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Penguin Young Readers Group Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar with a Massive Marketing and Publicity Campaign
2009 marks the 40th anniversary of Eric Carle’s preschool classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Since its publication in 1969, 29 million copies of the book have sold worldwide and it has been published in over 45 languages. To celebrate the anniversary, Philomel is publishing a special pop-up version of the book and March 20th has been designated as “The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day.” The Very Hungry Caterpillar is also featured as the Google logo today, where it will be viewed by millions. On this first day of spring, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and fans of the book are encouraged to read and celebrate the metamorphosis of this eager, insatiable caterpillar.
Penguin is spreading the word to fans young and old with an extensive marketing and publicity campaign. Eric Carle will be the special guest of honor and featured artist at next month’s Los Angeles Times Book Festival. Marketing initiatives include major promotions with Stonyfield YoBaby Yogurt and Applebees that will reach a combined total of 9.6 million consumers. Scholastic Book Fairs is featuring an Eric Carle Author Video which will reach 28 million students, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been selected as this fall’s 2009 Read for the Record Campaign. Retailers are also supporting the book with gift cards featuring the Very Hungry Caterpillar, activity kits and displays.
National media coverage includes a three-page article in this week’s Newsweek, a feature interview in USA Today, reviews in OK Magazine, Working Mother, Scholastic News, CNN.com, Copley News service and BookPage. Regional TV features are scheduled to run in 10 markets around the country, and reviews and features are scheduled in regional newspapers and parenting publications from coast to coast. In addition, to celebrate both the anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Eric Carle’s 80th birthday, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts will host an exhibit celebrating all of Eric’s art from February 10, 2009 through August 2009.
View our The Very Hungry Caterpillar feature here and our celebratory blog post here.
Five Putnam Titles Hit The New York Times Hardcover Fiction Bestseller List, Including Kathryn Stockett’s Debut Novel, The Help, and Randy Wayne White’s Dead Silence, Tying an Imprint Best
It is a record-tying performance for G. P. Putnam’s Sons, with five of its books hitting The New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list simultaneously for the week of March 29th. The last time Putnam achieved this feat was for the week of July 29th, 2007. Here in March 2009, Corsair by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul debuts at #2 on The New York Times hardcover fiction list, Dead Silence by Randy Wayne White debuts at #7 – his highest position ever on this list, and Kathryn Stockett’s debut novel, The Help (Amy Einhorn Books/ Putnam), enters at #16 – joining Janice Y. K. Lee’s The Piano Teacher (Viking) as the second debut novel from a Penguin Group (USA) author and imprint in 2009 to achieve the rare accomplishment of hitting the coveted New York Times bestseller list the first time out of the gate. Putnam’s Promises in Death by J. D. Robb is at #6 and Night and Day by Robert B. Parker is #10, both in their third week. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to this outstanding performance!
Read excerpts, listen to podcasts with the authors, and explore the reading group guides for The Help and The Piano Teacher. Also available, an excerpt from Promises In Death.
Two Penguin Group (USA) Titles are Longlisted for the Orange Prize
The Household Guide to Dying by Debra Adelaide (G. P. Putnam's Sons) and Blonde Roots by Bernadine Evaristo (Riverhead) have been longlisted for the 2009 Orange Prize for Fiction. The shortlist will be announced on April 21st.
The Orange Prize was set up in 1996 to celebrate and promote fiction by women throughout the world to the widest range of readers possible and is awarded for the best novel of the year written by a woman in the English language. The winner will receives £30,000 and a limited edition bronze known as a 'Bessie.' In 2006, Penguin Press author Zadie Smith took home the prize for On Beauty. Read an excerpt from On Beauty here.
Riverhead Author Salvatore Scibona Wins New York Public Library’s 2009 Young Lions Fiction Award
Salvatore Scibona, author of The End, has been named winner of the 2009 Young Lions Fiction Award by the New York Public Library. Riverhead will publish The End as a trade paperback this fall.
The Young Lions Fiction Award is a $10,000 prize given annually to an American writer age 35 or younger for a novel or collection of short stories. Created in 2001 by Ethan Hawke, Hannah Griswold McFarland, Rick Moody, and Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, the award promotes and celebrates publicly the work of emerging young writers. The aim of the prize is twofold: to make a difference in the lives of writers as they begin their careers, and to encourage innovation in contemporary fiction.
This marks the third consecutive year that a Penguin Group (USA) author has taken home the Young Lions Fiction Award: Ron Currie, Jr. won last year for God is Dead (Viking/Penguin); and Olga Grushin won for The Dream Life of Sukhanov (Marian Wood Books/ Putnam) in 2007.
