Flash Demo

Here's the book with interactive English words and their Chinese character counterparts. I'm using this as a prop for the Kickstarter pitch video. We also aim to release them as free apps on supporting platforms. Hopefully I can find some way to automate button translation... Because it's going to take quite a while otherwise...

Here's "The Idea", How we're gonna publish, why and why it's better for EVERYONE (Except for giant business)

The making of "The Little Red Bird"


To shed some light on my working process, here's an in-depth explanation of what goes into a single page of "The Little Red Bird". Also included are some insights into how and why the look of the book was developed. We always aim to be completely transparent in our dealings, so please feel free to ask about anything that you feel I didn't cover. Like it on YouTube to spread the love. Our publishing approach relies on our buddies replicating our links, so please do!
Thanks for your support!
~ Daniel E. Dreyer

Here's the idea! How we're gonna publish and why. Like it if you agree please, take the time to click all the little share buttons and stuff! We need your support!
Hugs.

Music!

We've signed a musician on to the project!! The illustrious Julia Dreyer will be contributing a musical score about "The Little Red Bird"! This music will be used in our promotion video on kickstarter as well as the interactive reader app we will construct with the funds raised there!

Here's a link to a song Julia made for kids in about 2 hours: River Song
I can't wait to see what The Little Red Bird will sound like!!

Here's a video Jordan made with his kids which features Julia's music. His class is "singing" over it, so it's a bit hard to hear, but it gives you an idea of what Julia can do. The song that starts at about 4:40 is probably close to what we'll get. Kids love it!




Expanding Horizons

I've been looking into developing this across multiple platforms. It seems like the best option will be to go for a Flash format that can translate into iOS, Android, Kindle Apps and E-Books without loosing interactivity. This is going to require some reading on my part and a lot of dicking around with some tools I haven't used since middle school computer class when I used some ancient (then revolutionary) program on one of the candy colored iMacs in the computer lab to animate a little Calico colored dog into the burst rib-cage of some half-dead fool. And look at where I am now: children's books.

We're also hoping to do this thing up in a few languages. To accomplish this I'll need to enlist the help of some beautiful past foreign exchange students and, perhaps, a few ex-pats here in Taiwan. Altogether, I'm counting on readers from Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Thailand, France, Russia, Germany, Spain, the American South, England, a few other parts of England, Indonesia and even as far afield as Ohio! This might seem like a bit too much, but the implementation would be rather easy. Just choose from among the different speakers; select between English, Native Tongue and Both; then you're off! All's I need is a few head shots and a brief bio from each participant--in addition to the recordings, of course. Is anyone going to get paid? I'll promise payment only after a successful trial run. If this thing gets wings I can send them some kickbacks, too.

So while brother Daniel sweats away over the old Photoshop I'm hatching more and more unlikely ventures.

Andele!
Below are pages one, two, eleven and the final page or back cover. They are not completely finished, but show the style and look we're creating! Enjoy!

                       
                                                                                                 
The Little Red Bird is a book by Jordan and Daniel Dreyer soon to be kickstarted and released free to the public under the Creative Commons license.
The Little Red Bird is a children's book written to be read to children by their parents.
Written for children just being introduced to reading english, it emphasizes education through interactivity. 
Please check in as we update! The book is mostly done and we can't wait to share it with everyone!
Thanks for stopping by. 
 - Dan & Jordan D.