New Sendak Picture Book to Publish this Fall
HarperCollins announced the publication of a long-awaited new picture book by author Maurice Sendak. Known best for his Caldecott-winning Where the Wild Things Are, Sendak’s career has spanned more than 60 years. Now, with Bumble-Ardy set for release on September 6, 2011, readers will have a new Sendak book to add to their library. Bumble-Ardy is the first book illustrated and written by Sendak since Outside Over There in 1981.
Bumble-Ardy has evolved from an animated segment for Sesame Street that aired in the early 1970s to a picture book about a mischievous pig who has reached the age of nine without ever having a birthday party. But all that changes when Bumble throws a party for himself and invites all his friends, leading to a wild masquerade that quickly gets out of hand.
Sesame eBookstore iPad App Unveiled
Sesame Workshop and Impelsys announced the launch of the Sesame Street eBookstore iPad app. The app provides access to more than 150 Sesame Street eBooks, which are also available via an online subscription. The app is available for free in Apple’s App Store. Users can browse titles free of charge. To read all eBook titles, the app invites users to subscribe to either one month of full access for $3.99 or one year of unlimited access for $39.99. Current subscribers of the Sesame Street eBookstore can use the app to access their bookshelf with an iPad and will not need to make an additional subscription purchase.
The Sesame Street eBookstore app allows users to connect to Sesame Street’s eBookstore to preview content, view their unique bookshelf, and download all or select books directly to their iPad.
The Sesame Street eBookstore is run and managed by Impelsys and features a collection of Sesame Street eBook titles.
Nickelodeon Adds Digital Children’s Books to NOOK Kids
Barnes & Noble, Inc., announced the expansion of its NOOK Kids collection of digital children’s picture books through a partnership with Nickelodeon. Books featuring Nickelodeon properties such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer are available digital format, only for Barnes & Noble customers through the NOOK Color Reader’s Tablet and the free NOOK Kids for iPad app.
Schylling to Distribute Doodle Roll
Schylling signed a deal with Imagination Brands to distribute its Doodle Roll Activity Kit. Just as the name implies, Doodle Roll unfolds and kids can draw on the paper. There is a four-inch wide version, which unfurls 15 feet, and a six-inch wide version, which unfurls 30 feet. Each kit comes with crayons.
CBS and Showtime Launch The Borgias Line
CBS Consumer Products and Showtime revealed a slate of new products based on the upcoming Showtime series The Borgias—a scandalous saga of one of the most remarkable and legendary families in history. The series, set during the height of the Renaissance in Italy, will bring the style and imagery of that era to period costumes, wine, collectible dolls, a Facebook game, collectible replicas of weaponry, and more. Votto Vines will import Italian wine to the U.S. Marc Ecko Entertainment will design an interactive Facebook game for the U.S. and Canada. Epic Weapons will create costumes and collectible replica weaponry based on the show’s characters; these will be available worldwide. Coveroo will create custom phone cases and covers for a wide range of consumer electronics devices in the U.S. Madame Alexander will offer eight-inch and 12-inch vinyl and plastic collectible and fashion dolls in the U.S.