A new multimedia orchestral work by Karen LeFrak based on the acclaimed children’s book

Imagine spending your birthday at a museum! That’s exactly what Mason had

planned for his birthday, and now symphony orchestras can take young audiences on an

adventure at the natural history museum with Mason and his friends. Follow them in a

musical and scientific expedition as they embark on a scavenger hunt through the many

exhibits that make any natural history museum special. Perfect for museum lovers and

adventure-seekers alike!

The Museum of Natural History is Mason’s favorite place to visit and he can’t wait to

celebrate his birthday with a sleepover there, but first he has to scout for the best place to

spend the night. Armed with headlamps for the dark hallways, a map, and a list of clues, Mason and his two best

friends take off on a scavenger hunt through each hall of the museum to solve the clues and to find out where to

stay over! Sleeping next to a T. rex in the Hall of Dinosaurs feels too scary. And sleeping with the monarch

butterflies would probably tickle. This decision isn’t as easy as Mason thought it would be…. Wherever they end

up, the museum at night is the best place for a birthday adventure!

Instrumentation:

3fl, 2ob, 3cl, 2bsn, 4 hn, 3 tpt, 3 tbn, tuba, timp, 3 percussion, harp, piano/celeste, strings, narrator

Duration:

30 minutes

Quotes:

“This is a whale of a tale to hopefully inspire more museum trips for children and spark some inquisitive minds.”

— School Library Journal

“An imaginative introduction to visiting museums.”

— Booklist

“Karen LeFrak’s brilliant new book… adventurous nighttime romp through the American Museum of Natural

History’s dark halls will pique young imaginations and inspire future museum adventures. no bones about it, this

whale of a tale is one adventure your child will love to discover over and over again.”

— Little Kid Big City blog

“Sleeping over at any kind of museum is every kid’s dream…. Sleepover at the Museum realizes this dream and sends imaginations flying. It’s a great introduction to different reading formats, and exposes kids to newer/harder words — behemoth anyone? It invites readers to join the fun, it’s a fun story and the illustrations are inviting.” — Cracking the Cover

“Books like this not only foster a love of reading, but of learning and exploring the world around them.” — Kids Brain Blog

“This book is adorable and sure to be a hit with kids. It’s fun because you get to solve the clues along with Mason and his two best friends…definitely on my top 10 of 2019 and I’m pretty sure it will stay there.” — Picture Books to YA.com

About Karen: Composer and author Karen LeFrak has created vibrant, affecting musical scores that have been presented in major concert halls across the globe. Inspired by her passion for classical piano, which began when she started playing the instrument at age three, she is an ardent champion of musical and literary education for young people. Her music has been heard at such leading venues as the Koch Theatre at Lincoln Center, Symphony Space, Bethel Woods Arts Center (on its Chamber Music Series), Boca Raton and Napa Music Festivals, and the White House – where her musical work Acceptance was recently honored at the International Women's Day Luncheon – and her scores have been recorded by the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic, Mariinsky Orchestra, and Gloriosa Trio (on Colorado Public Radio). Her compositions have been commissioned and performed by a wide variety of prominent institutions and artists worldwide, including the New York Philharmonic (which presents her Sleepover at the Museum in the 2019-20 season), American Ballet Theatre, the Joffrey and San Francisco Ballets, the New York University and Juilliard School Percussion Ensembles, Bolshoi Ballet School at Russia’s fabled Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, the Shanghai, Miami, and Boston Chamber Symphonies, Sejong Soloists, flutist Eugenia Zuckerman, and pianist Anne-Marie McDermott, among many others. She launched her career as a composer around the same time she introduced young people to the worlds of music and dance in her first two acclaimed children’s books, Jake the Philharmonic Dog and Jake the Ballet Dog. She has received wide accolades for her children’s books published by Bloomsbury, Random House, and Crown Books, including Best in Show (in which she shares her passion for raising Standard Poodles and breeding many champions) and her recent Sleepover at the Museum. She has been invited to speak and read at museums, bookstores, and concert halls throughout the U.S. including the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Miami’s Frost Museum of Science, and New York City’s famed public library among many others. Recently featured in Good Housekeeping’s “10 Amazing Women In The Arts Over 50,” she is a fervent philanthropist, and was a member of the President’s Council of the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering. She previously served on the New York State Council on the Arts and as President of the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy. In recognition of outstanding achievement, she was elected to the Hunter College Hall of Fame by the college’s Alumni Association. She graduated magna cum laude from Mt. Holyoke College and received her Master’s degree in Musicology from Hunter College. She studied composition privately with Robert DeGaetano, Jonathan Anderson and Daniel Boico. She is married to Richard LeFrak, president of The LeFrak Organization, one of the world’s largest land development and building firms. They currently reside in Manhattan, Southampton, and Miami and have two sons, four grandchildren, and for over 20 years, she has raised Standard Poodles and bred many champions.

