Synopsis

Child bloggers travel aboard the Innovative Engine from N.Y.C to California. Along the way, they meet fairy tale characters  sharing their "true" stories. Themes include environmental sustainability, technology and innovation.

For example, the children meet Ms. Muffett. It turns out she is interested in capturing spiders, writing observations and releasing them back into the wild. The children also decide to rip out train car seats and create a traveling garden.

 

I taught Science and Coding at a school founded by the Chief Scientist of Twitter in San Francisco and was the founding teacher at a public school focused on environmental sustainability in Chicago. I also served as a technology coordinator at an elite private school in London, UK. I am currently a Ph.D. candidate in the field of education interested in researching the impact computer coding has on the communication skills of children with autism. 

 

My brother, the illustrator, is a talented tattoo artist. His work was showcased on BuzzFeed in their Tattoos of 2015 video. He is currently working on coloring in the final illustrations for this project. I wanted innovative art to coincide with this innovative tale.

Outline

The story will be structured in a way which allows mini-stories (blog posts) to take place within the larger journey of the train and children traveling from N.Y.C to California and back to N.Y.C. The illustrations for the moments when the child bloggers meet the fairy tale characters along the way will be in black and white and the blog posts the children write about these experiences will appear on jagged edged tanned paper background. 

Audience

This book is intended to be used as a read aloud for children aged 7-9 as as independent reading for children 10-12. This book is part of the Maker Movement in education. Children and parents interested in STE(A)M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) would be interested in buying this book. The trend and demand from teachers for this style of book is very high based on my experience teaching in five schools in five cities around the world.

Promotion

Marketing Plan, Steps to Take:

Kickstarter and Indiegogo campaigns have been launched.

Pass out to friends in high places

Copies to technology and garden teachers, STE(A)M teachers

Google, FB and Twitter ads

Commission at Indy bookstores *, and book store readings

Facebook page with title and website, about author and monthly in depth on cities train visits

New book business cards, Amazon review requests

Linked In Emails

Special Ed office

Students with disabilities

Autism society

Homeless shelters

Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts 

 TeachForAmerica (I am an alum) offices bay area and every city newsletter *,

Exploratorium gift shop*,

Book fairs *

*Cyber Monday gift push,

**Sfusd board meeting. Speak @ it.

Craigslist

Trade shows.

Feminist orgs

Solar and wind companies

Pixar etc

Sustainable farms

UN SF, 

Action against hunger

High speed rail one a day on Twitter and Instagram

YouTube video

Writers conference and book sales in spring.

Blogs Facebook 

Family email

Friend email

Everyone email

Meetups 

Get book reviewed Amazon/good reads

Newspapers for review

Kids camps

Sfusd mailing list to teachers. Public information on teacher and principal emails. Call.

http://kidsbookfestival.com/[1]
http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/[2]
Join writers orgs

Tech daycare

Book Reviews

Former schools, teachers, district offices, college schools of Ed 

Obama kids school

Green peace

Clinton foundation

Disney kids school

International schools

Drone companies

Presidential campaign offices

Head of BART

Facebook book ads

Go fund me

Tbt as kid

Post on FB pages for elem teachers, makers movement and homeschooling

Get onboard the train campaign

Elem teacher science and tech conference!!!

Caltech and NASA 

Train policy people

3D printer of train for FB page

Sell on Etsy

Ph.D. Conferences

Book awards

[1]: http://kidsbookfestival.com/
[2]: http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/

Competition

The Stinky Cheese Man. An interesting tale, however, as a teacher I was not a fan of the ugly duckling being and "ugly duck" in the end. I wanted to twist fairy tales and bring them to the 21st century as opposed to just twisting them for a reaction.

The Real Story of the Three Little Pigs. My story certainly borrows from the idea of showing the other side of a tale, however, I do not use the three little pigs in my book.

Zen Shorts. The idea of stories within a story and showcasing them using black and white illustrations certainly came from this story.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I wanted to have fantastical and innovative things happening in this story and certainly tried to mimic the word artistry of Roald Dahl. For instance, the stepsisters eat too many Double Decker Dreamy Delight Donuts.

The Lorax by Dr. Suess. This story certainly advocates for environmentally sustainable alternatives as the train changes from a diesel train to a solar powered high-speed magnet train by the end with a traveling garden as well.