10 Stories to Make a Difference

Aim

Help us publish 10 new illustrated children’s books & support our charitable work with schools & communities, writers & illustrators.

It’s Pop Up's 10th Birthday in 2021!

For 10 YEARS we've been delivering reading, writing and illustration experiences for over 100,000 children and young people, many in deprived areas and challenging circumstances. We’re also working to build a more diverse next generation of children’s writers and illustrators through talent development and publishing opportunities. 

We're celebrating our 10th birthday by publishing 10 Stories to Make a Difference: a collection of original illustrated stories for young readers, all inspired by the theme of ‘Difference’. This beautifully illustrated collection of picture books, poetry and short stories for 5 to 25 year-olds supports our mission to promote a rich diversity of voices, experiences and themes in children's books, and features under-represented people of colour, LGBTQ+ and disabled characters.

These beautifully designed, limited edition (1,000 per title), hard-back books are created through unique collaborations between well-known and brand-new writers and illustrators, bringing new voices into print for the first time. The well-known authors include former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell, YA novelist Marcus Sedgwick, Coram Boy author Jamila Gavin, writer and performer Laura Dockrill, Dirty Bertie illustrator David Roberts, and Roald Dahl Funny Prize winner Philip Ardagh, among others. 10 of the writers and illustrators have never been published before - including four under-26 year-old winners of our international writing competition!  

Help us to bring these books to life!

By making a pledge you’ll help fund production of the books and launch the careers of the emerging writers and illustrators involved - and you’ll be first to receive the books when they’re published in April 2021. Every pledge also includes a donation to Pop Up to support our not-for-profit work with schools, communities, writers and illustrators. 

10 Stories to Make a Difference includes:

• Magnificent! (age 5+) - a life-affirming rhyming poem about embracing the new kid in school. Written by Laura Dockrill, illustrated by Ria Dastidar.
• Indigo Takes Flight (5+) - a fantastical tale about a boy with an incredible secret who’s surprised to find acceptance from those who love him. Written by Krista Lambert, illustrated by Chris Riddell. 
• A Match for a Mermaid (7+) - a funny, underwater tale about finding the courage to fall in love with whoever you want. Written by Eleanor Cullen, illustrated by David Roberts.  
• Swallow's Kiss (7+) - a girl finds a bag of paper birds with wishes written on them and sets out to discover who made them. Written by Sita Brahmachari, illustrated by Jane Ray.* 
• Here Be Monsters (7+) - a richly metaphorical poem about an out-of-place dragon who finally discovers who she really is. Written by Jay Hulme, illustrated by Sahar Haghgoo. 
• Mistaken for a Bear (9+) - a true story set in the melting pot of London, 1839, where there’s a tiger on the loose. Written by Philip Ardagh, illustrated by Jamie Beard. 
• In Her Element (9+) - a deep-dive into the world of Sophie, who has cerebral palsy and daydreams of swimming in the ocean with the whales. Written by Jamila Gavin, illustrated by Jacinta Read. 
• That Thing (9+) - a close encounter with an intelligent octopus provides a lesson in the value of curiosity and kindness to animals. Written by Avital Balwit, illustrated by Alexis Deacon. 
• Forbidden (12+) - two girls, divided by their very different lives, are drawn into an intense and passionate friendship. Written by Anjali Tiwari, illustrated by Danica Da Silva Pereira. 
• Together We Win (12+) - a mysterious narrator recounts three change-making moments of rebellion and revolution, and one of them is now. Written by Marcus Sedgwick, illustrated by Daniel Ido. 

*NB. Swallow's Kiss has replaced Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé's book The Doomsday Date; if you would like to choose Swallow's Kiss, please select The Doomsday Date in the dropdown when you make your pledge.

What can you get for your pledges?

• signed or unsigned copies of the books - with options ranging from 1 to all 10 titles to a super special slipcased collection
• a variety of tote bags featuring illustrated versions of our Pop Up logo by Emily Hughes, Takayo Akiyama, Sarah Dyer and Roberts Rurans
• special edition A5 prints of illustrations from the books
• opportunity to gift the collection to or commission an author workshop in a school of your choice (or we can pick a school for you!)
• a chance to commission an artwork or super short story or poem by 10 Stories authors
• credits in the books including a thank you, or as a named patron or supporter 
• invitations to Pop Up's 10th Birthday Party (and 10 Stories launch) as well as to a private dinner with some of the authors
• for the highest pledge, a one-off small print run of all 10 books with the names of characters changed to children you know

With every pledge you're also donating to Pop Up's work - with the reward of knowing your money is supporting literature projects and programmes transforming the lives of children, young people, and talented writers and illustrators. You can make a pledge anonymously, and can also opt to make a pledge without receiving a reward, if you prefer.

There has never been a more urgent time to support what we do!

Covid-19 has dramatically affected our work and the people we support. The gap in education and experiences during the pandemic will have lasting effects on children and young people's literacy, mental health and wellbeing, progression into further and higher education, future employability and social mobility. Evidence shows that vulnerable and deprived communities are being especially impacted. We know that our work to develop children and young people's creativity and learning through literature transforms their lives - through increased confidence and skills, raised aspirations, and improved life chances. Children’s authors have seen their already low incomes dramatically reduced by Covid-19, so our work will continue to support authors’ incomes and invest in the wider children’s literature economy.

To date we’ve spent £2 million on:

• providing 7,000 hours of author workshops and 50,000 books to schools
• presenting over 500 hours of free children’s literature events and activities
• publishing 180 young writers and illustrators for the first time
• providing 300 days of tutoring, mentoring and learning provided for talented aspiring illustrators

YOUR pledges AND sales from 10 Stories will help us continue to provide this kind of impact over the NEXT five years!

This project successfully funded on 4th January 2021