Listen to podcasts with the authors of God is Dead and The Dream Life of Sukhanov and view the reading guides for Q&A, too.
Multiple Penguin Group (USA) Authors Are Finalists for Time Magazine’s Most Influential People pf 2009 List
The Time magazine Most Influential People of 2009 polls are currently open. Cast your vote for the leaders, artists, entrepreneurs and thinkers who deserve a spot on this year's TIME 100. This year Penguin Group (USA) has eleven authors who are among the finalists:
- Viking authors David Plouffe and Craig Venter
- Penguin authors Richard Thaler, Cass Sunstein and Aung San Suu Kyi
- Riverhead authors Khaled Hosseini, Suze Orman and Tyler Perry
- The Penguin Press author Nate Silver
- Sentinel author Mike Huckabee
- Portfolio author Ram Charan
- Penguin authors Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein and Aung San Suu Kyi
- Putnam Juvenile author Ricky Gervais
To view the complete list, vote for your favorite finalist, and view the current ranking list, click here.
Pamela Dorman Books/Viking Acquires Three Novels from Bestselling Author Luanne Rice
Pamela Dorman, Vice President and Publisher of Pamela Dorman Books/Viking, recently acquired World English and first serial rights to Luanne Rice’s next three novels. Pamela Dorman Books/Viking will publish the first novel in 2011.
Luanne Rice is The New York Times bestselling author who has inspired the devotion of readers everywhere with her moving novels of love and family. She has been hailed by critics for her unique gifts, which have been described in The New York Times as "a rare combination of realism and romance."
Dutton to Publish the Remarkable Life Story of Mattie Stepanek Penned by His Mother Jeni Stepanek
Dutton has acquired world rights for a new book from Jeni Stepanek, mother of Mattie J.T. Stepanek, the New York Times bestselling author and humanitarian who passed away in 2004 to Dysautonomic Mitochrondrial Myopathy at the age of 13. Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs, which will be published in November, is a touching look at a young man who embodied the best of human nature, inspired millions, and worked tirelessly for peace – told through the eyes of the woman who raised him. Dr. Maya Angelou will contribute a Foreword.
Messenger will tell of the years before Mattie got sick, how he handled losing his older brother when he was three to the same disease he had, of his decision to dedicate himself to helping people embrace peace and hope, and how, when he became a celebrity, Jeni helped to keep him grounded, and helped him still be a kid.
Mattie is best known for the Heartsongs series of poetry he published. The six collections, and a book of essays on peace that was published posthumously, have sold over 2 million copies combined. When Jerry Lewis received his lifetime achievement award at the Oscars, footage of Mattie played behind him. Five years after his death Mattie is still being celebrated and remembered due in large part to his mother.
Avery’s What to Read When Receives 2009 National Parenting Publications Gold Award
Pam Allyn’s What to Read When: The Books and Stories to Read with Your Child – and All the Best Times to Read Them (Avery, on sale this April) has been awarded a 2009 National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) – Gold Award.
In What to Read When, award-winning educator and literacy advocate Pam Allyn offers parents a way to enjoy the serendipity of finding the right book for their children. What sets this book apart most is the unique annotated list of more than three hundred books addressing powerful childhood themes that range from friendship to thankfulness, courage, and more. What to Read When is a guidebook for creating and sustaining a healthy and engaging reading environment for children of all ages.
The NAPPA has recognized the best in children’s products and parenting resources annually for nearly two decades. The book will appear along with other NAPPA Gold winners, in a feature story in the June 2009 issues of 30 regional parenting magazines and online at NAPPA.Parenthood.com for a full year.
Read the introduction to What to Read When here.
From the Page to the Stage: The Soloist Author Steve Lopez Speaks to Audiences Across the Country
The Soloist author and Penguin Speakers Bureau speaker Steve Lopez (Putnam/ Berkley) continues to receive an astounding amount of invitations to speak at events across the country. Here are just a few of the highlights:
Seattle Arts and Lectures is teaming up with United Way of King County this May to present “A Conversation With Steve Lopez: A Portrait of Homelessness and Hope” at Town Hall Seattle, a venue that seats up to 850 people. This exclusive Seattle presentation is part of United Way of King County's efforts to raise awareness around the issue of homelessness in their community.
The Soloist has been chosen as the 2009 city-wide read by Sacramento's “One Book, One Sacramento” program. The Sacramento Public Library system and the Sacramento Bee book club will be working together on programming and publicity for the city-wide read throughout the year. This September, Steve will visit Sacramento and speak at various events throughout the city. Last year's pick was Three Cups of Tea, and there were 2,200 attendees at the main event, which featured Greg Mortenson.
