Random House releases three new Arthur titles

Three new Arthur home video titles are scheduled to be released this month by Random House Home Video: Arthur Makes the Team, Arthur’s First Sleepover and D.W. Rides Again. Each video features two complete episodes and runs for approximately 30 minutes.

Point-of-purchase sales support for the new videos, which sell for US$12.98 each, includes a poster, shelf wobbler, mini Arthur and D.W. standees, and floor and counter displays.

Describing the materials as ‘eye-catching, bright, and bold,’ Random House Children’s Publishing spokesperson Kelly Grunther says, ‘because Arthur is so big and popular and hot right now, we’ve tried to give [retailers] a lot of merchandising tools and advertising support.’

A national advertising campaign is planned to support the release, but details of the campaign weren’t available as of press time.

Arthur, the animated aardvark, attracts 11 million viewers each week on PBS, and each of the first nine Arthur videos have shipped platinum (at least 50,000 units and US$2 million in sales each). All Random House videos are distributed by Sony Wonder.

ï Elmo and friends gather for Elmopalooza music fest

Now you can listen to Elmo and Big Bird belt out the tunes in the privacy of your own home. On March 17, Sony Wonder releases Elmopalooza on CD and cassette. The music for the album, which is taken from the ABC prime-time special of the same name, celebrates 30 years of songs from Sesame Street. Children’s Television Workshop and Sony Wonder, the co-producers of the project, paired well-known artists from the entertainment industry with Sesame Street notables to help interpret the songs.

Some of the numbers include Celine Dion singing ‘Happy to Meet You’ accompanied by the vocal stylings of Herry Monster, Big Bird and Elmo; Rosie O’Donnell and Elmo performing ‘Nearly Missed’; and En Vogue doing a rendition of ‘I Want A Monster to Be My Friend.’ The Elmopalooza CD and tape retail for US$13.98 and US$9.98, respectively. Home video and DVD formats of the special will hit stores on April 17.