Barney Saltzberg Noodlings

Poem #19

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:05:00 PST

Poem #18

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 07:30:00 PST

Poem #17

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:43:00 PST

Poem #16 HAPPY V DAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:05:00 PST

Poem #15

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:50:00 PST

Poem #14

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:17:00 PST

Poem #13

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 09:26:00 PST

Poem #12

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:21:00 PST

It's Friday!

Poem #11

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:48:00 PST

Poem #10

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:47:00 PST

Experimenting with drawing on the iPad.....

After an intermission, Poem #9

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:20:00 PST

Raining Words

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:53:00 PST

It's raining in LA. Hasn't happened much this year. I LOVE it. Maybe because I know it will be sunny in a day or two. Still, I have on my winter down vest... flees lined boots. (Okay, we have to milk this... I know it's probably in the low 60's...) I brought in firewood for tonight. I'd rather be in bed, but I'm writing.

I was telling a story yesterday to a group of librarians. Kristine O'Connell George (a FABULOUS children's poet) heard me tell a story about my father and his great granddaughter having tea. Kris said, "it's a book".

Thinking of Kris's comment, I made myself sit and write down the idea. This morning, I have a story to play with. It was something to talk about until I sat down to actually have something to read and re-read.

I keep hearing about people who have a gazillion reasons why they haven't written 'their' book. 'Their story'. Until computers start reading our minds and we can wake up to finished manuscripts, I figure I have to keep putting my fingers on the keyboard with an open word document. Every time I do, something comes out. NOT all keepers, but every once in a while..... TADA.

Today is a tada day.

Now I'm going to draw to see if this can really work.

Adios.

Barney Saltzberg Noodlings: Playing with Light

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:34:00 PST

Barney Saltzberg Noodlings: Playing with Light: I wrote recently that creating a character, and designing the character feels like an illustrators version of a casting call. Finding the...

Playing with Light

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:33:00 PST

I wrote recently that creating a character, and designing the character feels like an illustrators version of a casting call. Finding the 'right' character to inhabit a story. It takes time. Now that I am zeroing in on who the story is about and what they look like, the next phase kicks in. Is this a book painted with watercolors? Colored pencil? Computer? Collage? e; all of the above? This book is about a panda at night in a tree. Lighting is key. Here is a test. Not there yet, but getting closer.

Dogs with Glasses

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:21:00 PST

My book, Arlo Needs Glasses is coming out in May. I was in NY last week and was lucky enough to get a mock-up of the book. It's an interactive book about a dog who suddenly can't catch and needs to do something about it. Ultimately, the dog needs and has to wear glasses. The good news is, Arlo can catch again and finds a new world is available through his ability to see clearly!

I'm in the planning stages of a trailer for the book. Seems like that's what we do now when new books come out. It's actually fun to brainstorm. And speaking of brainstorming, I am thinking it might be fun to have a contest with people taking pictures of their dogs in glasses? Maybe we'll pick a winner and send an autographed book? I am 'hoping' for suggestions here on the blog. If ANYONE has any ideas, I would love to hear from you.

Most sincerely,

Barney

Poem A Day #8

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:48:00 PST

Back on track with a Poem a Day #7

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:41:00 PST

Traveling to NY kind of interrupted the flow. Back home.
I have to say, the amazing part about trying to write a poem a day for thirty days is,
one comes out, every time I sit down. I'm keeping these really short.... it helps! Here's another, little ditty.

