There is a new publishing house in town and their goal is to entertain and educate your children. Midlandia Press, based in Beaver, specializes in juvenile fiction books and apps designed to stimulate, engage and educate children.
The young company—they released their first book in November 2011—is already touting an impressive cache of products including picture books, novels, and an interactive iPad app.
Their first book was the middle-grade novel Latasha and the Little Red Tornado. Written by Pittsburgh author Michael Scotto and illustrated by Evette Gabriel, also of Pittsburgh, the book has received warm recognition throughout the book world. The book tells the story of the “endearing” eight-year old Latasha Gandy, who cannot wait to grow up. Her puppy, Ella Fitzgerald, on the other hand, absolutely refuses to. When Ella’s antics push the Gandys’ landlady to wits’ end, Latasha realizes that she must turn her mischievous mutt into a model dog.
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On January 31, Midlandia Press will release five picture books in the Tales of Midlandia series. Each story in the Tales of Midlandia deals with universal concepts and social situations that are relatable to any young child or parent. From bullying and bad dreams, to table manners and temper tantrums—the Midlandians experience it all. “This collection of storybooks features humorous and poignant writing paired with a beautifully illustrated pages that truly capture the reader’s attention. The Tales of Midlandia makes for an excellent addition to the bookshelves of both the young and the young at heart,” says Toni Craig, spokesperson for Midlandia.
What makes Midlandia Press so unique is the company’s mission to not just entertain children through a story but to also “fulfill a child’s need to learn,” according to its website. “At Midlandia Press, we believe that when a child connects with a book, it plants the seed for a lifetime of reading and learning. Our team of writers, illustrators, animators, designers, and developers are passionate about creating the products that make this connection,” explains Craig.
Take for instance the company’s first interactive storybook app for the iPad, The Pirate Koostoe, which was released in mid-December. Reviewers around the country have noted that in addition to a great story and beautiful art work, the company incorporated elements of learning at every turn. The app has several reading features including an option that highlights each word as it is read. The end features a variety of discussion questions that encourage the reader to think about and understand the themes and lessons found in the story.
“The educational soundness of our products is something we proudly hang our hat on. Our authors, illustrators and designers regularly consult with local education partners to ensure the quality of our products,” says Craig.
But their real joy, she says, comes from seeing a child really take to the book, become engaged in the story, and make the connection with the characters. “The real achievement for us is seeing a child take to the story and become engrossed in reading it, finishing it. We do a lot of school visits and reading events at bookstores and community events, and when the children become so engaged in the reading that they don’t want the story to end, they want to know what happens next, that’s a very proud moment for us.”
The Tales of Midlandia series will be available in local bookstores and online beginning January 31; the company’s second novel, Postcards from Pismo, will be available in May; and look for their next app, Builda the Re-Bicycler, based on a story from the Tales of Midlandia series, to be released in early March.
You can find Midlandia Press online at www.midlandiapress.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MidlandiaPress and on Twitter by following @MidlandiaPress.