The Charlotte Urban Ministry Center (CUMC) asked Steve to keynote their “True Blessings” annual benefit this October. Steve will speak at “True Blessings'” main event at the Charlotte Convention Center, a venue that seats up to 1,800 people. CUMC is an interfaith organization which has been providing for Charlotte's homeless since 1994.
Steve was a guest on “The Diane Rehm Show” this past Monday. Also, check him out this Sunday, when "60 Minutes" airs a profile of Nathaniel Ayers, the homeless musician Steve writes about in The Soloist.
The film adaptation of The Soloist, starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Jamie Foxx, will debut in theatres nationwide in April. Watch a trailer for The Soloist here.
Gotham Author Tom Coyne Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with Book Signing and Pub Tour
Tom Coyne’s A Course Called Ireland (Gotham, on sale now) is an epic Celtic sojourn in search of ancestors, nostalgia, and the world’s greatest round of golf. To prepare for this St. Patrick’s Day, Tom signed books with Baltimore fans at Barnes and Noble and then downed some Guinness with others as part of his pub tour on Monday, March 16th.
Other media highlights include: national and local radio hitting over 35 stations – including ESPN Golf Radio and Sportsnets Daily News Live, SI Golf Plus, Irish America Magazine, Golf Press Association, Golf South, reviews and mentions in local papers across the nation, online coverage including USAToday.com and Golf.com, and more.
Read an excerpt from A Course Called Ireland here.
Marlon James Is First Male Presenter to Address “Girls Write Now” Organization
Last week, Girls Write Now, New York’s premier creative writing and mentoring organization for high school girls, and the New School University hosted a standing-room-only crowd for Girls Write Now Day: a local celebration of International Women's Day. Marlon James, author of The Book of Night Women (Riverhead Books) was a special guest speaker at the event and the first male presenter for the organization. Girls Write Now praised James saying his writing explore Diaspora and what it means to be an American in the best, true way. The event featured original collaborative works by Girls Write Now emerging teen writers from throughout New York’s five boroughs.
Marlon James was recently a guest blogger on the Penguin Blog. See his posts here.
Elda Rotor and Penguin Profiled on GoodNewsPilipinas.com
Elda Rotor, Editorial Director of Penguin Classics, was recently profiled on the popular Filipino website GoodNewsPilipinas.com, an informational website that is meant to heighten awareness of Filipinos who are successful in various sectors. The feature highlighted Elda’s achievements at Penguin, including overseeing the publication of Penguin Classics’ first two literary masterpieces going global, and gave details on forthcoming classic titles. When asked for parting advice for young Filipinos who are not interested in reading the classics, Filipino or otherwise, Elda says that they should give it a try because they might be surprised by what they find. Great advice, Elda!
To read the full profile, click here.
New on the Penguin Website
View trailers for each of the four Nora Roberts inspired Lifetime TV movies in this Lifetime Presents the 2009 Nora Roberts Collection feature.
Jedediah Berry discusses his popular new detective novel The Manual of Detection, on this week’s Penguin Podcast. Read the first chapter of the novel here.
Next week, Sheila Murray Bethel, author of A New Breed of Leader, will discuss the eight qualities that matter most in leadership today. 
Ira Rosofsky, author of Nasty, Brutish, and Long: Adventures in Old Age and the World of Eldercare, is our Penguin Guest Blogger this week. Check out his posts here.
The New York Times Bestseller Highlights for the Week of March 29th
Penguin Group (USA) has four debuts on The New York Times bestseller list for the week of March 29th. As mentioned above, on the hardcover fiction list, Corsair by Clive Cussler (G. P. Putnam's Sons); Dead Silence by Randy Wayne White (G. P. Putnam's Sons); and The Help (Amy Einhorn Books /Putnam), debut at #2, #7, and #16 respectively. The Unforgiving Minute by Craig M. Mullaney (The Penguin Press) hits at #10 on the hardcover nonfiction list.
Here are more New York Times bestseller highlights:
On the hardcover fiction list, Promises in Death by J.D. Robb (G. P. Putnam's Sons) is #6 in its third week and Night and Day by Robert B. Parker (G. P. Putnam's Sons) is #10, also in its third week.
On the trade paperback fiction list, People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks (Penguin) is #6 in its eleventh week; A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (Riverhead) is #7 in its sixteenth week; The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz (Riverhead) is #12 in its 28th week; and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (Riverhead) is #19 in its 206th week.