Afternoon Post Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:48:00 PST

Sesame Street How to Reach and Teach Preschoolers with Digital Books. Jennifer Perry Qualitative research about preschooler apps. Sesame Workshop app 'guidelines' Publishing 2 to 6. Founded in 1968. Print books sell about 23 million a year in the US. They are also printed in 50 countries. Digital reach 16.5 million kids and paretns across digital platforms every quarter. Sesame Workshop consumer digital ocntent experiences up almost 30% from January 2011. Digital Content TV 60% 35% on Non-TV platforms. 85% are former, or lapsed, TV viewers. Older viewers say that digital brought them back into the fold.... All their apps were sold in 75 hundred countries. (All in English. Will translate soon) Ebooks and apps are becoming a key content format: Sesame St. eBookstore subscription website and app 160 ebooks 40 stand alone ebooks for e-reader devices. 25 apps (paid and free) for iphone/ipad/itouch 13 are book based baded on pre-existing print books 5 additional book based iOS apps to release by June 2012 Book based apps account for 52% of unit sales for all Sesame Street iOS apps Digital Research To keep and grow this customer base. What do we want to learn? Usability: app or ebook easy to use? What kinds of user interfaces available? Comprehension. Does child understand how to use it? Appeal. Does the user enjoy this? What features most popular? Will users re-use the app again and again and recommend it? Make it Easy to Use Easy access to all key features at all times is essential. Individual pages, activities, parent tips, settings, etc;. should never be more than one or two taps away. (on-screen menu or index) Do not overcomplicate actions. Interruptibility, even in the middle of a story or specific piece of dialog, is important, unless interuptability prevents comprehension. Easy navigation - Navigate forwards and backwards within the story itself. Skip introductions and activity instructions after first use. Turn off "extras" Parent tips, music, narration, etc; by choice. Make it Visual Make all gameplay items that are touchable very clear and obviousl and target all hot spots large Use highlighting liberally Combine audio promts with visual reinforcement (Page turn, audio accompanied by arro, audio instructions) Make it flexible more than one way to interact, a tap or a swipe. (Easy to code) Make it for Target Audience Remember, it's for a 3 year old. Design in a landscape view. Positions icons away from the bottom of the device Choose easy to understand icons. With gameplay and activities, design for preschoolers' little fingers and still developing fine motor skills. Make it easy to use. Show, Don't tell. Include demos of core functionality and navigation (easy turn off) Highlight read along text. Keep the focus on learning objective. Keep visual and audio bells and whistles to a minimum. Lock in narration and lock out interactivity to first 'read'. Relate any interactivity or game directly to storyline and//or learning goal. Repeat interactive Hints Less is More Audio instructions should be short and precise Avoid mulit-step actions. Don't linger on one activity indefinitely. Errorless Learning Provide content Reinforce learning in a fun game like way to build confidence. Be CleaR, CREATIVE, AND CATCHY. If information is clear, repeated creatively, and interactive, children are more likely to keep using it. Studies have shown that appeal of apps and ebooks increases for parents with children. We're still learning how to reach and teach. Which platforms will become the most commonly used for preschoolers? How do parent child interactions differ when reading a print book vs. a digital book?

Afternoon Post

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:46:00 PST

What Trends Are Emerging for Children - and their Parents? Amy Henry, Vice PResident of Youth Insights, C&R Research, YouthBeat Ira Mayer, President, EPM Communications, Inc. & Publisher, Youth Markets Alert 30% of children today live in single parent households 41% of kids born to unmarried mothers in 2008. Hardest thing about being a parent. 54% instilling solid values and morals in my children. Do you have the same musical taste as children. Share musical tastes 92% in kids 88% teens Do you share music with child 71% yes. Tweens 68%. They think this tend wil continue. Prioritizing Play THe expectations of schooling are more stressful than ever. Top five things that worry kids School Homework Death Family Relationships Grades No money Play is perceived to be in "crisis" Thousands of schools in the US no longer have recess Last two decades children have lost an average of 8 hours of free play a week.... Missed the last two points! Sorry. The New Look of Learning. RideMakerz (Were involved in Build a Bear) Engaged learing. Create your own car. Have brick and mortar in Downtown Disney. A Call for Community Kids have a real desire for community. 61% of kids have supported a cause. 63% of tweens. A good way to get on the radar of kids for corporate America. Carving out community where they can find it. Social Networking largest community. All the world is a stage Kids see life increasingly as performance oriented. YouTube, Disney, Webbing, Nick. Not all kids are performing, but posting photos, comments, video, messages. (In that order) All kids think of themselves as valid critics. All involved in choosing the next American Idol, etc; Brands as facilitator, not filter. Creating common spaces for diverse content. Common destination for themselves and their friends. 6 to Dos Help them find family time. Promote play and improvisation over standardization Create communities for your audience and help them create their own Go pro-social in more than one way Help them carve out private spaces in a public world Develop destinations where youth with different interests can find their passion.

