platypus logoPLATYPUS POST, Number 8, March-April 2004
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.

Do you have parenting or breastfeeding questions or comments? Subjects you'd like to see addressed in future issues? Write to us at PlatypusPost@PlatypusMedia.com. If you would like to receive our new catalog, send your mailing address to Info@PlatypusMedia.com with "catalog request" in the subject line.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

DIA'S DIARY: Celebrate Small Press Month with Platypus Media
FUN AT HOME OR SCHOOL: What comes next…
OUR FAMILY KEEPS GROWING: New Places To Find Platypus Media Books
YELLOW -- THE FORBIDDEN COLOR: Share you ideas and earn a Gift Certificate!
SPRING SAVINGS AT PLATYPUS MEDIA!!
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING: Platypus Media books get noticed!
PLATYPUS MEDIA IN THE NEWS … AND ON THE ROAD
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

DIA'S DIARY: Celebrate Small Press Month with Platypus Media

March is SMALL PRESS MONTH and -- as a really small press -- we thought it would be fun to share with you a bit about the industry.

Platypus Media, with a dozen books in print, falls into the category called micropresses. We play an important role in an industry where a dozen book publishers control 70% or more of the market. Our titles helped increase the total number of books published annually in the US by 6%, to more than 150,000. While the total number of titles continues to rise, the largest US trade book houses produced significantly fewer titles. Fully 73,000 small publishers (or 85,000 small and medium publishers) are fueling the industry growth. This base of little guys chalked up about $30 billion in sales, gaining 106% in five years, or 21% annually. Small publishers were recently described as "50,000 enterprises that show no signs of going away."

We like to think that we, like our small press counterparts, provide timely information in a rapidly transforming global marketplace. Small presses are largely credited as the breeding grounds for innovation and the introduction of authors yet to be discovered. The internet plays an enormous role in allowing presses like ours to flourish - giving us an unprecedented ability to reach niche markets. Industry analysts explain that the creative vision is migrating to the small presses, while the mainstream publishers are more and more directing their creativity into formula distribution and merchandising.

On the consumer end, it is interesting to note that fewer US households purchased books in 2002 than in the year before, but those who did bought more than in previous years. The typical book-buying household shopped for books approximately seven times last year, spending nearly $25 each time. Of course, not all book-buying households are created equal. People living in San Francisco set the record in the US, spending $266 on books in 2002. The average per capita spending on books among six major US cities was only $144.

While households that do buy books are increasing their annual book expenditures, the challenge for booksellers, authors, publishers - and the country - is to raise the number of households interested in reading. Experts say aliteracy or lack of interest in reading is contributing to low skills among American students across the board. It is a sorry fact that 80% of graduating high school seniors report they will never again voluntarily read another book.

Platypus Media is one of thousands of micropresses working to produce beautiful, meaningful books that will excite, educate and entertain. We may small be small in size, but we are trying to be large in impact. Join us in celebrating Small Press Month -- purchase a book or two from a small publisher today. Happy reading!

Resources:

FUN AT HOME AND SCHOOL: What comes next…

For scientists, sequencing may mean the next link in a chain of DNA. For children, it is a way of giving order to our lives - days of the week, months, seasons, what's due tomorrow or next week, what happened yesterday or last year. Some children grasp sequences intuitively or at least easily. Some have trouble all their lives, as Sally Smith describes in No Easy Answers: "If a child can't be sure what comes first, in the middle, or last, then getting dressed is an ordeal, the days of the week stay jumbled, counting becomes a hopeless chore and reading is an impossibility."

The titles in the Look What I See series follow a pattern as the youngest child discovers something new on each day of the week. Children can make their own Look What I See books filling them with pictures of their own activities on each day of the week. This can be done after the fact or in advance, like a schedule or calendar. Touching and cutting, gluing and coloring can make the sequences concrete, reinforcing a sense of order in a child's mind. Spring is a perfect time to pay attention to the sequence of seasons - everything is new and green BEFORE the heat of summer. It's time to be outside again AFTER the cold of winter. Have children look again at books in the Look What I See series. Were the pictures taken in the summer, spring, winter or fall? How can you tell? What would be different if the season were different?

Find lots more activities to reinforce skills like sequencing in our Platypus Media Activity Guides. Download - at no charge -- complete Guides for each title at www.PlatypusMedia.com.

OUR FAMILY KEEPS GROWING: New Places To Find Platypus Media Books

The Imaginarium, Alaska's only hands-on Science Discovery Center, is designed as a place where people can have fun learning about science by actually doing science. Located in Anchorage, the gift shop now sells our If My Mom Were a Platypus book and plush toy set. These products were brought on to support the museum's springtime EGGStravaganzia exhibit where egg-laying animals are highlighted. Learn more at www.Imaginarium.org or 907-276-3179.

ChinaSprout, an internet site and mail order catalog, now carries Look What I See! Where Can I Be? Visiting China. ChinaSprout sells great Chinese educational and cultural products. Their aim is to serve adoptive families, newly immigrated Chinese, Chinese-American, and bi-cultural/racial families, and anyone with an interest in Chinese culture. For more information, visit www.ChinaSprout.com or call 212-868-8488.

Mother Goose is a new maternity and infant shop in Old Town Ureka, CA. The shop carries items helpful to every family with children including Platypus Media books, toys, breastfeeding supplies, baby carriers and baby shoes. In addition, Mother Goose also is home to "The Lactation Centre," complete with an Internationally Certified Lactation Consultant. For more information, call Mother Goose at 707-442-1029.

Baby Naturally! recently opened its doors. Catering to new and expecting mothers and babies, the shop counts Platypus Media books, breastfeeding supplies, baby carriers, and toys among its inventory. Located in Moses Lake, WA, they can be reached at 509-765-BABY.

