Loukoumi's Good Deeds, the iParenting Media Award winning book and CD named "Outstanding Children's Book of 2009," and its sequel, Loukoumi's Gift, will be read at hundreds of schools, bookstores, and libraries nationwide from October 19-24 leading up to National Make A Difference Day October 24.
Following the readings, kids will consider what they can do to make a difference, by drawing pictures of themselves, with Loukoumi the lamb, doing good deeds. Children will also complete the statement: "I will Make A Difference by . . ." and then actually do that good deed on October 24. Over 10,000 kids will participate.
Every time someone purchases Loukoumi's Good Deeds or Loukoumi's Gift, they too will be performing a good deed. $2 from the sale of each book will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, one of the world's premier pediatric cancer research centers. Author Nick Katsoris will hold a special reading at St. Jude October 20.
Loukoumi's Good Deeds, narrated on CD by Jennifer Aniston and Days of Our Lives star John Aniston, teaches children to make a difference in someone's life by doing something nice.
The CD also features the character voices of Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis, GRAMMY® winner Gloria Gaynor, American Idol's and Tony nominee Constantine Maroulis, Guiding Light's Frank Dicopoulos and CBS News anchor Alexis Christoforous.
The CD also contains Gaynor's original song "Make Someone Smile," and a bonus story, Loukoumi's Gift, which teaches Loukoumi that a gift need not cost a lot of money, but instead can come straight from the heart. This message is especially important during these tough economic times.
Loukoumi's Gift will be released nationwide October 24, coinciding with National Make a Difference Day. Its premiere will be at the Lincoln Center Barnes & Noble that day. The book is dedicated to and inspired by Daisy Waddy, a cleaning lady from an office Katsoris worked at 15 years ago, who gave Katsoris gold cufflinks because he said "good morning" to her every day. Jennifer Aniston voices the character of Daisy on the CD.