I’ve just caught up on the amazing range of recent Penguin publications and I have to say ….. I am completely bowled over by the depth and breadth of all that they have produced!
First up is their monthly magazine OFF THE SHELF which is being published on the amazingly attractive and easy to use online tool Issu. Packed full of informative and really interesting articles, I found myself reading this online magazine with eagerness and great interest. The colourful and well laid out graphics certainly lends an added appeal.
Recent or not, I have just caught up with the fact that Penguin have started up two blogs – one for teachers and another for Young Adult readers.
I’m guessing that the Penguin Teacher’s Corner blog is a revamp of their previous website. Using the format of the blog though, they are able to clearly direct the reader to topics of interest: new books, books for primary and secondary students, educational resources, themes and more. It is an easy to navigate blog with insightful and interesting layout and content.
Between the Lines, a blog specifically pitched at Young Adult readers, is bold, colourful and very nice! By including pages such as Sneak Peek, Behind the Scenes and BTL Pop Culture, to name just a few, this blog is bound to draw the interest of our teens. Sliding in competitions on the BTL TV page is a ‘gimmick’ which is sure to keep them coming back!!
And if all this isn’t enough, Penguin have also developed something for their young audience! Quoting from the August edition of OFF THE SHELF …..
Penguin Kids’ TV is a new YouTube Channel aimed at Primary children. Bringing children’s book news to kids in a fun, fresh and engaging way!
It’s hard to believe that kids won’t be captivated by the short sharp segments on this dedicated YouTube Channel. Watching a few snippets of it reminds me of a cross between ‘Play School’ and ‘Sesame Street’. Very nice!
Clearly there are some talented people working behind the scenes to put all this together. The winners of course are us – the teachers, teacher librarians, librarians and of course the students, young and old, for whom we strive to give so much. I do feel that a new benchmark has been set here.
Way to go Penguin!!