YELLOW -- THE FORBIDDEN COLOR: Share your ideas and earn a Gift Certificate!

School media specialists who visited the Platypus Media booth at the Anne Arundel (MD) County vendor fair went home with a yellow pencil. But they also learned why that pencil is yellow. Do you know?

The Forbidden City was home to Chinese emperors from 1368 to 1911. The roofs in the Forbidden City were made of yellow tiles and it was forbidden for any other building to use yellow. (You can see the yellow tiles in Look What I See! Where Can I Be? Visiting China. ) Yellow was the exclusive color of the Imperial family so it became a color of importance to the Chinese people. A high-grade of graphite was found in China in the 19th century. Graphite is used to make pencils. The pencils made with this Chinese graphite were yellow to signify the highest quality pencil. Several media specialists and administrators said they planned to share this interesting tidbit of information during their next meeting with teachers or students.

Send your idea for using Platypus Media books at home or in the classroom - if we use it in Platypus Post, we'll send you a gift certificate for a free book! Send to Info@PlatypusMedia.com

SPRING SAVINGS AT PLATYPUS MEDIA!!

Save $15 On Any Purchase Over $50
Plus… Free Shipping On Any Order Over $75
Use This Coupon Or Mention Code SPRSPEC01
Expires 5/31/03
One coupon per household, may not be combined with any other offers

ENJOY THE FULL Look What I See! Where Can I Be? SET
Purchase all five books before 5/31/04 and save.
Set includes:
In the Neighborhood, At Home, With My Animal Friends, Visiting China, At the Synagogue-

ONLY $60 regularly $84.75. SAVE $24.75!!

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING: Platypus Media books get noticed!

If My Mom Were a Platypus: Animal Babies and Their Mothers
This book was selected as a Recommended book by the National Science Teacher's Association (NSTA) and was featured in Science and Children, February 2004 http://www.nsta.org Imagine reading a book about 14 fascinating young mammals to your primary class, enriching your science class with interesting and accurate details about their life cycles. If My Mom Were a Platypus describes the birth, growth, and behavior of not only the Australian egg layer but gray whales, least shrews, Mexican bats, orangutans, and giraffes. Students will enjoy learning about the animals that live in trees or on ice, those that fly or swim, and even about human children who dream of doing all those things. There are many ways to use this book in a primary classroom. Children can deepen their understanding by drawing pictures and writing stories, by finding habitats on a map, or by role-playing the behaviors of animal babies. Teachers whose curriculum covers life cycles will find many ways to integrate this motivational book into their instruction. The beautiful illustrations will enable students to envision the possibility of a world full of animals that are not endangered.
Reviewed for NSTA by elementary teacher Teri Cosentino

I Was Born to Be a Brother
Especially meant to be shared among siblings
Written by ten-year-old Zaydek G. Michels-Gualtieri, I Was Born To Be A Brother is the charming true story of a young boy who adapts to having a little sister around the house. Despite their rivalries, there are siblings who know and love one another. Full-color illustrations by Daniel Liegey and an accompanying CD with the story and music make for a cherished and strongly recommended children's picture book tale about "siblinghood"...
Jim Cox, Midwest Book Review, January 15, 2004

Look What I See! Where Can I Be? At the Synagogue
A drowsy toddler opens her eyes and sees a Kiddush cup, a shofar, a lulav and etrog, a Torah, a menorah, a havdalah candle in Look What I See! Where Can I Be? At the Synagogue. Sharp color photographs and a simple text highlight the relevance of the objects to the Jewish communal life of the child and her family.
Hadassah Magazine, December 2003

Be a reviewer! Please share your opinions about any Platypus Media titles at Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com.

PLATYPUS MEDIA IN THE NEWS

The Washington City Paper in THE DISTRICT LINE column, published a profile of Platypus Media founder Dia L. Michels. "Milking an Issue: Despite taboos and aging kids, breast-feeding activist keeps going," written by Chris Shott, appeared in the January 23-29, 2004. To read the full article, click on http://platypusmedia.com/main_about.html.

AND... ON THE ROAD

March 19-21, Midwifery Today
Adam's Mark Hotel, Philadelphia
Find out more at http://www.midwiferytoday.com/conferences/philly2004 or 800-743-0974

Friday, April 2, Children's Museum, Boston
Teacher's Choice program, The Children's Museum, Boston, MA
For more information: 617-426-6500 or www.Bostonkids.org.

Saturday, April 3, Museum of Science, Boston
Family Education Program: If Your Mom Were a Platypus: What Would Your Life Be Like?

For more information and reservations, call 617-723-2500 or visit www.mos.org.

Saturday, April 4, Museum of Science, Boston
Family Education Program: With My Animal Friends

For more information and reservations, call 617-723-2500 or visit www.mos.org.

Tuesday, April 13, La Leche League of Maryland Healthcare Provider Seminar
Sheraton Columbia Hotel, Columbia, MD
For more information, visit http://www.lllofmd-de-dc.org/hps.shtml.

Wednesday, April 21, Hendley Elementary School, Washington, D.C.
A community literacy event sponsored by Turning the Page, www.turningthepage.org.

April 27-29, Chautauqua Reading Council, Westfield, New York
School visits and Literacy Programs
For more information, contact Carol Crolle at 716-326-2151 ext. 338 or cacrolle@aol.com.

May 7-8, La Leche League of Virginia-West Virginia Area Conference
Breastfeeding: Our Gift to the Future
Sheraton National Hotel, Arlington, VA
For more information: http://www.lllusa.org/VA/page4.html.

May 17, Tuscarora Elementary School, Martinsburg, West Virginia
Author day of talking and having fun with students during three separate presentations
For more information contact kgess@access.k12.wv.us.

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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