Kids! Get “creatively fit” with Animal Motions—a fun, easy to follow, low-impact movement routine told as a story in a colorful new children’s picture book and app!
Follow Eric as he stretches and moves his body at the start of his day by using his imagination to become some of his favorite animals. Travel with him to the jungle, the desert, the forest, the ocean—and don’t forget to keep your body moving! Animal Motions shows how using your imagination can help make moving your body even more fun!
It’s available as both a colorful print book with vibrant, full page, watercolor illustrations and an engaging app with appealing animations, audio hotspots, and professional narration with word-by-word highlighting. The app also features “Read To Me,” “Read Myself,” and “Auto Play” options.
Targeted Age Group:: 3 – 7
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
Animal Motions was inspired from the author’s, Melissa Pilgrim, theatre classes with young children and was written to help kids everywhere learn how to be “creatively fit” by doing two things at once: 1) shows children how to move and stretch their body in a variety of animal-like poses to help them develop healthy lifestyle habits, stay active, and be more confident with how their body moves overall, 2) teaches children how they can be creative and use their imagination as they pretend to be 17 different kinds of animals living in various habitats. The beautiful, full page watercolor illustrations that help guide the child’s imagination are done by Ira V. Gates.
It’s perfect to do at homes, schools, libraries, in zoo programs, or anywhere!
Parents & Teachers: 6 Free Lesson Plans are available on the book’s website
Kids: A Free Mini-Poster to print out and color is available there too!
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
When I worked in children’s theatres I played a lot of drama games to help children learn how to both act and be comfortable with their bodies on stage. I did games that had them pretend to be everything from different kinds of people to inanimate objects that came to life, but whenever I asked them use their imaginations to become animals I saw that that was always their favorite kind of thing to become. So when I was trying to come up with a book to help children learn how to use their imaginations, be comfortable with how their bodies move, and give them a fun reason to get active (and off the couch), I knew creating a “story routine” out of becoming different kinds of animals would be enjoyable for them.
Book Sample
Editorial Reviews:
Not all books should be read sitting down… beautifully illustrated. Parents and teachers will appreciate this book for its ability to teach their children to be “creatively fit.” Pilgrim wanted to awaken the imaginations of young children, which she does very well as she suggests that they “soar like an eagle” or “swing… like a monkey.” And those same children will continue to use their imagination as they request that this book be read to them again and again.
—Emily Castilla, Reading Matters Blog (Great Reading for Your Children)
All the world’s a stage and our youngest children can be players right in their own homes through the imagination and experienced hand of Melissa Pilgrim… Clearly she loves to work with children both to get their bodies moving and to get their imaginations charged. The book guides you from one animal to the next and the directions for how to move are simple and well-illustrated. The author offers 6 lesson plans for preschoolers and for kindergartners. This would be a favorite for the classroom.
—Barb Langridge, A Book and a Hug.com Blog
About the Author:
The author, Melissa Pilgrim, has over 15 years of experience writing for projects in all mediums—film, TV, theatre, and book publishing. She has had 16 plays for children and teens produced, 4 screenplays optioned, 1 TV series optioned, and has worked on over 12 books with authors from L.A. to N.Y.C. Melissa was the artistic director for The Sheil Park Players, a community theatre in the Wrigleyville area of Chicago, for 5 years where she produced and directed 16 original shows and worked with adults and children of all ages. Animal Motions is her first children’s book.
The illustrator, Ira V. Gates, has over 25 years experience working as a graphic artist for both newspapers and magazines. His work has won numerous awards, including “Best of Gannett’s Newspaper Illustrations” and placing second in the “National Society of Newspaper Illustration & Layouts Awards.” He illustrated the book As the River Flows by Earl Bowden and has also done illustrations for various magazines and ad agencies including Florida Outdoors Sportsman and the Weekender. Animal Motions is his first children’s book.
Links to Purchase Print Books
Link to Buy Animal Motions Print Edition at Amazon
Link to Animal Motions Print book for sale via other sites
Social Media:
Author Interview on BookGoodies
Goodreads
Leave a Reply