Characters from Hit PBS KIDS GO Show “Maya & Miguel” Celebrate El Día de los Niños

 

Scholastic Media’s popular 10-year-old twins promote literacy, family fun, and more at appearances nationwide in April and May

 

NEW YORK, NY — April 8, 2009 — The characters from Scholastic Media’s beloved animated series Maya & Miguel™ ) celebrate the tenth annual “El Día de los Niños” (“Day of the Children”) throughout April and May, with appearances and family activities across the country, and a new set of activities on the website home page. Maya & Miguel,/em> airs on PBS KIDS GO! (check local listings). Scholastic Media (SM), the entertainment and media division of Scholastic, is a leading producer of quality, family-oriented content across multiple platforms, including feature films, television programming, videos, interactive and audio products, and web sites, and is a major developer and marketer of children's brands worldwide.

Officially celebrated on April 30, “El Día de los Niños” highlights young people's contributions to their communities and draws attention to challenges they face. The traditional Mexican holiday came to the United States by Senate resolution in 1999. The twin ten-year-old stars of Maya & Miguel became ambassadors for the national celebration in 2003 and have become synonymous with the day. Costume characters of Maya and Miguel will make stops in major U.S. cities – in conjunction with local PBS affiliates – to join children, families and teachers at community events that celebrate young Americans and honor the traditions of many cultures.

"Promoting cultural diversity and family values is at the heart of Maya & Miguel and plays an important role in the El Día de los Ni&ntile;os celebration," said Leslye Schaefer, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Consumer Products for Scholastic Media, a division of Scholastic Inc., the global children's publishing, education and media company. "These special events provide Maya and Miguel the opportunity to connect with their fans all over the country and, in doing so, help them grow up to be confident in their own identities and more educated about other cultures."

"Maya & Miguel's El Día de Los Ninos” tour includes scheduled appearances in (see dates below): ARIZONA (Tucson); COLORADO (Denver); FLORIDA (Boynton Beach); ILLINOIS (Carbondale, Charleston); INDIANA (Indianapolis); MONTANA (Bozeman); NEW YORK (New York City); NORTH CAROLINA (Durham); PENNSYLVANIA (Pittsburgh); TEXAS (Austin, College Station, Dallas, San Antonio); WASHINGTON (Seattle); and WISCONSIN (Milwaukee). Appearances and activities are organized by local PBS stations in those areas, and are different at each location.

The online component of “Maya & Miguel’s El Día de los Niños” at pbskidsgo.org/mayaandmiguel features downloadable activities including “Create a Book,” a bilingual crossword puzzle, and a make-it-yourself “El Día de los Niños” crown. The site also has games, quizzes, episode recaps, a parent and teacher section, and much more.

Maya & Miguel debuted in 2004, and quickly became one of the top rated new series on PBS KIDS GO! by establishing an immediate and powerful connection to its audience. Designed to present culture and language learning as fun, relevant, and rewarding for all children, the series puts a special emphasis on the Latino population. The goals of the series are: to promote the value of a culturally diverse society; and to support English language learners through the presentation of language in a natural context with a special emphasis on vocabulary. Maya & Miguel is a broad-based Scholastic initiative comprising television and print media, school and community outreach, and a dynamic website at pbskidsgo.org/mayaandmiguel.

ABOUT SCHOLASTIC
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology and children’s media. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs and school-based book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries, television networks and the Company’s Internet Site, www.scholastic.com.

ABOUT SCHOLASTIC MEDIA

 

 

ABOUT PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO!
PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and outreach programs. With positive character role models and content designed to nurture a child’s total well-being, PBS’s online and community resources – including PBS KIDS online (pbskids.org), PBS KIDS GO! online (pbskidsgo.org), PBS Parents (pbsparents.org), PBS Teachers (pbsteachers.org), PBS KIDS Raising Readers and literacy events across the country – leverage the full spectrum of media, technology and community to build knowledge, critical thinking, imagination and curiosity. Empowering children for success in school and in life, only PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! have earned the unanimous endorsement of parents, children, industry leaders and teachers. PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation’s 356 public television stations, serving more than 115 million people on-air and online each month and reaching 99% of American homes.

Clips, games, and more information on Scholastic Media’s Maya & Miguel are available online at pbskidsgo.org/mayaandmiguel. # # #

NATIONAL APPEARANCE SCHEDULE (Alpha by state, then by date)

ARIZONA April 30 – Phoenix, AZ Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver St. 9:00AM-1:00PM 602-261-8055 Sponsored by KAET-TV (PBS)
Event includes a visit from Maya and Miguel. Part of the “El Día de los Niños Festival” celebration.

