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| + | {{DISPLAYTITLE:''{{PAGENAME}}''}} |
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| − | {{Tabber/Book|previous=Ghost in the Mirror}} |
+ | {{Unreleased}}{{Tabber/Book|previous=Ghost in the Mirror|next=When the Snake Bites}} |
{{Infobox book |
{{Infobox book |
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|name = The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader |
|name = The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader |
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|series = ''[[Goosebumps Series 2000]]'' |
|series = ''[[Goosebumps Series 2000]]'' |
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|seriesnumber = 26 |
|seriesnumber = 26 |
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| − | |pre = ''[[Ghost in the Mirror]]''}}'''''The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader''''' was going to be the twenty-sixth book in the ''[[Goosebumps Series 2000]]'' book series. It was never released due to [[R.L. Stine]]'s [[R.L. Stine's fallout with Scholastic|contract with Scholastic expiring]]. |
+ | |pre = ''[[Ghost in the Mirror]]''|next=''[[When the Snake Bites]]'' (cancelled)}}'''''The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader''''' was going to be the twenty-sixth book in the ''[[Goosebumps Series 2000]]'' book series. It was never released due to [[R.L. Stine]]'s [[R.L. Stine's fallout with Scholastic|contract with Scholastic expiring]]. |
| − | == |
+ | ==History== |
| − | + | The title of the book was publicly revealed in a March 1998 article on the ''Goosebumps'' fan-site, [[The Bumps]], along with other ''[[Goosebumps Series 2000]]'' titles.<ref>"[[The Bumps]]" — [https://web.archive.org/web/19980504154242/http://thebumps.com:80/recent1v.htm "Ask R.L." Exclusive: Six Possible GB 2000 Titles! (archived)]</ref> [[Tim Jacobus]] completed the cover illustration in 1999, but before he could submit it, a Scholastic representative called and told him not to turn in the artwork, asserting that it would be his final ''[[Goosebumps (franchise)|Goosebumps]]'' cover.<ref name=":1">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QvPAWYWj6o&t=1844 <nowiki>Tim Jacobus - Youch Films Podcast Ep. 6 [30:44]</nowiki>]</ref> Due to legal disputes between Scholastic and Parachute Press, Scholastic opted not to renew R.L. Stine's contract, meaning the book's planned ''Series 2000'' release had to be canceled. |
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| − | + | In an interview from March 6, 2017, Jacobus described the book's cover and cancellation in detail.<ref name=":1" /> Jacobus shared the unused artwork three days later on March 9 after receiving a request from a fan.<ref>[[Thread:13795|The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader - BIG NEWS!]]</ref> The cover depicts what would be a scene from the book, showing miniature-sized kid holding a pencil, warding off a white rat while standing atop a classroom desk. |
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| ⚫ | The scene depicted on the cover, along with the plot of a shrinking fifth grader and being inspired by the film ''The Incredible Shrinking Man'' bears a striking resemblance to the R.L. Stine book, ''The Adventures of Shrinkman'', which was released very shortly after the cancellation of ''Series 2000''. On November 14, 2017, R.L. Stine confirmed on Twitter that the plot for ''The Adventures of Shrinkman'' had in fact evolved from ''The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader''.<ref>[https://twitter.com/RL_Stine/status/930430927418863617 R.L. Stine confirming that a "lost" ''Goosebumps Series 2000'' book turned into ''The Adventures of Shrinkman''.] <small>([https://web.archive.org/web/20171114152003/https:/twitter.com/RL_Stine/status/930430927418863617 Mirror.])</small></ref> |
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| ⚫ | |||
| − | While this book was never released, the title and cover artwork reveal that the protagonist, a fifth grader, shrinks to miniature sizes. |
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| + | In November 2021, an art book titled ''[[The Art of Goosebumps]]'' was released that revealed early concept art of ''The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader'' that featured a rabbit instead of a rat.<ref>''[[The Art of Goosebumps]]'', page 194</ref> It also revealed that a book titled ''[[When the Snake Bites]]'' was planned to follow this book, though a cover was never illustrated for it. ''The Art of Goosebumps'' also features concept art from ''The Adventures of Shrinkman''. |
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| − | In the year 2000, [[R.L. Stine]] published a one-off book titled ''[https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Shrinkman-R-L-Stine/dp/161218328X The Adventures of Shrinkman]''. ''The Adventures of Shrinkman'' was released very shortly after the cancellation of ''[[Goosebumps Series 2000]]'', and the book was the first of six stand-alone novellas that Stine would publish between 2000 and 2001. The introduction to the book says it was partially inspired by the movie ''The Incredible Shrinking Man'', which is the same film that ''The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader'' derived its title from. The main character of ''The Adventures of Shrinkman'' is in the fifth grade, which is the same as the protagonist of ''The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader''. In ''The Adventures of Shrinkman'', there is a scene where a white lab rat attacks the miniature protagonist, which is extremely similar to the scenario depicted in the cover illustration for the book ''The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader''. |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | On November 14, 2017, R.L. Stine confirmed on Twitter that the plot for ''The Adventures of Shrinkman'' had evolved from ''The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader''.<ref>[https://twitter.com/RL_Stine/status/930430927418863617 R.L. Stine confirming that |
