Some people simply ooze can-do spirit. They're the ones optimistically making lemonade out of life's lemons—and, in more and more cases, are self-publishing books they believe in that can't find a home at a traditional house. The latest example is Dewey Doo-it Helps Little Owlie Fly Again: A Children's Story About Christopher Reeve and the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation by Alan Green and Brahm Wenger, illus. by Jean Gilmore, hitting shelves May 1. Green and his associates want to make a mark in the world of charitable donations and they think Dewey is the book character to get them there.
"The book was born from an idea I got three years ago while I was reading an article about people who had started various charitable organizations," said Green. "People like Larry Jones who founded Feed the Children embraced the notion that one person can make a difference. Their stories were inspiring to me and I thought that inspiration might translate for kids and get them thinking about helping others instead of thinking only about themselves."
Green discussed the idea with his friend (now business partner) Wenger and the two men decided that with Green's background in marketing and advertising and Wenger's experience as a composer for a roster of Disney films, they would give it a go. "We thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if we could do something to raise a ton of money for charity?' "
The grand plan was to create a children's entertainment company to generate funds for charitable foundations and organizations. Thus far, phase one consists of picture books (with art by Disney animator Gilmore) starring a cast of Muppet-like Doo-it characters that introduce a challenge or difficulty and, often, emphasize the mission of a particular organization that can help. The first story the duo came up with involves a wheelchair-bound bird that learns to fly again after rehabilitation. "We took it to the Christopher Reeve Foundation, and to Chris, and they all loved it," Green said. "He [Reeve] wanted to meet us and was very gracious and welcoming. He eventually collaborated with us on the story," Green added.
Reeve passed away last fall, but the book chronicling his foundation's efforts was already well on its way. Green and Wenger fleshed out their concept to encompass a musical component: a line of Dewey Doo-it's Musical Storybooks, book-and-CD packages. Chris Reeve's wife, Dana, phoned Green and insisted that she wanted to help them finish the project that her late husband cared so much about. "We told Dana we wanted her to sing on the CD and she asked some of her friends to join in," Green said. As a result, Tony-winning actor/singer Mandy Patinkin has recorded five songs and fellow Tony winner Bernadette Peters did four tunes to accompany the book, in addition to Dana Reeve's song.
These famous friends of Reeve are packing a publicity punch that is sure to get some notice, too. Dana Reeve is scheduled to appear on The TodayShow on May 9, while Peters and Patinkin are slated to perform on Good Morning America on May 20. Other book signings and media appearances are in the works as well.
The actual-nuts and-bolts publishing operation includes Green and Wenger's recent formation of RandallFraser Publishing, based in Irvine, Calif. National Book Network will distribute the initial print run of 50,000 copies to the trade, with a retail price of $18.95. "If we sell all those, we can raise about $250,000," Green calculated.
Though no set percentage has been determined, Green emphasized that "a substantial portion of the profits" from everything that the company produces will be earmarked for charities.
Next up is a Dewey Doo-it picture book about Habitat for Humanity and its founders, Millard and Linda Fuller, due out in September.
"We're definitely a start-up; we do everything ourselves," said Green. "But it's been really fun so far to work on these projects, and we're looking forward to raising a lot of money for these organizations."