May 2 – Phoenix, AZ Downtown Library Courtyard, 100 E. Commonwealth 11:00AM-3:00PM 480-782-2788 Sponsored by KAET-TV (PBS)
This event includes free health screenings, cooking demos, healthy living information, visits from Maya and Miguel and more.

COLORADO April 24 – Denver, CO Four Cultural Institutions, 13th St. between Lincoln Ave and Bannock St. 12:00PM-4:00PM (720) 865-1307 Sponsored by KRMA-TV (PBS)
Festivities for the whole family include a visit from Maya and Miguel, folk dancers, singers, and food.

FLORIDA April 18 – Lake Worth, FL American-German Club, 5111 Lantana Rd. 12:00PM-10:00PM (561) 789-3513 Sponsored by WXEL-TV (PBS)
Part of WXEL’s “Fiesta Latina” family event.

ILLINOIS May 2 – Charleston, IL Eastern Illinois University – Campus Quad, 600 Lincoln Ave. 12:00PM-4:00PM (217) 581-7912 Sponsored by WEIU-TV (PBS)
Part of “A Festival of the Arts” event. Activities include a meet and greet with Maya and Miguel, giveaway bags, face painting and other crafts.

INDIANA April 26 – Indianapolis, IN The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N Meridian St. 10:00AM-3:00PM (317) 704-3521 Sponsored by WFYI (FSU)
Event includes a visit from Maya and Miguel.

MONTANA May 5 – Bozeman, MT Sponsored by Montana PBS
Private event – visit http://www.montanapbs.org for more information.

NEW YORK April 27 – New York Sponsored by WNET-TV (PBS)
Private event – visit http://www.wnet.org for more information

NORTH CAROLINA April 18 – Wilson, NC Wilson County Public Library, 249 W. Nash St. 10:00AM-2:00PM (252) 206-4235 Sponsored by UNC-TV (PBS)
Part of “Kids on the Lawn” celebration. Appearances from Maya and Miguel and Scholastic Media’s Clifford the Big Red Dog, along with other local celebrities and activities for children of all ages.

PENNSYLVANIA May 2 – Pittsburgh, PA Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills, 590 Pittsburgh Mills Circle 12:00PM-2:00PM (412) 622-1459 Sponsored by WQED-TV (PBS)
Part of “Cinco de Mayo Celebration for Children” celebration. Activities will include a meet-and-greet with Maya and Miguel, activity tables, giveaways and more.

TEXAS April 18 – San Antonio, TX 10:00AM-2:00PM Sponsored by KLRN-TV (PBS)
Part of “Kids Day in the Park” event. Activities will include appearances and photo opportunities with Maya and Miguel, craft activities, story time and games, Library card sign-up, and Leer da Poder materials.

April 25 – Austin, TX St. John’s Community Center, 7500 Blessing Ave. 10:00AM-2:00PM (512) 462-1033 Sponsored by KLRU-TV (PBS)
This event will include performances by children’s dance and musical groups, hands-on educational activities, free books, snacks and the opportunity to meet Maya and Miguel and Clifford the Big Red Dog.

April 30 – College Station, TX Sponsored by KAMU-TV (PBS)
Event includes visit from Maya and Miguel. Private event – visit a href="http://www.kamu-tv.tamu.edu">http://www.kamu-tv.tamu.edu for more information.

Date: TBD – Dallas, TX
Event includes visit from Maya and Miguel. For KERA members only. Please visit http://www.kera.org for more information.

WASHINGTON Date: TBD – Seattle, WA
Event includes visit from Maya and Miguel. For KCTS members only. Please visit http://www.kcts.org for more information.

WISCONSIN May 1 – Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Public Television, 1036 N. 8th. St. 10:00AM-11:00AM and 1:00PM-2:00PM (414) 297-7518 Sponsored by Milwaukee Public Television
Part of “El Día de los Niños/Day of the Child” events at MPTV. Activities include: a visit with Maya & Miguel, join in making a mural, create your own “milagros,” decorate a crown, enjoy a story, and a take-home bag for each participating child. Reservations required; call for details.

CONTACT:

Goodman Media International
John Michael Kennedy
jmkennedy@goodmanmedia.com
212-567-2700 x 243

Goodman Media International
Jennifer Marcus
jmarcus@goodmanmedia.com
212-567-2700 x 239