If the World Were a Village Takes Teachers to the Internet
Toronto, February 21, 2006

A Prix Jeunesse finalist and an international hit when it made its eight-country television debut last December, the child-friendly message of If the World Were a Village is now available for teachers to use in classrooms across Canada and the U.S.

Made available for classroom use by Toronto animation company 9 Story Entertainment through the Internet (www.iftheworldwereavillage.org) the downloadable teacher's guide of If the World Were a Village enables teachers to share the same message of tolerance, understanding and sharing as the TV program and original award-winning book of the same name.

"9 Story is delighted to be able to deliver the uplifting message of If the World Were a Village to classrooms nation wide," said Vince Commisso, partner and executive producer 9 Story Entertainment. "It presents a message of understanding and hope to those who will eventually be given the job of running our world – our children."

Teachers in Canada can access the show through Cable In The Classroom. It will air on Treehouse TV 2:30 p.m. EST March 20, April 10, May 15 and June 12.

If the World Were a Village allows children to see the world as a village of just 100 people. Factually correct, it presents some hard truths. Out of those 100, 39 people are under the age of 20 and one-fifth of the villagers earn barely enough to survive.

9 Story's animated version of If the World Were a Village debuted on December 11 in eight countries, including Germany, Spain, Brazil and Mexico. In Canada it has aired on the YTV children's network, TVO, CBC, SRC and Treehouse and has been viewed in more than 400,000 homes.

The 30-minute educational children's program was based on the best-selling 1999 children's book by David Smith and illustrator Shelagh Armstrong, which has won numerous awards including a 2003 Independent Publisher book award.

Founded in 2001, Toronto's 9 Story Entertainment has quickly become a leading Canadian digital animation producer and is the Emmy and Gemini-winning producer of the children's program Peep and the Big Wide World.

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