Tag: book
Same beginning, one line, many different stories. Seventeen UK parent bloggers took the challenge to ‘tell the story’ their way. This is our gift to the children around the world: beautiful stories with illustrations from our own kids, making it a perfect bedtime storybook.
By creating this book called ‘Once upon a time’ we are fundraising for Save the Children. The profit of all book sales will be donated to the charity.
Thank you to all parent bloggers who took part in this story book for their time, creativity and empathy! Together we made it happen!
Now it’s onto you! We are raising money for those kids, born with the challenge to survive. Let’s help them write a better story of their life, one that will make them smile!
Besides, the book is funny and colourfil, making it the perfect Christmas gift for a child. You can view and purchase the book HERE.
‘Save the Children works in more than 120 countries. We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential.’
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December 4, 2011
For my daughter Christmas came earlier this year. She received a wonderful personalised book from Unique Editions. Such a surprise for her to grab the book in her little hands, and to see her image printed on the book cover! It was absolutely magical moment; she was wordless and just screaming out of joy, pointing out herself and getting more and more impatient to open the book and see what’s on the next page.
Her curiosity and excitement escalated even further when she realised the whole The Magical Journey (that’s the name of the book) was about her. Being nearly 4-year old she can easily find her name written in a text, so guessing that she is actually the hero in the story made her grab my hand and ask me to read it that very moment!
The original text in French is really a beautifully written poem. It’s written by Jorge Semprun, a very famous international author and film writer. My daughter sank herself into the magical journey, but I have to confess, I immersed myself into the story, too. The concept grabbed me – making books with beautiful stories where the children are in the centre to not only make them feel flattered, but to also encourage their imagination and self-confidence.
And here is the other story – that of Stephanie and Megan who founded the Unique Editions company. This is a story of two friends, Stephanie and Megan, one French and one South African, who met in Hamburg. When theirs kids turned 5, they decided to create the perfect book for them. Stories, personalised, with the photo, featuring not only the child, but the whole family or anyone close to the child. While Stephanie has all the good taste for beautiful French art, Megan brought all the ideas for the stories – which, from what I can see, are pretty dynamic and adventurous.
The idea behind our books isnot less powerful: to encourage children to enjoy reading. All their books focus on capturing young readers, by bringing them closer to the story. This we do in different ways relevant for the different age levels.
They’ve been selling books in France since 2007, and just hitting the UK market, which is just great if you’d like to make your child happy as mine (still enough time for Christmas).
Just ‘whisper’ the magic words GKXMAS2011 at checkout before the end of the year for your special 15% discount! Merry Christmas! Lot’s of different stroies for each age group, so I’m sure you’ll find what you are looking for.
And thank you, Stephanie and Megan elves for the lovely gift you made to my daughter, and to me – the opportunity to daydream!
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November 19, 2011
I am planning a fundraising campaign for Save the Children called ‘Tell it your way’. The plan is to publish a book with children’s bedtime stories written by creative parents that blog – in aid for the Save the Children charity.
So, we give participating bloggers same story line, which is ‘Once upon a time…’ (so we really give you the freedom to be as creative as you want) and we ask you to write a short story aimed at small kids as well as an image of a drawing you or your kids make, or simply a photo you take to support your story.
I will then collate all your unique creative stories and images, and I will be designing them into a children book (using the Blurb book-making and book-selling platform). Once the book is ready and goes life, I will share the link with you so you can buy it as a gift or for yourselves, share it, recommend it to friends, and generally spread-the-word for the campaign and the book, so we raise as much money for Save the Children, as possible. Hope you agree it’s all for a great cause, and hopefully the book will make a wonderful Christmas gift. 100% of all money raised will be sent on a monthly basis to Save the Children UK.
So, the benefit for you as a participating blogger? Apart from making good to kids born in poverty and challenged to survive, your story will also help you raise your profile and get great publicity! All bloggers will be introduced by a paragraph about the blog, your photo and link to the blog.
Here is the creative concept and how I came up with the children story book:
‘Once upon a time, I was born and challenged… challenged to survive.
I’ve got a story, which is different to yours. Although, it is similar to the million children around me, who were born with the same challenge. It’s not easy to keep on telling my story, to keep on living it.
Would you help writing a better one for me? A story of a better life.
A story with a different ending, despite having the same beginning.’
The deadline for all stories and images is 20th November, so we can make it happen in time for Christmas. However, please let me know if you are interested asap, so I can sign you in for the book.
To summarise, what I’d need from you is:
- Creative children (bedtime) story around 300-350 words (or 1,500 characters)
- Image to support your story, ideally something you make with your kids and take a photo of
- Your details: your name, blog name, blog link, your photo and a short description about your blog
Let’s collaborate in an effort to change the story of those kids, born with the challenge to survive, and help them write together a better story of their life, one that will make them smile. Now it’s onto you. Please email me asap, if interested.
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November 7, 2011
“On the little prince’s planet the flowers had always been very simple. They had only one ring of petals; they took up no room at all; they were a trouble to nobody. One morning they would appear in the grass, and by night they would have faded peacefully away. But one day, from a seed blown from no one knew where, a new flower had come up; and the little prince had watched very closely over this small sprout which was not like any other small sprouts on his planet. It might, you see, have been a new kind of baobab.”
My favourite book as a young girl was The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and it is still one of my favourites. This is a book that can be read by both children and adults. Beautiful language, strong messages – a simply magnificent book, which has stamped my childhood and, I am sure, was one of the million reasons to help me be what I am today. It has an appeal of love that is true and touching, and it is a book that has stood the test of time.
I heard that there is a Museum of The Little Prince in Hakone, Japan, featuring outdoor squares and sculptures like the B 612 Asteroid, the Lamplighter Square, and a sculpture of the little prince. Would that be like a museum of my childhood? A beautiful sculpture of my believes, my innocence, my hopes, my dreams? I’d like to go there. To go back in my past – to touch it, hug it, gently place my head over it and close my tired eyes. Sleep…
Translating the book into my parenting approach, what have I learned? Remember, the little prince asks questions children would be likely to pose themselves, in similar situations. Conversely, many of the answers he receives come from very “grown-up” grown-ups. The characters’ responses to the little prince reflect real-world scenarios. “Do as I say because I’m the king” – how often have I said that to my little girl?
I close my eyes and sleep. Sleep and dream of my childhood, of the story of that “little prince” who changed me forever.
Which are your books from childhood who have touched you most and changed you in a way?
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November 20, 2010
Lovely Manda from FlyingStart Magazine sent me a book. The moment I opened the pack and got the book out if it, my first though was “recycled paper” – nice to touch, somehow rough and natural. And there it is – my attention was rived on the headline – “Recycle!” – How genius, I thought! My 2-year old daughter grabbed the book from my hands, intrigued by the brilliant illustrations and the five push-up tabs inside. She sat next to me, waiting impatiently to read the story together. There are two little kids in the book, taking us through the “secrets of recycling” and eco-friendly life in an engaging and fun way! The book educates little toddlers how to help the planet by taking materials to the recycling bins, showing which ones can be recycled and how, using reusable bags in the shop, and more! A few minutes later my little girl was pushing the sturdy tabs, sorting the recycling, finding out how to save water or how to make toys out of old boxes, rather than throwing them away. It is now her favourite book, learning and having fun at the same time, which I find brilliant start for her to join our eco-friendly efforts at home!
The book is published by Campbell Books and it is due to be released on 7 May 2010.
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March 7, 2010
