Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, his debut novel and a New York Times bestseller, began as a proposed picture book. Riggs, a collector of old photographs by amateur photographers, was convinced by editors at Quirk Books to expand his concept into a young adult novel. The result, a mix of those photographs and a darkly whimsical story, was published in 2011. It follows 16-year-old Jacob Portman, who, after his grandfather's strange death, travels to a seemingly deserted orphanage in Wales. Eventually he discovers an orphanage hidden in a time loop, a place run by Alma LeFay Peregrine for children with unusual powers, like invisibility, super strength, and far more peculiar gifts. It turns out Jacob also has a weird ability, one that might make all the difference in a struggle against a harrowing enemy.Tim Burton's film adaptation of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children opens today. Asa Butterfield stars as Jacob, with Eva Green as Miss Peregrine, Samuel L. Jackson as the villainous Mr. Barron and Judi Dench as Miss Avocet. Riggs has written two sequels for Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: Hollow City (2014) and Library of Souls (2015). Quirk released a movie tie-in edition ($11.99, 9781594749025) on August 2. --Tobias Mutter