Reader's Digest Children's Publishing and Sesame Street(R) Form Partnership

Reader's Digest Children's Publishing and Sesame Street(R) Form Partnership PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Reader's Digest Children's Publishing today announced an agreement to publish and distribute Sesame Street(R) Specialty, Novelty and Board Books in the United States and Canada, effective summer 2005. "Sesame Street is a strong and proven brand known for the highest quality, and one that parents, grandparents, and kids have come to respect," said Harold Clarke, President and Publisher, Reader's Digest Books and Music for The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. "Our brands fit well together and we're very excited to expand our relationship with Sesame Workshop." "Likewise, Reader's Digest's proven success with innovative value-added book formats is a perfect match for Sesame Street's educational content and engaging characters," said Scott Chambers, Vice President and General Manager, Publishing, for Sesame Workshop. "We pride ourselves on Sesame Street's long history of helping to educate children through play, and Reader's Digest immediately embraced those core values to develop fun, educational, and innovative children's book formats that are sure to be a long-term success as well." Reader's Digest Children's Books are distributed by Simon & Schuster, and can be purchased through retail and online bookstores nationally. Beginning this year, Reader's Digest Children's Publishing will release the following four Sesame Street titles: Sesame Street Follow Elmo: Flocked Google: ($10.99): This story features the well-loved character Elmo as he leads a group of friends on a game of follow the leader. As readers follow along with the story and the Sesame Street gang, they learn about concepts such as opposites, location words, and most important, friendship. The bright colorful Elmo-shaped cover adds extra appeal to the book, thanks to the flocked surface and large, moving googly eyes. Sesame Street Fun With Friends: A CarryAlong Book ($14.99): Sesame Street is a happy place filled with familiar, trusted friends. Now, children can visit their buddies whenever they like in this CarryAlong book featuring Elmo, Big Bird, Zoe, and Cookie Monster. Each friend stars in his or her very own story and a colorful tab on each page lets kids find their favorite character fast. The sturdy handle and clasp let kids take this book wherever they go so their friends are never far away. Sesame Street Elmo's Easy as ABC: Flap Book and DVD: ($15.99): Kids will love exploring the alphabet hidden beneath the 60 action flaps and finding other letter-appropriate objects in every richly illustrated scene. When they are done reading, they can watch the 15-minute DVD that's tucked into the front cover. Packed with the alphabet-themed songs, skits, and graphic teaching elements that Sesame Street is famous for, it supports the book's educational content while entertaining and involving children in a way unique to the TV show. What child could resist singing along to Elmo's "Alphabet Rap" or the 'Boogie Woogie Piggies' rousing barnyard rendition of the alphabet song? Learning the alphabet really is as easy as A, B, C! Sesame Street Multi Wheel: Elmo's Day ($12.99): Elmo wants to share his day with you! There's so much to do and learn from morning till bedtime. While reading the story, kids turn special three-part wheels on every spread to match up weather and clothing, colors, shapes, pattern-matching, and animal sounds. Children will want to be part of Elmo's Day again and again. About Reader's Digest Children's Publishing Reader's Digest Children's Publishing has trade distribution in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., and produces co-editions in over 25 languages and 31 countries. The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. is a global publisher and direct marketer of products that inform, enrich, entertain and inspire people of all ages and cultures around the world. Global headquarters are located at Pleasantville, New York. The company's main Web site is at http://www.rd.com/. About Sesame Workshop: Sesame Workshop is a nonprofit educational organization making a meaningful difference in children's lives around the world. Founded in 1968, the Workshop changed television forever with the legendary Sesame Street. Today, the Workshop continues to innovate on behalf of children in 120 countries, using its proprietary research methodology to ensure its programs and products are engaging and enriching. Sesame Workshop is behind award- winning programs like Dragon Tales and Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat and ground breaking multimedia productions in South Africa, Egypt and Russia. As a nonprofit, Sesame Workshop puts the proceeds it receives from sales of Sesame Street, Dragon Tales and Sagwa products right back into its educational projects for children around the world. Find the Workshop online at http://www.sesameworkshop.org/. Source: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. CONTACT: Stephanie Kiluk of Reader's Digest Association, Inc., +1-914-244-7709; Pam Hacker of Sesame Workshop, +1-212-875-6225 Web site: http://www.rd.com/ http://www.sesameworkshop.org/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment