New Children's Book THE GREAT RACE is Released

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ As the Year of the Horse draws to a close and the Year of the Ram approaches, the family-focused creators at Mini Magellan have teamed up with award-winning publisher Greenleaf Book Group, LLC to officially release The Great Race: How the Chinese Zodiac Came to Be, a modern take on the classic Chinese Zodiac tale. Today's release comes ahead of the start of Chinese New Year on February 19, 2015.

Created by parents, the book is aimed to be educational and entertaining for both children and parents alike. Illustrated by Hyperactive Monkey's Jerome Lu, and written by Charles Huang and Stacey Hirata, key creative pioneers from the wildly-popular Guitar Hero franchise, the book takes families on a fun and colorful adventure with the Jade Stars characters as readers learn how each of the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals earned their place on the lunar calendar.

"This re-telling of the classic story of the Jade Emperor is an exciting opportunity to spread cultural awareness to modern families, whether they are familiar with the story of The Great Race or reading it for the first time," said Stacey Hirata, co-author and president, Mini Magellan. "The Great Race: How the Chinese Zodiac Came to Be brings a contemporary feel to the classic Chinese fable for all families to enjoy, and is a perfect example of Mini Magellan's mission to create products that broaden cultural horizons and celebrate diversity from all around the world. Just in time for the Chinese new year, this is a great family book to share and learn more about this classic tale."

The Great Race: How the Chinese Zodiac Came to Be is now available in hardcover at select retail stores, including Barnes & Noble and Newslink airport hubs throughout the U.S., with an MSRP of $17.95. E-readers can also join the Jade Stars adventure through Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com.

Each Jade Stars character is based on the animals from the Chinese Zodiac, with charming boy and girl versions for each. After readers reach The Great Race finish line, they can continue the Jade Stars fun with adorable companion plushes, wall decals and apparel to match their own zodiac animal, all available at www.MiniMagellan.com.

About Jade Stars
To celebrate his birthday, the Jade Emperor has organized a Great Race and invited all of his favorite animals to compete for a place of honor in the heavens. The Jade Stars must use their talents, wits and determination to race to the finish and earn their place in the lunar calendar. Read along as they overcome obstacles, outsmart their competitors and form unlikely alliances in their quest for eternal glory.

About Mini Magellan
Based in Santa Clara, Calif., Mini Magellan was created by Charles Huang and Stacey Hirata to expand the horizons of families worldwide, celebrating the wisdom of distant and nearby cultures. The company promotes family-friendly creative expression and global social awareness through games, toys, art, stories, entertainment and fun interactive play with a modern touch. Through the launch of the Huang Scholars Program at the University of California at Berkeley and as co-creator of the Guitar Hero video game franchise, Huang has been promoting global consciousness and family entertainment for years. Hirata is a master of finding creative ways to entertain and engage families, leading marketing teams for iconic pop culture brands such as Pac-Man and Guitar Hero. The first product from Mini Magellan, The Great Race: How the Chinese Zodiac Came to Be, has already spawned a line of collectible plushes, wall decals, apparel and more.

About Greenleaf Book Group
Greenleaf Book Group is a publisher and distributor best known for its innovative business model, distribution power and award-winning designs. Named one of the fastest growing companies in the United States by Inc. magazine, it has represented more than 1,000 titles, including more than 20 that have hit the New York Times, Wall Street Journal or USA Today bestseller lists. You can learn more about Greenleaf on its website http://www.greenleafbookgroup.com and blog http://www.bigbadbookblog.com.

Media Contacts:
Johner Riehl / Alison Farias
jriehl@wonacottpr.com / afarias@wonacottpr.com
(310) 477-2871 x664 / x672

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150106/167188

SOURCE Mini Magellan

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