Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Unveils David Wiesner’s Spot – A Unique Digital Storytelling App from Three-Time Caldecott Medalist
BOSTON, MA — Global learning company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) today released David Wiesner’s Spot, the latest visual masterpiece from three-time Caldecott medalist, David Wiesner. Designed to inspire imagination, discovery and playfulness in users of all ages, the unique app for iPad uses “pinch and zoom” functionality to reveal worlds within worlds, creating a narrative experience that is never the same twice.
David Wiesner’s Spot encourages dreamers and storytellers to create endlessly varied tales using “hotspots” to move seamlessly between the app’s five fantastical worlds — each one brought to life through original artwork by David Wiesner. Users can create their own unique narrative experience, set their own pace and draw their own conclusions, relying entirely on their imagination to create the next chapter.
With five colorful worlds to explore, there is no limit to the number of adventures storytellers can embark upon. Peek under an armchair and visit the dust bunnies in Lower Rügg, wander among the robotic shoppers in the marketplace of Mekanikos, watch the glorious cat parade in Katzaluna, go on an underwater adventure in Oceana Prime, or take in the beauty of the universe in an intergalactic space station.
“We are thrilled to partner with David Wiesner to push the boundaries of the traditional story format in a way that he has dreamt about since design school,” said Gary Gentel, President of HMH Trade Publishing. “His reputation as one of the world’s most celebrated visual storytellers is apparent in his ability to embrace the power of new technologies and create a magical experience full of imagination, curiosity and discovery.”
David Wiesner’s Spot, available from the App Store at $6.99, is accompanied by a free multi-touch companion e-book which provides discussion and writing prompts for parents, educators and children, and activities for young learners both within the classroom and at home. To learn more about David Wiesner’s Spot, watch the trailer or click here for a special Q&A with David Wiesner.
David Wiesner’s Spot joins David Wiesner’s celebrated repertoire of bestselling picture books including Flotsam, Mr. Wuffles!, Tuesday and The Three Pigs.
About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade Publishing
For nearly two centuries, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade Publishing has published some of the world’s most renowned novels, nonfiction, children’s books, and reference works. As part of a leading global learning company, it is uniquely positioned to create educational and entertaining content for multiple channels and in various formats, from hardcovers and paperbacks to e-books and mobile apps. Its distinguished author list includes eight Nobel Prize winners, forty-seven Pulitzer Prize winners, thirteen National Book Award winners, and more than one hundred Caldecott, Newbery, Printz, and Sibert Medal and Honor recipients. HMH publishes such distinguished authors as Philip Roth, Temple Grandin, Tim O’Brien, and Umberto Eco, and a celebrated roster of children’s authors and illustrators including Lois Lowry, Chris Van Allsburg, and David Wiesner. HMH is also home to The Best American series®; The American Heritage® and Webster’s New World® dictionaries; Betty Crocker®, Better Homes and Gardens®, How to Cook Everything®, The Gourmet Cookbook, and other leading culinary properties; the Peterson Field Guides®; CliffsNotes™; books by J.R.R. Tolkien; and many iconic children’s books and characters, including Curious George®, The Little Prince, and The Polar Express. For more information, visit http://www.hmhco.com/popular-reading.
About David Wiesner
David Wiesner is one of the world’s most celebrated visual storytellers. The creator of many bestselling picture books, he is only the second person to have been awarded three Caldecott Medals—the nation’s highest illustration honor—for Tuesday, The Three Pigs, and Flotsam and has also won three Caldecott Honors for Free Fall, Sector 7, and Mr. Wuffles! His picture books have been published in more than nineteen countries and have won numerous awards and accolades. He lives with his family outside of Philadelphia, PA. For more information, visit davidwiesner.com.
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