Mrs. Cratchit and Water Woman helped welcome guests to Standard Publishing's Sneak Peak Product Party, yesterday's main exhibitor event in advance of today's official show opening.

The two women, in Dickensian dress and super hero garb, were actually Tara Wallace and Katie Ryan, respectively, who both work with the publisher's Vacation Bible School (VBS) team, and were promoting two of the new products coming from Standard in the months ahead.

Wallace was dressed as the character from Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol to draw interest in A Christmas Carol: Special Edition, to be published in September ahead of Disney's forthcoming release of its movie version of the story, starring Jim Carrey.

The Standard book will feature the original Dickens text with Christian insights and devotional questions for groups and families by Stephen Skelton, author and creator of a series of TV-related Bible studies.

Ryan was in costume as Water Woman to raise awareness of Standard's 2010 VBS program, which will be Hero Headquarters, "where kids join forces with God." The five-lesson program will focus on five "unlikely Bible heroes who are often overlooked," including Naaman's servant and the boy whose lunch helped feed the 5,000.

Authors on hand at the reception included Pat Williams, co-author with his wife, Ruth, of Happy Spouse ... Happy House and Tony Jeary, author of Purpose-Filled Presentations.

Jackie Rubano, of The Olive Branch in New Hyde, N.Y., won the $2,500 free product drawing.

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