Popup Nation: A star is born
Our first book, which also serves as a prototype, will feature our daughter Mia, who has CHARGE Syndrome. This is a condition that affects her heart, sight, hearing, and balance. Despite these challenges, Mia has a dream to be a dancer. This book tells the story of her journey, perseverance, and her belief in herself despite the obstacles she faces.
Seeing oneself reflected in a story is at the heart of a child’s sense of identity, wellbeing, and belonging. For many children, particularly those from marginalised communities, this kind of representation is all too rare in the books they read. Popup Nation is a new series of children’s books dedicated to telling the stories of children who are often left out of mainstream narratives - those who are marginalised or in some way hidden from society.
But Popup Nation is more than just a book - alongside the story, readers will be able to download additional content through an app, which they can explore through Augmented Reality (AR). This added content helps readers connect more deeply with the characters, offering a chance to gain a richer understanding of each child’s experience, and bringing the story to life in a way that traditional books alone can’t.
Through Popup Nation, we aim to provide children with stories that reflect their own lives, their dreams, and their challenges, while also fostering empathy and understanding in readers. This series is about more than just representation - it’s about giving all children the opportunity to see themselves in the stories they read, to feel valued, and to know that they matter.
