Macmillan, the only Big 5 book publisher with its own podcast networks, will partner with kids podcast company Pinna to publish books based on the Pinna original podcast Quentin & Alfie’s ABC Adventures. The show features five year-old Alfie and his babysitter Quentin, and their every day whimsical adventures filled with fun, friends, and learning the alphabet. It is a Gold Choise Award winner.
This interesting partnership leverages Macmillan’s crossover expertise between books and podcasts. (See RAIN’s video interview with Kathy Doyle, Macmillan VP of Content and Development HERE.) Also interesting inasmuch as the deal represents a rare directional crossover of podcast to book.
The press notice offers this descriptor: “Each book will place a strong emphasis on functional literacy, a loving Black male relationship between a boy and his babysitter, and finding extraordinary things even in ordinary days.” Award-winning Randy DuBurke will write and illustrate the books.
“Collaborating with Randy and the team at FSG to bring this world and our characters to life in picture books and extend our stories in new directions is thrilling,” said Maggie McGuire, CEO, Pinna.
”I am very excited about becoming a part of Pinna’s ‘Quentin and Alfie’ family. The Quentin and Alfie’s ABC Adventures podcast is a fun, engaging way to bring young children the joys of learning,” said DuBurke. “I hope I can add to the growth of ‘Quentin and Alfie’ by expanding the podcast into a series of entertaining, informative picture books.”
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