Grand Rapids, Mich., July 13, 2009 – Storytelling is a proven method of teaching children, but the craft isn’t always easy for everyone. That’s why a team of creative minds from Australia developed a series of humorous, colorful stories and digital resources that work together to turn anyone into a master storyteller. Now, their life-changing stories are coming to the North American market with loveable picture books for children and families, along with kits that offer tools needed for great storytelling.

In 1989, Australian creator Andrew McDonough was a Bible student presented with what was to him a terrifying challenge: giving a children’s sermon with very little notice.

“I possessed one talent. I could draw sheep,” says McDonough. “So I bought some overhead projector film and drew up the story of Cecil. The congregation loved it.”

Today, the result of McDonough’s sheep sketching skills and what he calls “cheeky” characters is the release of the Cecil and Friends series of products from Zonderkidz debuting in October 2009 with five Bible stories in 8 x 8 saddle stitch books designed for children ages 4-7.

“We are so excited to bring amazing, life-changing stories to the North American market that will impact so many children at home, in school, and in Sunday school,” says Zonderkidz Vice President of Marketing Alicia Mey. “Many children’s lives have already changed just through our initial market research. One child gave his life to Christ after his parents read a Cecil and Friends story to him. Children were carrying the books to bed and many refused to put them down. Several parents told us these Cecil and Friends books were their child’s new favorite stories.”

Also releasing this fall are two innovative Cecil and Friends “Show & Tell Storytelling Kits” on CD-ROM created to equip anyone assigned with the task of teaching children about the Bible to become a master storyteller. Each storytelling kit parallels a Cecil and Friends biblical tale with vivid illustrations for a presentation screen. Zonderkidz is releasing five Cecil and Friends books and two Cecil and Friends Show & Tell Storytelling Kits in October 2009, with additional releases slated for February 2010.

October 2009 Cecil and Friends Softcover Books:

• Cecil the Lost Sheep
• Zac the Taxman
• The Good Samaritan
• Jonah’s Story
• Jed and Roy McCoy, A Christmas Story

October 2009 Cecil and Friends Show & Tell Storytelling Kits:
• Jed and Roy McCoy, A Christmas Story Storytelling Kit
• God’s Love: Storytelling Kit

February 2010 Cecil and Friends Softcover Books:
• Jesus and the Children
• The Gardener and the Vine
• Dave the Donkey, An Easter Story

February 2010 Cecil and Friends Show & Tell Storytelling Kit:
• Dave the Donkey, An Easter Story Storytelling Kit

About the Cecil and Friends Books
The stories in the Cecil and Friends series were born in Australia as the Lost Sheep series and have impacted the international community, from Taiwan and Indonesia to orphanages in Burma. All were transformed by the simple, yet truthful Biblical tales from the team behind the Lost Sheep. The reach has traveled far beyond just children’s ministries to inspire adults and families, bringing hope to terminally ill patients and people in prison.

“It is often only through what seem like simple stories that people can find answers to the complex struggles of faith. When Jesus wanted to change lives, he told stories, so that’s what we do,” McDonough says.

The Lost Sheep stories were slightly revised for the North American market to create the Cecil and Friends series of stories. Humorous characters present a collection of important Bible stories to help children follow Jesus and live in the love of God. For example, Zac the Taxman mirrors the New Testament story of Zacchaeus, while Jed and Roy McCoy, A Christmas Story, tells the birth of Jesus from a new perspective.

Each book includes “Cecil’s Page”- a fun and entertaining guide hosted by Cecil the sheep that equips parents and adults to talk with children about the main point of each story. This unique feature provides talking points for before and after the story, so adults can have meaningful discussions with children.

Excerpt from Cecil the Lost Sheep:
“One day Cecil was daydreaming. ‘Boring, boring, boring. All I do is hang around with sheep, eat grass, wander down to the river for a bit of a drink and eat more grass. Maybe I could run away and, and… get a bike… or join a band! Cecil looked right. Cecil looked left. He jumped over his rock… and hid.”

About the Show & Tell Storytelling Kits
Along with a printed book, the Show & Tell Storytelling Kits include all the resources children’s ministries need to tell the stories digitally, using computers or projectors.

“I wanted to provide a resource to equip people to share the gospel with confidence,” McDonough says.

