PRETTY PLEASE DO NOT READ THIS MEDIA RELEASE ABOUT ANDY LEE’S
NEW INTERACTIVE AUDIO BOOK!
It turns out Andy Lee is a pretty great children’s book author, because he’s just launched the ninth addition in the Do Not Open This Book series, with the interactive audio version available from today, free on LiSTNR.
This time he’s brought along his partner Bec Harding, and even his mate Hamish Blake makes a sneaky cameo, so kids and parents are set to have the time of their lives as they listen along together.
Pretty Please Do Not Open This Book sees Wizz, voiced by Lee, on another adventure. This time agreeing to dance in public and having to face his fears and the 1000 butterflies in his tummy. His friend and dance partner in the story is Nessie, voiced by Lee’s real-life partner Bec Harding.
There’s wonderful sound effects at the end of each page signalling kids and parents to turn the page. Listen here
In the series, Andy Lee has tapped into that childhood magic of definitely doing what you are told not to: “Back for more, are you? I wouldn’t bother turning another page though, because nothing happens to me if you read this one. There’s NO witch, NO spell, NO shrinking, NO time travel. It’s a rather dull affair, so I’d suggest you put this book down and go do something else.”
Parents will love listening too, with the dance story carrying clever nods to familiar music including the worldwide smash hit Oppa Gangnam Style, a Beyoncé moment with “all the single monsters”, Gene Kelly’s Singing in the Rain, and the iconic lift moment from Dirty Dancing.
Andy Lee is best known as half of the Hamish and Andy juggernaut, and is a podcaster, musician, TV presenter, and comedian. The Hamish & Andy podcast is Australia’s most popular podcast with over one million listeners^.
Lee became an award-winning children’s author by accident. The first book in the series was only ever meant to have one copy as he wrote it as a surprise for his sister and her husband to celebrate their son George’s first birthday.
When he asked his mate to print him one copy, his mate said: “This book is good, can we print more?” Lee replied: “No. DO NOT print this book.” The rest is history with the book winning 16 book awards, becoming a best seller in Brazil, Portugal, France, Italy, Japan and Iceland and selected for Portugal and Brazil’s official state school reading program.
LiSTNR Head of Parenting and Kids Entertainment, Evan Kaldor, said: “In this ninth book in the series, Wizz returns with his characteristic mischievousness. However, this time, Wizz asks the reader to help him tackle something new - stage fright. Wizz has a positive message to encourage kids to take the first step in doing those things in life that make them scared or anxious and we hope families, carers and educators enjoy reading this story together.
“LiSTNR offers a premium audio experience, and this is reflected in the high production values and whimsical narration by Andy as ‘Wizz’. The format also enables young children to develop their literary skills by reading along and interacting with the books.”
Andy Lee said: "All I’ll say is DO NOT download it, DO NOT listen to it and if you accidentally do those first two things… definitely DO NOT enjoy it!”
Pretty Please Do Not Open This Book is available from TODAY, 14 September, on the free LiSTNR app.
Imagery and audio here
Source: ^Triton Australian Podcast Ranker – September 2023
ENDS
About LiSTNR:
LiSTNR is a curated and personalised, free app offering radio, podcasts, music, and news, creating a new audio destination for all Australians. Featuring a fun and intuitive onboarding process, LiSTNR delivers an audio destination that is built for individual listeners’ routines and preferences. Highly personalised, it provides listeners a new world of audio entertainment, with their own daily feed of audio and easy discovery of new content through curated recommendations. Available across a large array of devices including both iOS and Android, CarPlay and Android Auto, Google Assistant and Alexa and Android TV, LiSTNR enables a fantastic listening experience, anytime and anywhere. Open your Ears to a new world of audio – download the free app today. LiSTNR.com.
For more information, please contact:
Kath Rose - 0416 291 493 or kath@kathrose.com
Key Facts:
Imagery and audio here
LIsten to the interactive audio book here
