HOUSTON — Flying off the presses just 9 months from the first publication, 3 new children’s stories have been published in both Spanish and English by Avian Kingdom (6 books total). This month, all six books will take prizes to their nest, as finalists in The International Latino Book Awards. Avian Kingdom’s children’s books were hatched with big goals in mind: promote literacy, family values, and environmental stewardship. These awards signify not only the highest level of interpretation, but also the strength of the accompanying story and design.
Avian Kingdom first came to life as a free iOS game for iPhones and iPads, called Wing Whackers. Its goal was to highlight the effect humans have on raptors and migrating birds. Eventually, the concept evolved into a children series, of award-winning bilingual children’s books that built out a world of characters from the game, opening discussions about family values and environmental conservation, while providing fun activities that promote literacy.
“At first, every publisher rejected our books. They were either too complex, not enough words to be a chapter book, or needed more illustrations,” recounts Gabriel Garcia, Producer of all three books. “But from our encounters and with these awards, we are really flapping our wings. The kids love our books and characters. I’ve had three and four year olds ask questions that blow my mind. They respond to stories showing us complex understanding about the relationships and values in the book.”
Ways to be involved with Avian Kingdom:
Sponsors: Under Our Wing is the outreach and programmatic arm of the Avian Kingdom, and pairs with Boys & Girls Clubs, non-profits, and local schools to provide books, activities, and even our mascots to make literacy and learning fun.
Families & Teachers: Buy the books in either Spanish or English, or both. Every book comes with additional activities for literacy in the back. A fourth book, titled “Neither Night Nor Day,” showcasing bats, and the first female main character, Vladimira, will debut April 10th at the Natural Bridge Caverns, TX.
Families: Play Along with the Wing WhackersTM game or Raptor Codex
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