THE JIM HENSON COMPANY’S PAJANIMALS “GET CAUGHT READING”
National Literacy Campaign Coincides with August’s
Get Ready for Kindergarten Month and the Release of New PAJANIMALS Books from Running Press Kids
The
Jim Henson Company, a leader in family entertainment for over 50 years,
and its adorable PAJANIMALS, are partnering with the Association of
American Publishers (AAP) on its Celebrity Get Caught Reading campaign
this August, coinciding with Get Ready for Kindergarten Month and the
release of a slate of new PAJANIMALS books from Running Press Kids.
The
Get Caught Reading campaign was developed by the AAP and launched in
1999 to promote and celebrate the joy of reading, and is embraced by
thousands of celebrities, booksellers, teachers and librarians who
continue to support this campaign across the country. The celebrity Get
Caught Reading posters, including PAJANIMALS, can be ordered for free
here– all you pay is shipping! http://www.getcaughtreading.org/
It
should come as no surprise that one of the best ways to prepare young
children for their first educational experience – Kindergarten – is by
reading with them. In fact, in an article entitled Getting Ready for
Kindergarten for Education.com, writer Skila Brown reported: “The
consensus among teachers is that reading aloud, talking about school,
and getting your child emotionally and physically ready are the big
steps parents need to take before the school bell rings.”
Following
a story requires focus, imagination, and an interest to know what comes
next, all essential skills for kindergarten readiness. Sarah Powell,
Project Coordinator at Peabody School of Education at Vanderbilt
University urges parents, “Read to your child. Parents should simply
read to their child and talk about the importance of doing well in
school to get their child ready for kindergarten.”
Reading
stories that resonate with a child’s emotions about starting school may
also help. Running Press Kids’ PAJANIMALS board book with stickers,
like It’s Apollo’s Special Day (SRP: $7.95) and Sweet Pea Sue Makes a
New Friend (SRP: 7.95) may create positive anticipation for the first
day of Kindergarten, helping to alleviate a child’s anxiety. Other
stories, like board book Sweet Pea Sue Misses Mom & Dad (SRP: $6.95)
or paperbacks like Apollo Has a Bad Day (SRP $4.95) or Squacky is
Afraid of the Dark (SRP: $4.95), are wonderful ways to initiate
discussions with kids about expectations and fears regarding their new
classroom environment. The new books from Running Press Kids are
available on August 16th, everywhere books are sold! And a new holiday
title, Squacky and the Gift of Christmas (SRP: $7.95) will be available
on September 24th.
Children will enjoy cuddling up with an all-new Pajanimal Pal from TOMY (SRP: $12.99, Amazon.com and Walmart.com) while they practice reading one of the new PAJANIMALS books. Toddlers won’t be able to put this blankie down with the super soft satin on one side and cuddly fleece on the other. Available in each of the characters from the show with their matching pajama prints.
In
Sweet Pea Sue Makes a New Friend, Sweet Pea Sue can’t sleep because
she’s scared of a picture of an octopus she saw in a book. When the
Pajanimals go to the Big, Blue Sea, they meet Ellie, a real octopus. To
Sweet Pea Sue’s surprise, Ellie is scared of the Pajanimals. The two
realize that there’s nothing to be afraid of because they just want to
be friends.
PAJANIMALS
currently airs daily on Sprout, the 24-hour preschool channel parents
and kids share together and also airs on Saturday mornings on NBC Kids,
The PAJANIMALS series follows the adventures of four cuddly musical
puppets -- Sweet Pea Sue, Squacky, Cowbella and Apollo. Their journeys
celebrate imagination and tackle typical toddler issues such as the fear
of the first day of school, making new friends and learning how to
share. The PAJANIMALS end their day of play with a relaxing return to
their cozy bedroom and familiar night time routines, including bathing,
brushing teeth and story time, to develop a feeling of safety and
structure.
PAJANIMALS fans can also visit the www.sproutonline.com website to participate in the various PAJANIMALS’ activities and play the latest PAJANIMALS’ games online.
