Transworld Acquires A New Book By Richard Dawkins

By [UPDATE] PRESS RELEASE - BOOKTRADE.INFO
Added: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:00:00 UTC

http://www.booktrade.info/index.php/showarticle/23872

Transworld Publishers is delighted to announce the acquisition of a new book by Richard Dawkins , WHAT IS A RAINBOW, REALLY?, in collaboration with the renowned illustrator, Dave McKean.

Aimed at the adult and young adult market, the book addresses big questions about the natural world, including What is a Rainbow? Why are there Seasons? and Who Was the First Man and the First Woman? Each question is answered first by myth and legend, and then by lucid scientific explanation.

Dawkins has always encouraged independent, critical thinking in young people, as well as adults. WHAT IS A RAINBOW, REALLY? presents the poetic beauty of the mythological answers to these questions, but in every case this beauty will be exceeded by the scientific truth.

Dave McKean has illustrated numerous adult and children's books, including those of Neil Gaiman and David Almond, and his artistic style complements perfectly Dawkins' prose. UK rights were acquired by Sally Gaminara, Publishing Director of Bantam Press from John Brockman at Brockman Inc who is currently negotiating multiple foreign rights deals with Dawkins' publishers worldwide. Dave McKean is represented by Merrillee Heifetz at Writers House.
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From today's Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/oct/23/richard-dawkins-teenagers-illustrated-book

Richard Dawkins targets teenagers with myth-busting illustrated book

God Delusion author plans to pair popular legends with 'lucid scientific explanations' in illustrated work for young readers
After squashing Darwin deniers and God-botherers with bestselling tomes including The God Delusion and The Greatest Show on Earth, Richard Dawkins is set to tackle what might be his hardest audience yet: teenagers.

The well-known scientist and atheist has struck a book deal for his first title for young adults, which will look to explode myths and legends about the natural world with science. Due out in autumn 2011, What is a Rainbow, Really? will take on topics including who the first man and first woman were, why there are seasons, what the sun is, how old the world is and why there are so many animals, first answering the questions with myth and legend, and then with "lucid scientific explanations".

"Richard has always been incredibly keen to reach children from the whole point of view of individual critical thinking and not to just toe the party line," said Sally Gaminara, who bought the book for Transworld, part of the Random House Group. "He will explore certain myths people are brought up with – he's very keen to do that, to make people look at things and not be accepting, to question more ... He will tell myths for what they are but will also delight in their poetic beauty."
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/oct/23/richard-dawkins-teenagers-illustrated-book