Help The Little Flame Become a Fire of Peace!
Click here to see The Little Flame Indiegogo Project
Starting Monday, January 27th and ending Thursday, March 13th, 2014
We have fun, exciting news for supporters of children’s literacy! As some of you may remember, we attempted a Kickstarter campaign last November to fund a children’s picture book, The Little Flame! We didn’t quite make our goal, but were enthusiastically encouraged to try again by our supporters. This time, we have matching funds up to $6,000! Kids Need to Read has launched a new project to publish The Little Flame on Indiegogo, a popular website that helps individuals and organizations raise the funds necessary to produce specific projects through a system of pledges and awards. The 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. Please help us out if you are able!
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?
We need to raise a minimum of $6,000 to fund the printing of The Little Flame for Kids Need to Read. The funds will go directly to the organization, and there is a matching gift offered for another $6,000! Because the matching funds will be provided even if the project raises more than $6,000 in donations, all additional funding raised over the $6,000 project total will be used to print additional copies and/or promote the book! Let’s see if we can put this over the top! After fulfillment of awards and shipping, the $12,000 total will make it possible for Kids Need to Read to print 5,000 copies of The Little Flame, all of which will belong to the organization to give to disadvantaged children who need inspiring books to read, as well as to sell for donations. If the total amount of $6,000 is not funded, Kids Need to Read will seek additional sponsorships to fund the difference to print The Little Flame.
We have put together fantastic supporter perks, all of which are designed to encourage and inspire, just like The Little Flame herself! They include copies of the book, having your name in the book, printed bookmarks, postcards, buttons, exclusive supporter-only prints, sketches by Steven Riley inside the book, irresistible Little Flame plushes handcrafted by Carly Woolley, and beautiful Little Flame copper bookmarks and book clips hand-forged by Marisa Grieco, Urban Blacksmith—perfect reminders of the kind of light to keep alive in your life. Please know for every perk level, you have our most sincere gratitude.
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. One of the book’s themes is 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, which could distribute the book much more widely than I ever could to children and families who cannot afford to purchase books. Conducting an Indiegogo project 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 original draft of The Little Flame has gone through three edits—by a librarian, an English professor, and a professional editor—to be sure we are providing a quality book. The story is a very sweet, joyful children’s tale and Steven Riley’s art is incredibly appealing. The kiddos will adore the character of The Little Flame and will be rooting for her to succeed in her quest to become a Fire of Peace!
The book’s illustrator, Steven Riley, is 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.
We are counting on you, our generous supporters and fellow bibliophiles, to make a pledge and help spread the word about The Little Flame Indiegogo 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 also 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 Indiegogo Project. Shine on!
