The Spotlight
November 2007 - Immedium
1. News
2. Reviews
3. Events
1. NEWS
A. All Hail the Octonauts!
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True to form, the "Octonauts" month of October was super-dee-duper! Meomi's thrilling performances of their latest inventive tale, The Octonauts and the Sea of Shade, showered smiles onto the faces of readers of all ages. Marci Johnson, the Children's Book Buyer and Events Coordinator of Copperfield's Books, reported, "We had such a great time. It is always an honor to meet truly creative people…Thanks again!"
Co-author Michael Murphy returns home to Michigan to read the book at the Milford Public Library on November 8th, so we're inviting all Wolverines (between Detroit and Lansing) to come! View snapshots from the whirlwind "OctoTour 2007" thus far at: hellomeomi.livejournal.com.
Fans from all around the world (UK, Spain, France, Australia, Canada) have requested their own autographed books to enjoy the scintillating artwork up close. Reviewers have uniformly agreed, such as:
"The gorgeous illustrations have me hooked."
- Haute*Nature
"a funny, cutesy story for readers of all ages. The vibrant colors the artists use make sure that you'll want to check out every part of each page."
- Plastic and Plush
B. The Year of the Rat is Coming!
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Due to popular demand, we're publishing our next installment of Tales from the Chinese Zodiac series before the holiday season. Copies of The Year of the Rat should arrive by Thanksgiving, right in time to make great presents for loved ones.
As readers of its predecessors (The Year of the Dog and The Year of the Pig) can attest, these amazingly drawn picture books provide a big "storytime mileage" bang for the buck, and are created to be enjoyed all year round.
Our fearless illustrator Jeremiah Alcorn continues to expand the horizons of this dazzling and spirited universe. He has posted some sneak previews of the book and his creative process. Check out the evolution of our new hero Ralph the Rat here: alcornstudios.blogspot.com.
C. Kudos for Julie Black Belt
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Our martial arts heroine is making believers on both sides of the border. CM Magazine: Canadian Review of Materials (October 12, 2007) recommended Julie Black Belt as:
"an inspirational example to young children by emphasizing the value of hard work and determination as well as the physical and psychological rewards of learning marital arts. Furthermore, it portrays a strong female protagonist in a typically 'masculine' role. Readers will sympathize with Julie and applaud her triumph in learning martial arts."
The review went on to praise Charlene Chua's amazing art:
"Evocative of graphic novels, the illustrations will catch readers' attention. They portray the range of emotions that Julie and the other characters experience and also present the characters in 'action shots,' which will appeal to younger readers and draw them into the story. Many of the illustrations are mid-action sequences that will give readers the impression that they are watching a movie instead of reading a book with static pictures."
If you haven't already, download the free coloring pages at www.julieblackbelt.com and print out flyers to handout to libraries or martial arts schools near you.
2. REVIEWS
Julie Black Belt (ISBN: 1-59702-009-5, $15.95)
"Just for Kicks:
Idolizing the movie actress Brandy Wu, Julie confidently accepts her parents' offer to enroll in a kung fu class in Oliver Chin's delightful Julie Black Belt: The Kung Fu Chronicles. But getting a black belt won't be easy since her teacher says every beginner must start with a white one. Julie wonders what her big screen idol would do...Find out through Charlene Chua's lively illustrations in this engaging and empowering read."
- Audrey Magazine, Oct/Nov 2007 issue
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The Octonauts and the Sea of Shade (ISBN: 978-1-59702-010-7, $15.95)
"I can now report to you that The Octonauts & the Sea of Shade is just as charming, beautiful, funny, and adorable as the first Octonauts book. I highly recommend this to children and adults alike - especially if those adults love intoxicating graphics and mysterious underwater worlds."
- Treehouse Jukebox
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The Adventures of WonderBaby (ISBN: 1-59702-001-x, $8.95)
"The book is beautifully illustrated. The colors are bright and vivid, and the pictures are simple and straight forward. Each illustration has a small ladybug somewhere, which will keep searching toddlers entertained. I think this book succeeds on many levels. While teaching the alphabet, each letter can teach a new animal, as well as a new verb. And most importantly the text and illustrations are interesting enough that you won't go out of your mind the 8th time you read the book in a 30-minute span! So if you're looking for a great A-B-C book be sure to check out Adventures of Wonderbaby."
- Super Cool Baby
3. EVENTS
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.
- 11/8: Meomi: Octonauts SOS: Milford Public Library, 330 Family Drive, Michigan, 4:30 pm
- 11/17: Oliver Chin: JBB: Little Star Preschool Too, 1105 Quintara, San Francisco, CA, 11:15 am.
- 11/17: Meomi: Octonauts SOS: Kinokuniya: 123 Astronaut E. Onizuka St., Los Angeles, CA, 213-687-4480, 2 pm.
DECEMBER
- 12/3: Alice Fong Yu Elementary School, 1541 12th Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 1:30 pm.
- 12/14: Oliver Chin: TTT: San Mateo County History Museum, 2200 Broadway, Redwood City, CA, 11 am.
- 12/16: Oliver Chin: TTT: Golden State Model Railroad Museum, 900-A Dornan Drive, Point Richmond, CA, 12:30 pm.
- 12/19: Oliver Chin: Comics Workshop: San Francisco Juvenile Hall, San Francisco, CA, 9:30 am.
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Remember to thank family and friends, and join hands to bring a better future.
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.