Morning Session Part 6

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:20:00 PST

Nook and Children's Interactive eBooks and Apps Wendy Bronfin, Senior Director of Product Management, NOOK Kids, Barnes & Noble Kevin O'Connor, Director of Business Development/Content Acquisitions, Nook Kids, Barnes & Noble Jane O'Conner, Author, Fancy Nancy series. 93% of parents agree that reading books together on NOOK is a valuable parent/child experience., 93% of parents feel good about their kids using NOOK books. (I'm assuming these are from 100% of NOOK users. Curious what the last 7% of NOOK owners think! Probably bought iPads!) Biggest Variety of Titles and Interactivity Read to Me books. Read and Play. Immerse interactivity on the plotline. Showing a demo of Pete the Cat, I love my white shoes. Pretty nice interactivity. New NOOK has a mic so you can read and record your own stories. They had kids come in with their parents and test recording books with their own and their parents voice. (Big hit) The NOOK boutique is still the best way for them to get the word out in the B&N store. Special kids section as well. B&N promotes in the store. (Interesting to know which books they choose.... Most likely driven by deals with publishers.. My speculating) Sales Trends NOOK shows top selling books by age when you are on the device for consumers to see. Bestsellers on the Nook. Everything I am seeing here (almost) Movie based books. Smurfs, Puss in Boots, Alvin. Then Boynton, Goldilocks... Seymour Simon Silly Zoo Animal Jokes and Riddles, big seller. Public Domain. (Not very encouraging for authors who are not well known) Baby category hardest one for them. If it came out in board book first, it's hard to develop for them. You really want a young kid to read a book with a beginning, middle and end. Hard to get that concept across on a digital reader. That said, "Sandy", (I'm quoting) "has blown it away!" All the books have audio. Vast majority have audio or interactivity. Classic stories. Little Red Hen has been in top fifty since it launched. Jack and the Beanstalk, The Three Little Pigs. (Looks like Felicia Bond's illustrations) Holidays are huge for NOOK kids. Classic. Licensed. Micky and Minnie, Charlie Brown, Dora, Bad Kitty, The Night Before Xmas. Very boy and very girl content. Even though it's politically incorrect. Need more cowboy or alligator content. Fancy Nancy. Cowboy Camp. Barbie I can be a rock star. (Can I vomit?) That's not a book title. Covers that work. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Making covers that work. Showing who covers were adapted for ebooks help to merch. Some of our fav (B&N) Pete the Cat, Bear in Underwear, Party Day, SHark VS Train, Go Dog Go, You Will Be My Friend. Jane O'Connor (Fancy Nancy author & editor) Says she should no longer say she writes but that she's a 'content provider'! Career as professional and a parent is to instill the love of reading. Now she's seeing digital as a way to do a much better job. If her kids had had a device to read independently, it would have made a huge difference. You can click on a word and learn to sound it out without a parent hovering over the child who is learning to read. Enhancing, electronically works really well. Not to interrupt the flow of a story. Beginning, middle and end needs to be experienced. Showing Fancy Nancy. Limited interactive features. VERY. Mostly pages just sliding left to right. A click on Nancy here and there and she makes a minimal move. (Only in the beginning, the bulk of the book is flat) It does allow the reader to draw. Nice feature. "As a content provider, I can't wait to see where we go next!"

