FRANKFURT AM MAIN: Frustrated with children's tales of passive princesses and damsels in distress, two Italian women crowdfunded their way into publishing historical past with a record-breaking book of inspirational tales for women.
And their revolution has most effective just begun.
The first volume of "Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls" through Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo has transform a world sensation, promoting greater than three million copies with translations in 46 languages.
The 2016 book, telling the life tales of 100 unusual women ranging from US author Maya Angelou to Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and Polish-born scientist Marie Curie, was born out of necessity, Cavallo stated.
"Most books don't feature girls in roles where they take charge of their destiny. In most children's books, when there are female characters, they don't speak," Cavallo told AFP on the Frankfurt book fair.
"We want girls to grow up with the certainty that they can choose the life they want. And never apologise for being too assertive, too ambitious or too brave."
Co-authors Cavallo and Favilli, who reside in the United States, have been determined to switch the gender imbalance on the bookshelf — despite having no publishing revel in.
"That's our rebel spirit," the 35-year-old laughed.
The duo had already based a children's media corporate in California called Timbuktu Labs, which created the primary iPad mag for kids.
But to deliver out a real-world book, they turned to crowdfunding, surroundings their objective at a modest $40,000 (34,000 euros).
They raised over $600,000, making it the best funded book ever on Kickstarter.
Their second volume of bedtime tales last yr smashed that list, elevating over $900,000.
The huge urge for food for the books blindsided the standard publishing business, spawning a raft of copycat versions as publishers scramble to meet up with call for for empowering tales about women.
At the hole of this week's Frankfurt book fair, the arena's biggest publishing match, director Juergen Boos cited the Rebel Girls chronicles as an example of ways publishing was converting.
"We are seeing new ways that literature is being created, bought and received," Boos stated, declaring that it took a web-based community "to reveal there weren't nearly enough books with female heroines".
The second Rebel Girls book, which has sold over 600,000 copies thus far, once more gives one-page bios of 100 sturdy women, written in a fairytale-style and matched with a vibrant, illustrated portrait.
Beyonce and Oprah are among those featured.
Cavallo stated it was "no coincidence" the books have been such a success at a time when women's voices are rising louder and the #MeToo movement has taken the arena through hurricane, sparking a world debate about sexual harassment.
"We are experiencing a moment in history when women are determined to see women's rights at the front and centre of the political agenda," Cavallo stated.
"It's probably the best time in history to be a rebel girl. But there is still so much to do."
The third Rebel Girls book is already on the way, an interactive "journal to starting a revolution".
It reached its crowdfunding target in just 8 hours and will hit bookstores in early December — although backers on Kickstarter gets their copies previous.
The authors have additionally branched out into podcasts, using well-known voices to read out prolonged versions of one of the most biographies.
Billionaire philanthropist Melinda Gates is among the narrators, as is New York Times journalist Jodi Kantor who co-wrote the expose that first revealed the sexual misconduct allegations towards Hollywood magnate Harvey Weinstein.
But what Cavallo and Favilli insist they would possibly not do is enlarge their brand into revolt books for boys.
"We feel it's very important for boys to read books where they are not in the title. Girls have done that their whole lives," Cavallo stated.
"And a lot of boys tell us they love our stories. Many parents still feel they can't give boys a book about girls. But that's changing too."
And their revolution has most effective just begun.
The first volume of "Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls" through Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo has transform a world sensation, promoting greater than three million copies with translations in 46 languages.
The 2016 book, telling the life tales of 100 unusual women ranging from US author Maya Angelou to Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and Polish-born scientist Marie Curie, was born out of necessity, Cavallo stated.
"Most books don't feature girls in roles where they take charge of their destiny. In most children's books, when there are female characters, they don't speak," Cavallo told AFP on the Frankfurt book fair.
"We want girls to grow up with the certainty that they can choose the life they want. And never apologise for being too assertive, too ambitious or too brave."
Co-authors Cavallo and Favilli, who reside in the United States, have been determined to switch the gender imbalance on the bookshelf — despite having no publishing revel in.
"That's our rebel spirit," the 35-year-old laughed.
The duo had already based a children's media corporate in California called Timbuktu Labs, which created the primary iPad mag for kids.
But to deliver out a real-world book, they turned to crowdfunding, surroundings their objective at a modest $40,000 (34,000 euros).
They raised over $600,000, making it the best funded book ever on Kickstarter.
Their second volume of bedtime tales last yr smashed that list, elevating over $900,000.
The huge urge for food for the books blindsided the standard publishing business, spawning a raft of copycat versions as publishers scramble to meet up with call for for empowering tales about women.
At the hole of this week's Frankfurt book fair, the arena's biggest publishing match, director Juergen Boos cited the Rebel Girls chronicles as an example of ways publishing was converting.
"We are seeing new ways that literature is being created, bought and received," Boos stated, declaring that it took a web-based community "to reveal there weren't nearly enough books with female heroines".
The second Rebel Girls book, which has sold over 600,000 copies thus far, once more gives one-page bios of 100 sturdy women, written in a fairytale-style and matched with a vibrant, illustrated portrait.
Beyonce and Oprah are among those featured.
Cavallo stated it was "no coincidence" the books have been such a success at a time when women's voices are rising louder and the #MeToo movement has taken the arena through hurricane, sparking a world debate about sexual harassment.
"We are experiencing a moment in history when women are determined to see women's rights at the front and centre of the political agenda," Cavallo stated.
"It's probably the best time in history to be a rebel girl. But there is still so much to do."
The third Rebel Girls book is already on the way, an interactive "journal to starting a revolution".
It reached its crowdfunding target in just 8 hours and will hit bookstores in early December — although backers on Kickstarter gets their copies previous.
The authors have additionally branched out into podcasts, using well-known voices to read out prolonged versions of one of the most biographies.
Billionaire philanthropist Melinda Gates is among the narrators, as is New York Times journalist Jodi Kantor who co-wrote the expose that first revealed the sexual misconduct allegations towards Hollywood magnate Harvey Weinstein.
But what Cavallo and Favilli insist they would possibly not do is enlarge their brand into revolt books for boys.
"We feel it's very important for boys to read books where they are not in the title. Girls have done that their whole lives," Cavallo stated.
"And a lot of boys tell us they love our stories. Many parents still feel they can't give boys a book about girls. But that's changing too."
How two 'rebel girls' shook up publishing
![How two 'rebel girls' shook up publishing]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
October 13, 2018
Rating:
