About this project
La Petite Zelda goes to Paris - is an illustrated book for children in English, French and Braille
the Girl:
My daughter is almost 6 and her name is Zelda. She is blind. She has a twin brother named Creed. He can see. But La Petite Zelda sees everything, everyday. Stubbornly independent, silly and feisty, she is learning Braille, walks with a long white cane and has been attending a French immersion preschool everyday for the past 3 years. She sees things that I will never see. My family learns to look at things differently, everyday.
The Project:
I have been working on this children's book for a year now and in July we will be going to Paris, as I have a teaching job there. I am finally getting to show Paris to my children and see it through "their eyes". The book will become a reality. As Zelda is an experiential learner, she will discover the city through touch, smell, sound and taste. This will be recorded in still photography but also in video, so we're able to capture her words. Her verbal impressions can then be added to the storyline of the book that has already been written.
Here are some examples of the scenarios:
- Zelda is holding a flower, she smells it and talks about the feel of it...then the illustration pulls back to reveal her standing in the Jardin de Tuileries.
- Next, Zelda is walking and "bonks" her head - as she does often - "Mama, what's that?" It's steel, it's very hard and rough, and smells funny. She runs her hands up as far as she can reach. We then see Zelda standing under La Tour Eiffel.
- There are so many scenes like this but none can just be written by me. They absolutely have to have the experience of Zelda discovering the city herself. It's not fiction - it's a true story.
The funding:
And this is where you come in: our illustrator, Aaron Flynn, has been busy sketching "petite Zeldas" as well as placing her in scenarios that would represent her tactile discovery of Paris. But, nothing can truly be accomplished until we get over there and have Zelda, herself, interact with the city directly. Her words, her interpretations through touch, smell, taste and sound are essential to the book. Her experience will ring true - through to the actual representation of this adventure.
Your support will help us be on site in Paris so I can have Zelda experience the city through her own senses and then, the the book can be finished - being penned and illustrated. The funds will provide for final writing, illustration, and first round production of the book. Writing a bi-lingual book is easy, adding Braille will require different technology.
So, please help us realize this dream. I would love for you all to be able to see Paris through the "eyes" of Zelda...et merci mille fois...
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
141
Backers
$11,342
pledged of $7,000 goal
0
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on May 26, 2011.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
A "grand merci" and a hug from Zelda when we see you on the street.
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
A postcard from Paris with a Zelda "new word" update - she's speaks French but we'll be doing a new word each day.
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
A postcard from Paris in Braille & French and a link to our video blog.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
A "La Petite Zelda goes to Paris" t-shirt in either kids' or adults' sizing.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
A signed, first-edition copy of the book, "La Petite Zelda goes to Paris."
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
A signed, first-edition copy of the book, a t-shirt, and a DVD of Zelda in Paris.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
An original, limited-edition signed print from the book's illustrations, a signed copy of the book and the DVD.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
Be listed as a sponsor with your name and a "Merci mille fois" - that's thanks a million - printed in the book and an original, limited-edition signed illustration from the book, as well as the book and the DVD.
Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more
Listed as a sponsor with your name next to a "Merci mille fois!" printed in the book as well as a boxed set of 12 original, limited-edition signed illustrations from the book, a copy of the book and lunch with La Petite Zelda - we'll come to you!
Project By
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My name is Gail Chovan and I am Zelda's mom. When the doctor first told me, "Your daughter is blind, she will never see," the shock and grief was quickly followed by my response of "Zelda will see the world and she'll be the coolest blind kid ever." I am a clothing designer, boutique owner and writer. Our family is made up of us (the girls), Zelda's twin brother: Creed, and the dad of the family: Evan Voyles. We are lucky enough to live in Austin, TX in a creative and supportive community that has helped us through the twins' prematurity and diagnosis with congenital toxoplasmosis, Zelda's heart surgery, their brain surgeries, eye surgeries, shunts put into their brains and my subsequent diagnosis and fight through breast cancer that culminated in a double mastectomy. And here we go! Off to see the world!