Morning Session Part 5

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:29:00 PST

Calvin Wang; Loud Crow Interactive Inspired by his four year old daughter playing and interacting with a traditional interactive book. Creating interactive books for digital devices and keeping the reading experience alive. Debuted PopOut! The Tale of Peter Rabbit in October 2010. Now working with Sandra Boynton and Peanuts Worldwide Apps available on multiple platforms. Five totals have been selected as app of the week. (My editorial) Stunning apps! Still the issue of how to have lovely bells and whistles, and still have the reader 'read' the story. Michel Kripalani President of Oceanhouse Media Publishes Dr. Seuss. Can cost over 50,000 dollars to develop an app. Publishers need to create for multiple IOS. License from known publishers. Design philosophy. Stay true to the original content from book to app. Teaching literacy. Interactive should be towards educational as opposed to entertainment. 200 apps in three years. Now producing about two a week. Heavy cross promotion. Apps advertise other apps. Dr. Seuss band. Number one iPad music game. Cross promoting gamers to the book apps, and vice versa. Every app is a license deal. No up front cost for publisher. 85 to 90% of the pitches, they turn down. Anna Belle Abraham, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Genera Interactive. App developer company. Books. High end games. Kids edutainment. Developed over 500 apps. Created their own app bookstore for beginning readers with multilingual, interactive, fun and educational books. (In seven languages) Looking to help authors brand. Woody Sears, Founder, zuuka. Partner with film studios. (Germany and Santa Barbara) Pioneer in mobile apps and next generation publishers of digital children's content. Acting as licensee, designer, developer and service contractor. One of the largest interactive book publishers, distributing on all major devices. How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, The Smurfs , Henson, Nick, Fox, Dreamworks, PBS Kids, CN Network, Hasbro, Sony pictures and Spin Masters, Readers Digest, Harper Collins, Random House, etc; Five Little Pumpkins by Dan Yaccarino was a title where they created a new platform. (Not sure what that is) 90% of their users opt for 'push' messages.... Great way to promote and let customers know about new properties. Know what you're trying to build and who you're building it for. Mark Ury, Ceo and founder, StoryBird More of a service than a publisher? Need to look them up. It sounds like a platform for the user to tell stories. Over a million members with over two million stories. Focus on artwork (to inspire a story). Use constraint based design (so user can focus on story) To make the stories social. What's our business model. Print on demand. Fund raising platform where parents can buy the kids books and money goes into paypal cash for teachers. Looking to publish as well. Subscription. E-commerce. (People want the artwork in some form or another) Corporate sponsors. Questions: Can you tell us one thing you did to help build your audience. And, one thing that might not have worked, (which you expected 'to' work) Storybird; Made a book with his son and was thinking that storytelling was the heart of a business that he wanted to start. Decided to curate a platform where people can make stories with artwork. (Supplied by artists) Michel: Brands matter. Authors matter. NOW they have reach. 2 years ago they couldn't have taken an unknown author. Now they can. Zuuka wanted to have stories for their own children. Genera started by wanting to make free content. 14% of their user base is now buying. Free was first. Six and four dollar books are not selling well. Their model is 99 cents. LoudCrow took a classic tale which Apple jumped on to help market, attributes that to launching them and putting them on the map.

Morning Session Part 4

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:39:00 PST

What drives the purchase of a book? Child asked for it in a store 36% Reading level on a book is important. Do you like to see the reading level on a book you want to buy 66% for 0 to 6. Consumers still value picture books. 44% say yes. (Not sure who those forty percent are!) Media and Technology Environment Pictures of toddlers/babies iphone and ipads and game controllers. Co-play with the kids. Exposure and discovery of titles is the number one challenge! How do we get the message out about digital content? Another rhetorical question. Kids 7-12 still reading. 77% reading for school book 61 % read for fun 46% games on gaming system 36 % surf the web 29% watch videos online 21% reading comic book/graphic novel on line E books and the children's market What parents say... and what kids think. 75% of parents have not yet bought an eBook What do they prefer their children read. 72% still think it's better to read a 'real' book. Why aren't your kids reading eBooks Reading a print book helps them focus. 38% 33% easier to discover more titles on impulses 29% Got enough technology in their life Missed the percentage but it's easier to swap a traditional book. 35% kids think its fun and cool. 37% think they'll read more 29% think they'll find more titles they like. Some things we've learned... Kids a very clear consumer force Picture books still an important format Parents and children very close - not a big technology gap Screen size and price are limiting factors for ebook adoption Kids may be more interesting in reading digital then parents Parents concerned with kids' focus re: digital

