Caroll Spinney Pens STORY MONSTERS INK

CHANDLER, Ariz., June 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-iReach/ As the man behind Sesame Street's Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch characters, Caroll Spinney has delivered lasting education lessons to millions of children. "We had a lot of doubters who didn't believe that television could be a teaching tool," Spinney recently said in an interview with Story Monsters Ink magazine. "I think we proved them wrong."

Like most icons of American culture, Big Bird is instantly recognizable. However, the face of Caroll Spinney, the puppeteer who has been tucked inside the 8 foot-tall, yellow-feathered suit for much of the last 46 years remains largely unfamiliar. With the recent release of his documentary I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story (Copper Pot Pictures), Spinney talks to Story Monsters Ink about the creation of Sesame Street, his friend Jim Henson and his favorite memories.

Story Monsters Ink is a monthly, family magazine that gives kids, parents and educators the latest news on award-winning and debut books and products, reviews, recipes, activities, a Spanish language column and a science and nature column written by award-winning author Conrad J. Storad.

What began as a monthly newsletter has turned into a major magazine with subscribers across the globe, advertisers clamoring to get a spot in each issue and featured interviews with Rosemary Wells, Garcelle Beauvais, Claudine Pepin, NASA Astronaut Jerry L. Ross, Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Jean Louisa Kelly and Lisa Jakub. The July issue also features interviews with Michaela DePrince, Sebastian A. Jones, Barbara Bottner and Dr. Stephanie Cox.

"I wanted to publish a magazine for a very long time," says Linda F. Radke, founder and president of Five Star Publications, Inc. "Story Monsters Ink is an exciting fulfillment of that dream. As a parent and former educator myself, I recognize the value of instilling a love of reading and writing in children, and I have a tremendous team to work with in developing this publication each month. We've definitely created a monster of a magazine."

"I am so proud of what this publication has become," adds Cristy Bertini, the magazine's editor-in-chief. "Not only do we feature well-known authors and celebrities, but we also shine a light on independent authors who are not so well-known and trying to find their place in the literary world. Our ultimate goal is to promote children's literacy, and we involve children in the production of Story Monsters Ink by asking them to write book reviews, poems, articles, etc., and we publish their work in each issue. Children love seeing their work printed in the magazine, and we love encouraging them to read and write as much as possible."

The magazine's trademark character, the lovable, green Story Monster made his first appearance in 2013 in a popular book awards program developed by Five Star called Story Monster Approved! to recognize and honor both seasoned and newly published children's literature authors. And who judges the submissions? Children! After books pass the first round of judging by industry experts, the books are then judged by a panel of students who must also endorse the books before they can receive the official Story Monster seal of approval. "Who better to judge the entries than the children who read them?" says Radke. "We now have panels of student judges in elementary schools all over the US and soon in the UK as well, and we can't keep up with them! These students take their jobs very seriously and are waiting for more submissions."

To sign up for a free digital subscription toStory Monsters Ink, visit www.StoryMonstersInk.com. Printed subscriptions are also available for purchase. For more information on Five Star Publications, Inc., now celebrating its 30 th anniversary, call (480) 940-8182 or email info@fivestarpublications.com.

Media Contact: Linda F. Radke, Five Star Publications, Inc., 480-940-8182, info@fivestarpublications.com

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Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150621/224550

SOURCE Five Star Publications, Inc.

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