As
always, we appreciate your interest in promoting and celebrating the
PAJANIMALS Get Caught Reading, Get Ready for Kindergarten, Running Press
Kids’ release of the PAJANIMALS book titles this August and the new
Pajamal Pals from TOMY.
• NEW dedicated Pajanimals’
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Pajanimals
• The Jim Henson Company
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hensoncompany
Twitter: @hensonparents
• Running Press
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RunningPressKids
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RP_Kids
• Sprout
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sprout
Twitter: @SproutTV
• Get Caught Reading
Website: http://www.getcaughtreading.org/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WhatAreYouReading
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReadingWithAAP
ABOUT THE NEW BOOKS FROM RUNNING PRESS:
PAPERBACK BOOKS (8x8):
Apollo Has a Bad Day (SRP: $4.95)
When
he is feeling too angry and sad to sleep, he and the Pajanimals travel
to The Night Sky. The moon reminds Apollo that though there are bad
days, tomorrow is always a brand new day.
Squacky is Afraid of the Dark (SRP: $4.95)
Squacky
is afraid to go to sleep in the dark. Luckily the rest of the
Pajanimals know just what to do! They travel to The Night Sky where the
moon reminds Squacky that he is always shining bright in the sky and
watching over the Pajanimals.
BOARD BOOKS (6x6):
Sweet Pea Sue Misses Mom & Dad (SRP: $6.95)
Sweet
Pea Sue can’t sleep because she wants to be in Mom and Dad’s bed. When
the Pajanimals travel to The Night Sky, she remembers that Mom and Dad
are always close by if she needs them, and that the moon is there
watching over them.
Cowbella & the Bad Dream (SRP: $6.95)
Cowbella
is afraid she’s going to have a bad dream and doesn’t want to go to
sleep. The Pajanimals travel to the Friendly Forest where Jerry the bear
assures Cowbella that if her imagination can think up scary thoughts,
it can also make happy thoughts! So she learns to only think of happy
things before she goes to sleep.
BOARD BOOKS WITH STICKERS (7x71Ž2):
It’s Apollo’s Special Day (SRP: $7.95)
Tomorrow
is Apollo’s Birthday and the Pajanimals are excited to celebrate—all
except for Cowbella. She wishes that it was her Birthday so she can get
all the cake and presents. But when they visit Mr. Happy Birthday at
Birthday Land, Cowbella discovers that the fun part about a Birthday
party is spending time with the ones you love.
Sweet Pea Sue Makes a New Friend (SRP: 7.95)
Sweet
Pea Sue can’t sleep because she’s scared of a picture of an octopus she
saw in a book. When the Pajanimals go to the Big, Blue Sea, they meet
Ellie, a real octopus. To Sweet Pea Sue’s surprise, Ellie is scared of
the Pajanimals. The two realize that there’s nothing to be afraid of
because they just want to be friends.
Squacky and the Gift of Christmas (SRP: $7.95)
The
Pajanimals are excited that Christmas is coming! Squacky really hopes
he gets the new Fantastic Splash Super Sub, but then becomes worried
that Santa won’t bring it. The Pajanimals travel to The Night Sky where
the moon reminds Squacky that Christmas isn’t about the presents you
get, it’s about spending time with the ones you love and sharing
Christmas traditions together.
One lucky winner is going to receive a copy of the new Pajanimals’ board and sticker book, Sweet Pea Sue Makes a New Friend. To enter, just fill in the Rafflecopter
form
below. This giveaway will end on 7/24/13. If you have already won this
title on another blog, you are not eligible to enter or win. Open to
the US only. The
winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply.
Thanks again to Pajaminals for offering this fantastic prize.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for
this post. I did receive a sample of the
product to try in order to write a fair
and honest review. The opinions expressed in this
review are my own and were not influenced
in any way. Please note that I am not
responsible for the delivery of this prize and can
not be held accountable if, for any reason, is
it not received. Furthermore, I am in no
way liable for any injuries that may result from the
use or misuse of this product. **