The Cornell Lab and Cornell Lab Publishing Group were invited to help the Central Park Conservancy host its annual ON A WING FESTIVAL held on Saturday, May 7th in NYC. Award-winning illustrator, Bob Marstall, joined us for a book signing of the release of his and Jane Yolen’s new children’s picture book, ON BIRD HILL. We were flanked by a few awesome feathered friends too!
Got adult coloring books? The millions of copies of adult coloring books that have been sold in the past four years proves that the joy, excitement, and memories of this uncomplicated childhood pleasure really have no age limit. Before publishers got in on the craze, coloring groups had been meeting for years. But now, there are books galore to color with everything from crayons, colored pencils, or watercolors. Come see some on the BookCon convention floor, and participate in the related activities.
CORNELL LAB PUBLISHING GROUP For those who love birds, Cornell Lab Publishing Group’s booth (2163) is the place to be. The recently launched venture celebrates the “science behind the fun,” says its CEO and president Brian Sockin. This August the press will release two coloring books, America’s Favorite Birds: 40 Beautiful Birds to Color, which features species chosen from 250,000 votes by birders across North America; and Birds of Paradise: A Coloring Expedition by the original expedition team leader and National Geographic photographer of the world-renowned Birds of Paradise expeditions, Tim Laman. Visit the booth to take home a free coloring page from one of these books.
This article appeared in the May 14, 2016 edition of PW BEA Show Daily.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tracey Daniels
Media Masters Publicity
tracey@mmpublicity.com
828-808-2581
THE CORNELL LAB PUBLISHING GROUP TAKES FLIGHT
(March 1, 2016) The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the world-renowned scientific authority on birds, commemorated its 100-year anniversary with the founding of the Cornell Lab Publishing Group. The Cornell Lab advances scientific discoveries and inspires and engages more than 20 million people each year to connect with birds and the natural world. The Lab offers live webcams, cutting-edge bird identification apps, school programs, and participatory citizen- science programs aimed at nature enthusiasts, including more than 80 million Americans who enjoy, observe, photograph, or feed wild birds (USA Today, March 2014); the fastest new growth segment is youth.
“This new trade publishing initiative furthers the Cornell Lab’s mission of nurturing new generations in the appreciation and care of birds, setting the stage for environmental custodianship,” says John Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of the Cornell Lab. Adds Brian Scott Sockin, author and CEO / Publisher of the Cornell Lab Publishing Group, “Birds resonate with people of all ages because they offer an instant portal to the natural world, fascinating and readily accessible. Our goal is to create emotional connections between people and nature through birds, whether that inspiration turns to lifelong birding as it often does, or simply to make them aware and more tuned to nature. Our tools are those of the trade, but also steeped in real science packaged in the most appealing ways—insightful storytelling, stunning illustration and photography, and fun, engaging activities. After all, ‘science is the new cool,’ and we’re all over this.”
The Cornell Lab Publishing Group begins rolling out releases in Spring 2016, kicking off with the second edition of Don Kroodsma’s Backyard Birdsong Guides (4/13/16). This will be followed by the first in an exclusive children’s book series by New York Times bestselling children’s author Jane Yolen, On Bird Hill (5/10/16), and an interactive tween journal filled with crazy and fun activities, Bird Brainiacs (5/10/16). Dovetailing spring releases, the publishing group marries birding to adult coloring book uptrends with the release of two upscale adult coloring books. The first, Birds of Paradise: A Coloring Expedition, is based on the world-renowned Birds-of-Paradise expedition by the original team leader, Edwin Scholes, and National Geographic photographer Tim Laman, the explorers behind one of the mostly highly-lauded sets of nature film clips on YouTube (more than 12 million views). The second, America’s Favorite Birds: 40 Beautiful Birds to Color, includes lavishly detailed drawings of birds selected by more than 250,000 votes from birders across North America.
“Through this imprint, we are greatly expanding the scope of the Cornell Lab’s existing publishing efforts to include fiction and non-fiction family and children’s book offerings. This natural extension of the Lab’s history of sharing science with the public is an exciting endeavor for me professionally and personally, as well as for our entire team,” shares Sockin. “The response from booksellers, educators, and librarians about our Spring and Fall 2016 titles has been warm and welcoming, and we look forward to continuing to create high quality books for children and families that encourage a love of birds and appreciation for nature.”
Books are distributed by Legato Publishers Group, a division of the Perseus Books Group. “The Cornell Lab Publishing Group has been a wonderful addition to our family of publishers, and we are proud to see titles that entertain and delight with gold standard science behind them,” says Jeff Tegge, President of Legato.
“Giving back is an essential element of the imprint and we are making every book sale count,” shares Sockin. In fact, a full 25% of the net proceeds from every Cornell Lab Publishing Group book purchase will support projects such as children’s educational and community programs. Examples of these programs include the BirdSleuth K-12 curriculum used in classrooms across the hemisphere; Celebrate Urban Birds, which has worked with 9,000 community-based organizations, 88% of which reach underserved audiences; and Bird Cams, which brings live, close-up views of birds to millions into classrooms and homes around the world.
About the Cornell Lab:
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a world leader in the study, appreciation, and conservation of birds. Our hallmarks are scientific excellence and technological innovation to advance the understanding of nature and to engage people of all ages in learning about birds and protecting the planet. birds.cornell.edu
For more information or to schedule an interview with CEO and Publisher Brian Scott Sockin, please contact Tracey Daniels at tracey@mmpublicity.com or 828-808-2581.
“Don Kroodsma’s passion for birdsong is infectious, and this guide will have any birder (including me) listening to birds with new insight and appreciation after reading it.” — David Allen Sibley, author and illustrator of The Sibley Guide to Birds
“Watching birds is only half the fun—knowing how to listen to them is the other half. This handy audio book teaches you how to listen to birds and to understand who they are and what they are saying to each other. It will double your enjoyment—both outdoors and indoors.” — Greg Butcher, National Audubon Society
“There is no better guide to the fascinating world of birdsong than Don Kroodsma, who in this handy book shows that even in the average backyard there is drama, mystery, and excitement, all bound up in the song of a bird.” — Scott Weidensaul, author of Living on the Wind and Of a Feather
“Don Kroodsma’s latest book is a gem. Each page brims with enthusiasm and erudition, the product of countless hours spent in ‘deep listening’—applying the attentiveness and aesthetic appreciation of a musician to the songs and calls of birds. Even advanced students of birdsong will find much that is new in these pages—and refreshingly well composed!” — Ned Brinkley, Editor, North American Birds
“Don Kroodsma once again gives us a reason to listen to birds as individuals. What a gift to all birders to be able to listen to these birds with new ears.” — Bill Thompson, III, Editor, Bird Watcher’s Digest
“With his trademark clarity and charm, Donald Kroodsma takes us beyond identification and into the realm of understanding. What are the different functions of the multiple songs given by many birds? How do songs differ among individuals? And what causes those differences? These are cutting-edge scientific questions, and it is to Kroodsma’s credit that he provides compelling and easily understood answers.” — Ted Floyd, Editor, Birding