderfully imaginative entries.
Geraldine had a real fight on her hands, but she won through in the end.
I think J.M. Barrie would have liked her style - if I'm wrong, he'll be back to haunt us.
Jane Collins, chief executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital and a judge, said the hospital has always wanted a sequel to Peter Pan because of the pleasure he has given children and adults for more than 100 years and to build on Barrie's generosity.
Collins said:
Peter Pan may never grow up, but the income he brings us has helped many other children grow up and get better over the years.
With half our beds in a building dating back to the 1930s, any little help from the sequel will be very welcome.
Peter Pan Sequel Author, Geraldine McCaughrean
Geraldine McCaughrean's previous publications include: children's books, picture books, retelling of the classics, retelling of myths and legends, contributions to anthologies, younger books, adult books, audio tapes, poems, radio and plays.
She has written more than 120 books which have been translated into twenty-six languages from Argentinian Spanish to Welsh.
Geraldine McCaughrean has won numerous awards for her work.
Rewriting classics has become her forte.
The three times she has won the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year it has been for her reinterpretation of the classics.
She recently won the national honor for Not the End of the World, a retelling of the Noah's ark story. This book will be released in July 2005 but can be ordered now.
In addition to her interpretation of Noah's Ark, she has received the same award for penning Herman Melville's Moby Dick and for The Canterbury Tales.
She has received numerous awards in the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany.
In the United States, she has won the following awards:
Parenting Reading Magic Award in 1993 and 1998
American Library Association Notable Book in 1998
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults and Center for
In 1998, Children's Books Blue Ribbon Book for The Pirate's Son
In 1999, Newsweek Best Picture Book for Children for Grandma Chickenlegs
In 2000, Amazon.com Editor's Top Ten Children's Books for The Stones are Hatching
In 2003, the American Library Association Notable Book and American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults for The Kite Rider
In 2003, the School Library Journal Best Books for Stop The Train
A few of her other more popular books include:
Plundering Paradise
Roman Myths
The Odyssey
Greek Gods And Goddesses
1001 Arabian Nights
The Random House Book of Stories from the Ballet
How the Reindeer Got Their Antlers
God's Kingdom: Stories from The New Testament
To be published April 10th 2005 is Perseus, the second of four books in McCaughrean's hero series.
Royalties from the new Peter Pan book will be split between the author and the Great Ormond Street Hospital.
At his death in 1937, Scottish-born J.M. Barrie willed the "Peter Pan" rights to the hospital.
The hospital has long sought to commission a follow-up. Their ownership rights end in Europe in 2007 and in the U.S. in 2023.
There have been numerous attempts at creating both a sequel and a prequel. However, McCaughrean's is the first "official" effort.
In 1902, J.M. Barrie introduced the Peter Pan character in a novel called "The Little White Bird."
Two years later, the play that made the five foot tall playright famous premiered at the Duke of York's theater in London.
In 1911, Barrie turned the story into a children's bedtime story book.
For over 100 years, Peter Pan has captured the attention of audiences around the world.
In 1991, the character of Peter Pan inspired the making of Hook which starred Robbin Williams, Dustin Hoffman and Julia Roberts.
Directed by Steven Spielberg, the DVD of this movie was released on February 1st 2005.
Last year, Hollywood recognized the play's centenary with two movies:
Peter Pan (2003) directed by P.J. Hogan and starring Jeremy Sumpter
Finding Neverland Cast
Finding Neverland (2005) starring Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet and Agatha Christie
Johnny Depp plays J.M. Barrie, who in real-life had no children of his own. However, he adopted five young boys after their parents died of cancer.
We have the Llewelyn Davis boys to thank for inspiring Barrie to create "Peter Pan."
Finding Neverland will be released on DVD and VHS on March 22nd.
The movie that received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture of the Year will come with deleted scenes, outtakes and "on the red carpet" footage from the premiere.
Congratulations Geraldine McCaughrean!
And thank you Barrie and his five boys, wherever in Neverland you may be soaring off to today.
Inspire & Be Inspired.
Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "believing in the magic all over again" living!
~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegant Living publisher
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