"We are each other’s keepers”
– Angelique Kidjo, Grammy award winning singer and songwriter
If we are to be each other’s keepers, we need to understand each other's cultures, values, and views better, all starting at young age.
Asa Isaksson, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Cali’s Books, teamed up with design entrepreneur, Kanch Porta Panjabi, to create a cultural sound experience for kids through a tactile book. Both moms, they hope to bring the world’s cultures into kids’ homes.
THE BOOK - FUNCTIONALITY AND INSIDE PAGES
Our book is a mix between cultural exposure and an effective learning tool for your child.
The book has an attractive and eye-catching design that children will love! It contains 6 spreads, each one dedicated to a Hindu God and the corresponding mantra. The texts are both in English and Hindu script.
It is a hardcover book with rounded angles to protect your little ones.
Moreover, sound books are a great learning tool for young children:
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Seeing and hearing words can help young children to trigger early language pathways.
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Pushing the sound buttons improve your child's hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.
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Music and sound encourage language skills.
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Early reading tend to extend a child's concentration span.
The book will comply to European testing rules.
OUR STORY AND WHY WE WANT TO MAKE A BOOK ABOUT INDIAN CULTURE
Asa - co-founder Cali's Books
One year ago, I started Cali's Books together with my Los Angeles based business partner. We are both mothers and were looking for a fun way to introduce our kids to books. And that's how the idea of our first title "Sing with me", a musical book with nursery rhymes was born.
Getting a good response, we continued to develop and now have a range of 6 books that have reached more than 2000 kids in over 15 countries.
Then I met Kanch - our sons are in the same school, we got talking and got excited about doing a new book together with a cultural angle to it.
Both of us living out of our home countries realised how lucky our children are as they are exposed to different cultures and languages as a part of daily life. Thus, we decided it was important to share this in a fun and musical way with our kids – the idea of a mantra book for kids was born.
The book about Indian culture is the first in a range.
Kanch - Design Entrepreneur
My background is in design and I have a love of all creative objects, especially books. So, when I met Asa, I fell in love with the kids’ books she was doing. Ingraining culture starts at a young age; I have some fond memories of my mom sharing magical stories with me which are still crystal clear till today. Thus, what better way to do this than through a book – where parents can share these journeys with their children.
My husband is Spanish and I’m Indian so it’s very important for our son to be able to understand both cultures. On every trip to India I search for books that can help him experience his Indian roots. But, so far I haven't been able to find anything I love, so I thought, “Why not develop something?”.
MEDIA MENTIONS
CALI'S BOOKS has been featured on several media and the first titles are staff pick in Hong Kong's leading book shop:
FUNDS & TIMING
Jan - Feb
*Next Chapter crowdfunding campaign
Feb - Apr
*Next Chapter release funds
*Final sample and text editing
*Pay all artisans and suppliers who have worked on the book with us
*Printing of 3000 copies for distribution to retail and wholesale
May Onward
*Deliver books to you
*Distribute books to stores worldwide
RISKS & CHALLENGES
Risks are low as Cali books have already published 6 other books which are on the market and in stores wordwide.
To futher minimize the risk we have already invested and created samples and have started showing to retailers and schools to get feedback.
SHIPPING & DELIVERY TO YOU
Cali's Books ships worldwide. There will be a shipping cost of US$5 for orders outside Hong Kong.
Duty/VAT charges: If you live outside of HK or Macau, you will be responsible for any applicable duty/VAT charges.
Customs: Some countries are known for being very slow with customs, and you probably know if you live in one. We're sorry that we can't put a magic stamp on our packages to help them get through faster.
We are doing this crowdfunding to verify our possible attraction on the market. We will therefore start the printing process of the books if we get funded. All books will be shipped out no earlier than beginning of May 2018.
"Our dream is that this little book can bring us one step closer to better understanding and appreciating the uniqueness of those who may act and look a little different than ourselves but who share many of the same values."
-- Asa & Kanch
