BEx Press
Media releases about Bookman Express and its imprints can be found here. This page will be updated as new announcements happen.
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Release: December 7, 2020
Richard Nattoo nominated for Prime Minister’s Youth Award
Jamaican visual artist Richard Nattoo, whose works have adorned the walls of the National Gallery of Jamaica on multiple occasions, is now up for the Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards for Excellence. His nomination in the category of arts and culture was announced just days ahead of the release of his debut children’s book, Ian Takes Flight.
Ian Takes Flight is an exciting story written by Nattoo and illustrated with his whimsical paintings, and set in the Caribbean countryside where young Ian spends the summer holiday with his godmother. The book will launch on December 12 with an intimate book signing at Marianna’s Kitchen inside Marketplace, 67 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10. Persons are welcome to purchase copies there and meet the author between 12:30pm and 4:00pm.
Ian Takes Flight is edited by musician and educator, Olivia Wilmot, and published by Sapling Books, the new children’s imprint of independent publisher, Bookman Express. Ideal for early readers from 5 to 9 years old, it will be available at Kozy Korner, My Jamaica Store, Marianna’s Kitchen, plus other future outlets. Online purchases can be made via bookmanexpress.pub and other popular e-commerce websites.
On the news of his nomination, Nattoo said, “It’s a great, surreal feeling. This year started out terrible but spending time on Ian Takes Flight and various mural projects, I’m pretty happy to be seen.”
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Release: October 21, 2020
‘Ian Takes Flight’ with Sapling Books, Bookman Express
Children are significantly affected by the social disruptions brought about by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As many of them spend much more time at home getting accustomed to virtual learning environments, there is a pressing need for materials and activities to keep children occupied and stimulated. Thankfully, they are about to meet a new friend to engage their imagination. His name is Ian.
Ian Takes Flight is a new children’s book expected for release this December. It is an exciting story about young Ian’s summer holiday with his godmother who lives in the countryside. Although he has no other children to play with, Ian is very content in the company of plants and animals, and happily does his chores each morning. His joy-filled heart and good attitude earns him an unexpected invitation to a hidden world of limitless imagination.
Ian Takes Flight is written and illustrated by Jamaican visual artist Richard Nattoo, whose works have been displayed at various premier exhibitions at the National Gallery of Jamaica. The book’s editor is educator, songwriter and children’s advocate, Olivia Wilmot. It is published by Sapling Books, the newly established children’s imprint of 9-year-old independent publishing company, Bookman Express.
Although Nattoo has illustrated books before, Ian Takes Flight will be his debut work as an author. To his mind, it was a long time coming. “I remember when I was in grade four, I used to always go to the reading corner and borrow children’s books for extended periods of time. I loved the magical worlds they allowed me to visit,” he recalled. “Fast forward eighteen years later, I’m an artist who is able to create these worlds to share with other children and adults like me who still are kids at heart. I made Ian Takes Flight so readers can feel what I felt sitting on the carpet in that fourth grade reading corner.”
The incredible tale of Ian hardly ends with the book though. At the end of the 45-page story, children (guided by adults) will have the opportunity to access a variety of fun activities and extra resources to further develop their minds. The majority of these will be freely downloadable via Ian’s special online portal at bookmanexpress.pub/iantakesflight.
Wilmot encourages parents and guardians to participate in the early reading experience of their children. She pointed out that “simply sitting and reading together with a child or giving them a beautiful book they can read and think about is a wise and nurturing action with positive reverberations that can last for life. For children in today’s world, taking even fifteen minutes to pause the hectic demands of life can be the difference between a good night’s sleep and anxiety, or between self-acceptance and self-doubt. Ian Takes Flight is the perfect bridge to a world of meaning, courage, beauty and imagination. It creates a fantastic world while honouring the power of being centered. Any child, parent or teacher should find at least one nugget of value from reading it.”
Ian Takes Flight is an enjoyable reading experience for the whole family. It is ideal for children 5 to 9 years old and those reading at the Grade 3 level will likely be able to read it independently. It addresses socio-emotional learning in this pandemic period and it touches on themes of friendship, imagination, determination, love for the environment, personal growth, respect for elders and rules, memory and more.
“Richard Nattoo and Olivia Wilmot are both geniuses at what they do,” said Bookman Express founder, Dutty Bookman. “This project goes a lot deeper than just selling books. It is about a relatable Black, Caribbean character for the little ones in our lives. Our company is blessed with this opportunity to connect Ian to early readers worldwide.”
Ian Takes Flight is now available for pre-order via bookmanexpress.pub and will be widely available wherever books are sold.
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