Andrea Blain Public Relations, Inc.

For Immediate Release

Newest Title in Families of The World DVD Series

“Families of Guatemala”

 Receives Parents’ Choice Approval

Now on DVD From Master Communications

Cincinnati, OH (September 23, 2009) – The newest title in the award-winning Families of the World DVD Series – ‘Families of Guatemala’ – just received a Parents’ Choice Approval it was announced today by Selina S. Yoon, president of Master Communications, distributors of the multi-award-winning Families of the World series. Founded in 1978, Parents’ Choice is the nation’s oldest nonprofit consumer guide to quality children’s media. 

The series – 23 titles and growing – offers a documentary-style “day in the life” glimpse into how people in different countries live from a child’s point of view.  Each new title includes a free Teacher’s Guide. The entire Families of the World catalog is also available on DVD with many titles being broadcast on select PBS stations around the country and around the world. 

In ‘Families of Guatemala,’ meet seven-year-old Mariaelena and her family who live on a mountain farm.  Mariaelena attends a Catholic, all-girls school and all her studies are in the morning, as Guatemalan schools divide all students into two groups, morning and afternoon classes.   After school, it’s home for dinner (lunch) and fun activities like drawing, music and make-believe. Mariaelena also helps milk the cows and catch oranges from nearby trees. Then its supper and off to bed.

Then meet Jorge, a nine-year-old boy who has a fraternal twin, Marcos.  In the morning, Jorge brushes his teeth, eats breakfast, then heads off to the co-ed catholic school he attends.  Early classes include phys-ed with sports like futbol (soccer), basketball and ping-pong.  He then studies biology and dance, which he’ll perform at the weekend’s Family Day Festival.  On the weekend, Jorge has his guitar lesson then plays in his futbol league.  Later, it’s off to enjoy the Festival!

The series has garnered repeated acclaim and awards also from Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Parents’ Choice and NAPPA (National Parenting Publications of America) as well as endorsements from KIDS FIRST! and recommendations from Dr. Toy’s Children’s Products.  It has won a Summit Creative Award, a Parenting Magazine Gold Award, First Place at the Worldfest Film Festival and is used in classrooms around the country as a valuable tool for multi-cultural education.

 Families of the World is recommended for ages 5-11 and retails for $29.95 each.  The series features families in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, France, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, a second Mexico release (includes Spanish and English soundtrack), Panama, Puerto Rico, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, the USA, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam and Canada.  Each DVD includes a free PDF Teacher’s Guide, which include the script, copy-reading maps, discussion and activity guides, recipes, glossaries and more. To order Families of the World DVDs, call 1-800-765-5885 or visit www.familiesoftheworld.com.

# # #

Press Contact:

Andrea Blain

Andrea Blain Public Relations

andrea@andreablainpr.com

847-933-9884

For Immediate Release

 New DVD Based Upon Popular Book
“If the World Were a Village”
Wins Parents’ Choice Silver Award

Cincinnati, OH (September 23, 2009)—The new DVD based upon the popular book If the World Were A Village just received a Parents’ Choice Silver Award from the prestigious Parents’ Choice Foundation, it was announced today by Selina S. Yoon, president of Master Communications, distributor of the DVD. Since 1978, Parents’ Choice is the nation’s oldest nonprofit consumer guide to quality children’s media.

In awarding the DVD its honor, Parents Choice’ said “Not only would any social studies, geography, civics or history class benefit from taking a break to watch this (DVD), but your child at home will suddenly see the world in a new perspective. It shows the world without judgment – strictly from the numbers – and with that comes the feeling that whatever circumstances in life, we are just one group among many in the world.”

What if you could take the world’s population – over 6 billion – and see it within the confines of one united community of 100?  That’s what you will find out in the delightful and insightful If the World Were a Village DVD. Based on David J. Smith’s best-selling, award-winning book, If the World Were a Village is an animated story that delivers an enlightening message and explores how general global statistics about age, language, economic and educational status, food and culture would break down if looking at only 100 people.

For example, out of 100 people:
·         61 would be from Asia, 13 from Africa, 5 from North America, 8 from Central and South America, 12 from Europe and 1 from Oceania (Australia, South Pacific, etc).
·         More than half would speak one of eight languages:  Chinese, Hindi, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Bengali, Arabic and Russian.
·         Represented faiths would include Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Muslim and non-organized religions.
·         39 people would be under 19 years of age, 42 would be between ages 20-49, 18 would be older than 50 and 1 would be older than 80.

If the World Were a Village is a unique and objective resource, inspiring children to discover that life in other nations is often very different from their own.  The compartmentalized stats, along with Smith’s tips on building “world-mindedness,” will encourage viewers to embrace the bigger picture and help establish their own place in the international landscape.

Chapters include: Welcome to the Global Village; Nationalities; Languages; Ages; Religions; Food; Air and Water; Schooling and Literacy; Money and Possessions; Electricity; Village in the Past; Village in the Future; Teaching Children About the Global Village; a Note on Sources; and How the Calculations Were Made.

If the World Were a Village has been honored as a 2006 Prix Jeunesse International Finalist, a 2006 Gemini Award Nominee for Best Direction and won the 2007 Alliance for Children & Television Award of Excellence and the 2007 Canadian Screenwriting Award.

The DVD is approximately 25 minutes and is available in English, Spanish or French for $29.95 each, which includes PPR.  A disc containing all three languages is also available for $59.95, which includes PPR. To order call 1-800-765-5885 or visit www.master-comm.com.

# # #

Press Contact: 

Andrea Blain

Andrea Blain Public Relations

andrea@andreablainpr.com

847-933-9884