Peterson Multimedia Guides: North American Birds Ships with One-Button Internet Access to Peterson Online; Houghton Mifflin Interactive dedicates launch of Web site for nature enthusiasts to author and artist Roger Tory Peterson

Business Wire, August 28, 1996

SOMERVILLE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 28, 1996--In conjunction with the release of Peterson Multimedia Guides(TM): North American Birds CD-ROM with one-button Internet access, Houghton Mifflin Interactive Corp. (HMI) dedicated the launch of its new nature Web site, Peterson Online (http://www.petersononline.com), to the late Roger Tory Peterson today.

Peterson, a celebrated naturalist and the world's foremost authority on birding, was born 88 years ago today in Jamestown, N.Y., and died exactly one month ago.

HMI's first multimedia release of Peterson's work, Peterson Multimedia Guides: North American Birds, contains the detailed artwork, authoritative text and precision range maps from the best-selling Peterson Field Guide to Birds. The largest database of its kind, the CD-ROM features full-life histories for the 672 regularly-seen species, plus additional treatment of 277 accidental and rare North American species.

Peterson Online enhances Peterson Multimedia Guides: North American Birds by providing timely information about bird sightings and access to birding authorities. Through agreements with America Online (AOL) and AT&T, HMI is able to offer seamless Internet access directly from the product.

The site features a range of activities and information for birders and other naturalists, including Birding Resources, with links to other Web sites; Birder's Calendar, with dates of birding events and spectacles; and Skill Builders, to improve user's identification skills. The Peterson Kids site provides children with fun, interesting and instructive activities to do both at home and in the classroom. HMI will also partner with Bird Watcher's Digest to provide Peterson Online with informative articles and features.

Peterson Multimedia Guides: North American Birds for Windows carries an SRP of $69.95 and estimated street price of $59.95. The Internet-enabled version will ship next month.

Houghton Mifflin Interactive Corp. (HMI), Somerville, a wholly owned subsidiary of Houghton Mifflin Co., publishes award-winning children's and family multimedia products. The company cultivates world-class talent to produce digital adaptations of Houghton Mifflin books and original CD-ROMs and online works. HMI products are available through a network of retailers nationwide, and directly from HMI.

For more information call 800/829-7962, or visit the Houghton Mifflin Interactive Network, the company's World Wide Web site, at http://www.hminet.com.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: B-roll contains Roger Tory Peterson, Audobon expert and HMI president dialogue, plus Web site, CD-ROM and outdoor bird footage.

CONTACT: MorseMcFadden Communications Inc.

Kerri Karvetski, 206/889-0528

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E-mail: kerrik@morsepr.com