Category: Moving Picture Books

Moving Picture Books releases “Myles’ Pesky Friends” by Brad Martin, former Chairman and CEO of Saks

Posted by Erin Freeman – August 17, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. – Moving Picture Books has just released a new digital book and packaged book/DVD called “Myles’ Pesky Friends” by Brad Martin, the former Chairman and CEO of department store retailer Saks Incorporated.

Brad Martin

“Myles’ Pesky Friends” is set in Grenada in the Eastern Caribbean.  The story chronicles the relationship between a four-year old boy, Myles, and the creatures that share his Grenada vacation home.  While Myles’ dad never understands the boy’s friendship with the animals, he comes to embrace the pesky friends when the family encounters an unexpected storm during the family’s vacation.

“This book began as a story I would tell to my three young sons at bedtime,” Martin said.  “The tale involved creatures we had become accustomed to sharing our home with when visiting the island of Grenada.

“The publication of ‘Myles’ Pesky Friends’ and the Moving Picture Books digital edition is a great opportunity to share this tale of friendship, trust and sharing with children everywhere.”

Martin, who divides his time between homes in Memphis, Tenn. and Grenada, served as Chairman and CEO of Saks Incorporated from 1989 until 2006.  Martin also served five terms as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives and holds the distinction of being the youngest person ever elected to the Tennessee General Assembly, as he was elected to this post two days after his 21st birthday in 1972.

Martin dedicated the new book to the Queen Elizabeth Home for Children located in Tempe, St. Georges, Grenada.  Opened in 1964, the Queen Elizabeth Home for Children provides housing and support for nearly 30 young children.  The R. Brad Martin Family Foundation provides financial support to the operations of the Queen Elizabeth Home.

In conjunction with the publication of “Myles’ Pesky Friends,” the Queen Elizabeth Home for Children announced a major renovation and expansion of its facility and construction of a new exterior pavilion.  The improvements will provide dedicated study hall areas for the children at the home, a new nursery and sick bay, additional staff and support space, and a new venue for recreational, educational, and cultural activities at the new pavilion.  A majority of the funding for these projects is coming from the R. Brad Martin Family Foundation.

“I’m particularly excited to introduce the wonderful country of Grenada to new people,” Martin said.  “Our family considers Grenada our home away from home, and this is one way for me to show my gratitude for the warmth and hospitality we have experienced through our association with this country and its wonderful people while spotlighting the children and staff of the Queen Elizabeth Home.”

“Myles’ Pesky Friends” was illustrated by Micki Martin and Andrea Truan.  Martin is an artist and photographer who has worked in the retail and magazine industry in New York and now lives in Memphis, Tenn.  Truan is an established illustrator, designer and multi-media artist who has worked for clients ranging from Disney to Fisher-Price Toys to the HGTV television network.  Truan lives in Knoxville, Tenn.

“Myles’ Pesky Friends” is offered as a book and as an animated DVD and digital download produced by Moving Picture Books.  Knoxville-based Moving Picture Books has an extensive line of children’s books that can be downloaded directly to iPods, cell phones, computers and most mobile devices.

Moving Picture Books are designed to engage and inspire young readers.  The read-along text versions of the books have been hailed by education professionals and parents as a great early reading tool.  In addition, the books feature age-appropriate lessons that all parents can appreciate like caring, sharing, honesty and self-reliance.  Because Moving Picture Books can be viewed on mobile devices, they are popular with both busy parents and their children.

For more information or to purchase “Myles’ Pesky Friends” or other Moving Picture Books titles, visit www.MovingPictureBooks.com.

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Moving Picture Books teams with Sesame Street to help create and inspire young readers

Posted by Erin Freeman – March 9, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. –  Moving Picture Books is featuring a new series of Sesame Street digital books as part of its dynamic animated book library available at www.movingpicturebooks.com.  Six Sesame Street titles are available for download to computers and mobile devices. Each story includes bonus educational material featuring long-time cast member Bob McGrath who plays “Bob” on the award-winning children’s show.

These animated books can be viewed with or without the read-along English text displayed on the screen. Each title is eight to 10 minutes in length and closes with interactive questions and activities for viewers that pertain to the story.  Titles including “Elmo Loves You,” “Rise And Shine,” “The ABCs of Cookies,” “Grover’s 10 Terrific Ways To Help Our Wonderful World,” “What Makes You Giggle?” and “Elmo Visits The Dentist” are available for $1.99 each.

Bob McGrath

“Moving Picture Books brings a new dimension to some of Sesame Street’s best-selling traditional books as they spring to life on the screen,” said Sesame Workshop’s Jennifer A. Perry, Assistant Vice President & Editorial Director, Worldwide Publishing.  “We are always looking for new and relevant ways to extend the learning and fun of Sesame Street, and these Moving Picture Books provide a new media platform for parents and children to enjoy reading together.”