On the mass market fiction list, Hold Tight by Harlan Coben (Signet) is #2 in its second week; Plague Ship by Clive Cussler (Berkley) is #5 in its third week; Danger in a Red Dress by Christina Dodd (Signet) is #8 in its second week; and Small Favor by Jim Butcher (Roc) is #12, also in its second week.
On the paperback nonfiction list, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (Penguin) holds the #1 slot in its 111th week; Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (Penguin) is #6 in its 112th week; The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan (Penguin) is #15 in its 78th week; and A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink (Riverhead) is #18 in its 26th week.
In the young readers sector, Listen to the Wind by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth (Dial) is #4 on the children's picture book list in its eighth week; while on the children's chapter books list, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (Razorbill) is #3 in its 21st week; and Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (Dial) is #7 in its fourth week. On the children's paperback books list, Three Cups of Tea: Young Readers Edition by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (Puffin) is #4 in its eighth week and Slam by Nick Hornby (Riverhead) is #10 in its 20th week.
New This Week
The Third Reich at War by Richard J. Evans (The Penguin Press, on sale now)
Richard J. Evans—arguably the world’s most distinguished scholar on German history and the reigning authority on the Third Reich—returns for the final volume of a masterly trilogy, following two volumes deemed “gripping” (The Atlantic Monthly), “magisterial” (The Economist), and “an enormous work of synthesis” (The New York Times). The Third Reich at War traces the rise and fall of German military might, the mobilization of a “people’s community” to serve a war of conquest, and Hitler’s campaign of racial subjugation and genocide.
Exhaustively researched and brilliantly executed, The Third Reich at War creates an engrossing picture—at once sweeping and precise—of a society rushing headlong to self-destruction and taking much of Europe with it. The capstone on Evans’s monumental and highly praised Third Reich trilogy, The Third Reich at War is the culmination of a historical masterwork that will likely remain the most authoritative work on Nazi Germany for years to come. The publicity campaign will kick off with a feature interview in the Wall Street Journal and reviews will appear in magazines and metro dailies around the country.
Escape from Bellevue by Chris Campion (Gotham, on sale now)
Indie rock raconteur Chris Campion – the first patient since 1963 to escape from Bellevue’s locked ward – recalls his band’s tumultuous ride, his plummet into addiction, and the strange road back to sobriety in Escape from Bellevue: A Dive Bar Odyssey.
In the New York Post, Chris Campion says: "I like to think of myself as the Steve McQueen of Bellevue, but it was much more Benny Hill," the Post goes on about Campion’s new book: "His rollicking good humor and story of redemption will surely resonate with anyone . . ." Chris will be at the 92nd Street Y/Tribeca on 3/20 for a sold out event involving him discussing and reading from Escape from Bellevue followed by a concert with his band Knockout Drops.
Click here for the trailer for Escape from Bellevue.
The Hindus by Wendy Doniger (The Penguin Press, on sale now)
Hinduism, one of the world’s oldest major religions, is as complex and idiosyncratic as its estimated 890 million practitioners. Wendy Doniger, one of the world’s foremost scholars of Hinduism, presents the vast spectrum of the religion’s history and people as never before in The Hindus: An Alternative History. An engrossing and illuminating account of history and myth that offers a new way of understanding this fascinating religion, The Hindus elucidates the relationship between recorded history and imaginary worlds. With remarkable clarity and eloquence, Doniger offers a new way of understanding one of our world’s most tolerant and vibrant religions. Look for reviews of The Hindus in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times Book Review, Atlantic Monthly, Washington Post, and more to come.
Imagining India by Nandan Nilekani (The Penguin Press, on sale now)
For the past several years the world has been transfixed by India’s meteoric rise to the global economic and political stage. From debates over outsourcing at Indian call centers to constant headlines covering this nation’s incredible economic growth, India has fully captured our attention. But this unstoppable growth has triggered tremendous social, political, and cultural change, and according to Indian software entrepreneur Nandan Nilekani, it’s now time to examine India’s recent evolution, solve its current challenges, and move forward as a nation into the future. In Imagining India: The Idea of a Renewed Nation, Nilekani delivers the definitive book about modern India and provides a fascinating new perspective on what’s really at stake in the world’s largest democracy.
A visionary look into the future of India by one of its preeminent business leaders, Imagining India reveals the central ideas and challenges that face India today—from within and as a part of the global economy. Nandan Nilekani will launch his book with appearances on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS,” PBS’ “Charlie Rose Show,” and NPR’s “Marketplace.” Reviews are lining up in the New York Times Sunday Business section, BusinessWeek, Time and Bloomberg, with more to come. Nilekani will tour to NYC, Boston, Chicago, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle.