Karen Lefrak does it all, from composing music to writing childrens books. Avenue sat down with this renaissance

woman to talk about her latest, Sleepover at the Museum.

How did the idea for Sleepover at the Museum come about? When our own children were young, my husband

and I brought them to the American Museum of Natural History often. My sons in turn, took their own children to

the museum and passed along a love for learning about the world we inhabit. When I discovered one could have a

sleepover there, I thought a book about a birthday party with a scavenger hunt and sleepover would be the perfect

vehicle to introduce youngsters to the museum. In my previous books, I featured many of my interests like

classical music, ballet, and dog shows - why not the world of natural history as well?

In Sleepover at the Museum, Mason and his friends get to choose one room of the museum in which to spend

the night. Where would you choose to stay? The Butterfly Pavilion, of course! Although Mason didn’t choose it

as his sleepover spot, it’s always been my favorite room.

You have written several children’s books. How does communicating to children differ from communicating

for adults? Do you find that you use different language? My spirit changes when I’m talking to children; my

eyes are more expressive, my voice becomes gentler and more demonstrative. I try to convey enthusiasm for the

places or events I’m interested in. When I’m talking to children, I don’t necessarily use different language, but I’ll

always try to explain a word or concept that’s more mature than what they might be familiar with. With children,

you have to put things in context and be prepared to answer questions. I try to use terms children of all ages will be

able to understand, which is why many of my books have had glossaries in the past. I think children want to learn,

and all we have to do is find a way to show them.

You’re something of a renaissance woman—a children’s book writer, a classical composer, and a dog

breeder as well. How are you able to do so much? And let’s not forget grandmother of four! I was blessed with

high energy and a mind that works overtime. I’ve been lucky enough to need very little sleep and have productive

early hours. Mostly though, my passion motivates me, because I’m doing what I love. It never feels like work

because it’s what makes me happiest.

Do you find that your interests inform one another? Or do you think of them as distinct? My passion for

classical music and writing definitely go together. As a matter of fact, I was asked to compose the score for

Sleepover at the Museum, which will be premiered in Miami by The Miami Symphony Orchestra on February

24th, 2019, and performed again at Festival Napa Valley on July 15th, 2019. And, the New York Philharmonic

will perform it at a family benefit concert on March 7th, 2020. Composing music has been an interest of mine

since childhood and I like writing. With dogs, it’s more of an escape from the daily stress of Manhattan living.

Animals in general have the ability to take away our stress and provide pure love and comfort.

You’re also well-known as a dedicated philanthropist. What is a cause that you are particularly excited

about? I’ve been associated with the New York Philharmonic since 1971, and have been on the board for 31 years.

I was President of the Volunteer Council, and now sit on the Executive Committee and serve as the chair of the

Music Policy Committee. Classical music has always been one of my passions and I have many roles there. I’ve

even served as archivist assistant, curating exhibits and answering questions about the history of the orchestra.

I was previously President of the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy—who doesn’t love

Central Park? Additionally, The Society of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is an organization that I

am interested in supporting.

Animals are a huge part of my life, which is what inspired me to start the pet therapy program at Mount Sinai

Hospital. I formerly took my retired show dogs to administer animal-assisted therapy to medically fragile children

and adults. During that time, I also visited Child Life Services at NYU, New Alternatives for Children, and took

the dogs to the pier a few times during the aftermath of 9/11. Show dogs are already trained to be obedient, so

animal therapy was the perfect transition for them. I’m also an honorary member of Pet Partners, the organization

that serves veterans with PTSD, Alzheimer’s patients, students with literacy challenges, people with intellectual

disabilities, and anyone else who can benefit from animal therapy.

By Karen Lubeck

Jan 16, 2019

Patrick McMullan Getty Images

Karen LeFrak’s effervescent charm was on full display January 15 at the Museum of Natural History, as she

celebrated the publication of her new book, Sleepover at the Museum, with guests including David Foster,

Katharine McPhee, Candace Bushnell, and more. Glasses clinked under the whale in the Museum’s Milstein Hall

of Ocean Life, where the book’s adventures take place. Karen announced that she has been asked to write a

musical score of the tale, which will be performed in Miami next month, Napa in July, and at the New York

Philharmonic next year. Her dual passions for educating young children and music are certainly well served.

