Copyright

Amanda Swanne

Summary

Interactive publishing software that allows young children to personalise, edit and design an online wildlife book which can be e-mailed to family, ‘read aloud online’ or professionally published.

Description

Dotty Rhino aims to educate and inspire young creative minds by highlighting the importance of wildlife conservation. Dotty Rhino E-Books allows young children to create their own online book at home and with their parents and friends. They will select a story about Dotty the Rhino which involves themselves. They will have control over layout and colour, can upload photographs and insert personal details such as their name and home town. Children can either create their story online via mouse, graphics tablet or interactive drawing-pad.

The finished books can be e-mailed to friends and family, or ‘read aloud online’ as bedtime stories. Or they have the option of receiving printed copy(s) by post.

Children can take charge in designing a story that is relevant to them but also one that links to a real-life animal sanctuary in Africa. The concept allows children to showcase their creative skills to their family and friends. They can create personalised books and see their name in print – as author/illustrator. They will learn about endangered wild animals whilst developing authorship skills and effectively teach others about Dotty the baby Black Rhino. The children will feel empowered, confident and proud of their achievements.

How it might be used

At home one morning and somewhat bored during the summer holidays, our 6 year-old test case, Max, with help from his mum, logs in to Dotty Rhino and selects one of the six book titles to work on. He enters in his name, home town and his younger sister’s name – Holly. Max uploads a photo of himself and Holly. He uses the interactive drawing pad, deciding which colour each animal character should be and creates one page at a time, saving his work as he goes.

When he has finished, he hits ‘play’ to hear the story narrated by one of the animal characters. He has the option of narrating the story himself and recording audio to play alongside the pictures. Feeling proud of his efforts, Max also learns about the rhino sanctuary in Africa, and the humans who protect the endangered sanctuary inhabitants.

Max and his mum decide to e-mail the e-book to his grandparents then order a printed copy of the book. Ten days later, the professionally bound, glossy colour picture book arrives. Max is able to read the book, see himself within the story and point proudly to his author/illustrator credit on the front page.

Contact

humans@dottyrhino.com
www.dottyrhino.com