The new children's travel book Mission to Australia by Erika Bud is the debut book of the Travel Rangers series. Travel to the Land Down Under with a merry team of diverse kids and incredible augmented reality (AR) technology.
- Snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef
- Climb all 1,332 steps of the Sydney Harbor Bridge
- Get up close and personal with koalas, wombats, camels and more!
This beautiful picture book (illustrated by Sonia Sengupta) truly takes children on an adventure to learn the culture and language of Australia. From fun phrases and small differences like driving on the left to national sports seldom played in the U.S., Mission to Australia transports readers. The AR technology, created by ARtscapes, brings pages to life and creates an immersive experience the entire family will enjoy – a bit of armchair travel, mate. Just download the free app via the QR code on the cover, and scan the designated pages for a digital pop-up of both 3D creations and a real-life video background you can spend hours exploring.
I had a chance to learn more in this interview.
Why is it good for kids to have books that teach them about different locations around the world? – There is a whole world for kids to explore. Learning about different countries and cultures throughout the world help kids to understand that there is a different way of living and thinking. Books make it fun to learn and make it easier to explain a lot of information. I share my book with kids at schools and they are amazed to see and hear the differences in other cultures. This helps to spark their curiosity, but most importantly, it helps them to be more accepting of others when they don’t do things the same way, speak in the same manner, or live the same way. It helps them to form a more open and understanding perspective.
How can AR enhance the reading experience? The AR in Travel Rangers: Mission to Australia helps the kids to get excited about what they are reading about so they better retain what they are learning and they are excited to share it with others. The real life footage helps the kids to feel like they are really in Australia seeing the actual sites and animals. Because it’s rare in picture books, the AR helps to make the book a family experience since most adults and older children will also find it interesting.
Why did you start with Australia? I lived in Australia for three years and I absolutely loved my time there. It’s such a beautiful country filled with kind people. I also took my son to Australia when he was five years old, and we have such great memories there. I wanted to share those memories and experiences with other families. So many people have Australia on their bucket list. I wanted to help inspire them to check off that bucket list and visit Australia one day.
What do you hope people get out of the Travel Rangers series? I hope to inspire families to get excited about learning about countries and cultures together. Through my series, I want to help children to form a perspective that is more welcoming and accepting of people who do not look or act like them. If we are more curious about differences instead of thinking that differences are wrong, we can learn so much from each other and learn how to live more peacefully together. Finally, I would love my series to inspire families to actually visit the countries they are reading about so they can experience it first hand, but if they can’t, I want my series to help them to experience the country as much as possible from the comfort of their home.
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