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Brands need to do what good friends have always done – converse, support, sympathize and cheer on, says Clark Kokich, former CEO and current chairman of Razorfish, about his new book, Do Or Die, published as an iPad app, writes Steve Mullins.

It’s a no brainer as to why the tome has been published on iPad.

Mini Coupé – the graphic novel. “The Mini Coupé goes beyond being a getaway vehicle – it’s a daredevil in its own right, and it’s already seen some lively action on the adventure frontier,” says the car brand. “It’s harboured fugitives in Iceland, parachuted into a crowd of geriatrics in Hong Kong, and dashed through the extravagant Carnival in Rio. But traversing into the realm of illustration gives this classed-up go-kart an added dose of the fantastic as it explores its truly imaginative desire for travel.”

Google has designed an infinite digital bookcase, a 3D online bookshelf featuring more than 10,000 titles from Google Books. It holds 3D models of the books organised into 28 subjects. Users have to click the subject button and the camera then flies to that category where readers can click on a book and pull it off the shelf. After they click on the high-res image of the cover, the book will open to a page with title and author information as well as a short synopsis.

By Steve Mullins. Penguin UK has joined forces with Portuguese transmedia outfit beActive – makers of hit online TV show Sofia’s Diary – to develop a multichannel offering for the publisher’s new young-adult book series from author Ali Cronin.

Harper Collins and We Are Social have launched a Facebook app which delivers 30 pages of new novel Golden Earrings by Belinda Alexandra. Visitors need to ‘like’ the page to get their hands on the fiction preview, and can also get a 10% discount on the print copy from booksellers Borders or Angus & Robertson.

Misery Bear has moved into publishing. The eponymous star of the BBC-backed web comedy series, has come out with a book in time for Christmas, so it’s time to stuff those stockings. Don’t know Misery Bear? “I’m drunk, angry, depressed, lonely, sad, drunk, annoyed, fluffy and drunk. What about you?”

Some of the UK’s top illustrators will see their work going under the hammer on 4 October at the Illustration Cupboard in central London – with all sales proceeds going to Amnesty International. The seven illustrators – John Burningham, Polly Dunbar, Chris Riddell, Satoshi Kitamura, Axel Scheffler, Korky Paul and Jackie Morris – all contributed to the book We Are All Born Free, and it is their original artwork which will be auctioned off.

By Mark Terry. Booktrack has integrated its synchronised music, effects and ambient sound into a new novel, The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books. The outfit says it is working with Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Park Road Post, and Full Fathom Five, on a ‘new genre of entertainment – soundtracks for books’.

Readers can access Booktrack editions at the Apple App Store and download The Power of Six for iPhone, iPad and iTouch – the service will be coming soon to Android and other devices.