How do others feel about film or theatre adaptations of favourite books?Currently I'm attending some of the national performances of 'Hippo! Hippo! the Musical'(Garry Ginivan Attractions) which was inspired by my picture book ' There's a Hippopotamus on Our Roof Eating Cake' so I'm thinking about the techniques involved with a book crossing into other mediums. From an author's perspective I'm thrilled at the imaginative leap. But theatre does work differently from the solitary experience of a book. Did it give you a different kind of enjoyment? I've been very conscious of the songs and music for theatrical mood setting, whereas authors have only words.

Is there an order in which you prefer to experience a story? Book or theatre first?