Charles The Magnificent Pony - Illustrated Children's Book

Behind the story:

Charles the Magnificent Pony is an illustrated children’s book written with a rhyming scheme, making the book attractive to new entrant and beginner readers as a read-aloud story with fun, vibrant illustrations to match. The language used in the story combines recognisable words and structures that are accessible to the reader with descriptive words aimed to increase a learner’s growing vocabulary.

The characters in the story are all well-known farmyard animals and each one has their own unique characteristics. They have been specifically created to engage the reader/listener through familiarity and to encourage discussion and new ideas to form - either through sharing the story with others or by reading quietly on your own.

As with any good children’s story, there is a valuable lesson included and it is hoped that the reader will use the lesson to reflect on how positive behavior can encourage co-operation and friendship in their own lives.

Sponsors and incentive levels:

The money raised for this project will be used for printing and illustrating costs. There are two bonuses available:

For $25 – sponsors will receive a signed copy of the book and a personalised thank you message from the author.

For $100 - sponsors will receive a signed copy of the book and a personal thank you letter from the author on a special edition postcard based on an illustration from the book. The sponsor will also be given a second signed copy of the book to donate to a school, library or education centre of their choosing.

Budget:

The goal is to raise $3000 to cover printing and illustrating costs for 200 copies of Charles the Magnificent Pony.

This is based on an average of three quotes for printing costs at $11.25 per book using the specifications listed below.

Specs:

1 x cover 350gsm gloss laminate

32 x colour double sided pages (16 leaves) 150gsm

Perfect bound

The specifications for this new book are the same as were used for The Chesterman Cats. I believe that quality children’s books have an important place in education and reading and the illustrations used should be delivered to the highest possible quality within budgetary reason.

The author and illustrator:

Scott Granville is an author, filmmaker and English language educator based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Charles the Magnificent Pony is his second illustrated children’s book, following his debut storybook, The Chesterman Cats. Scott spends his time between Chasing Time Productions, an independent film and media company, which he co-founded in 2008 with Ben Woollen, and Wintec’s Centre for Languages where he is a language teacher and academic counsellor.

Troy Major is a graphic designer and illustrator, also based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Troy has completed a wide variety of creative products for commercial clients over the past fifteen years. This is his first collaboration with Scott on a children’s book.

Synopsis:

Charles believes he is the most magnificent pony in all the countryside and doesn’t think he should have to help out the other farmyard animals with the everyday jobs of a rural life.

What Charles must learn is that to be truly respected by all of the other farmyard animals, kindness, community spirit and a helpful personality mean more than physical beauty ever will.

Excerpt from Charles the Magnificent Pony:

He lazily wakes each morning

And out of his stall he eases.

Meet Charles the Magnificent Pony

Who does whatever he pleases.

Charles stretches his neck and wiggles his hooves,

Looks at himself with great pleasure.

How marvellous life is when one is so handsome,

To live such a life of leisure.

To keep you engaged in the process of getting the book to a completed stage, regular written and visual updates will be provided. One of the key visual elements that will used is the step-by-step process of illustrating the story from concept drawing through to the finished artwork. This unique insight into the mechanics of turning a story idea into a completed book will give the sponsors a sense of ownership in the product they have generously supported.