Kenny Loggins Set for NY Area Book Signings this Week
By: Tyler Peterson Nov. 17, 2013
It's a winter wonderland, where a snowman comes to life and children find that fairy tales really can come true with the all-new FROSTY THE SNOWMAN (Charlesbridge Publishing/A Peter Yarrow Book for Imagine!; November 18, 2013; ISBN: 978-1-62354-012-8; $17.95; Hardcover with Jacket & CD). Celebrating this cherished holiday classic with music and lyrics by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins, this full-color picture book, adorned with the magical artwork of award-winning illustrator Wade Zahares, features a special gift for the whole family: a CD with three songs performed by a super-cool Grammy award-winning recording artist, Kenny Loggins.
We all know the legendary lyrics: Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul, with a corncob pipe and a button nose, and two eyes made out of coal... Now those words we all know and love are part of this wonderful new book. Grammy-winning singer Kenny Loggins and award-winning illustrator Wade Zahares have created a fabulous storybook, beginning with that marvelous snowy day when the town children make Frosty. Everything seems like normal fun-until the kids put a magical silk hat on the snowman's head and he suddenly comes to life, dancing around and delighting all. Together, they laugh, run, and play, having a great time...until the sun comes out. Frosty has to go away, but he promises to come back on another winter's day.
For decades, children have adored "Frosty the Snowman," and now they can listen to (and sing along with) Kenny Loggins' enchanting rendition of the song on the accompanying CD. Embedded in the book cover, the CD also features two bonus songs, "Fishin' Blues" and "Cyndi"-which, like "Frosty," are newly recorded just for this book. Combined with Zahares' spectacular art, this sparkling version is sure to please "Frosty" fans of all ages. "I am honored to put my own spin on such a beloved holiday classic," says Loggins, "and sincerely hope all enjoy this beautiful book with your children or grandchildren." Peter Yarrow, the legendary recording artist of Peter, Paul and Mary, and now the head of Peter Yarrow Books, adds, "We're so honored to have Kenny on our imprint, and we know that the fans will love this book and Kenny's rendition of the song."
One of the most popular holiday classics of the season, "Frosty" has been performed by many legendary notables over the last 60 years, including Gene Autry (1950); Perry Como (1957); Jan and Dean (1963); Johnny Mathis (2003); and Kimberly Locke (2008), whose rendition achieved the #1 spot atop the U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Music Charts.
Kenny Loggins has sold over 25 million albums worldwide, twelve of which have gone platinum. He has won two GrammyAwards for his singing and songwriting, and co-wrote the book The Unimaginable Life: Lessons Learned on the Path of Love. Over the last four decades, he has had such unforgettable hits as "This Is It," "I'm Alright" (Caddyshack), "Footloose," "Danger Zone" (Top Gun), "Conviction of the Heart," "Whenever I Call You Friend" (with Stevie Nicks), and "It's About Time." In addition to his string of successful recordings, both as a solo artist and as half of the famed duo Loggins & Messina, Kenny became the first major rock star dedicated to recording music for children and families. His album Return to Pooh Corner remains the best-selling children's album of the last twenty years. He resides in Santa Barbara, California.
Steve Nelson and Walter E. "Jack" Rollins co-wrote "Frosty the Snowman" in 1950, the year before they co-wrote "Here Comes Peter Cottontail," featured in the animated Easter special of the same name. Jack Rollins also wrote "Smokey the Bear" for the public-service mascot Smokey Bear, and co-wrote many country songs for artists such as Hank Snow, George Jones and Eddy Arnold. "Frosty" was inspired by the success of Gene Autry's recording of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" the previous year; Rollins and Nelson shipped their new song (originally titled "Frosty the Snow Man") to Autry, who recorded it in search of another seasonal hit. Like "Rudolph," "Frosty" was subsequently adapted to other media, including a popular television special.
Wade Zahares creates art noted for its strong lines, bold colors, and dazzling perspective. In addition to the classic Window Music, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 1998, he has illustrated a number of critically acclaimed picture books. They include Delivery (a "visual delight"...Booklist), Red Are the Apples ("a feast for the eyes"...Publishers Weekly), and Big, Bad, and a Little Bit Scary ("large, lush"...School Library Journal). A graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Zahares also specializes in corporate commissions, producing large-scale pastel paintings for such clients as McDonalds, Bank of America, HBO, Cinemax, and Sesame Street Magazine. His work is showcased in the Permanent Collection of the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, Massachusetts.
Monday, November 18th, Maplewood, NJ*
Words Bookstore - 6:30pm
179 Maplewood Avenue
Maplewood, NJ 07040
Contact: 973-763-9500
Tuesday, November 19th, Northvale, NJ*
Kenny's Book's & Greetings - 6:30pm
271 Livingston Street
Northvale, NJ 07647
Contact: 201-784-2665
Wednesday, November 20th, Huntington, NY (Long Island)*
Book Revue - 7:00pm
313 New York Avenue
Huntington, NY 11743
Contact: 631-271-1442
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