MobiStories Digital Books for Kids
Publisher and author, Patricia L. Atchison, is interested in new technology for the publishing industry. Wondering if her book, Little Blue Penguin, would work as a digital book, she researched and found Still Motion Media. They produced an iPhone app of Atchison’s book, Little Blue Penguin, which has also been made available on MobiStories site as a computer download.
Bob Budlow, the Co-founder and President of Still Motion Media, the creators of MobiStories, explains their the move to digital books saying, “When Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, the world of communication, mass media and storytelling began to change. With today’s rich technology the essence of a great story can be delivered when and where you want it through digital books.”
When Budlow, along with his business partner, visited the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, both gentlemen observed that screens were becoming both larger and much smaller all at the same time. But other than games and cartoons, Budlow asked, “Where was the ‘kids’ content’ for all those newly accessible screens?” Rick Toone, Co-founder and Creative Director asked, “What if children’s picture books could be put on a screen and what if they had audio and what if parents liked the idea of something educational and fun on their child’s DS or iPod?” That’s how MobiStories Digital Books for Kids was born.
Atchison suggests that not all books can be made digitally, saying, “Authors and illustrators should be thinking digitally and interactively when they create stories and artwork for kids. Children today are so technologically advanced that it is very intuitive for them to use their fingers to slide across a screen of a small device. Reading just the text of a story won’t keep their interest for long on a digital device; they have to do something with it to make it more memorable. It’s just what they are used to now.”
Little Blue Penguin (http://www.littlebluepenguinbook.com) is available on Still Motion Media’s MobiStories website at http://www.MobiStories.com as a computer download and on the iTunes Bookstore. Atchison says, “It is a wonderful interactive app. Kids touch the screen, and the background artwork comes alive. A child actress reads the story. The penguin moves and makes sounds snoring, and colors pop out. The book is far reaching too, as it is available in 3 languages.”
Still Motion Media is the creator of MobiStories award-winning digital children’s books. The company is a collaboration of four friends from Los Angeles: an accomplished art director for film/television and commercials;
Still Motion Media takes children’s picture books and adds narration, music and sound effects to the original illustrations which they optimize to create MobiStories:
Atchison’s past endeavours include editing and publishing the Canadian Teddy Bear News magazine. She has written two books for children, including Little Blue Penguin, which was nominated for The Word Guild 2008 Canadian Christian Writing Awards. Her second book, McKenzie’s Frosty Surprise, features a Mallard duck and wetland conservation information. For information about Wood Lily Publishers visit http://www.woodlilypublishers.com. Atchison has a blog through her web site, http://www.patriciaatchison.ca.
Contacts:
Patricia L. Atchison
Wood Lily Publishers
403-637-2728
info@woodlilypublishers.com
Robert M. Budlow
President
Still Motion Media
215-794-2389
rbudlow@stillmotionmedia.com
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
