PLATYPUS POST, Number 14, January 2005PLATYPUS POST, Number 14, January 2005
A regular publication of Platypus Media, an independent publisher of books for families, teachers and parenting professionals.
WELCOME to Platypus Post, an electronic newsletter from Platypus Media. We hope you find that the parenting, teaching, and breastfeeding information we provide here is useful. Feel free to forward the newsletter to friends or colleagues.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
DIA'S DIARY: A Resolute Wish for New Year!
My 11-year-old son was reading a book in the car the other day when he came upon a word he didn't know - resolutely. I defined the word and asked him if he knew the word "resolution." My 15-year-old daughter piped in, "A resolution is something that never happens!" She went on to explain that she knew the word from the phrase, New Years' Resolutions, and knew these were things grown-ups said they'd do, but never did.
I thought about what she had gleaned, that, indeed, most of us start each New Year resolutely - determined to make changes, determined to follow through on our goals, determined to be different. Yet most of us find - a year later - that our resolutions are still just faraway goals. Why do we have such need to make resolutions? And why do we have such a hard time making them happen?
The fact of the matter is that it is hard to be other than who we are; it is hard to not be ourselves. And even more poignant, it is hard for us to accept who we are as good enough.
I am actually perilously close to reaching my resolution from last New Year's Eve. For those of you who email me, you know that timely responses are not my strongest asset. My resolution was to end 2004 with no unanswered emails in my Inbox. I wish I could say that I'd met my goal. I didn't, yet while my Inbox is still not empty, I've done a better job than at any time in the past. I have about 40 messages unanswered from 2004 (and a dozen from 2003!), but for someone who receives thousands of messages a month, being in the double digits is a huge accomplishment for me (my sincere apologies to those of you who had to wait too long for a response, and especially to those who are still waiting to hear from me!).
Keeping the Inbox from becoming a storage warehouse has taken fierce determination, reallocation of time, and reminding myself that the goal is achievable, but only if I do it with consistency and vigor. This resolution has been exceptional - not in its scope - but in my follow through.
So, as 2004 fades and 2005 dawns, we have some choices to make. Are we going to make resolutions to behave differently? Are there things we really do need to do differently? If so, are we willing to apply the consistency and vigor required to make the changes we seek? Or are we going to accept that who we are is good enough, to accept that it makes more sense to live our lives one day at a time, instead of worrying about resolutions and needing to be different?
I would love to say that I've decided that I'm good enough just the way I am and that I have no resolutions to make, but I can't. There are still many areas of my life that I am not happy with. My resolutions for this year include trying (again) to stay on top of the emails and paperwork that always threaten to drown me, to get rid of 20% of the stuff in my house, and to do more family community service. These goals will be achieved if, and only if, I make them happen.
Whether you decide to make resolutions this year or not, keep in mind that one lesson we can learn is not to teach our children that resolutions are things that never happen!
Happy New Year from me!
BIG NEWS FOR A SMALL COMPANY: National Book Network Signs PM
Beginning January 1, 2005, National Book Network (NBN) will handle the sales, order fulfillment, and credit and collection services for all Platypus Media books sold through all wholesalers and retail and online booksellers. NBN, headquartered in Lanham, Maryland, is one of the largest independent distributors in the US and is one of the fastest growing book suppliers in the world. They represent high quality independent publishers of fiction, non-fiction and children's books.
NBN will launch the paperback release of our acclaimed If My Mom Were a Platypus: Animal Babies and Their Mothers in their fall 2005 catalog. The paperback launch of I Was Born to Be a Brother and I Was Born to Be a Sister will follow soon thereafter.
This new distribution arrangement is a very exciting development for Platypus Media. As Platypus Media president, Dia Michels, says, "Having NBN handle the sales and fulfillment side of the business frees us up to create, design and promote new and exciting books. It gives us much broader reach for our titles and gives customers all over the world a chance to discover us!"
While NBN was started in 1986, it is fairly new to distributing children's books. Of its arrangement with Platypus Media, Spencer Gale, NBN's Vice-President of New Business Development says, "NBN has been selectively crafting its children's book list for the last two years. We were very excited to discover Platypus Media! They produce innovative, quality books with broad appeal. By distributing their books and launching their paperback line, we hope to propel their success, while boosting our reputation as a full-service distributor of excellent books."
For more information, visit www.nbnbooks.com.
WINTER SAVINGS AT PLATYPUS MEDIA! Buy Now, Save Later!
Now that the holidays are over, you'll probably take a break from shopping. Enjoy the respite knowing that, soon enough, you'll need a gift for a baby shower, a birthday or some other occasion. Our winter special can make your future shopping easier by giving you books now and a gift certificate to use later.
Platypus Media Winter Special
Buy books now,
Receive a Gift Certificate for later!
____________________________________________________________
Place any order for $50 or more and we'll send you a FREE gift certificate
for any children's book of your choice - delivery included!
