About Sophie Feels Big - Teaching kids the names for their feelings through stories - Volumes 1&2

Project 2016-08-24 01:36:14 +1200

We didn't make it this time...

Sophie Feels Big closed without reaching funding. I would still like to make it happen, but I'm going to have to go away and have a good hard look at my plan, and spend some more time and effort reaching more people. If you'd like to be kept up-to-date about future developments, you can sign up at www.jackfeelsbig.nz/sophie or you can check out the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jackfeelsbig.

What's the book for?

It's one thing to teach your child the names for things you can point at, but what about the things you can't, like feelings and virtues? Sophie Feels Big Volumes 1 & 2 are a pair of children's books that uses a collection of small stories as a tool to help teach children the names for their feelings.

This project is for volumes 1 & 2, which will each contain five small stories. 

Each story is about six pages long:

• Sophie is introduced (generally dressed up in costume)
• Something happens
• A particular feeling is clearly identified
• There's some sort of resolution.

You can start reading the books to your child as soon as they're old enough to sit and listen. If they're old enough that the simple stories don't interest them, try tricking them into learning by having them read the book to a younger child. Even some adults could use some help figuring out what they're feeling. 

Volume 1

Volume 1 will be a re-cast of Jack Feels Big Volume 1. The idea is to use the same great stories but replace the main character with a girl, to make the book more engaging for female readers. I want to make sure that all kinds of kids find all the stories as appealing as possible. I don't want to end up with "boys are brave but girls are anxious" just because that's what feelings happen to go with that character. But if you've already got Jack Feels Big Volume 1, you may want to just get a copy of...

Volume 2

Volume 2 will be made up of five new stories, each dedicated to teaching the name for a particular feeling. The five feelings will be selected by backers throughout the campaign. 

What will backers get?

The Involvement of Votes, Input and Updates

Votes

Volume 2 of Sophie Feels Big will contain five new stories. Throughout the campaign, backers will have the opportunities to vote on which feelings will get illustrated and make it into the book. Votes will take place at particular milestones along the path to full funding, so the sooner you get involved, the more influence you'll have on the final product. 

Update: Backers have selected "Disappointed" as the first. Pledge today to have your vote on the remaining four.

Input

There's a lot of thought that goes into each story, to ensure that it clearly conveys what defines that particular feeling. I want to get your input. What emotions are important? How do we define them? What scenario would best illustrate it? My backers have a deep and broad pool of experience and while I have come up with stories for many of the emotions, I'm keen to get your ideas and to see if I can improve what I've got. If you have any questions or suggestions, head over to the facebook page.

Updates

Its going to be an exciting journey and I want to keep you informed as it all develops. During the campaign itself I'll keep you up to date with preparations for the book. As we select which stories will go into the book, I'll post the process of figuring out what defines that feeling and coming up with a story to illustrate it. Once we've got funding, you'll get to see the illustrations go from my stick figures to Matt's sketches, to coloured final drawings.

A copy of the book of your choice (for $25 and above) - Sophie vol 1 / Sophie vol 2 / Jack vol 1

All rewards above the $25 level (and $15 for the quick) will include a copy of one of the books, shipped free to any address in NZ. Shipping is expected in January 2017. You get to choose if it's Sophie Feels Big Volume 1, Volume 2 or even Jack Feels Big Volume 1. If you want to support it, but don't want the book, you're welcome to nominate a school or library or we can give a copy to Duff'y's Books In Schools on your behalf. If you're ordering a physical reward from outside of New Zealand you'll have to add $5 to your pledge to cover international shipping.

• Paper back
• Perfect bound
• Full colour
• 14.8cm high x 21cm wide 
• 48 pages, 150gsm

Te Reo and NZSL Names for Feelings

As well as the English name for each feeling being shown at the start of each story, there will also be the closest Te Reo translation and the New Zealand Sign Language Sign for that feeling. There'll be some help in the front of the book for making the most of these added languages. 

Who's Involved?

The Author

I'm Adam Millen, an engineer who is keen on seeing crazy ideas become reality. Taking the first book in this series, Jack Feels Big volume 1, from crazy idea to reality was a huge learning experience, a heap of work and incredibly rewarding. Adam enjoys exploring the outdoors and reading the internet. There's a short video introducing Adam here.

The Illustrator

Matt Haworth trained at Animation College NZ and has five years of experience as a freelance illustrator. He teaches illustration classes with McLeay Workshops, sells his art books and fanart at conventions like CHROMACON and even has past experience with crowdfunded projects (he illustrated for Imagistory, a wordless picture book app, to inspire your child to be the storyteller). He's a black belt in Taekwondo and enjoys B-Grade horror movies. There's a short video introducing Matt here.

Our Supporters

There's a whole crowd of family and friends who have got us this far and who are continuing to support us with encouragment, advice and hopefully some cake. We appreciate your part in this everyone!

Our Pledgeme Backers

That's you! Someone who sees how great this book can be and wants to be involved. 

When will it all happen?

The campaign will close on the 8th of October. Once we've cleared the campaign goal, I'll meet with Matt and discuss the changes for the re-casting. Matt will begin doing the illustrations for Volume 1 and I'll have the editor review the text. I'll start on the stories for Volume 2 and as each one is done those will go to the editor and to Matt. As each story progresses the pledgeme backers will be updated with sneak peeks. As the stories for each book are completed they will be typeset and go to the printers. Once printed, the books are delived to me and I pop them all into envelopes and send them out to you lovely people. Hooray! 

How will the money be spent?

The campaign's critical-mass goal is $12,000. This balances the fixed cost (illustrating five stories and re-illustrating five plus profesional text editing) with the per-book costs (printing and postage) and the campaign-size costs (the pledgeme fees).  

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