So You Want to be in Pictures?
When the idea for ImagiTales was first hatched, it was based upon the belief that children love to see themselves in pictures. Our partner, Steve, first noticed the reaction of his nieces seeing themselves in pictures. That reaction was the catalyst for creating ImagiTales, a site that would allow you to upload a child’s face, which would then become a character in a story. Although the site has undergone several changes and challenges throughout the development process, the reaction of children seeing themselves in a book has been constant. One of our first prototypes was created using a picture of Steve’s niece. Upon seeing her book, she immediately showed it to her friend across the street. She carried the ImagiTale with her all afternoon, produced on 8.5 x 11 copy paper at home, until it was a crumpled mess by bedtime. Children never tire of hearing stories about their childhood, seeing their own pictures or playing the main character in a story. Watching the simple joy and excitement a child viewing a book with their own name and picture makes it all worthwhile.