Around the Block is an illustrated story starring three siblings Finlay, Tilda and Marlo; they all love scootering around the block discovering the neighbourhood… friendly cats, growling dogs, scary houses and gardens that inspire the imagination. There are so many types of houses in Australia, each with their own personality and story.
Nowadays we often ignore what is around us as we are often looking down at our smartphones. We hope this book encourages imagination and inspires readers to be an observer of their surroundings. Curiosity is the spark behind the spark of every great idea! Perhaps you may want to go for a walk, look around and start to connect yourself to your surroundings now!
Around the Block will be printed as 24 pages, full colour with hardcover. The hardcover would be a gloss laminated wrapped over 2mm boxboard and inside pages would be on a 150gsm paper stock; the boxboard cover ensures the durability long-term especially when it will be handle by children. The book would be able to fit in a backpack and will contain a discovery game for children to play after reading the story. Our book is print-ready and will be bound and printed locally in Melbourne, Victoria.
The idea for the book came about after one of our team members Quentin was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and while it was a terrible shock for him, it has given him the opportunity to reflect and consider life with a little more clarity. Inspired by the conversations and observations of his three children he decided to write. This simple story highlights the things we take for granted and the joy children get from what is the everyday background to our lives. Like all young families, an evening walk, ride or scooter around the block is a great way to spend time with family and discover the neighbourhood, taking the edge of what is often a full and hectic day. As an illustrator, I see the journey around the block in every Melbourne suburb as a world within, a taste of freedom within cooee of home. Far enough yet close enough to hoist a little one onto the shoulders for a ride home.
If we exceed our fund target we will print 500 books and put the funding toward an e-book development.
Once the book is printed, we will do the distribution and marketing at design markets and also available for purchase online. We hope to introduce the book to bookshops and artist markets in Melbourne.
Time management was a challenge; from start, refine, revise to complete all illustrations, layout of the book, sourcing printers and having team meetings in between our spare time while working full time wasn’t easy. However we are glad to received a lot of support from our family and friends. And we have reached to the point we are happy with the result, so all good!
The coming challenges will be management such as this Pozible campaign as well our marketing plan.
The marketing and distribution of the book are going to be a key success of the project. We are going to have a stall at Artist Market and have some bookshop contacts that is ready to go. We hope the book will appeal to locals as well tourists.
Quentin work as Creative Director and co-founder of the design agency, Canyon for over 7 years. You can see some of his company’s work on: Canyon Brand