As far as I can tell, this is a serious press release from a very large publishing company - FEATURE/Wind-Breaking News: Penguin Young Readers Group to Publish Next Two Walter the Farting Dog Picture Books. Some excerpts:
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 23, 2003--Stephanie Owens Lurie, President and Publisher of Dutton Children's Books; a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, is pleased to announce that she has acquired the next two Walter the Farting Dog books from authors William Kotzwinkle and Glenn Murray and illustrator Audrey Colman."Fresh and kid-friendly"? I guess it depends on exactly what the trouble was at the yard sale.
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Lurie has this to say about Dutton Children's Books' newest character: "Walter is a true original, and we welcome him with open arms (well, maybe at arm's length. . .). Seriously, the runaway success of Walter the Farting Dog proves that a picture book can make a huge impact by being fresh and kid-friendly. We look forward to working with Bill, Glenn, and Audrey to take him to new heights."
The next book, Walter the Farting Dog: Trouble at the Yard Sale is slated for publication in 2004 and will be followed by Walter the Farting Dog: Rough Weather Ahead. Puffin Books will publish these two titles in paperback at a later date.
