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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 4 december 2019

In this Oct. 31, 2017, file photo, former President Barack Obama,
right, and former first lady Michelle Obama appear at the
Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago.
Associated Press
Obamas' publisher

makes new pledge to

education organization In this Sept. 29, 2019, file photo, a fan wears a shark hat as Washington Nationals' Gerardo Parra
comes up to bat in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians at Nationals
Park in Washington.
NEW YORK (AP) — The publisher of Barack and Michelle Associated Press
Obama has pledged to donate 300,000 children's books
to a leading educational organization, adding to the 1 'Baby Shark' creators plan Navajo
million copies already given.
Penguin Random House announced Tuesday that it had version of popular video
joined with the former president and former first lady
in contributing to First Book ( www.firstbook.org ) in the By RUSSELL CONTRERAS na, to create a new version wide," Yoon said.
Obama family's name. For every $3 donated to First Book Associated Press of the widely popular tune The Navajo Nation is the
between now and the end of the year, Random House ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) about a family of sharks. largest Native American
will give two new books to First Book, up to 300,000 books. — Creators of the popular The project was launched reservation in the U.S. The
First Book distributes books and other resources to schools video "Baby Shark," whose after museum director Man- Navajo word for shark is lóó
and programs serving children from low-income commu- "doo doo doo" song was uelito Wheeler reached out hashkéhé, which translates
nities. played at the World Series to SmartStudy in Septem- to "angry fish."
The initial First Book contribution was announced by Pen- in October and has been ber about translating "Baby The company is seeking
guin Random House upon acquiring memoirs by the a viral hit with toddlers Shark" into Navajo. The mu- voice actors to portray
Obamas in 2017. Michelle Obama's million-selling "Be- around the world, are de- seum previously had lob- the roles of Baby Shark,
coming" came out last year. Barack Obama is currently veloping a version in Na- bied for Navajo versions of Mommy Shark, Daddy
working on his book about his years in the White House. vajo. the movies "Star Wars" and Shark, Grandma Shark, and
"When children have greater access to our books and Pinkfong, a brand of the "Finding Nemo" that were Grandpa Shark.
stories, we, together with President and Mrs. Obama, are South Korea company eventually made. The original " Baby Shark
helping to shape a literate, educated, and democratic SmartStudy, announced "I was surprised by their en- Dance " video has gar-
society that will become the next generation of readers last week it is working with thusiasm and excitement nered more than 4 billion
and leaders," Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle the Navajo Nation Muse- about getting this started," views on YouTube.
said in a statement.q um in Window Rock, Arizo- Wheeler said Tuesday. "Baby Shark" has been
"We have been looking for around for a few years, but
Author Milan something aimed at pre- took the world by storm last
year when the song and
schoolers."
Kundera as Czech SmartStudy has translated video went viral with the
the "Baby Shark" tune of the nursery-school set, with little
citizenship restored viral video in 19 languages, kids imitating the hand-
including English, Chinese, clapping dance that went
Japanese, Korean, Ger- along with the video.
PRAGUE (AP) — Milan Kundera, the man, Arabic, and Bahasa- Books, plush toys, and oth-
Czech-born author of “The Unbearable Malay.The company hopes er merchandise inspired
Lightness of Being” has been given back its latest project will spark by the song became hot-
the citizenship of his homeland that he interest in the Navajo lan- ticket items for the holidays
lost 40 years ago. guage among the tribe's and the "Baby Shark" tour
The Czech ambassador to France, Petr In this June 10, 2009, file photo, Czech- young generation, Smart- was soon hatched.
Drulak, told Czech public television he born author living in France Milan Kundera, Study marketing manager A second North American
handed Kundera his citizenship certifi- right, is awarded the Simone and Cino Del Kevin Yoon said in an email. leg of the "Baby Shark"
cate last week in his Paris apartment. Duca Foundation World Prize for his lifetime "We're happy to play a concert tour is launching in
It’s a result of Kundera’s meeting with achievement in Paris, France. role in raising awareness of March.
Prime Minister Andrej Babis in Paris last Associated Press and preserving a language During the World Series,
year. Novel” and “Immortality.” His later works, that's in danger of vanish- Washington Nationals fans
Kundera fled Communist Czechoslova- written in French, were not translated ing through what we do adopted "Baby Shark" as
kia and has lived in France since 1975, into Czech. best — creating fun, stimu- the team's rally song.
and it is there that he published his most The 90-year-old lives in virtual seclusion, lating content to provide Nickelodeon has a "Baby
famous books, including “The Book of only travels to his homeland incognito entertaining learning expe- Shark" cartoon series in the
Laughter and Forgetting,” “The Art of the and never speaks to reporters.q riences to children world- works.q