The Beacon Street Girls Travel to Jamaica for Katani’s Jamaican Holiday

Lexington, MA (June 4, 2008) — Today, B*tween Productions Inc., home of the Beacon Street Girls, announced the release of the highly-anticipated Special Adventure book, Katani’s Jamaican Holiday. This is one of the first Beacon Street Girls books to be released in partnership with Simon & Schuster’s Aladdin M!X tween imprint.   The book launch was celebrated at a special Jamaica Day party held in conjunction with the Jamaica Tourist Board, which featured a concert with pop star Sean Kingston.  The event was held at the South Street Seaport, Pier 17, in New York City.

“The BSG Special Adventure books provide our tween readers with a chance to explore new places and experiences,” said Addie Swartz, CEO of B*tween Productions. “A Beacon Street Girls Special Adventure book is one part ‘flight-of-fancy’ and two parts ‘girl power’.  Preteens reading a BSG Adventure book can get ideas for things they would like to do in their own lives, explore new and different activities and places, or simply enjoy the entertaining story.  By setting this book in Jamaica, we also offer our readers insights into a unique culture, heritage and people.”

The Beacon Street Girls Special Adventure books focus on one particular character, sending that character off on an adventure that is meaningful to her and her fans.  The Adventure books allow BSG fans to know even more about the individual characters that appear in the book series and Website.  Girls love to read about the “just like me” characters and parents appreciate the age-appropriate content with positive values.

The Beacon Street Girls Special Adventure books help BSG fans get to know even more about the individual characters that appear in the book series and Website.  Girls love to read about the “just like me” characters and parents appreciate the age-appropriate content with positive values.

In Katani’s Jamaican Holiday, the stylish, smart and very organized Katani is introduced to Jamaica’s rich and diverse culture, and the rewards of being part of an extended family. However, Katani’s Caribbean dream trip may not be all soft sand and warm surf.  Katani’s business-savvy is put to the test, and she gets a first-hand look at the challenges of owning your own business – a lifelong dream of hers!  Dolphins, horseback rides on the beach, a mysterious old lady, and a lost heirloom add up to plenty of colorful island adventure for Katani and her family.

B*tween Productions Inc. partnered with the Jamaica Tourist Board last year to infuse an authentically Jamaican experience into the book, featuring the sights, sounds, culture and people of the island.  Jamaica’s Director of Tourism Basil Smith noted, “We’re thrilled the Beacon Street Girls have chosen to make Jamaica a part of their world.  Jamaica offers a fascinating range of historic sites, including our forts, plantations and grand estates that all reflect the rich Jamaican heritage. The Beacon Street Girls team has gone to great lengths to present an accurate portrait of Jamaica today while immersing readers in our history, our traditions and our lifestyle. And the book is a smart way of addressing difficult issues that young girls face today.”

Pop Star Sean Kingston: An Influential Role Model for Young Teens and Tweens
The Beacon Street Girls have various relationships connecting the brand to the most up-to-the minute  tween pop culture.   In this book, Sean Kingston, the real life songwriter and singer of the hit song “Beautiful Girls” is featured.  Sean Kingston spent his formative years in Jamaica and his grandfather is Bob Marley’s legendary producer, Jack Ruby. 

“Music is an integral part of tween life.  As an ambassador of Jamaica’s music, Sean Kingston is a great fit with the Beacon Street Girls’ values as he made a personal commitment to not using profanity in his music,” said Swartz.  Previous Beacon Street Girls books have also incorporated various tween music stars, both fictional and from the real world. 

Katani’s Jamaican Holiday is available immediately wherever books are sold.  ($6.99, ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-6443-8)  In addition to Katani’s Jamaican Holiday, B*tween Productions Inc. and Simon & Schuster will also today be releasing Time’s Up (ISBN-13: 978-1-4169-6422-3), book number 12 in the series.  Time's Up incorporates the themes of taking on too much work and learning how to ask for help when it’s needed. In addition, the book showcases a number of exciting attractions in and around Boston.  At this time, the companies will also be re-releasing books 1-4 in the series with a new look for the characters.  

About the Jamaica Tourist Board
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. The JTB was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist and Convention Bureau by the World Travel Awards (WTA) for 2006 and 2007, while Jamaica earned the WTA’s vote as the World’s Leading Cruise Destination, the Caribbean’s Leading Destination and the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination.
 
JTB offices are located in Kingston, Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Düsseldorf, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam and Tokyo. 

For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the Jamaica Tourist Board’s Web site at www.visitjamaica.com , or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at 1-800-JAMAICA (1-800-526-2422).

About the Beacon Street Girls
The Beacon Street Girls® brand (BSG) is specifically designed to celebrate the potential in every tween – those girls between the ages of 9 and 13 who are “between toys and boysTM.” The Beacon Street Girls, whether online at BeaconStreetGirls.com or in the widely popular book series, are shaped by leading experts in adolescent development and current research on how to positively impact girls’ self-esteem. The Beacon Street Girls offer a fresh, exciting and healthier media alternative to today’s MTV-style world. Fans from 174 countries and their parents have embraced the Beacon Street Girls as role models who are “just like me.”

The Beacon Street Girls world and Club BSG can be found online at http://www.beaconstreetgirls.comBeacon Street Girls books are available through Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, one of the leading children’s book publishers in the world.   Beacon Street Girls books have been picked up by Aladdin M!X, Simon & Schuster’s tween-focused imprint. Beacon Street Girls products are available at independent book and gift stores nationwide and online at http://www.beaconstreetgirls.com
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