The storytelling kits equip any teacher to be a master storyteller no matter what their level of expertise. Each Show & Tell Storytelling Kit includes two booklets: a Storyteller’s booklet and an Operator’s booklet. The stories have been specifically crafted with the art of storytelling in mind. All Cecil and Friends stories were first written to be told orally for the most engaging, humorous, meaningful story possible in a group setting.

These kits provide children’s pastors and children’s ministry leaders with the latest in technology so they can quickly and easily provide compelling images on the large screen for use in a worship setting for a children’s sermon or in a Sunday School classroom. The technology is so simple because the CD ROM can be put into any computer (PC or Mac) and the program will start right away without any technical expertise required. In addition to the CD-ROM kits, each Cecil and Friends story will also be available online as a Show & Tell Storytelling Kit Digital Download.

More about the October 2009 Releases in the Cecil and Friends Series:

• Cecil the Lost Sheep will be available in saddle stitch (ISBN: 978-0-310-71944-1, $4.99) in October 2009. He Runs! He Hides! He Climbs! He’s Stuck! Will Cecil ever get home? Will any of his friends miss him? Read this story based on Jesus’ parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15: 1-7.

• Zac the Taxman will be available in saddle stitch (ISBN: 978-0-310-71949-6, $4.99) in October 2009. Feeling left out? Struggling to fit in? Then you can relate to Jesus’ friend Zac. He’s a local taxman with issues… not very many people like him. Based on the New Testament story of Zacchaeus, readers learn that when you become a friend of Jesus your whole life changes!

• The Good Samaritan will be available in saddle stitch (ISBN: 978-0-310-71945-8, $4.99) in October 2009. Here He Goes Again! Jesus gets into an argument with an expert who thinks he is know-it-all about how God’s people should live. Be careful reading The Good Samaritan based on Luke 10:25-37. If you grasp what Jesus is saying, it may change your life.

• Jonah’s Story will release in October 2009 in saddle stitch (ISBN: 978-0-310-71948-9, $4.99). God knows Jonah is the best man for the job! Read about God’s belief in a reluctant prophet, boats, storms, worms, and a really big fish that swallows people in this Old Testament story based on the Old Testament Book of Jonah.

• Jed and Roy McCoy, A Christmas Story will be available in saddle stitch (ISBN: 978-0-310-71955-7, $4.99) in October 2009. Jed and Roy McCoy, A Christmas Story Storytelling Kit (ISBN: 0310719534, $9.99) will also release in October 2009. Jed and Roy McCoy have been fighting for years, but when the angels come to announce the birth of a special baby they realize that whatever they were fighting about isn’t as important as the peace on earth that Jesus will bring.

• God’s Love: Storytelling Kit (ISBN: 0310719429, $24.99) will release in October 2009. The kit includes four Bible stories and the resources to be a master storyteller to help everyone from the tiniest toddler to the granniest grandma grasp the love of God. The stories are Cecil the Lost Sheep, The Good Samaritan, Zac the Taxman, and Jonah’s Story.

*All Cecil and Friends stories will also be available online as Show & Tell Storytelling Kit Digital Downloads for $6.99. Visit www.zonderkidz.com for more about the software downloads.

Zonderkidz™, a division of Zondervan, inspires young lives through imagination and innovation. As the leader in Christian children's communications, it produces bestselling and award-winning Bibles, books, board books, graphic novels, audio, video, and digital products that awaken the hearts and touch the souls of kids under 16 and the people who love them, from family members to educators. Zonderkidz is the publisher of the NIrV (New International Reader's Version) Bible translation, the 3rd-grade reading level edition of the NIV that is ideal for children and those who speak English as a second language. Visit Zonderkidz on the Internet at www.zonderkidz.com.

About the Lost Sheep/Cecil and Friends Team

Andrew McDonough is the creator, writer and illustrator for the Cecil and Friends team. Way back in 1989 as a young Bible college student, Andrew was asked to give the dreaded “children’s talk” at a large church. Andrew possessed one talent: he could draw sheep. He bought some overhead projector film and drew up the story of Cecil. The congregation loved it, so Andrew continued to draw stories to use with kids and adults. Other students, pastors and teachers started borrowing the stories…

Before devoting all his time to Cecil and Friends, Andrew was pastor of WestCare in Australia, an inner city Baptist mission working amongst the homeless, supporting people struggling with addictions and advocating for refugees. Andrew is still part of the WestCare community and hopes that the Cecil and Friends stories will result in a generation of kids who follow Jesus by caring for the poor. He regularly tells stories and conducts workshops in schools and churches. Andrew is most like Basil the Branch. He tries hard, gets discouraged, and enjoys seeing Jesus produce some fruit through him.

