Loukoumi, the fluffy, cuddly lamb, returns this Fall with Loukoumi s Gift, the fourth title in the award winning series of illustrated books by Nick Katsoris for children 4-8. Featuring a bonus download of the story narrated by Jennifer Aniston and Days of Our Lives star John Aniston, the new book follows Loukoumi through her day as she discovers that the perfect gift need not cost a lot of money, but instead can come straight from the heart. (The CD Narration is available as a free download on the website Loukoumi.com as well as on the companion CD of the related book, Loukoumi's Good Deeds). Loukoumi s Gift, by Nick Katsoris, will be released on National Make A Difference Day, on which over 200 bookstores nationwide will host Loukoumi s Gift Storytimes. The book follows in the footsteps of the critically acclaimed book, Loukoumi s Good Deeds, released in April 2009, which is also narrated by the Anistons. The book continues the adventures of Loukoumi and her friends Gus the Bear, Fistiki the Cat, Dean the Dog and Marika the Monkey. Whether it s a thoughtful act, a handmade card, or a delicious cookie or cake, kids will learn that there are many cost free gifts that can make a huge difference in the lives of those around them. This message is especially important to kids during these tough economic times as we enter the holiday gift-giving season around the book s release date. The book encourages kids to do something nice or make something for their loved ones as evidenced from the book's recurring line: A gift is a thought your heart creates and need not cost a penny. A gift can be anything that you wish made for one or many. A thoughtful act, a handmade card, a delicious cookie or cake. The perfect gift comes straight from the heart, whatever it is you make. Loukoumi s Gift is dedicated to Daisy, a cleaning lady from an office the author Nick Katsoris worked at 15 years ago. The story is inspired by the real life experience when Daisy gave Katsoris a pair of gold cufflinks because he said Good Morning to her every day. The part of Daisy on the CD is voiced by Jennifer Aniston. Every time a child reads Loukoumi's Gift they too will be performing a good deed. $2.00 from the sale of each book will be donated to St. Jude Children s Research Hospital, internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family s inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. For more information, please visit stjude.org.
Nick Katsoris is author of the iParenting Media award winning Loukoumi book series. Loukoumi's Celebrity Cookbook (releasing on November 21) features the fifth illustrated storybook in the series as well as favorite childhood recipes from over 50 celebrities including Cat Cora, Oprah Winfrey, Taylor Swift, Paula Deen, Matt Lauer, Al Roker, Sherri Shepherd, Beyonce, Betty White, Eli Manning, Celine Dion, Nicole Kidman, Jay Leno, Reese Witherspoon, Rachael Ray, Ellen DeGeneres, Neil Patrick Harris, Mark Wahlberg and others. Proceeds from the books benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The Make A Wish Foundation and Chefs for Humanity.
Other books in the series include Loukoumi's Gift, Loukoumi's Good Deeds Growing up with Loukoumi, and Loukoumi, which has been translated into Greek by Livanis Publishing (www.Loukoumi.com). The books will also soon be translated into Chinese. In 2008, Katsoris sponsored the Growing up with Loukoumi Dream Day contest based on the book's theme that kids can be anything when they grow up if they believe in themselves. After 200 storytime events nationwide and thousands of entries, three kids were selected to live their Dream Days. One visited NASA to witness the Phoenix spacecraft land on Mars, another played soccer with the New York Red Bulls, and a third cooked on the air with CBS chef Tony Tantillo, plus got the chance to meet Rachael Ray.
Based on his book Loukoumi's Good Deeds narrated on CD by Jennifer Aniston, he rallies thousands of kids each October to do a good deed on National Make a Difference Day by sponsoring Make a Difference with Loukoumi Day. And now he is sponsoring the Loukoumi's Secret Ingredient recipe contest where the winning child can get to cook their recipe with Celebrity Chef Cat Cora - for details visit www.Loukoumi.com. Nick is a practicing attorney as General Counsel of the Red Apple Group in New York and President and Founder of the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund, which has awarded over 700 scholarships. He lives in Eastchester, NY with his wife Voula, a real estate attorney, and their children Dean and Julia.
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