Miami Symphony offers a premiere for young people in the Design District

By Inesa Gegprifti

Eduardo Marturet conducted the Miami Symphony Orchestra with Athina Klioumi as narrator in the Design District.

The Miami Symphony Orchestra, conducted by music director Eduardo Marturet, performed Sunday evening in the Miami

Design District, offering a varied program that included a world premiere.

Sleepover at the Museum by philanthropist, composer and author Karen LeFrak marks the fifth collaboration with MISO.

Based on LeFrak’s children’s book, this suite in thirteen movements depicts the journey of young Mason and his friends as

they celebrate Mason’s birthday with an adventurous sleepover at a museum of natural history. With the goal of inspiring

children’s imagination, the performance did not rely on visual aids. Instead, Athina Klioumi—actress and wife of the

conductor—provided the narration of the story line before each movement.

The story is charming and the music accessible and imaginative. With many of the musical illustrations referencing some of

the great composers of the past—Prokofiev, Saint-Saëns, or Mussorgsky—LeFrak’s composition retained a sense of purity

and simplicity that was fitting to its young target audience.

She succeeded in capturing the features of each scavenger hunt clue with clever instrumentation and musical motives. A

sneaky staccato bassoon represented the dark hallways; timpani rolls and stomping low brass for the dinosaurs; open

sonorities and mysterious harp glissandi for the planets; and flickering woodwind patterns and an elegant cello melody for the

butterflies. The work included a re-fashioned jubilant “Happy Birthday” scored for the full orchestra, before the majestic

ending of the Epilogue.

Marturet and the Miami Symphony musicians seemed at home with this light work and delivered the best ensemble work of

the evening in Lefrak’s premiere.

You’re invited to spend a night at a real museum in Karen LeFrak’s brilliant new book, Sleepover at the Museum.

Beautifully illustrated by David Bucs and published by Random House Kids, this adventurous nighttime romp

through the American Museum of Natural History’s dark halls will pique young imaginations and inspire future

museum adventures. From famous blue whales, T. rex appearances, butterfly pavilions and intergalactic planets –

there’s no bones about it, this whale of a tale is one adventure your child will love to discover over and over again.

Behind the Story

Mason can’t wait to celebrate his birthday with a sleepover at the museum of natural history — his favorite place

to visit. Who wouldn’t want to sleep surrounded by gemstones, or under a massive blue whale? Armed with

headlamps for the dark hallways, a map, and a list of clues, Mason and his two best friends take off on a scavenger

hunt through each hall of the museum. But they aren’t just trying to solve the clues. They’re scouting for the best

place to spend the night. Which spot will feel right?

Sleeping next to a T. rex in the Hall of Dinosaurs feels too scary. And sleeping with the monarch butterflies would

probably tickle. This decision isn’t as easy as Mason thought it would be…. But wherever they end up, the

museum at night is the best place for a birthday adventure!

FUN FOR EVERYONE

The fun facts and riddles throughout will keep children engaged and their imagination soaring, Sleepover at the

Museum will definitely convince anyone that museums are fun! We especially loved that the book included an

illustrated museum map which allowed for kids to follow along on the scavenger hunt path. There’s even a little

something for adults at the end – an inspirational list of cool cultural institutions across the country, allowing your

family to bring this adventure off the pages and into your local museum.

SLEEPOVER AT THE MUSEUM, by Karen Lefrak and David Bucs, Crown Books for Young Readers, Jan. 15, 2019, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 3-7)

There’s more to museums than meets the eye, especially at night. In Sleepover at the Museum three friends get to explore a

museum when no one else is there.

What’s the best way to celebrate a birthday? For Mason, it’s having a sleepover at the museum of natural history, his favorite

place to visit.

Not only do Mason and his friends get to sleepover, but if they complete a scavenger hunt, Mason will get to choose where

inside the museum they’ll sleep. You’d think choosing a place to rest your head would be easy, but Saturn is far from home

and extinct predators are a bit scary. If only butterflies didn’t tickle your nose while you slept…

It takes a while to choose, but Mason and his friends have a blast solving mysteries and settling in for the night.

I think sleeping over at any kind of museum — science, natural history, curiosity — is every kid’s dream come true. To be

able to explore without the crowds and not have to be quiet and have cake is pretty awesome. Sleepover at the Museum

realizes this dream and sends imaginations flying.

Sleepover at the Museum isn’t cutesy or filled with rhymes. In a way, it feels like a very pared down chapter book, which

makes it feel a little older than the suggested beginning 3-year-old age range. Don’t let that scare you off. It’s a great

introduction to different reading formats, and exposes kids to newer/harder words — behemoth anyone?