“Digital media offers a new technique for engaging children to read at an earlier stage of life,” said Dr. Robert Rider, Dean and Professor at the University of Tennessee’s College of Education.  “Using digital media and animated picture books helps to attract the attention of kids and helps them focus on fluency, literacy and vocabulary in a way that advances them to a much higher level of literacy.”

Meg Lonon, the Vice President and Development Director for Moving Picture Books and mother of two young children, said, “Parents can read along with their kids or download a story for them to enjoy while they navigate through their busy days.  Accessing these stories is easy and moms can take them along on car trips, to waiting rooms, grocery stores, sports practices or anywhere else they need to go.  Sesame Street stories from Moving Picture Books are perfect for those who are just learning to read, those who read well and for those who are struggling.”

Moving Picture Books Sesame Street titles will also be available for download through iTunes starting April 5.

Moving Picture Books are designed to engage and inspire young readers.  The read-along text versions of the books have been hailed by education professionals and parents as a great early reading tool.  In addition, all of the books feature age-appropriate lessons that all parents can appreciate like caring, sharing, honesty and self-reliance.  Lonon says, “Because they can be viewed on iPods and cell phones, they are a hit with children and parents everywhere you go.”

Bringing children’s books to life is Moving Picture Book’s business. By combining high quality animation, rich narration, sound effects and music, Moving Picture Books provide a fun and educational digital reading experience for children.  Moving Picture Books are also intended to support busy parents in the digital age. The company’s digital downloads allow children to easily engage in learning wherever they are – on the school bus, at the doctor’s office, the airport or waiting in line at a store.

Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children’s television programming with the landmark Sesame Street. The Workshop produces local Sesame Street programs, seen in over 140 countries, and other acclaimed shows to help bridge the literacy gap including The Electric Company and Pinky Dinky Doo.  Beyond television, the Workshop produces content for multiple media platforms on a wide range of issues including literacy, health and military deployment. Initiatives meet specific needs to help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong learning.  Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.

For more information or to download titles, visit www.MovingPictureBooks.com.

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Moving Picture Books help create and inspire young readers

Posted by Erin Freeman – November 10, 2009

MPBlogoKnoxville, Tenn.  – These aren’t the children’s books you grew up with.  A new line of “books” engage young readers by combining classic children’s stories with viewing options that meet the demanding needs of today’s digital families.  Instead of pure entertainment and games, Moving Picture Books make reading fun for children.  The company’s new line of high-quality digital stories can be purchased as DVDs or downloaded directly to iPods, cell phones, computers and most mobile devices.  This feature is a hit with parents and grandparents who are always on the move.

Children spend an excessive amount of time in front of televisions, computers and video games.  A recent Nielsen Company study showed that children aged 2 -11 are watching more television than they have in years, with children 2-5 years of age spending more than 32 hours per week in front of a screen.  With Moving Picture Books, that time can be entertaining as well as a learning experience.

“Digital media offers a new technique for engaging children to read at an earlier stage of life,” said Dr. Robert Rider, Dean and Professor at the University of Tennessee’s College of Education.  “Using digital media and animated picture books helps to attract the attention of kids and helps them focus on fluency, literacy and vocabulary in a way that advances them to a much higher level of literacy.”

With educators and parents focused on the benefits of digital learning, the University of Tennessee has initiated a research study to examine the way children process information learned in the digital age.  As part of the study, children will be using Moving Picture Books as their learning is evaluated by education experts.  

Sesame StreetEach of the 44 stories offered by Moving Picture Books – including eight new Sesame Street titles – can be viewed with English or Spanish voiceover, and with or without the read-along English text displayed on the screen.  The pacing of the storytelling is, according to Dr. Rider, perfect for children to follow along with the text.  The available stories include classics that have been passed down from generation to generation, new favorites written specifically for Moving Picture Books, Bible stories and holiday classics. 

Meg Lonon, the Vice President and Development Director for Moving Picture Books and mother of two young children, said, “Parents can read along with their kids or download a story for them to enjoy while they navigate through their busy days. 

Accessing these stories is easy and moms can take them along on car trips, to waiting rooms, grocery stores, sports practices or anywhere else they need to go.  Moving Picture Books are perfect for those who are just learning to read, those who read well and those who are struggling.”

Moving Picture Books are designed to engage and inspire young readers.  The read-along text versions of the books have been hailed by education professionals and parents as a great early reading tool.  In addition, all of the books feature age-appropriate lessons that all parents can appreciate like caring, sharing, honesty and self-reliance.  Lonon says, “Because they can be viewed on iPods and cell phones, they are a hit with children and parents everywhere you go.”

Moving Picture Books are available at Wal-Mart stores throughout the country, online at www.MovingPictureBooks.com and at online retailers including iTunes.

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com