KINDERGUIDES: INSPIRING A LOVE FOR CLASSIC LITERATURE

If you believe that classics are timeless, you are going to love KinderGuides, a series of illustrated children’s books that introduce iconic works of classic literature to young readers. 

KinderGuides familiarises children with classic stories from Julius Verne’s Around the World in Eighty Days, to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, or Homer’s The Odyssey.

KinderGuides is not just a simplified version of the original title, but a complete educational approach to classic fiction literature.  

Each title is beautifully adapted and illustrated and includes as well several sections to explore the cultural background of the book:  an introduction to the author, main characters description, keywords definition, quiz questions about the plot, and excellent kid-friendly analysis.

We have enjoyed reading the early learning guide to Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, which is a compelling story about independent will, and the excellent learning guide to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, a declaration of love to books and reading.

For all of us that love these famous works, KinderGuides offers a unique way to share our passion with our children and inspire a lifelong appreciation for literature.

KinderGuides is published by Moppet Books, a solar-powered publishing company based in California that celebrates classic literature and whose “aim is to educate and inspire, all while being smile conduits.”  

Part of KinderGuides profits goes to support children’s literacy programs, which is another reason for purchasing these fantastic books.

Today we travel to Los Angeles to interview Fredrik Colting, cofounder of Moppet Books. Fredrick is the writer of the KinderGuides, and Melissa Medina is the Art director and designer.  Both are huge fans of “knowledge, dreaming, color and shape,” and they also collaborate with different artists from around the world to illustrate their books.

Fredrik,  can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

I’m originally from Sweden, so sunshine brought me to the US west coast:) I’ve worked in publishing for 15 years.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Already when I was a child. My mom was a librarian, and we had hundreds of books at home. Apart from children’s books I also write Young adult and middle-grade novels, as well as screenplays (my scripts have won the L.A. independent film festival, been a finalist in Cannes Screenplay competition, etc.)

Why did you decide to create the KinderGuides? 

As an indie publisher, we want to create books that are not super mainstream while releasing only beautiful works with smart stories. Kinderguides fits this, and they also inspire children to love books as much as we do.

What are you working on now? Can you tell us a little bit about your next project?  

For picture books, we have a lovely book that is about what happens when our beloved dogs die (they go to heaven). It’s called Do You Believe in Dog? (Dog=God)

For novels, I’m writing a pandemic inspired middle-grade novel about a kid who is the only person left in NYC when everyone else has taken a pandemic pill and mysteriously disappeared. It’s called Lamalopolis.

Where do you find inspiration and creativity in your daily life? 

Reading and in nature. Going running always brings new ideas.

What do you do when you are not writing?

I am working on fun business projects. For instance, I once made a watch that counts down your life!

Are there any particular authors or books that influenced you growing up?

I really liked Jules Verne growing up.

What books are you currently reading? 

Now I’m reading Stephen King’s The Stand because it’s about a pandemic.

Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

If you want to be a writer, just write, don’t say you will or want to, just write.

Writing is the only thing where you can start with a blank paper in the morning and having created an entire world by the afternoon. That’s pretty cool.

Please consider shopping at Moppet Books’ online shop or at your local independent bookstore. Also, you can click in the links above to buy on Amazon.

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