– Sunburst promotion helps schools

Sunburst Communications of Pleasantville, New York, is lighting up classrooms across the U.S. with its newly launched ‘School-to-Home Connection’ promotion. With the purchase of one of Sunburst’s educational titles A to Zap!, Book Workshop, Net Explorations with Web Workshop and Type to Learn-marketed and distributed by New York-based RandomSoft-parents receive a US$50 gift certificate that their children can bring to school. Teachers can then use the coupon to buy any of the more than 250 Sunburst products for schools. With 40 certificates, classrooms can choose a US$1,000 selection from the Sunburst Software Library or an equivalent value of Random House reference books. Next February, the school with the greatest number of redeemed coupons will receive US$5,000 worth of computer equipment, including a new Macintosh or Compaq computer, a printer and a complete library of Sunburst software. The promotion runs from September 15 to February 28.

– TAPPing the Internet with books

TAPP Creative Productions of Cleveland, Ohio, has published the first book, DotComKids: The Search for the Missing Keys, in a line of Internet mystery adventures for children by author Daniel J. Porter. As well as entertaining readers, the 95-page book is intended as a guide to the Internet, with a glossary of Internet and personal computer terms.

The story follows a pair of twins nicknamed Dot and Com as they solve a mystery-which they discover while completing a social studies assignment-by finding information on the Internet. The series is targeted at kids in grade four or higher.

The next two titles in the line, DotComKids: Stranded and DotComKids: The Last Will and Testament of Ian Farley McGrew, will be released early next year. A teacher’s guide is in development.

The book is available at Best Buy’s 262 stores across the U.S. TAPP is promoting the line with a Web site (www.dotcomkids.com).