Stewart Bogle is the organizer and leader. He and Andrew have been friends for “yonks” (an extremely long time). Stewart was one of those teachers who would borrow Andrew’s stories to tell at school. Later, when Stewart was Principal of a Bible College, he would use the stories when speaking on children’s ministry. Students wanted copies, and soon. Cecil the Lost Sheep was turning up in Canberra, Cootamundra and Costa Rica. In 2004, Stewart sat Andrew down and said, “Stop talking about getting your stories in the hands of children’s workers, let’s make it happen.” The Lost Sheep was born…

Stewart has a background in Christian school education and theological training as principal and national director of Capernwray Torchbearers Bible Centre in Australia. Stewart regularly preaches and teaches both in Australia and internationally. He is passionate about seeing others reach their potential and he wants to build on each of the Cecil and Friends stories a sound application of Biblical teaching that will inspire people to teach adults and children. Stewart is most like Cecil. He’s adventurous, a little bit cheeky, charges off without fear, great friends with the shepherd, and likes staying up way past his bedtime.

Bronwyn Drew is the production manager. The Lost Sheep had stories, but needed a publisher. Stewart and Andrew walked into a Christian publishing house in Australia and met Bronwyn. She is one of those rare people who is creative and organized.

Bron has years of experience in graphic design and is the studio manager of a company working for global brands (Yes, this job is as complex as it sounds). She’s a talented artist and is always involved in her church and wider Christian community. Bron is like Edith the Echidna. She keeps everyone on track and gets the boys to stick together as a team in times of crisis. She also keeps everyone on the team focused on God.

Samuel & Simon Pearce are the head designers. They are identical twins with diverse skills and a passion for excellence. Stewart taught the Pearce boys at primary school and knew they were meant to be on the team. Andrew could draw sheep but he was hopeless at coloring in the lines. He was fine with overhead projector slides, but not computers. Sam and Simon came on board, threw the overhead projector over the side, and brought vibrant colors and ‘schmick’ design.

Sam has spent many years running his own interactive design studio. He uses his skills to serve many churches and Christian organizations and is passionate about seeing God honored throughout the world. Sam is like Dave the Donkey: humble, carries an enormous load and is excited about serving Jesus his friend and King. Simon. Think of the major kids entertainment companies in the world. Yep, Simon has designed for all of them. Simon is like Peter the Fisherman. He is so talented he is often on the front cover of Design Monthly Magazine.

For more information about the Lost Sheep/Cecil and Friends team, please visit www.lostsheep.com.au

For an interview with the creators, or to discuss a story idea, please contact Lindsey Rodarmer at (616) 698-3332 or Lindsey.Rodarmer@zondervan.com

Suggested Interview Questions for the Cecil and Friends Team

1. How did you come up with the idea for Lost Sheep/ Cecil and Friends?

2. What makes these storytelling kits so helpful for children's ministry leaders or anyone hoping to inspire children with God's word?

3. How does your team come up with so many creative ideas for stories that kids can relate to? Do real life experiences inspire your stories?

4. What do you hope children (and grown-ups!) learn from your stories?

5. Cecil and Friends isn't just for children's ministry leaders-how can parents/families/homeschoolers use the books at home to learn about God's love?

6. Do you have favorite characters, or is it just too hard to choose?

7. What kind of life-changing feedback have you received from those who have experienced your stories all around the world?

8. Your team loves to travel and share stories-why is sharing the joy of Cecil and Friends so rewarding?

9. What is your dream for Cecil and Friends in the U.S. and around the world?

10. Ok, everyone wants to know this-why is Cecil YELLOW?

11. Why is the angel in Jed and Roy McCoy, A Christmas Story suspended on a rope?

12. Where can we find out more about Cecil and Friends?

Sample Interior Pages Cecil the Lost Sheep