Animalations Makes Reading Sing

Books With Music Tap Into Kids’ Brains

By Ingrid Floyd
January 2008

“You have to take a little gamble — an educated one.” — Patricia Derrick, Animalations

It was a do-it-yourself approach that launched Animalations publishing house in fall 2005. When Author and Owner Patricia Derrick discovered that “book companies want you only if everyone does,” she made the decision to self-publish, she told TDmonthly Magazine.

She used funds from a 30-year business of building and operating learning centers and by taking out a second mortgage on her home. “You have to take a little gamble — an educated one,” she said.

LEARNING THROUGH MUSIC

To Patricia, that gamble was important. With a master’s degree in education, she is determined to change how children are taught. Animalations books feature rhyming verse and come with a sing-along CD that puts the text to music.

Patricia considers learning “a multisensory process,” and told TDmonthly that music with reading stimulates the growth of synapses between the neurons of the brain, making learning easier for children. She introduced Animalations books in her learning centers and found that the students loved them and learned to read from them.

“It is kind of like a light bulb going off in the brain,” she said. “They get what they are reading.”

Patricia studied brain development in 2003 while investigating a patent for her Brainpaths toy, an invention that encourages learning through tactile brain stimulation. And she started writing the rhyming verses of her first book, “Riley the Rhinoceros,” on New Year’s Eve 2004.

”Children begged for Riley,” she said. “I knew it was good.”

SAVING FUNDS AND GETTING EXPOSURE

To save money, Patricia recommends working independently instead of hiring someone. She herself learned by reading books and researching online, and pointed out that one can simply “Google” the U.S. offices of trademarking, copyrighting and patenting for topical instructions.

Also, it’s helpful to think out of the box, she said, such as hiring a college student, instead of a professional, to illustrate your book at a lower price. Animalations prints in Korea for lower costs, she told TDmonthly.

In addition to putting family first, Patricia realizes the importance of keeping things in perspective. Do not listen to people that tell you profits will come overnight, she warned.

Marketing and trade show attendance helped Animalations gain exposure. The Independent Book Publishers Association informed Patricia about the publishing world and provided helpful marketing techniques.

She attended BookExpo America in 2006 and 2007 and signed books at several Barnes & Noble stores throughout 2007. At the November 2007 Target Childrens’ Book Festival in Las Vegas, Channel 3 TV offered to publicize the books through videos.

MOVING TO NEW MARKETS

Though her books are primarily for children ages 2 to 8, she’ll soon be releasing a title for tweens, “Catalina and the Duke of Lumbart.”

She recently learned, through her attorney, of a plush animal manufacturer that can produce stuffed animals with an interior chip. With that technology, she hopes to offer plush toys that represent characters in her books and sing the stories to children.

Patricia’s energy and creativity have driven Animalations, now with seven national book awards, to early success. And she plans to keep changing how children are educated — one product at a time.

See Animalations products below:

Montgomery the Moose by ANIMALATIONS

Montgomery the Moose by ANIMALATIONS With five distinct musical styles, Montgomery the Moose shakes his caboose for his friends.Young readers will learn to appreciate different kinds of music and participate in movement activities. Original musical CD sings the words in the text. Children will get up on their feet to dance to the "toe tapping" music. 10/19/2007 (MSRP: $18.95; Age: 2 to 8)

Farley the Ferret of Farkleberry Farm by ANIMALATIONS

When a drought threatens the boysenberry crop-which would mean no fresh jam and bread at the County Fair- area children respond to Farley's pleas for help. The musical CD sings the words to the text using a delightful "toe tapping" original melody. 10/19/2007 (MSRP: $18.95; Age: 2 to 8)

Beaser the Bear's Rocky Mountain Christmas by ANIMALATIONS

Beaser the Bear's cubs learn to feel the joy of Christmas by giving their extra stuff to other cubs. While they grow their hearts by sharing, the cubs do something extra that surprises Beaser and fills their den with love on Christmas night. Grow your heart by sharing with others. 8/2/2007 (MSRP: $18.95; Age: 2 to 8)

Rickity and Snickity at the Balloon Fiesta by ANIMALATIONS

In this book written by Patricia Derrick and illustrated by J-P Loppo Martinez, two Rocky Mountain cubs sneak a ride in a hot air balloon and dream about taking another ride the next year. The book comes with a CD that follows the story, and it also includes a musical score, teacher-parent activities and science notes on bears. The product is designed to support the three R’s before reading: rhythm, rhyme and repetition. Launch date: February 2007. 8/2/2007 (MSRP: $18.95; Age: 2 to 8)

Brainpaths by ANIMALATIONS

Brainpaths by ANIMALATIONS This plastic plastic device features engraved (or raised) grooves that form a path. Since the fingertip is a superhighway to the brain, fingertip movement along the paths provides tactile brain stimulation. Brainpath uses the fingertip's touch receptors (over 3,000) to stimulate the brain in the same way Braille stimulates the brain. Available in a variety of sizes, shapes and configurations, Brainpath tools will teach kids to focus — a skill they will need when learning to read. This product is a 2007 Creative Child Magazine Seal of Excellence award winner. Launch date: October 2007. 8/2/2007 (MSRP: $19.95; Age: 2 and Up)