Based on Penguin Group's #1 Best-Selling Children's Picture Book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, the New App Completes the Room on the Broom Halloween Product Line-Up, Featuring Books, DVD and Plush, plus a Halloween Premiere on Sprout
LONDON, Oct. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Just in time for Halloween, the first ever Room on the Broom interactive games app is now available from Magic Light Pictures through the iTunes store for iPad, iPad Mini, iPhone and iPod Touch; and Google Play and Amazon for Android devices, priced at $4.99 with no in app purchases.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131008/PH93330-a )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131008/PH93330-b )
The new Room on the Broom Games app is based on Penguin Group's #1 best-selling children's picture book written by the much-loved author Julia Donaldson, UK Children's Laureate (2011-2013), and illustrated by Axel Scheffler—the same author and illustrator team that created the critically-acclaimed book series, The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child. The Room on the Broom board book and paperback claimed the #1 and #2 spots respectively in the Children's Picture Book Category for the weeks ending September 15, September 22 and September 29 according to Publishers Weekly.
The new game debuts just in time for Halloween alongside a range of high quality merchandise for the Room on the Broom brand, including books from Penguin, a range of plush from Kids Preferred, and the DVD release of the movie from NCircle Entertainment. Additionally, the multiple award-winning animated movie debuts this year in its first U.S. broadcast slots on 24-hour preschool network Sprout, airing on Oct 30, 31, Nov 29 and Dec 7, reaching more than 55 million households.
There's room on the broom for everyone in this high quality games app for 3- to 7-year-olds, featuring beautiful design based on Scheffler's original illustrations. Offering children a safe, entertaining and interactive experience they can enjoy time and time again, Room on the Broom Games provides eight imaginative activities that players can interact and explore within, while practicing early learning skills such as counting, creativity and literacy through a range of engaging games. Collectively, the games explore the world of Room on the Broom, complementing the experience of reading the book and watching the film. Key characters are featured and players get to help them fly, eat and explore their world. Designed to ensure players and parents feel comfortable and safe in the digital space, there are no in-app purchases.
Julia Donaldson comments, "'When Magic Light first mentioned to me the idea of producing a game offering children a different way to engage with the Room on the Broom characters, I was confident that they would produce another beautiful high-quality product to sit alongside their films and merchandise. The games have been especially designed to echo traditional children's games of observation and memory and are a lovely addition to the world of Room on the Broom." She adds, "My own favorites are feeding fries to the dragon and creating constellations of stars!"
Axel Scheffler added, "I'm delighted to see how my original artwork has been used to create such beautifully produced games that give children the opportunity to explore the world of Room on the Broom in a whole new way."
Fans can play with their favorite characters — the Witch, Cat, Dog, Bird, Frog and Dragon — in these magical games:
- Join the stars – Fly through the air and connect all the sparkly stars to find the right image!
- Find the hat – The Witch has lost her hat! Is it behind the tree? Help Dog find the hat in the woods.
- Windy day collecting game – It's a windy day and Cat needs help collecting a few things, will you help? Be careful not to miss them!
- Find the bow – The Witch has lost her bow! Is it in the hay? Help Bird find the bow in the field.
- Find the wand – The Witch has lost her wand! Is it under the lily pad? Help Frog find the wand in the pond.
- Drawing with stars – Light up your imagination by creating pictures in the night sky. Place the numbered stars where you wish and watch the witch transform it into a dot-to-dot picture.
- Dragon loves fries – The Dragon is hungry and is planning to have fries for his dinner! Feed the dragon fries and avoid the other falling objects from the sky!
- Fly the magnificent broom – Whoosh! Join the gang on the magnificent broom and fly through the starry night sky. Take control and steer the broom to collect letters, which spell out a word!
Additional Room on the Broom products include:
- Room on the Broom books from Penguin Group. Hardcover (SRP: $16.99) and Board Book (SRP: $6.99) versions are available wherever books are sold.
- Room on the Broom DVD from NCircle Entertainment, available at Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, Toys"R"Us, Kmart, amazon.com, (SRP: $9.99). Named "Best Animated Short" by the Toronto International Film Festival Kid's Festival, beautiful CGI animation brings the book's drawings to life under the direction of Max Lang & Jan Lachauer. Gillian Anderson (The X Files) provides the voice of the witch; while Timothy Spall of Harry Potter fame, lends his voice to the dragon. Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) narrates the story, which also features the recognizable voices of Martin Clunes, Rob Brydon, Sally Hawkins and David Walliams portraying the helpful animals that comprise the witch's family.
- Room on the Broom plush from Kids Preferred, available at Barnes & Noble and barnesandnoble.com, Witch, Dragon and Cat are perfect for kids of all ages. These surface-washable, soft and moveable plush, help kids to bring the classic story to life with their own twists and imagination. The lovable Witch is 15 inches (SRP: 12.95); Dragon is 8 inches and Cat is 7.5 inches.
The Room on the Broom Games app is available for $4.99 through iTunes, Google Play and Amazon.
Visit the Room On the Broom website for more information.
For more information please contact:
Carol Holdsworth/Michelle Orsi
Three.Sixty Marketing & Communications
Email
805.252.1848/2301.418.6430
About Room on the Broom:
Room on the Broom is a much-loved best selling book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Translated into 28 different languages, the book was published in the U.S. by Penguin Group, and although not a traditional Halloween story, it topped the children's picture book charts for 6 weeks over Halloween 2012. Room on the Broom is a magical story about teamwork and friendship featuring a kind witch who invites a surprising collection of animals to join her on her broom, much to the frustration of her cat. When the broom snaps in two and the witch encounters a dragon, everyone has to work together to defeat him.
In 2012 Magic Light Pictures produced the half hour animated special based on the book. First broadcast in the UK on BBC One, the film was seen by 7.6m viewers during the Christmas period. A musical adaptation created by Tall Stories, nominated for an Olivier Theatre award in 2013, tours the world with regular Christmas seasons in London's West End.
About Magic Light Pictures:
Magic Light Pictures is an award winning brand-building and production company, which creates rich and imaginative experiences for families worldwide. Magic Light is focused on growing select family brands with strong stories, evergreen characters and products to cherish.
In Addition to Room on the Broom, Magic Light's key brand is The Gruffalo, from the best-selling picture books by author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler. Magic Light produced the Oscar and BAFTA-nominated half-hour animated films, The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child, and has licensed them to over 80 broadcasters worldwide. Magic Light also runs a cross-category international merchandising programme for The Gruffalo brand, with over 40 licensees and 250 products, which capture the charm of the original books.
About Penguin:
Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the U.S. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group. Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children's trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Berkley Books, Dutton, Frederick Warne, G.P. Putnam's Sons, Grosset & Dunlap, New American Library, Penguin, Philomel, Riverhead Books and Viking, among others. The Penguin Group is part of Pearson plc, the international media company. For information about other books from Penguin visitwww.penguin.com.