2006 JUNO NOMINEE JAKE WRITES THEME SONG FOR SILKEN LAUMANN’S NEW BOOK “CHILD’S PLAY”; BOOK TOUR BEGINS APRIL 21 IN OTTAWA

March 2, 2006 – Four-time Olympian SILKEN LAUMANN has adopted a brand new song by 2006 Juno Award Nominee JAKE as the theme song for her new book “Child’s Play”. The famous athlete’s intention is to play the song at each stop in her multi-city promotional book tour, beginning April 21st in Ottawa.

JAKE wrote “Child’s Play”, a high-energy pop song with a calypso tinge, after hearing about the ideas behind Silken’s new book. Once he performed it on guitar for Silken, she immediately decided to adopt it as the theme song for her book of the same name.

“I was very excited when I heard JAKE’s new song,” enthuses SILKEN LAUMANN. “The words are a perfect extension of the ideas in my book, and the music is so infectious – you just can’t sit still, we’ll have everyone dancing in no time!”

Silken book “Child’s Play - Rediscovering the Joy of Play in Our Families and Communities” (Random House, April 2006) is described as an “urgently needed guide to getting our kids active and healthy” and is intended to help children, families, and communities rediscover the joy and health benefits of play.

“It is a thrill to be partnered with Silken on “Child’s Play””, comments JAKE. “Not only is she a fantastic athlete, but her book’s vision of a childhood filled with unstructured play is absolutely inspirational. As a child, I spent hours playing around in the local park and hockey rink, and that’s the kind of childhood I want for my own children. Her book will be very important to a lot of children and families.”

The song “Child’s Play”, which will include a special message from Silken, is being recorded mostly in Thunder Bay with the same production team and musicians that recorded JAKE’s two CDs for children: HAPPY ALL OF THE TIME, 2006 Juno Award Nominee for “Children’s Album of the Year” and TAKE A LITTLE RIDE WITH ME, 2004 Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner for Top 10 Children’s Audio CDs in North America.

Four- time Olympian and three time medalist SILKEN LAUMANN is best-known for winning the bronze medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, after fighting back from a devastating training accident. Drawing on her life experiences of overcoming adversity she has emerged as a powerful inspirational speaker and works to help people realize their life dreams and be the best they can be. In 2003, Silken established The SILKEN LAUMANN Active Kid's Movement and has chosen to focus the next ten years of her life to promoting the joy of play, physical activity and the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Silken is also Chairman of the International Board of Directors for Right to Play, an athlete-driven humanitarian organization which promotes play in refugee camps around the world.

JAKE (John Differ) is a children’s songwriter and performer currently based in BC. Parents, educators and critics rave about his gently humorous lyrics, varied musical genres, and use of live instruments (there are no drum machines or sequencers on JAKE CDs). Children just laugh and dance! HAPPY ALL OF THE TIME and TAKE A LITTLE RIDE WITH ME are both available at fine children’s book and toy stores across Canada through national distributor FIRE THE IMAGINATION (1-888-780-0864) or online at www.musicbyjake.com.

For Jake information or interview requests:

Valerie Lapp
MUSIC BY JAKE
Tel & Fax: 250-629-3950
Cel: 416-992-7364
Email: info@musicbyjake.com

For media interviews with Silken Laumann:

Stephanie Gowan, Publicity Manager
Random House of Canada
Tel: 416-957-1563
Email: sgowan@randomhouse.com
www.silkensactivekids.ca or www.silkenlaumann.com