Page 66 - Sterling 2020

Pi ctur e Boo k s SERIES HEADER
Picture Books
Picture Books

Bubble Kisses

by Vanessa Williams,
illustrated by Tara Nicole Whitaker

She gives me bubble kisses, bubble kisses as she swims by in the
water. She never misses with her bubble kisses.
And I’m so glad I got her.
young girl adores her goldfish, Sal. But Sal is no ordinary
A et: while she can’t fetch a ball or curl up on a lap, she
p
can give bubble kisses that transform the girl into a mermaid
and transport her to a world of underwater adventures. There,
beneath the sea, they play, sing, and dance with other mer-
maids. The catchy, breezy, rhymed tale is perfect for bedtime,
and the book includes a CD plus a link to a digital download.
From singer, actress, and dancer Vanessa
Williams comes a sweet, sparkling story
about a young girl whose beloved pet fish has
wonderful, magical powers.
TARA NICOLE WHITAKER’s education in art began early,
from classes at Pratt in her youth to more formal training at
RISD and California Institute of the Arts. She has designed
KEY SELLING POINTS
for Dreamworks, Nickelodeon, Fox Animation, PBS, CBS,
✱ Since the 1980s Vanessa Williams has appeared in films, Cartoon Network, and Disney. She lives in Burbank, CA. Find
TV series, and on Broadway. Multiple generations know her online at her website (taranicolewhitaker.com), on Twitter
her and her work @nicoledessine, and on Instagram @taranicolewhitaker.
✱ This is on-trend with mermaids, whose popularity in
children’s publishing continues unabated across all MARKETING & PUBLICITY
formats/age groups
✱ National TV appearances
✱ Also on-trend in terms of representation: the pool National print and online publicity campaign
of mermaids is becoming more diverse. Julián Is a ✱
Mermaid, Rise of the Jumbies, and Disney’s forthcoming ✱ Trade advertisements in SLJ, Booklist, and PW
live-action version of The Little Mermaid—with a ✱ Pre-publication social media advertising
black Ariel—point to a new, inclusive direction in
mermaid storytelling ✱ Targeted mailings to booksellers and librarians
✱ Goodreads and Shelf Awareness book giveaway
✱ Mommy blogger outreach
✱ Featured title with giveaway at Children’s Institute, ALA
Midwinter Conference, and Texas Library Association
✱ Heavy promotion on the author’s digital platforms
TWITTER: @VWOfficial
INSTAGRAM: @vanessawilliamsofficial
WEBSITE: vanessawilliams.com
FACEBOOK: @officialvanessawilliams

MAY 2020
ISBN 9781454938347 • $17.95 ($24.50 CAN) • Hardcover with Jacket & CD
32 PP (all in color) • 8 1/2 × 10 7/8 • Ages 3 to 8 • CQ 30 • World
Sterling Children’s Books

❚ 64 ❚ Sterling Publishing ❚ Spring 2020