The Spotlight
October 2007 - Immedium
1. News
2. Reviews
3. Events
1. NEWS
A. The Octonauts have Returned!
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As we promised, this October is "Octonauts" month again. For the second straight year, we proudly publish another fantastic story about this team of eight adorable adventurers, The Octonauts and the Sea of Shade.
In anticipation of the book's debut, the Utne Reader magazine recently recommended the Octonauts in their "From the Stacks" column: "The crisply drafted pages bloom with fascinating detail: every tree, shadow, rock, and animal has an endearing, individual personality…the book itself is a lush visual treat."
All are invited to our California kick-off events. The authors' Hollywood premiere is at the pop culture mecca Soap Plant Wacko on October 13th.
The San Francisco launch with our special guests Meomi is at Books, Inc. in Laurel Village on October 18th, followed by a weekend of seven more readings throughout the Bay Area.
Kaliber10k took the words out of mouths when they wrote: "Pre-order The Octonauts and the Sea of Shade today - your kids will love you for it."
B. Julie Black Belt leaps ahead
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Meanwhile our latest and greatest kung fu heroine, Julie Black Belt, is making the rounds. This past weekend, as illustrator Charlene Chua presented in Toronto, Canada, we squeezed in another appearance at the annual Moon Festival in Cupertino, California and the Asian newspapers Sing Tao USA and the World Journal reported on our participation.
Soon on October 10th, we'll introduce Julie to nine elementary school classes at the San Francisco Main Library's Koret Auditorium for Kidquake, part of the city's annual Litquake festival. Let us know if you'd like Julie to visit a school near you!
We've created complimentary teacher's guides and flyers to help spread the word - feel free to download them from www.julieblackbelt.com.
"The ingenious illustrations of Charlene Chua drive the narrative as writer Oliver Chin offers clever stealth lessons, affirming the rewards of dedication and practice. This charming volume makes Kung Fu fun & appealing - it's a book both my young children will want to read over and over!"
- Steve Lafler, graphic novelist
C. Artistic Congratulations
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We give a hearty pat on the back to our dear friend Miah Alcorn, the illustrator of our popular series Tales from the Chinese Zodiac (The Year of the Dog and The Year of the Pig). Recently he heeded the eternal call of "Go west, young man" as he made the cross-country trip from Alabama to California. That's because the cable television channel Nickelodeon hired him! We're glad to see that talent and hard work are recognized, so good luck to Miah and his supportive family as he helps animate Nick's cartoon show El Tigre.
Speaking of Tales from the Chinese Zodiac, our next eagerly awaited installment is at the printer: The Year of the Rat. It will arrive before December, in time for holiday gift-giving (hint, hint)! Miah's vibrant rendering of our new star Ralph the Rat will make other rodent stories look like leftover casseroles.
Our 2008 "New Year's" events calendar for book readings is filling up already, so place your requests now!
2. REVIEWS
Julie Black Belt (ISBN: 1-59702-009-5, $15.95)
"the illustrations are so bright and vivid... Charlene Chua definitely does a great job. There are lots of nice details while keeping everything simple and clean. The martial arts seem to be very popular these days; there's probably 3 or 4 studios in our little town. So, if your little one is interested, or if you're looking to get your child interested, this book might be perfect for you."
- SuperCoolBaby
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The Octonauts and the Sea of Shade (ISBN: 978-1-59702-010-7, $15.95)
"I've been a fan of Meomi for a number of years and it's not surprising that her acquired craft as an illustrator, her attention to details and the passion shown to illustrating sweetness would take the form of children books. The characters have each a compelling personality and the story is a voyage in the realm of a very fertile imagination and the plot unfolds with page after page of visual goodness…Mind you, if you're a serious illustrator, her books are a must have for study and reference."
- Netdiver magazine
3. EVENTS
OCTOBER
- 10/6: Oliver Chin: JBB: Eastwind Books, 2066 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA: 3 pm.
- 10/10: Oliver Chin: Kidquake 2007, San Francisco Main Library, Koret Auditorium, CA, 11 am.
- 10/13: Oliver Chin: JBB: Dog Eared Books, 900 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA, 10:30 am
- 10/13: Meomi: Octonauts SOS: Soap Plant Wacko 4633 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 6 pm
- 10/16: Meomi: Octonauts SOS: Storyopolis, 12348 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA, 11:30 am.
- 10/17: Oliver Chin: Barnes & Noble, 552 Contra Costa Blvd, Ste 90, Pleasant Hill, CA, 7 pm.
- 10/18: Meomi: Octonauts SOS: Books, Inc. - Laurel Village, San Francisco, CA, 7 pm.
- 10/19: Meomi: Octonauts SOS: Copperfields, Petaluma, CA, 10 am.
- 10/19: Meomi: Octonauts SOS: Foster City Public Library, 1000 E. Hillsdale Blvd., CA, 4 pm.
- 10/19: Meomi: Octonauts SOS: Super 7, 1628 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, 415-409-4700, 7 pm.
- 10/20: Meomi: Octonauts SOS: Books, Inc., 1344 Park Street, Alameda, CA, 510-522-2226, 11 am.
- 10/20: Meomi: Octonauts SOS: Wink SF, 4107 24th Street, San Francisco, CA, 415-401-8881, 3 pm.
- 10/21: Meomi: Octonauts SOS: Codys, 1730 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA, (510) 559-9500, 11 am.
- 10/21: Meomi: Octonauts SOS: Book Passage, 1 Ferry Building, #42 San Francisco, CA, 1 pm.
- 10/24: Oliver Chin: Comics Workshop: San Lorenzo Library, 395 Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo, 4 pm.
NOVEMBER
- 11/3: Oliver Chin: JBB: Avid Reader Bookstore, 1600 Broadway, Sacramento, CA, 10:30 am.
- 11/3: Oliver Chin: JBB: Children's Book and Craft Faire, Bethany Presbyterian Church, 5625-24th Street, Sacramento, CA, noon.
- 11/6: Oliver Chin: JBB: San Francisco Library: Richmond Police Station Community Room, 461 6th Avenue, 11 am.
- 11/17: Oliver Chin: JBB: Little Star Preschool Too, 1105 Quintara, San Francisco, CA, 11:15 am.
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Keep your hallowed spirits near and dear.
Immedium
P.O. Box 31846
San Francisco, CA 94131
orders@immedium.com
Immedium, Inc. inspires a world of imagination, and creates entertaining books that have multi-dimensional appeal. Based in San Francisco, CA, Immedium sits on the Pacific Rim, a vibrant intersection for crossover cultural trends from Asia and America. Embracing an increasingly diverse and "multimedia" world, Immedium publishes titles ranging from eye-catching children's books and contemporary non-fiction to commentaries on art and popular culture. Visit us at www.immedium.com.