TORONTO, Feb. 8, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Having mastered dining etiquette in New York City as told in the bestselling Wiggens Learns His Manners at the Four Seasons Restaurant, Wiggens, the precocious Chocolate Labrador puppy, is about to embark on new adventures at the world famous San Diego Zoo.
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Under a new agreement between Skyreader Media Inc. and the San Diego Zoo, author-in-residence Leslie McGuirk will once again team up with author-restaurateur Alex von Bidder to create a series of three interactive eBooks titled Wiggens at the San Diego Zoo (working title). The first title will launch in early spring 2012.
Featuring Leslie McGuirk's iconic illustrations together with stories from Leslie and co-author Alex, these further adventures of Wiggens will take readers behind the scenes where the pup visits his Uncle, a Golden Lab based on a real-life dog, who works as a companion dog to a cheetah at the Zoo. All of the adventures in the eBook series will be based on unique aspects of the San Diego Zoo including places visitors rarely see and day-to-day tasks such as the feeding and treatment of animals, conservation and eco-efforts that are part of the Zoo's operation.
Utilizing the proprietary Skyreader™ technology platform, the new eBooks will incorporate video footage and onsite San Diego Zoo visuals to provide readers with a real-life experience from Wiggens' special point of view as he learns to make friends at some of the most unusual places in the Zoo. Each eBook will also provide a gateway into the virtual world of the San Diego Zoo where parents and children can safely travel and engage in activities within confines of the Zoo world.
"We are thrilled to be working with the San Diego Zoo, an incredible brand known for its commitment to the preservation of animals and the environments that they live in. The San Diego Zoo will provide a perfect setting to fuel Leslie and Alex's creative genius as they craft a wonderful new series of eBooks for young readers," said Skyreader Media Inc. CEO Kevin Gillis.
"We are an organization dedicated to putting people in touch with animals," said Ted Molter, Director of Marketing for San Diego Zoo Global. "These books help us do this by reaching out to children in a fun and informative way – building interest in endangered species."
"It is vital for an artist and writer to be inspired by a new project. Since I am a huge animal lover, this opportunity to work with the world famous San Diego Zoo is putting me inside a world of immense creative possibilities. Using humor, art and great storytelling, we can help children realize the magnificence of our natural world, and this gives me great pleasure," said McGuirk.
Alex von Bidder added: "I love to collaborate with Leslie and to tell stories that are fun learning for kids, parents and grandparents alike. We can't wait to let readers know what the animals talk about. Wiggens was totally amazed, too."
In addition to her new eBook in collaboration with the San Diego Zoo, Leslie has been working with Skyreader Media to transform her beloved classic children's series, Pip the Penguin, into a new series of eBooks. How Many? Too Many!, It's Only Me! and Here It Is! will be released in February 2012 for iOS.
Leslie McGuirk is an internationally known writer and illustrator of bestselling children's books. Originally published in Japan, Leslie's illustrations were made into over 800 products for the high-end department store Takashimaya. Leslie's designs have been featured on carpeting, fabric and wallpaper for Tokyo Disneyland Hotel. Her Tucker and Pip the Penguin books for children have been a favorite of little ones and reviewers for over a decade. Publisher's Weekly said, "McGuirk's ingenious characters and illustrations are filled with quirky comedy."
Leslie has been nominated for the Children's Choice Award, and was winner of the Platinum Oppenheim Award for the best DVDs of 2009. She has been featured in many national newspapers for best children's book of the year. Her latest book, Wiggens Learns His Manners, co-written with Alex Von Bidder, an owner of New York's famous Four Seasons Restaurant, has been featured on The Martha Stewart Show, and in Town & Country Magazine and People.com.
About Skyreader™ Media
Skyreader™ Media is a developer and publisher of mobile ebook apps for the Apple® iPad® and other tablet devices. Skyreader's™ exclusive content and proprietary technology positions it as a market leader in immersive and interactive eBooks for children of all ages. With access to over 5000 book titles and exclusive licenses for 1500 titles, Skyreader™ is enabling next generation storytelling for children and parents in all new and engaging ways.
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About San Diego Zoo
The 100-acre San Diego Zoo is dedicated to the conservation of endangered species and their habitats. The organization focuses on conservation and research work around the globe, educates millions of individuals a year about wildlife and maintains accredited horticultural, animal, library and photo collections. The Zoo also manages the 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo Safari Park (historically referred to as the Wild Animal Park), which includes a 900-acre native species reserve, and the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. The important conservation and science work of these entities is supported in part by The Foundation of the Zoological Society of San Diego.
