Chug the Bug: Chug Makes New Friends

About the Story

Chug the Bug: Chug Makes New Friends is an original rhyming story about a timid young bug named Chug, who doesn’t quite know what type of bug he actually is. As autumn approaches, school begins, and it’s time for him to leave for his very first day!

On this adventure, Chug will meet all kinds of wondrous bugs as they make their way to school together. Soon they will become the best of bug friends!

But as challenges arise, they'll discover that with teamwork (including help from the reader), anything is possible!

Meet the Characters

Behind the Story

Chug the Bug: Chug Makes New Friends was written as a story that could be fun for children of all ages while helping to develop their sense of self-identity and contribute as a form of positive moral and social guidance. The idea for the plot originated from the creators' personal experiences with their kids, nieces and nephews, and other encounters with children, teachers, and parents during school. For many of them this was a scary time in a new place with unknown people. However, this would soon blossom into a time of fun-lasting relationships and experiences.

As a result, the majority of the related themes throughout the story focus on relatively common childhood experiences—emotions felt when leaving parents for the first time (such as letting go of Mom or Dad’s hand to get on the school bus), learning to manage and be involved in social interactions as individuals (such as how to speak politely in turns and in groups), and navigating through unfamiliar and sometimes strange places (such as walking independently from classroom to classroom).

Chug the Bug: Chug Makes New Friends takes these—and other similar experiences—and portrays them in a miniaturist, natural setting, derived from the character's point-of-views. This point-of-view helps to create an imaginative connection with children in that, through their eyes, the world can be a very big and daunting place. This story recognizes and encompasses these situations by portraying positive scenarios and solutions in helping the main characters overcome these challenges.

How the Story Originated

Chug the Bug was originally created as a bedtime story by Brent Angie for his son whom was 4 years old at the time. It was during this nightly ‘downtime,’ usually right after coming home from work travels, that he and his son would ‘catch up’ together, resulting in many wonderful imaginative stories based upon their experiences of school beginnings. It was the exact opposite conditions of Brent's traveling work environment—a time which was enjoyably slower like that of a caterpillar—as they ‘chugged’ along with imaginative made-up stories together.

Shortly thereafter, Brent introduced the idea of Chug the Bug to his brother-in-law Robert B. Hill at an annual family gathering. Robert at the time was majoring in English Literature, and the two decided it would be a great adventure in bringing Chug the Bug to something more tangible, to share with the family’s children, and children everywhere.

Two short years later, Chug the Bug has ‘chugged’ a long way, amongst the many hurdles of life—work, school and the such—and has evolved into something more than either could have ever imagined. The six main characters have been wonderfully transformed through an imaginative storyline, illustrated with the beautiful artistry created by Erin Koehler. The result of everyone’s hard work is something all the creators are proud of; however, the journey up to this point has been the most enjoyable.

Nevertheless, in a book-published market flooded daily by new-author submissions, where traditional responses may take up to 4-6 months, and where many publishers simply dismiss new authors, the creators have decided to pursue a different publishing route—the virtual market.

Overall Progress

At this point in time, the story, scene illustrations, book layouts, cover designs, and concept templates, are completely finished.

Storyboard Art

Scene Illustrations

Book Cover

In addition, all the related copyrights and trademarks have been awarded, under the newly-created company, Kid’s Play Books, LLC.

http://www.KidsPlayBooks.com

The Chug the Bug website and related Facebook pages are 85% complete and currently live.

http://www.ChugTheBug.com

http://www.Facebook.com/ChugTheBug

Also, the Cafepress gift shop is complete and live.

http://www.Cafepress.com/ChugTheBug

In effort of reaching broader audiences, the remaining focuses have been placed towards the completions of both the eBook tablet and mobile phone platforms (Apple iPhone/iPad, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble NOOK) and the 3D Interactive Storybook (Apple iPhone/iPad/Mac).

eBook Tablet, iPhone and Mac Examples

Barnes & Noble's NOOK Color & Amazon's Kindle Fire

Apple's iPhone 4S, MacBook Air, and the new iPad

eBook Tablet and iPhone Menu Examples

Amazon's Kindle Fire & Barnes & Noble's NOOK Color

Apple's iPhone/iPad iBooks & iTunes

Mobad Media

Kid's Play Books, LLC has recently teamed up with Mobad Media (http://www.mobadmedia.mobi) in creating a Chug the Bug 3D: Chug Makes New Friends interactive storybook app for the Apple iPhone and iPad:

"MoBaD Media is a Los Angeles based mobile app publisher specializing in interactive 3D storybooks, comics, graphic novels, and choose your own adventure digital stories. Utilizing a 3D gaming engine and proprietary app development tools, MoBaD seeks to advance the art of storytelling through interactivity, gaming elements, sound, animation, and educationally meaningful reading tools. Engaging and entertaining mobile readers of all ages... that's our mission."

