Around the world 62 million girls are not in school. Education is one of the most critical areas of empowerment for women, and it shouldn’t be a luxury. When girls are educated, they lead healthier and more productive lives. An educated girl has a positive ripple effect on her health, family, community and society as a whole (2).
My final project is going to be a contribution to this effort that inspires and teaches girls that literacy is a powerful ability and that it can change not only an individual, but also the people around her. Because learning starts at a young age, I am going to publish a children’s book written and illustrated by myself. The main character is a young female student named Francesca (my cousin’s name) searching for her talent for her class’ upcoming talent show. This book will also feature students (her classmates) from diverse backgrounds showcasing talents that break stereotypes, for example a black student showcasing his origami folding talent, a girl in a hijab as a math genius, a boy in a wheelchair playing an instrument, and more. Even after watching her fellow classmates perform and after hours of researching by reading books in the library, Francesca still can not figured out what her talent is.
Professor Hilde Lindemann urged that individuals articulate their sense of themselves by telling stories (1), so spoiler alert: Francesca discovers that her talent is reading and storytelling! After telling her story for the talent show, all her classmates have a change of heart and learn something new. This book is a confidence booster not only for the child, but also an adult reading to the child. I have several friends who grumble about lacking a talent, and sometimes I don’t know what to say, but here’s what I can say about people who think the same thing: after reading this book, both the child and the adult will learn to embrace a skill that many people don’t have, which is reading and storytelling. In turn, both the child and the adult gain a sense of agency and acknowledge an often overlooked valuable skill.
I plan to publish this book online using a website called yumpu.com, where I have already uploaded past projects, such as my portfolio as well as a magazine I designed for Tutti, a start-up community for college students. This book will bring more diversity in my portfolio of clients and in turn my media-making identity. After the semester ends, I hope to have this book in print and hand it out as a gift to my friends, family, and co-workers so that they may share it with young girls in their lives.
Timeline:
Oct 31- Reseach children’s books writing and illustrative styles. Draft a script and draft a storyboard on InDesign
Nov 7- Draft2 of script and draft2 storyboard. Ask for feedback.
Nov 14- Draft3 of script and draft3 storyboard. Ask for feedback.
Nov 21- Draft4 of script and draft4 storyboard. Ask for feedback.
Nov 28- Draft5 of script and draft5 storyboard. Ask for feedback.
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Here’s a snippet of the book-in-progress:
One day at school, Mrs.Diaz tells the class that there will be a talent show next week and everyone will have to show the class one talent that they have.
Francesca didn’t know what her talent was. So over the weekend she went to the library and looked for books that would help her find her talent. She even asked the librarian, Mrs. Ferguson, to help her find a book. Francesca loved to read.
On Monday, Lauren kicked off the talent show with her soccer ball dribbling skills. Stanley(in a wheelchair) played the song Happy Birthday on his trumpet. Connor shared brownies that he baked with his grandma.
On Tuesday, Michelle shared with the class a clock that she built. She showed us how the gears turned the hands of the clock, just like how her grandfather taught her at his watchmaking shop. Nitara brought her collection of rocks. Not only did she name each type of rock, she even told us where each rock came from!
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1."Let Girls Learn." Let Girls Learn. USAID, 22 July 2015. Web. 17 Oct. 2015. <https://www.usaid.gov/letgirlslearn>.
2. Meyers, Diana T. "Philosophical Feminism." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Sept. 2014. Web. 17 Oct. 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/topic/philosophical-feminism>.
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