Project 4

Project goals

Literacy Development:

Equip children aged 2-6 with the tools to begin their literacy journey, learning letters, basic reading skills, and communication fundamentals.

Disability Awareness:

Foster an inclusive mindset from a young age by introducing the concept of diversity and challenging the perception of disability as a limitation.

Target audience

Preschoolers (ages 2-6) experience a rapid development spurt across various domains. The research focused on understanding these developmental stages and diverse learning needs to design an inclusive children's book that empowers all preschoolers on their literacy journey.

Key findings

Sensory experiences: Focusing on touch, hearing, and taste creates engaging learning opportunities. Tactile activities stimulate other senses like touch, particularly for children with visual impairments, laying the groundwork for future Braille literacy.

Vocabulary Building: Introducing one new word per day can significantly enhance vocabulary development.

Contextual learning: Children with hearing impairments benefit from visual aids like illustrations. Leveraging text-image association enhances comprehension.

Environmental Cues: Labeling objects reinforces the connection between text and real-world objects for all

Respecting Individuality: It important to acknowledge that children develop at their own pace and with varying strengths and weaknesses.

Flexibility and Sensitivity: Every learning method needs to be adaptable to the unique needs of each child.

Benefits

Why a book makes a difference?

Children's books are a powerful tool for shaping young minds

Empowering All

Inclusive books showcase diverse characters, fostering empathy and a sense of belonging in every child.

Building Confidence

Seeing characters embrace their uniqueness inspires young learners to build self-esteem.

Promoting Kindness

Exposure to a variety of characters encourages respect and collaboration, preventing bullying and shaping a more inclusive future.

Lifelong Learners

Children learn to appreciate different perspectives and value diversity, building a foundation for lifelong learning and a more empathetic worldview.

Design considerations

Minimalist:

The book utilizes a minimalist style with a high degree of abstraction. By keeping the visuals clean and uncluttered, it allows children to focus on the core elements without getting overwhelmed by unnecessary details. This fosters quick comprehension and sparks their imagination.

Color Palette:

A vibrant, high contrast and saturated color palette with a glossy finish is employed to capture attention and enhance visual appeal.

Typography:

SF Cartoonist Hand font was chosen for its balance of being friendly, simple, and conveying a handcrafted feel. Besides it doesn't have too many flourishes, making it easier for older preschoolers and elementary school children to read.

Interactive Inserts:

Three raised inserts are integrated into the book, allowing children with visual impairments to experience Braille characters and object shapes through touch. These inserts serve a dual purpose: providing an interactive element for children with visual impairments and introducing the concept of Braille literacy to all users.

Content expansion

Digital Companion Guide

Nuestro ABC comes with a digital companion guide designed for parents. It goes beyond the book, offering deeper dives on topics like child development, diversity & inclusion (including practical tips for disabilities), and "how-to" guides to maximize the book's learning potential. This fosters informed and inclusive parenting, making playtime a powerful learning tool.