NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Disney Publishing Worldwide will publish a fifth picture book starring PIGEON, Mo Willems’ internationally best-selling and award-winning avian hero. The agreement for North American English rights was negotiated by Christian Trimmer, Editor, Disney-Hyperion, an imprint of Disney Publishing Worldwide, and Marcia Wernick of Wernick & Pratt Agency.
The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? is scheduled for publication in April 2012, with a printing of 250,000. Duckling asks for a cookie—and gets one! Pigeon, who has been unsuccessfully asking for things for years, is not pleased.
“The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? is probably my most research-heavy book to date,” said Willems. “As the creator, I had to ask tough questions, like ‘What kind of cookie?’ ‘How would the cookie taste?’ and ‘How would another one of the cookies taste?’ This hard work was not done by an assistant; I have the belly to prove it.”
“We are thrilled to publish Pigeon’s newest adventure,” said Trimmer. “To work with someone of Mo Willems’ rare genius is nothing short of an honor for Disney Publishing.”
In April 2003, television writer and animator Mo Willems published his first children’s book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!. What quietly originated as a doodle in a sketchbook for family and friends became a publishing phenomenon and an instant children’s classic. The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! followed in April 2004; Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! in 2006; and The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! in 2008. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! was awarded the prestigious Caldecott Honor by the American Library Association and was inducted into the Indies Choice Picture Book Hall of Fame. More than 4 million Pigeon books are in print in the US, with 13 foreign language editions around the world.
Mo Willems has been awarded the Caldecott Honor on two other occasions: for Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity. In addition to picture books, he wrote the script and lyrics for Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, commissioned by the Kennedy Center for its 2010 season. The production is currently touring the nation. Mo also created the Elephant and Piggie books, a series of easy readers, which were awarded with two Theodor Geisel Medals and a Geisel Honor. He began his career on Sesame Street, where he garnered six Emmy Awards. Mo lives with his family in Massachusetts.
About Disney Publishing Worldwide
Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) is the world’s largest publisher of children’s books and magazines, with over 250 million children’s books and over 400 million children’s magazines sold each year. Disney Publishing Worldwide consists of an extensive worldwide licensing structure as well as vertically integrated publishing imprints including Disney Book Group in the U.S., Disney Libri in Italy and Disney Libros in Spain. DPW publishes a range of children’s magazines globally including Topolino, Le Journal de Mickey, and Donald Duck, as well as family titles in the U.S. which include Disney FamilyFun and Phineas and Ferb. Disney English is DPW’s English language learning business which includes Disney English schools in China and a worldwide retail licensing program. DPW’s digital products include bestselling eBook titles as well as original apps. Headquartered in White Plains, NY, Disney Publishing Worldwide publishes books, magazines, and digital products in 85 countries in 75 languages. For more information visit www.disneypublishing.com.
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