Sesame Street eBookstore Now Available for iPad

Subscribers Can Access Their Favorite Sesame Street eBooks Through New iPad App


NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - March 28, 2011) - Sesame Workshop, the non-profit organization that produces Sesame Street, and Impelsys today announced the launch of the Sesame Street eBookstore iPad app. The app provides access to more than 150 Sesame Street eBooks, which are also available via an online subscription at http://ebooks.sesamestreet.org/.

The app is available for free in Apple's App Store. Users can browse title selection free of charge. To read all eBook titles, the app invites users to subscribe to either one month of full access for $3.99 or one year of unlimited access for $39.99. Current subscribers of the Sesame Street eBookstore can use the app to access their bookshelf with an iPad and will not need to make an additional subscription purchase.

The app was just released this month and quickly rocketed into the Top 10 Free Apps in the "Books" category on Apple's iTunes store.

The Sesame Street eBookstore app allows users to connect seamlessly to Sesame Street's eBookstore to preview content, view their unique bookshelf, and download all or select books directly to their iPad, making them accessible any time, any place without an Internet connection. eBook titles are offered in a variety of formats:

  • eBooks, which allow a child to read along at their own pace
  • Audio eBooks, which contain story narration, sound effects, and music
  • Animated eBooks, which bring beloved Sesame Street characters and stories to life in full-color animation.

Sesame Street eBooks on the iPad feature options such as page flip, which allows the user to turn pages with just a swipe of the finger or a tap on the screen; auto play, which automatically turns book pages and text highlighting, which visually reinforces the narration in audio eBooks and reinforces beginning reader skills.

"For more than 40 years, Sesame Street has been publishing books for preschoolers and their parents to learn from and enjoy together. The portability and interactivity of an iPad offers a new way for families to experience Sesame Street storybooks, concept books, and animated books, providing an immersive learning experience at a child's fingertips anytime, anywhere," said Jennifer A. Perry, Vice President, Worldwide Publishing, Sesame Workshop.

"We are excited about the tremendous reception the Sesame Street eBookstore app is receiving from iPad users, who have already thrust us into the Top 10 of free apps downloaded in our category from iTunes," said Sameer Shariff, founder and CEO of Impelsys. "This consumer response is further illustration to the global book publishing industry that iPad apps are a crucial way of distributing their valuable digital content."

The Sesame Street eBookstore is run and managed by Impelsys and features a collection of Sesame Street eBook titles which cover 19 subject areas including letters, numbers, counting, colors and cultural appreciation. Popular eBook titles include Elmo's ABC Book, Abby in Wonderland, and Grover's Guide to Good Eating.

The Sesame Street eBookstore is powered by iPublishCentral, a 2010 SIIA CODiE Awards finalist for "Best Software as a Service Solution." The breakthrough digital publishing platform was developed by Impelsys, a fast-growing company that enables book publishers to deliver their content online with a cost-effective turnkey solution.

About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the non-profit educational organization that revolutionized children's television programming with the landmark Sesame Street. The Workshop produces local Sesame Street programs, seen in over 140 countries, and other acclaimed shows to help bridge the literacy gap including The Electric Company. Beyond television, the Workshop produces content for multiple media platforms on a wide range of issues including literacy, health and military deployment. Initiatives meet specific needs to help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong learning. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.

About Impelsys
Impelsys, a leader in providing electronic content delivery solutions to the global publishing market, helps its clients compete, evolve and grow in an increasingly complex marketplace. Impelsys-powered technologies such as iPublishCentral™ (www.iPublishCentral.com) help publishers increase their revenues by delivering content online quickly and cost effectively. Impelsys' passion for client success has helped it build long-term partnerships with its customers becoming critical in the client's electronic delivery strategy. Leading clients include McGraw-Hill, Elsevier, Wolters Kluwer, Benchmark Education, Marshall Cavendish and Houghton Mifflin. Headquartered in New York, Impelsys operates across North America, Europe and India. For more information, please visit www.impelsys.com.

Contact Information:

Contacts:
Daryn Teague
Teague Communications (for Impelsys)
661-297-5292