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| + | <gallery> |
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| + | File:Shrinking Fifth Grader Concept Art 01.jpg|Concept Sketch by [[Tim Jacobus]] |
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| + | File:Shrinking Fifth Grader Concept Art 02.jpg|Concept sketch by Tim Jacobus featuring the initial Rabbit concept. |
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| + | File:Shrinking Fifth Grader Concept Art 03.jpg|Concept sketch by Tim Jacobus |
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| + | File:Shrinking Fifth Grader Concept Art 04.jpg|Concept sketch by Tim Jacobus |
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| + | File:Shrinking Fifth Grader Mockup.jpg|Color Mockup |
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| + | </gallery> |
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==Trivia== |
==Trivia== |
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| − | * |
+ | *A ''Goosebumps'' book featuring a shrinking protagonist was eventually released in 2011 as the ''[[Goosebumps Hall of Horrors]]'' book, ''[[Night of the Giant Everything]]''. Though, whether it borrows elements from ''The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader'' is unknown. |
| + | *The title being revealed in March 1998 means it evidently predates any mention of ''[[Ghost in the Mirror]]''. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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<references /> |
<references /> |
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[[Category:Books]] |
[[Category:Books]] |
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| + | [[Category:Unreleased Books]] |
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[[Category:Goosebumps Series 2000]] |
[[Category:Goosebumps Series 2000]] |
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| + | [[Category:Covers by Tim Jacobus]] |
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| + | [[Category:Change in Size]] |
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Latest revision as of 15:30, 29 March 2024
 Dead, But Not Buried... The following article relates to a project that was never published or released. |
The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader was going to be the twenty-sixth book in the Goosebumps Series 2000 book series. It was never released due to R.L. Stine's contract with Scholastic expiring.
History
The title of the book was publicly revealed in a March 1998 article on the Goosebumps fan-site, The Bumps, along with other Goosebumps Series 2000 titles.[1] Tim Jacobus completed the cover illustration in 1999, but before he could submit it, a Scholastic representative called and told him not to turn in the artwork, asserting that it would be his final Goosebumps cover.[2] Due to legal disputes between Scholastic and Parachute Press, Scholastic opted not to renew R.L. Stine's contract, meaning the book's planned Series 2000 release had to be canceled.
In an interview from March 6, 2017, Jacobus described the book's cover and cancellation in detail.[2] Jacobus shared the unused artwork three days later on March 9 after receiving a request from a fan.[3] The cover depicts what would be a scene from the book, showing miniature-sized kid holding a pencil, warding off a white rat while standing atop a classroom desk.
The scene depicted on the cover, along with the plot of a shrinking fifth grader and being inspired by the film The Incredible Shrinking Man bears a striking resemblance to the R.L. Stine book, The Adventures of Shrinkman, which was released very shortly after the cancellation of Series 2000. On November 14, 2017, R.L. Stine confirmed on Twitter that the plot for The Adventures of Shrinkman had in fact evolved from The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader.[4]
In November 2021, an art book titled The Art of Goosebumps was released that revealed early concept art of The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader that featured a rabbit instead of a rat.[5] It also revealed that a book titled When the Snake Bites was planned to follow this book, though a cover was never illustrated for it. The Art of Goosebumps also features concept art from The Adventures of Shrinkman.
Artwork
Concept Sketch by Tim Jacobus
Concept sketch by Tim Jacobus featuring the initial Rabbit concept.
Concept sketch by Tim Jacobus
Concept sketch by Tim Jacobus
Color Mockup
Trivia
- A Goosebumps book featuring a shrinking protagonist was eventually released in 2011 as the Goosebumps Hall of Horrors book, Night of the Giant Everything. Though, whether it borrows elements from The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader is unknown.
- The title being revealed in March 1998 means it evidently predates any mention of Ghost in the Mirror.
References
- ↑ "The Bumps" — "Ask R.L." Exclusive: Six Possible GB 2000 Titles! (archived)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tim Jacobus - Youch Films Podcast Ep. 6 [30:44]
- ↑ The Incredible Shrinking Fifth Grader - BIG NEWS!
- ↑ R.L. Stine confirming that a "lost" Goosebumps Series 2000 book turned into The Adventures of Shrinkman. (Mirror.)
- ↑ The Art of Goosebumps, page 194