Kickstarter

Hello!  My name is Emma.  I am the creator, illustrator, author, and most-everything-else behind Snap Stories .  I'm here on Kickstarter to raise the funds to print 4 new titles!  (Wanna sneak peek at the new titles?  Page down to just below my name.)

A happy accident. Snap Stories were the accidental answer.  My goal was to share photos with my baby. Turns out that’s not so easy.  With a baby, my online time became limited.  So, what to do? I did the quickest, easiest thing I could think of: snapshots + an old board book + a roll of packing tape.  The first pass looked less than pretty, but it was better than nothing. Surprisingly the ugly little book was one of her favorites, so I made more. I used random, unrelated photos that I liked or that I knew she would respond to. (No photo organizing required. Phew!)   I even made and shared these tape-and-photo books as gifts. They were a hit!  Many months later, the books looked better, more like the current Snap Stories.

Surprising little books.  If you've watched the video above, then you've seen the surprising way Snap Stories are constructed (with tape INSIDE the pages). What you don't see in the video is the story.  My aim was that a single book, like One Big Adventure, could be used for all sorts of photos, from visiting the zoo to discovering Disneyland to playing in the backyard sprinkler.  I have illustrated and written the stories and they all have the same open-story model.  I'm currently working with other creative writers and illustrators to contribute to the series, too.  There are so many stories to tell!   Of course printing those stories takes money, and that's why I'm here.

To be or not to be.  Snap Stories are not photo albums.  They are not scrapbooks.  They are not award-winning literature (despite the Shakespeare quote in the heading).  They are hands-on photo storybooks made with 10 printed photos that celebrate faces, places, and memories.  The books frame an “everyday” story as captured through spontaneous snapshots.  Snap Stories are meant to be toted on errands, brought to school for show & tell, and included in the bedtime routine.  Also, they are often given as gifts because they are durable and will last for years as a keepsake.  To be honest, without photos they are nothing special.  But with photos, they are well-loved, uniquely-told stories of childhood that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Time stands still.  As my daughter ---the baby I started taping photos into books for--- will start her first day of kindergarten on the close date of this project (not a coincidence!), the value of photos deepens for me. Photos and videos are my tools for capturing time, now they are also my tools for stopping time.  She's growing up, and I take comfort in looking back at her happy baby face.  

Win-win-win for kids.  All kids love photos, but not all kids have access to photos.  Moreover, many kids don't have access to a stable home life to reinforce a sense of value and positive connection.  If this project is funded and you would like to give (any portion of) the books you earn from backing this project to a child who will benefit from seeing themselves at the heart of a happy story, Snap Stories has partnered with the local branch of CASA called  Voices for Children (in St. Louis, MO) to distribute the books accordingly.  I became a Court Appointed Child Advocate, or CASA, about a dozen years ago & believe strongly in it's mission to pair volunteers from the community to be the voice and the anchor for a child who has suffered abuse or neglect within his/her family.

Add camera-access.  My goal is to find a sponsor (corporate or individual) to match donated books with a disposable camera.  I haven't found a sponsor yet, but I'll update here.  If I haven't found a sponsor by the time this project is funded --and you want to add a camera to your donated book-- just add $5 per camera.  ALL kids like the control & independence of taking their own photos, but for some kids it is key to capturing their story.

Thanks!  Thank you for your role in this project to print 4 new titles.  I am grateful to each and every visitor to this page.  If you can support this project by backing it or even just letting others know about it, you and I can spread the photo-induced 'happy dance' together, one story at a time!

Kindly,

Meet the new titles!  The reward for this project means getting Snap Stories shipped right to your doorstep!  If this project is funded, you'll be sent a survey where you can select the books you'd like.  Unless I mention otherwise, the title below will work with girl or boy photos, any age.

• People Who Love Me, a lift-the-flap tour of Very Important Photos (people)
• Dirt & Sunshine, a color-rich tale that nurtures a love of nature
• She Sells Seashells, the perfect little-girl-meets-beach love story
• King of the Sand Castle, a tale where boys can conquer all they 'sea'
• My Baby Face, this best-selling title adorably features baby & toddler pics
• One Big Adventure, "life is one big adventure" 
• Go Go Girlfriends, classic, sweet, and spirited sentiments for any age
• Hip Hooray It's your Birthday, after all it's "the layer-cake-for-lunch day!"

Further Rewards.  The following images better illustrate the rewards of backing this project.  The sticker below on the left comes with every book up to a $60 pledge; the sticker on the right with books at the $100+ levels.  The next photo shows the quality and durability of the books.  At the higher pledge levels, there is the option to pair books WITH disposable cameras, as seen.  And finally, the last photo shows the small, luminescent bead that ties us together as a symbol of this project and a reminder to celebrate everyday moments.

Shipping.  Books will ship when the order is complete.  If the books you chose are all "available now," they will ship shortly after the project is funded.  If there are new titles in your order, it will ship in early December.  SHIPPING IS FREE within the continental US.  A note to all the amazingly devoted international backers, please add $10 to your order up to 6 books, and $20 for all orders over 6 books. International orders will get an additional bonus surprise gift shipped with their books, as a thank you for covering the shipping expense.