Help The Little Flame Become a Fire of Peace!
Click here to see The Little Flame Kickstarter Project
Starting Monday, November 4th and ending Wednesday, December 4th, 2013
We have fun, exciting news for supporters of children’s literacy! Kids Need to Read is launching a Kickstarter project to publish a children’s picture book, The Little Flame! The Kickstarter project will allow the organization to raise funds to print the book, which will then be given away to children, schools, and libraries, as well as sold to raise funding for Kids Need to Read. Kickstarter.com is a popular website that helps individuals and organizations to raise the funds necessary to produce specific projects through a system of pledges and awards. Supporters are not charged for their pledges unless a project raises enough pledge support to fund.
The Little Flame was written by Kids Need to Read Executive Director Denise Gary, who is donating the book and all of her royalties to the organization. Gary explained her gift to Kids Need to Read this way:
I knew there would be nothing more fitting to the spirit of The Little Flame than to give the story away. The book’s main theme is about growth through giving, whether it is from handing out kindness with no expectation of reward or letting go of (giving away) anger. Because the story reflects many aspects of my own personal journey in life toward peace and joy, the tale was not meant for me; it was meant to be shared with as many children—and adults—to which it could find its way. I could think of no better way to share the story than through Kids Need to Read—a children’s literacy nonprofit—which could distribute the book much more widely than I ever could to children and families who cannot afford to purchase books. I have backed several projects on Kickstarter and it seemed to be the best choice possible to print books at no cost to Kids Need to Read, and then give The Little Flame the most appreciative homes in which to spread her light. In this way, only goodness will profit.
The book’s illustrator is Steven Riley, a long-time supporter of Kids Need to Read, and the author and illustrator of the Little Ty Cooney National Wonders series. Steven has a brilliant knack for holding the attention of young children with his appealing illustrations and entertaining presentations. He is the backbone of Kids Need to Read’s Build-a-Book program at Phoenix Comicon every year, making kids of all ages laugh and learn how to create story.
The Little Flame is an allegorical fable using physical phenomena to represent outstanding traits, as well as frailties of humankind, imbuing our natural world with spirituality and wonder. Fanning the flames of peace, tolerance, and compassion among young and old, this children’s picture book illustrates the ability to do more than you ever thought possible through integrity and perseverance, while emphasizing personal peace as the first step toward global peace. Here is a little bit more about the story:
Small, quiet, and just a bit fearful, a little flame sets out upon a passion-filled journey of self-discovery, inspiring positive change along the way, and learning how to overcome the destructive forces of anger and grief to find her destiny as a blazing fire of global peace. During her expedition, the little flame encounters a tall tree enamored by its own beauty, a noisy waterfall captivated by its own voice, and a thick fog weighted down by its heavy pride. The little flame grows through good deeds, eventually striking up a friendship with the fog. But the fog’s pride turns to jealousy and cruelty, and soon a new feeling flares up inside the little flame—anger. Anger devours their friendship and smothers the light of the little flame. How does the little flame recover and what becomes of her?
Kickstarter pledge rewards include copies of the book, supporter names listed in the book, printed bookmarks, postcards, exclusive backers-only prints, sketches by Steven Riley on the front endpaper of the books, hand-stitched felt Little Flame magnets, and exclusive Little Flame backers-only copper bookmarks and book clips created by the talented Marisa Grieco, Urban Blacksmith. Please know for every pledge level, you have our most sincere gratitude.
Stretch goals offer Little Flame buttons and a backers-only Little Flame ornament, perfect reminders of the kind of light to keep alive in your life.
We are counting on you, our generous supporters and fellow bibliophiles, to make a pledge and help spread the word about The Little Flame Kickstarter project for Kids Need to Read. What can be better than supporting children’s literacy by participating in the printing of an endearing children’s book that will be given to kids, schools, and libraries, while receiving a copy of the book for you, family, and friends? It is the best of both worlds!
Click here to see The Little Flame Kickstarter Project
Be a Little Flame!