Creating the Chug the Bug: Chug Makes New Friends 3D Interactive Experience

The Chug the Bug: Chug Makes New Friends 3D interactive story app will be neatly organized and promoted within the Mobad Media Peek 'n Play app, easily accessible for purchase with the click of a button. This app will also be available for purchase as a stand-alone download.

Foremost, the Chug the Bug: Chug Makes New Friends 3D interactive storybook app is being developed with every reader in mind. The smooth design will feature a convenient and easy-to-use touchscreen interface system for the Apple iPhone and iPad. Readers will have the option to dynamically interact within the story through either the self-read or narrated style, all in 3D with the tilt of the iPad device.

A selectable chapter menu will enable users to quickly access any chapter at any time. The navigation menu, accessible during any scene session, will enable users to quickly revert back to the homepage as well as to a 3D settings menu, where users can customize optimizations for their own personal experiences. A click on the “resume” option will also enable users to continue at the last known session within the story app.

The iPad version will be enhanced with Mobad’s breathtaking 3D engine, elevating the experience of Chug the Bug to a whole new level!

The follow video is a demonstration test sample of the related app based on the current beta version in progress:

In summary, we've come a long way, but unfortunately, many of the development processes have costly expenses. However, the Chug the Bug: Chug Makes New Friends eBook and App can be completed and made into reality with your help, which is humbly and gratefully appreciated.

Pledges and Support

By pledging your support, you will be contributing with bringing the wonderful world of Chug the Bug to market by enabling:

• conversion completion of the eBook templates for Apple's iPhone & iPad, Barnes & Noble's Nook and Amazon's Kindle devices;
• software development completion of the 3D Interactive Storybook App for Apple's iPhone, iPad and Mac;
• internet development completion of the Chug the Bug websites.

Any funds that exceed the initial total pledge goals will be used for enhancements for the final products prior to launch. Upon completion for the compatibility of these initial devices, future conversion developments will then be made for the compatibility of additional devices (such as the Android and Windows Mobile platforms).

Rewards

In exchange for your valuable support, we would like to show our appreciation by offering you several unique and limited gift packages. The majority of these items will only be available during the duration of the Kickstarter campaign, but we feel that exclusive prizes such as these can only be a beginning to showing you our utmost gratitude and sincerest thanks for helping our cause—developing, producing and bringing this eBook and App to market for children everywhere. Rewards may include:

An exclusive 24" x 18" full color downloadable personalized Chug the Bug - Thorny Flower Forest poster for pledgers from the Kickstarter campaign;

An exclusive Chug the Bug t-shirt for pledgers from the the Kickstarter campaign;

An exclusive Chug the Bug cap for pledgers from the Kickstarter campaign;

An exclusive Chug the Bug 2012 calender and Chug the Bug mouse pad for pledgers from the Kickstarter campaign;

An exclusive, original Chug the Bug: Chug Makes New Friends watercolor artwork individually signed by the illustrator, Erin Koehler, for pledgers from the Kickstarter campaign:

Original Watercolor Element Examples;

Original Watercolor Partial Background Examples;

Original Watercolor Full Background Examples;

Custom Framed Original Watercolor Premium Full Background Example;

About the Creators

BRENT ANGIE is a co-founder of Kid’s Play Books, LLC, and co-author of Chug the Bug: Chug Makes New Friends. He invites you to explore more of Chug’s adventures at http://www.ChugTheBug.com, and other great children’s books at http://www.KidsPlayBooks.com.

ERIN KOEHLER is an illustrator and art director for books, apps, and films. She is proud to bring the world of Chug the Bug: Chug Makes New Friends to life with her whimsical and unique style. To view more of her work, please visit http://www.coroflot.com/erinkoehlerart.

ROBERT B. HILL is a co-founder of Kid’s Play Books, LLC, and co-author of Chug the Bug: Chug Makes New Friends. He welcomes you to take a closer look at Chug and friends at http://www.Facebook.com/ChugTheBug.