McGraw-Hill Education Publishes Seminal Works on China's Wenchuan Earthquake

NEW YORK, April 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The publication of two seminal books that illustrate the destruction caused by the Wenchuan Earthquake in May 2008 and then the miraculous reconstruction of that part of Sichuan Province four years later, has been announced jointly by McGraw-Hill Education and Sichuan People's Publishing House, an affiliate of the Xinhua Winshare Publishing and Media Co. Ltd. The two illustrated books are being released and shown at this year's London International Book Fair on April 16, 2012. Representatives from McGraw-Hill Education, Xinhua Winshare, as well as the Minister of General Administration of Press and Publication of the People's Republic of China, and the Deputy Governor of Sichuan Province will be on hand to present these works for the first time.

In addition to the launch taking place at the same time as China begins the London International Book Fair as the "Guest of Honor" country, the publication of these two books is significant for a number of reasons:

• The Wenchuan earthquake, considered one of the worst natural disasters in recent history, cost the lives of 87,000 men, women and children. The destruction of personal property was similarly catastrophic -- almost 8 million homes were destroyed and 12 million people were left homeless. For the first time, English language readers will be able to grasp the scope of this disaster through the dramatic photography of When the Earth Shook: The Wenchuan Earthquake.
• The reconstruction of Sichuan Province was an equally remarkable event, as the millions of men and women of China rallied together to rebuild the infrastructure destroyed by the earthquake. In The Rebirth of our Land: Creating a More Beautiful Sichuan, readers will witness through graphic and dramatic photography one of the most significant reconstruction efforts of all time, the result of the selfless effort bestowed on the stricken province.
• McGraw-Hill Education, one of the largest publishers in the world, has partnered with Xinhua Winshare to bring these two works to international audiences. This co-publication and partnership represents the strengthening of McGraw-Hill's multi-decade long dedication to enhancing the information and education needs of China.

"The publication of these two monumental books is very meaningful to both our companies and represents our mutual mission to share important information and culture with international audiences," said Philip Ruppel, president of McGraw-Hill Professional, publisher of the two books. "Western audiences must learn about the devastation of the Wenchuan Earthquake, and they should be witness to the miraculous reconstruction in Sichuan province. I thank the talented editors and publishers of Sichuan People's Publishing House for their assistance in allowing us to bring these works to our markets."

The books were put together by selecting from thousands of photographs taken moments after the earthquake's first tremors struck the region and from photos taken up through the time reconstruction was completed 4 years later. In full color, almost 550 photos illustrate the earthquake's aftermath and give the reader a real understanding of this natural calamity.

"Right after Wenchuan Earthquake, the McGraw-Hill Corporation rendered financial aid and spiritual support to Sichuan. We are highly impressed by the sympathy McGraw-Hill colleagues showed to the Sichuan people, as well as McGraw-Hill editors' professionalism and commitment demonstrated in this publishing project," said Zhu Danfeng, Director of Sichuan Provincial Information Office. "The publication of these two important works establishes a substantial foundation for longer term collaboration between Xinhua Winshare and McGraw-Hill Education."

A formal ceremony marking the release of the two books is taking place in the Market Focus Pavilion on April 16, 2012 from 11:30AM – 12:30PM at the London International Book Fair. Both When the Earth Shook: The Wenchuan Earthquake and The Rebirth of our Land: Creating a More Beautiful Sichuan will be available world-wide through the globally based offices of McGraw-Hill Education.

McGraw-Hill Professional, a division of McGraw-Hill Education, is a leading global provider of print and electronic content and services for the medical, technical, and business communities. Its offerings include reference and certification books for all professional and educational disciplines and online solutions on medical and health, engineering, business, and scientific topics. For more information, visit http://www.mhprofessional.com

McGraw-Hill Education is a content, software, and services-based education company that draws on more than 100 years of educational expertise to offer solutions, which improve learning outcomes around the world. McGraw-Hill is the adaptive education technology leader with the vision for creating a highly personalized learning experience that prepares students of all ages for the world that awaits. The company has offices across North America, India, China, Europe, the Middle East, and South America, and makes its learning solutions available in more than 65 languages. For additional information, visit http://www.mheducation.com

SOURCE McGraw-Hill Professional