Morning session part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:18:00 PST

Second Session Context: Key findings from first wave Books and reading are still very important The inner circle rules - local influencers much more effective than outside influencers Bookstores and libraries still VERY important in discovery (About finding out about new children's books) The majority of children's books purchases are impulsive Kids are omnivorous consumers of media. Teens are not universal adopters of digital technology - they pick and choose what is useful to them. (They like social media... )

Morning Session part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:31:00 PST

Penguin Young Readers Group Brand. Experimenting with how they are producing their titles, but they are focusing on 'brands'. Lisa asking if there's any way to make the 'store' friendly for merchandise? How to create new products so that 400 ABC books have a have to be noticed. (No response) Rhetorical question? Alloy entertainment TV driven book business, ebooks represent about 40% of total sales. Expect that number to grow in 2012 The percentages of ebook sales vary among all our other titles in YA. Two prong strategies. Publish four to six titles directly to Amazon, B&N, iTunes (Without the traditional publishers) Titles will be aggressively promoted through our own sites and through their large social media presence. Scholastic; Graph showing Customer in the center, with three branches. Content, Ecosystem, Technology. Provide a reason to buy eBooks. Know and understand each ecosystem. Leverage the platform for success. Content is still the driver. More of the 'demand' model as opposed to the 'push' model. Books were initially developed as an app. Finding that this isn't the best way to make and market the product. How has the evolution impacted the way of how you acquire a new title? Financial and creative perspective. Knowing that tomorrow or whenever, digital is going to be part of the success of the book. Macmillan saying so far P&L hasn't been impacted. Certain titles are doing well digitally. Saying there's no way to tell when acquiring a title. Big in the blog world or has a large web presence can impact the way a book is received. Penguin says not impacting editorial. End of the day, it's all about the story. Stong characters, etc; Alloy looks at the social media level of the perspective author. Authors go through a bootcamp, spending the day with social media people at their offices. Difficult teaching writers. Twitter requires you to talk about yourself. A lot of writers are shy. (And a lot have big egos!)

Morning Session On Children's Books just starting

noreply@blogger.com (Barney Saltzberg Author, Illustrator, Songwriter) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 06:10:00 PST

January 23, 2012 Digital Book World Children's Publishing Goes Digital Traditionalists Gone Digital Moderator: Barbara Marcus, Open Road Media & Strategic Innovations Advisor Penguin US Josh Bank, President East Coast, Alloy Entertainment (Packagers) Judith Haut, SVP, Communications & Marketing, Random House Children's Books Jonathan Yaged, President, Macmillan Childrens' Pub Group (Been there a year and a half from Disney) Lisa Holton talking about Childrens Publishers being innovators and continuing on the same way in the Digital world. How do traditional publishers deal with digital books? Macmillan: Showing Cinder Campaign Marketing and publicity angle. Blogger Outreach, Ebook Marketing Campaign, School & LIbrary, Author Tour, Social Media Marketing, Advertising, Publicity. Combined effort produced their most successful launch for a digital book. Sold well in traditional print as well. Harper. Apps have done well for them. Young Reader Apps. The ABC Song. 1-2-3 The Ants Go Marching. By the time they released these, Dr. Seuss was number one. Produced by independent companies, not one of the big traditional houses. Re-thought what they were doing and went into their catalog to focus on more best selling titles to promote. Also issues with dealing with getting any visibility with Apple. Seems that they focus more on the more well known titles. More soon.....