A star is born

Book cover titled 'Popup Nation: A Star Is Born' featuring a cartoon girl in a ballet tutu with glasses, brown hair, and a hair clip, against a red stage curtain background.

Popup Nation

Seeing oneself reflected in a story is at the heart of a child’s sense of identity, wellbeing, and belonging. For many children, particularly those from marginalised communities, this kind of representation is all too rare in the books they read. Popup Nation is a new series of children’s books dedicated to telling the stories of children who are often left out of mainstream narratives, those who are marginalised or in some way hidden from society.

Illustration of six children in school uniforms with green skirts or pants and striped ties, sitting or kneeling on the floor, some raising one hand and smiling.
Medical team in operating room preparing to perform surgery on a patient being monitored with medical equipment.

Our first book, which also serves as a prototype, will feature our daughter Mia, who has CHARGE Syndrome. This is a condition that affects her heart, sight, hearing, and balance. Despite these challenges, Mia has a dream to be a dancer. This book tells the story of her journey, perseverance, and her belief in herself despite the obstacles she faces.

A cartoon girl dressed in a ballet tutu performing a ballet pose, wearing glasses and with short brown hair against a light blue background.

But Popup Nation is more than just a book - alongside the story, readers will be able to download additional content through an app, which they can explore through Augmented Reality (AR). This added content helps readers connect more deeply with the characters, offering a chance to gain a richer understanding of each child’s experience, and bringing the story to life in a way that traditional books alone can’t.

Augmented Reality

A black and white photo of a hand holding a smartphone with a blank screen against a black background.
A cartoon girl ballerina with brown hair, glasses, and a big smile, performing a split. She wears a white leotard, a tutu, ballet slippers, and a go-pro camera headband, in front of a pastel-colored abstract background with stars.

Popup Nation aims to provide children with stories that reflect their own lives, their dreams, and their challenges, while also fostering empathy and understanding in readers. This series is about more than just representation - it’s about giving all children the opportunity to see themselves in the stories they read, to feel valued, and to know that they matter.