Sleepover at the Museum invites readers to join the fun, providing the scavenger hunt clues clearly marked by different font.

It’s a fun story and the illustrations are inviting.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND SLEEPOVER AT THE MUSEUM

KAREN LEFRAK is the author of Jake the Philharmonic Dog, Jake the Ballet Dog, and Best in Show. She is an avid dog

lover and breeder of champion poodles, as well as a composer of music for ballets and instrumental works around the world.

Karen and her husband divide their time between Manhattan, Southampton, and Miami, where they live with their two

poodles. For more information visit karenlefrak.com.

DAVID BUCS began his career at KlaskyCsupo, the studio famous for Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys, and has art

directed television series for Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, TLC, PBS, and Disney. David loves to create characters and

bring them to life using watercolors, colored pencils, and digital media. Sleepover at the Museum is his first children’s book.

He lives with his wife and young son in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where life is sweet. You can follow him on Facebook and

Twitter, or visit him at davidbucs.com.

T h u r s d a y , J a n u a r y 2 4 , 2 0 1 9

Review: Sleepover at the Museum by Karen LeFrak Title: Sleepover at the Museum Author: Karen LeFrak

Format: ARC Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers Publish Date: January 15, 2019

Source: Publisher

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "Mason couldn't wait to celebrate his birthday with a sleepover at the museum of natural history--his

favorite place to visit.

Armed with headlamps for the dark hallways, a map, and a list of clues, Mason and his two best friends take off on a

scavenger hunt through each hall of the museum. But they aren't just trying to solve the clues. They're scouting for the best

place to spend the night.

Sleeping next to a T. rex in the Hall of Dinosaurs felt too scary. And sleeping with the monarch butterflies would probably

tickle. This decision isn't as easy as Mason thought it would be....

Wherever they end up, the museum at night is the best place for a birthday adventure!"

My Two Cents:

"Sleepover at the Museum" is the story of Mason, a very lucky kid who gets to celebrate his birthday with his best friends with

a sleepover at the local Natural History museum. A sleepover at a museum? Sign me up! Mason will get to go on a

scavenger hunt and have the best birthday ever!

This book was a lot of fun! We loved playing along at home as Mason and his friends discover a lot of really cool things at the

museum. We have the fortune of having easy access to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History (when it's not closed by

the government shutdown... ugh) and this book made for a good entry into talking about our own experiences at the museum

as a family.

The illustrations in the book are good and colorful. My girls loved looking at all of the pictures, especially those of all the really

cool stuff that Mason and his friends discover. The writing of the book was straight forward and accessible. This book would

be great for the little museum lovers in your life!

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019

Sleepover at the Museum by Karen LeFrak – ADVISABLE

Sleepover at the Museum by Karen LeFrak, illustrated by David Bucs. PICTURE BOOK. Crown (Penguin/Random

House), 2019. $18. 9781524771409

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Mason is having a birthday party/sleepover at the local natural history museum. Part of the fun is a scavenger hunt

with his two best friends, during which time Mason is supposed to decide which hall they are going to sleep in for the

night. Most rooms are too scary and still others Mason has random problems with. But first they must solve all the

riddles!

This is a fantastic book for reading before a natural history museum field trip. It features maps of the building and will

pique student’s curiosity. It could lead to an after field trip assignment of writing about which place they would want

to sleep in overnight. The artwork is top notch and readers will have fun trying to figure out the clues along with the

characters.

Book Reading with Karen LeFrak at Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science Photography by World Red Eye on March 26th, 2019 in Lifestyle

Karen LeFrak

Miami, FL – March 24, 2019 – The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Downtown Miami’s Maurice A. Ferré

Park hosted a special book reading in the Frost Planetarium of the latest book from children’s author Karen

LeFrak, Sleepover at the Museum (Crown Books for Young Readers; January 2019). After the reading, guests were

invited to go on their own adventure with family and friends to complete a scavenger hunt at the museum before joining

Karen LeFrak for a book signing. Prior to the book reading, Frost Science hosted a number of donors and board

members for an intimate luncheon on the museum’s fifth-floor Trish and Dan Bell Conference Suite and Terrace.

Karen LeFrak

Booking and media inquiries:

Dworkin & Company Elizabeth Dworkin,elizabeth@dworkincompany.com Allison Weissman, allison@dworkincompany.com Tammy Moore (PR) tammy@dworkincompany.com 914-244-3803 dworkincompany.com