Platypus Media Children's Book Gift Certificates are good for one children's
book,paid for and delivered. Keep the gift certificate for yourself or use
it as a gift for someone else.
You can even request that an autograph and personalized message
be inscribed in any of our books!
____________________________________________________________
Ask for the Winter Special
Expires 2/28/05
Standard shipping charges apply to initial order
May not be combined with any other offers
CUSTOMERS CONNECTION: We couldn't do it without you!
A few days ago at our weekly editorial meeting, we were preparing to select a customer to profile for this column. We thought about the teacher who uses our Platypus book (a life sciences book) to teach her students physical science; we thought about the hospital that uses Breastfeeding at a Glance in their patient education classes; we thought about the birth network that raised money to donate our books to their local library. And then, we thought about this being the beginning of a new year and realized that we would not be here, producing books, writing this newsletter, it if weren't for ALL our customers.
We released our first books in 2001. In that time, we've been reviewed by some of the most prestigious journals in children's literature, we've been filmed by public television, our books have been adopted as course materials, we've been featured at the Smithsonian and at the Museum of Science, we've had our programs translated into Mandarin and Spanish, we've even been endorsed by the National Association of Science Teachers. But the accolade that means the most to us is that we have been embraced by moms and dads, teachers, librarians, homeschoolers, lactation professionals, pediatricians and family doctors, literacy program directors, museum educators and - best of all - children!
As we begin our 5th year in business, as we plan the new books we want to create, and as we strategize the new ways in which we can introduce people to our books, we'd like to say THANK YOU to each and every one of our customers! Without you, there would be no Platypus Media books, no editorial meetings, no marketing strategy sessions. You make it possible for us to do the work we are driven to do. From the entire Platypus Media team, please accept our thanks and our wishes for each of you have a healthy and happy New Year filled with stories and books!
QUOTE OF THE MONTH...
The only man who behaved sensibly was my tailor. He took my measurement
anew every time he saw me, while all the rest went on with
their old measurements and expected them to fit me.
~ George Bernard Shaw
FUN AT HOME OR SCHOOL: Make a "The Hands of My Family" Book
Supplies you'll need:
Fold a number of sheets of paper in half to make a booklet. Have kids trace and cut out family members' hands. Have them paste the cut out hand on the right side of the page. On the left side, have them write or draw why that person is special. Don't forget to get the pawprints as well!
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This activity is found in the I Was Born to Be A Brother Activity Guide.
Each Platypus Media children's book has a teacher-written Activity Guide. These are available at no charge. Just download the Guide(s) of your choice at www.PlatypusMedia.com.
Platypus Media Winter Special
Buy books now,
Receive a Gift Certificate for later!
____________________________________________________________
Place any order for $50 or more and we'll send you a FREE gift certificate
for any children's book of your choice - delivery included!
Platypus Media Children's Book Gift Certificates are good for one children's
book,paid for and delivered. Keep the gift certificate for yourself or use
it as a gift for someone else.
You can even request that an autograph and personalized message
be inscribed in any of our books!
____________________________________________________________
Ask for the Winter Special
Expires 2/28/05
Standard shipping charges apply to initial order
May not be combined with any other offers
DID YOU KNOW? Polar Bear Trivia
This activity is found in the I Was Born to Be A Brother Activity Guide.
Each Platypus Media children's book has a teacher-written Activity Guide. These are available at no charge. Just download the Guide(s) of your choice at www.PlatypusMedia.com.
OUR FAMILY KEEPS GROWING: New Places to Find Platypus Media Books
Natural Family Online is a down-to-earth, "how-to" resource for natural family living, natural beauty, natural home, natural parenting, and health and wellness. They offer natural tips, tools and information everyone can use! Each month, they select a handful of book picks. We are delighted I Was Born to Be a Brother,/I>, I Was Born to Be a Sister, and If My Mom Were a Platypus are on the current list of Book Picks.
Natural Family Online partners with Powell's Books, an independent bookstore in the Portland, OR metropolitan area, with seven locations, and a very extensive dot-com that serves customers worldwide.
To see the Book Picks page at Powells.com, visit www.powells.com/ppbs/28610.html. To learn more about Natural Family Online, visit www.naturalfamilyonline.com.
PLATYPUS MEDIA On The Road
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About Platypus Media
At Platypus Media, our mission is to produce high quality books with a broad appeal to families from different backgrounds that share a commitment to attachment parenting or simply believe in the importance of family closeness. Our goal is to create books and products that parents love, children enjoy, teachers appreciate, and parenting professionals value in their work.
Contact us at:
Platypus Media
627 A Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Toll-free 1-877-PLATYPS (1-877-752-8977)
202-546-1674 / Fax: 202-546-2356
Info@PlatypusMedia.com
http://www.PlatypusMedia.com