Publisher Description

An empowerment-focused keepsake edition of one of the world's best-loved picture books40 years. 7 million copies. 1 kick-ass princess who has inspired generations of readers to stand up for themselves.How do you celebrate an occasion as special as 40 years in print for a book as beloved as The Paper Bag Princess? You track down some of the most poignant commentary about the story; you share behind-the-scenes insights from the author and his partner; and you present it all in a beautiful package that showcases the story like never before.To mark The Paper Bag Princess's 40th anniversary, Annick has done just this, creating a gift-worthy deluxe hardcover featuring extra thick paper, a beautiful dust jacket, and a hidden second cover that reimagines the original cover imagery, plus commentary from renowned authors Francesca Segal (The Innocents) and Chelsea Clinton (She Persisted). Publishing in time for International Women's Day in March, this gorgeous edition celebrates an enduring story that has had a profound effect on countless readers around the world.

Author Biography

Robert Munsch, author of such classics as The Paper Bag Princess, Love You Forever, and Thomas' Snowsuit, is one of North America's bestselling authors of children's books. Michael Martchenko is the award-winning illustrator of the Classic Munsch series and many other beloved children's books. He was born north of Paris, France, and moved to Canada when he was seven. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Patricia. Chelsea Clinton is a teacher, advocate, and author of several award-winning books for children, including She Persisted. She read The Paper Bag Princess to her daughter nightly for a year and a half. Francesca Segal is an award-winning writer and journalist. Her first novel, The Innocents, won the Costa First Novel Award, the National Jewish Book Award for Fiction, the Sami Rohr Prize, and a Betty Trask Award, and was long-listed for the Women's Prize for Fiction (formerly the Orange Prize). Ann Munsch and Robert Munsch have been married since 1973. Ann once asked by there weren't any stories where the princess saves the prince, and so The Paper Bag Princess was born.

Review

"One of my children's favourites was always Robert Munsch's The Paper Bag Princess …. There is nothing more subversively empowering than reciting from memory those great last lines, when the enterprising Princess Elizabeth rescues the ghastly and feeble Prince Ronald from the dragon – and then dumps him: "'You look like a nice guy, but guess what? You are a bum.' And they didn't get married after all." There's power for you, in a nutshell.
"I will always be grateful for Elizabeth's bravery, and for the way she shows us that dragons can be defeated, that we can rescue ourselves, and that we don't need to sacrifice our kindness or goodness to do so."
"This is deeply satisfying to the children I read it to, and to me as an adult as well. She's clever, she's brave and she refuses to subordinate herself. The well placed use of the word "bum" adds a nice bit of levity to the ending."
"If ever there were a book with the most perfect plot twist, this could be it . . . This princess tale is short and sweet and funny and empowers young girls to be true to themselves . . . a classic picture book that packs a real punch to the "princess" genre!"
"I will read [The Paper Bag Princess] to [my daughters] and I hope over time that they will learn Princess Elizabeth's lessons: Adventure and be fearless. Stand up to dragons. Defend yourself with all you have. Walk away from any man who treats you with disrespect. You, yourself, alone, are enough, and more than enough."
"Best. Book. Ever."

Promotional

Large-scale bookseller, librarian, educator outreach pre-publication:

• Events at ALA MW, OLA SC, Children's Institute with PBP life-sized standee, giveaways, prize wheel, tote bags
• Launching Paper Bag Princess Day annual event with advertising at US regionals, flyers in W20 Kids White Box (top 450 US Indie accounts), Dewy Diva library marketing (Canada-only), event kits, account coop for PBP Day events
• 5-copy signed copy carton (Indies)

National print & digital advertising:

• October-March: print and digital advertising in PW, SLJ, Booklist, Fuse 8, social media (TBC: Shelf Awareness, BookRiot)

Publicity:

• Publicists for North America and UK markets
• Confirmed/interested:
• • Dec. 15: CBC Radio Sunday Edition documentary/Sirius XM
  • Jan: Shelf Awareness Pro, PBP Day piece with bookseller commentary

Social media:#StandUpToDragons campaign on Annick accounts Jan-Mar includes:

• Promotional trailers with Robert Munsch and real families, speed drawing with illustrator Michael Martchenko
• Shareables—PBP Day promo images for booksellers and librarians to use
• Seeking celebrity endorsements
• Advertising/post boosting
• Contesting beginning in January featuring female-centric businesses and PBP signed copies and merch
• International publishers' videos for PBP Day, March 7

International marketing campaign, including UK Trade and Consumer PR campaign, tote bags for key accounts, Trade advertising

Long Description

Forty years after it first published, The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko continues to inspire kids to stand up not only to dragons, but to the conventions that try to force them into moulds that sometimes just don't fit. In this deluxe anniversary edition readers get the same familiar, laugh-out-loud story that has inspired generations of feminists, in a beautiful new package including a preface from Chelsea Clinton, an afterword from Robert and Ann Munsch, and a powerful call-to-action from writer Francesca Segal about the book's lasting impact.

Review Quote

"This is deeply satisfying to the children I read it to, and to me as an adult as well. She's clever, she's brave and she refuses to subordinate herself. The well placed use of the word "bum" adds a nice bit of levity to the ending."

Description for Sales People

40th Anniversary Edition: one of the world's best-loved picture books, original feminist fairy tale Sales track: 7 million+ copies sold in 15 languages Deluxe package: First time in jacketed hardcover, enlarged trim, re-designed interiors Bonus poster: dust jacket converts to "Stand Up To Dragons" poster Big marketing campaign leading up to March 7, Paper Bag Princess Day

Details