Disney and ABC Invite Families to Read Together During Fifth Annual “Magic of Storytelling” Campaign and Second Annual Disney Reads Day

Disney to Donate up to One Million Books in 2017 through First Book; More than 57 Million Books Distributed To Date

Emma Watson to Narrate “Magic of Storytelling” PSA Presented Across Disney|ABC Television Group’s Multiple Platforms

GLENDALE, Calif., January 4, 2017 – Today, Disney and ABC announced it will donate up to one million books to First Book, a nonprofit that provides new books to educators and organizations serving children from low-income families, during its fifth annual Magic of Storytelling campaign from now through March 31.

The Magic of Storytelling campaign aims to inspire families’ imaginations, cultivate a lifelong love of reading in kids, and bring books to underserved communities across the country. Over the past 16 years, Disney has donated 57 million books to First Book. Together with First Book, Disney Publishing Worldwide and Disney|ABC Television Group are committed to placing up to one million more books in the hands of children in need across the country.

“We are so proud to have donated more than 57 million books through our long-standing collaboration with Disney,” said Kyle Zimmer, president and CEO of First Book. “Each year, the excitement around the Magic of Storytelling campaign grows, inspiring millions of individuals to help us bring much-needed new books to children in need.”

As part of the Magic of Storytelling campaign, families are encouraged to put everything else down, pick up a book, and read independently or together during the second annual nationwide Disney Reads Day on February 4. Families can do this at home by taking time to read their favorite books together, or visit a participating Disney Store, Barnes & Noble, or other retail location for story-time, themed activities, and giveaways.

From now through March 31, Disney book donations (up to a total of one million donations) can be activated through various ways:

• One for One Book Donation: Disney will donate one book to First Book for every eligible Disney book purchased at a Disney Store or participating retailer during that store’s participation window.  (A list of eligible Disney books and participating retailers are available at magicofstorytelling.com.)
• Share a Shelfie: Disney will also give one book for every “shelfie” — a selfie photo with a favorite book or in front of a bookshelf — shared on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #MagicOfStorytelling.
• Disney Story Central: Users of Disney’s digital reading platform can download digital books designed for parents and children to read together. Disney will donate one book to First Book for every book read in the app.
• Magic of Storytelling Sweepstakes: Consumers can enter to win a library of 400 Disney books for their school and a personal library for their home in the Magic of Storytelling Sweepstakes. For every sweepstakes entry, Disney will donate one book to First Book. To enter the sweepstakes and for more rules and information, visit magicofstorytelling.com.
• In-Store Events: Celebrate Disney Reads Day on February 4 at Disney Store, Barnes & Noble, and participating retailer locations nationwide. Families and fans can enjoy free family-friendly events like story time, coloring and activity sheets, and themed “shelfie” stations. A full list of participating Disney Store and retailer locations is available at magicofstorytelling.com.

“For more than 80 years, Disney books have brought children and parents together, sparking imaginations and inspiring dreams,” said Andrew Sugerman, executive vice president, content and media, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. “We are thrilled to be part of a program that encourages a love of reading and makes these stories available to as many people as possible. We’re honored to continue our work with First Book to bring the Magic of Storytelling to kids in need around the country.”

Kevin Brockman, Executive Vice President, Global Communications, Disney|ABC Television Group added, “Storytelling and imagination are central to the entertainment we deliver to our viewers every day. We’re thrilled to celebrate our 16 year association with First Book through this campaign and excited to mobilize our multiple platforms to inspire kids and families to expand their imaginations and celebrate the importance of reading and storytelling.”

The Magic of Storytelling campaign comes to life across Disney|ABC’s extensive network of broadcast and digital platforms including MagicOfStorytelling.com, a website with activities and resources to encourage reading and shared reading experiences. Fans can also engage with Magic of Storytelling content on Disney’s network of social medial channels and digital publishing brands like Oh My Disney, Disney Style, Disney Family and Babble.

The campaign launches with a PSA voiced by Emma Watson, star of The Walt Disney Studios upcoming film “Beauty and the Beast,” coming to theaters on March 17. In the PSA, Watson highlights the impact of books on children. Click here to view the PSA.

Inspired by the film’s iconic themes of reading, discovery and imagination, the PSA will be shared with audiences across Disney including ABC affiliate stations, ABC Television Network, Freeform, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Disney Store, Disney Cruise Line and Disney Resorts’ TVs, the ABC app, and Disney’s digital network of publishing brands including Oh My Disney and Babble. Additionally, each local ABC-owned station will donate 5,000 books to their local communities through schools and organizations in their respective markets.

Additionally, for the first time, The Walt Disney Company is extending the Magic of Storytelling campaign initiative to the educator community through focused outreach to schools and libraries, providing meaningful resources to facilitate in-class and in-home shared reading experiences. Resources include lesson plans, reading activities, and more.

To find a participating retailer or learn more about Magic of Storytelling and Disney Reads Day, visit magicofstorytelling.com.

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First Book

First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise founded in 1992 that has distributed more than 160 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States and Canada, which, with more than 300,000 members, is the largest and fastest growing network of educators exclusively serving kids in need. By making new, high-quality books and educational resources available on an ongoing basis, First Book is transforming the lives of children in need and elevating the quality of education.Eligible educators, librarians, providers, and others serving children in need can sign up at firstbook.org/register. For more information, please visit firstbook.org or follow the latest news on Facebook and Twitter.

About Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media

Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) that brings our Company’s stories and characters to life through innovative and engaging physical products and digital experiences across more than 100 categories, from toys and t-shirts, to apps, books and console games. DCPI comprises two main lines of business: Disney Consumer Products (DCP), and Disney Interactive (DI). The combined segment is home to world class teams of app and game developers, licensing and retail experts, a leading retail business (Disney Store), artists and storytellers, and technologists who inspire imaginations around the world.

Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) is the world’s largest publisher of children’s books, magazines, and apps [not sure if this is still accurate], igniting imagination through storytelling. DPW creates and publishes books and magazines both vertically in-house and through an extensive worldwide licensing structure. Headquartered in Glendale, California, within the Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media business segment, DPW publishes books, magazines and digital products in 85 countries in 75 languages. For more information, visit disneypublishingworldwide.com.

About the Disney|ABC Television Group

Disney|ABC Television Group is comprised of The Walt Disney Company’s global entertainment and news television properties, owned television stations group, and radio business.  This includes ABC Studios, a global leader in the development, production and distribution of entertainment content across broadcast, cable and on-demand platforms; the ABC Owned Television Stations Group; and the ABC Television Network, which provides entertainment and news programming to viewers via more than 200 affiliated stations across the U.S.  It also includes Disney Channels Worldwide, a portfolio of 116 kid-driven, family-inclusive entertainment channels, including Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, Disney Cinemagic, Hungama, and Radio Disney brands, as well as cable network Freeform, which targets Millennials. Disney|ABC Home Entertainment and Television Distribution and Disney Media Distribution round out the portfolio. Disney|ABC Television Group also has equity interests in A+E Networks and Hulu.

Media Contacts:

Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media
Bahareh Ramin, 818-544-0198
Bahareh.Ramin@disney.com

Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media
Scott Slesinger, 818-544-0395
Scott.Slesinger@disney.com

Disney|ABC Television Group
Jennifer Minezaki, 818-569-5929
Jennifer.Minezaki@disney.com

First Book
Melanie Boyer, 202-639-0144
mboyer@firstbook.org