- University of Victoria’s Martlet interviewed Nicola in an article examining the new creative avenues offered by interactive storytelling. “…While some creative types may want to bury their heads in the sand, others, like local author Nicola Furlong, embrace new technology, while learning new skills along the way…”
- Karen Robertson, (Treasure Kai) featured our winding journey to setting Cheeks into flight on Digital Kids Author.
- Sunny Coast Kids of Australia loved Cheeks, saying “…my 5 year old loved it and laughed through it. He thought that the different voices used were very funny and made the book more enjoyable…” Full review link below.
Sunny Coast Kids
- Saving Grape-Jelly Cheeks was recently featured on The Daily on Shaw TV. Host Karen Elgersma described it by saying, “This interactive children’s book is so dang fun…it really is for kids of all ages.” Check out the interview below.
- Just landed a great article about Saving Grape-Jelly Cheeks in the Peninsula News Review. Here’s an excerpt:
- Nicola with Cheeks in her garden
“A Sidney budgie is getting poked and prodded by a few people as the star of a new interactive children’s book for touch screen devices.
- “This musical garden tale is a unique approach to a storybook app with fun quirky songs delivering the cute story of Saving Grape Jelly Cheeks. I’ve not seen a book app quite like this and love the idea.” Karen Robertson, Digital Kid’s Author
- “..you can’t get much more NOW than writing books for the iPad.” Gregor Craigie, On the Island host, CBC Radio Victoria, during an interview with Nicola
PRESS RELEASE:
Saving Grape-Jelly Cheeks: Children’s Musical Book Takes Digital Flight
Sidney, CA Jan 16, 2012 in Books
[prMac.com] Sidney, British Columbia – Quillr(R) Interactive Stories today announced the release of their first interactive children’s musical book for the iPad, Saving Grape-Jelly Cheeks. The delightful story of a little budgie rescued from a chilly Canadian fall using only string, a box and a stick is true. And in a unique twist, Saving Grape-Jelly Cheeks is told through catchy a cappella songs and original music that will have children and parents laughing and interactively joining in to rescue the little green bird.
Now kids everywhere can take part in the story and poke a chubby gray squirrel, drag dancing bird seeds and tap open a technicolour box to help save Grape-Jelly Cheeks, and learn a few life lessons, such as “Gardens, like friends, are big and they’re small. Shape and size doesn’t matter at all…”
Each page pops with quirky visuals and silly songs, promoting learning while enticing kids to discover numerous interactive secrets and lure Grape-Jelly Cheeks down into the box and to safety. “A budgie isn’t like us,” warbles a sparrow chorus. “He’ll have to go in. He’s got skinny little feathers and skinny little skin.” Part of Quillr’s Musical Garden Tails series, Saving Grape-Jelly Cheeks is a gentle and fun, 11 page full-colour adventure, filled with touch-driven sounds and animations; plus a colouring page.
Example Features:
* Original catchy songs
* Touch-driven animations on every page
* Engaging interactive graphics
* Gentle, fun visual surprises and sounds throughout
* Singing narration
* Recording your own singalong narration
* Playing back your singalongs
* A never-ending colouring page
* A complete story soundtrack
* Sharing with others
Ideal for ages 2-8, Saving Grape-Jelly Cheeks is now available for $2.99 (USD) for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch through Interactive Touch Books in Apple’s App Store or by visiting Quillr online. And yes, the authors successfully rescued the real Grape-Jelly Cheeks, who lived and chirped happily with them for several years.
Based on southern Vancouver Island, B.C., Quillr(R) Interactive Stories is an independent multimedia publisher focused on telling tall tales and making merry music and putting both together into a fun interactive experience for all. Copyright (C) 2012 Quillr Interactive Stories. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.