Contact:
Lindsey Rodarmer, (616) 698-3332, lindsey.rodarmer@zondervan.com
First Living Lights™ Titles Secure Spots on the CBA Top 25 Kids Books List
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., November 13, 2008—Zonderkidz™, the children’s division of Zondervan, is celebrating rapid sales of new Berenstain Bears® Living Lights™ books with a focus on faith. The first four titles by Michael Berenstain—The Berenstain Bears® and the Golden Rule, The Berenstain Bears® Go to Sunday School, The Berenstain Bears® Say Their Prayers, and The Berenstain Bears®-God Loves You!—have together sold more than 100,000 copies since releasing on Sept. 30, 2008.
The four Living Lights™ titles have appeared on The Association for Christian Retail (CBA) Top 25 Kids Books list every week since their release date, with rankings increasing each week.
“Zonderkidz is thrilled to receive constant positive feedback from families and retailers about these new Berenstain Bears® books,” says Alicia Mey, Vice President of Marketing for Zonderkidz. “We are proud to partner with Michael Berenstain on these new books that are inspiring young readers and teaching them in such a fun, familiar way that they are very special children of God.”
Zonderkidz signed a contract in 2007 to publish 12 Berenstain Bears® books, authored by Michael Berenstain. The first four titles released in Fall 2008 and two more titles will release in Spring 2009. The soft cover picture books focus on a range of inspirational topics such as doing the right thing, saying your prayers, and going to Sunday school.
“I am delighted to join with Zonderkidz in the creation of books designed to serve the needs of families of faith,” says Michael Berenstain. “Over the years, my parents and I often heard from Christian families how much they appreciate the values-based themes of our books. By dealing with religion through the fun and laughter of the Berenstain Bears®, we hope to nurture these families in their goal of raising children secure in their faith.”
Zondervan’s parent company, HarperCollins, will continue to publish Berenstain Bears® books for the general market. The general market books have sold more than 260 million copies since the series inception.
About the Berenstain’s:
Stan and Jan Berenstain published their first book about a bear family who lived “deep in Bear Country” in 1962 under the editorial oversight of Dr. Seuss. In 1974, they started their own line of books about everyday family experiences published by Random House. In 2003, the Berenstain’s began publishing with HarperCollins and in 2005 began an exclusive relationship with them.
Their youngest son, Michael, joined his parents many years ago writing several books and becoming the exclusive designer and illustrator of a series of large picture books. Since Stan Berenstain’s death in 2005, Michael and Jan work as an author/illustrator team for their general market books. Michael is married to Andrea, and they have three children. They live in Pennsylvania, in an area that looks a lot like Bear Country
The first four titles in the Living Lights™ series are:
All four are available in soft cover for $3.99 wherever books are sold. Visit www.zonderkidz.com for more information. For more information about The Berenstain Bears® and Bear Country, please visit the official Website at www.berenstainbears.com.
Zondervan, a
HarperCollins company, is a world leader in Christian communications and the leading Christian publishing brand. For more than 75 years, Zondervan has delivered transformational Christian experiences through general and academic resources by influential leaders and emerging voices, and been honored with more Christian Book Awards than any other publisher. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with offices in San Diego and Miami, Zondervan conducts events and publishes its bestselling
Bibles,
books,
audio,
video,
curriculum,
software, and
digital products through its
Zondervan,
eZondervan,
Zonderkidz,
Youth Specialties,
Editorial Vida, and
National Pastors Convention brands. Zondervan resources are sold worldwide through retail stores, online, and by
Zondervan ChurchSource, and are translated into nearly 200 languages in more than 60 countries. Visit Zondervan on the Internet at
www.zondervan.com (mobile site:
zvan.mobi).
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.
