Project of the book
The Secrets of Ordinary Things
Volume
64 pages
64 pages
Target audience age 6+
Genre
Non-fiction
Non-fiction
Format
195×255 mm
Idea
Everyone has at least once wondered where, for example, a chair came from. Who invented it? And who came up with the pencil? Or toilet paper?
Even the most ordinary things can have an incredible story.
Even the most ordinary things can have an incredible story.
This book includes stories about the creation of furniture, dishes, sweets, household appliances, hygiene items, clothing, and the contents of the
pantry — from umbrellas and pencils
to glasses and balance bikes.
pantry — from umbrellas and pencils
to glasses and balance bikes.
The plot of the book revolves around the cancellation of a school trip to the museum for the children. In response, the parents organize a history museum right in their own home! Grandma, acting as the tour guide, leads the children through the rooms of the apartment, showcasing and narrating stories about the «exhibits» - ordinary, everyday items.
The book cover is planned to have a die-cut through which the endpaper will be visible, but the layout is adapted for a version without the die-cut as well.
Cover
What
have we got
have we got
inside?
Flyleaf
Through the window, we see the contents of the wardrobe on the flyleaf.
And if you unfold the flyleaf entirely, it will look like this.
And if you unfold the flyleaf entirely, it will look like this.
Foretitle
Title page
Meet the main characters!
Double-page spread about
the history
the history
of toilet paper
Double-page spread about the history
of ice cream
About the Author
Dasha has been creating books for over 13 years and she brings together writers and illustrators into a creative community. She enjoys meetings with friends in cafes, dreams of embarking on a culinary journey, and believes that the best books are those you want to discuss over family dinner.
Editor of popular science books, writer, literary agent, creator of a community for authors and illustrators DASHA-PUBLISHER. The author of the books "The Secrets of Ordinary Things" and "What Do Books Smell Like?" published in Russia. Co-author of the concept for the international book project Antarctica, published in 7 languages.
Darya Plaksunova
About the Illustrator
Dina Usmandi
The illustrator of children's books and designer, she collaborates with leading publishers and children's product brands worldwide. She has been part of international illustration agencies ILLO (UK) and YEON (Korea), creating illustrations for children's magazines at the prestigious Cricket Media publishing house (USA).
However, Dina's main passion lies in illustrated children's books. She loves interesting compositional solutions and charismatic characters with humor.
When asked if she draws for herself beyond book projects for publishers, Dina responds, "Every project of mine is a project for myself".
When asked if she draws for herself beyond book projects for publishers, Dina responds, "Every project of mine is a project for myself".
This was in 2020. The book had different illustrations, a different layout, and distinct content.
Here is what the book published
in Russia looked like:
in Russia looked like:
Now, all the facts have been curated to be understandable and interesting to readers worldwide.
Plaksunova D. The secrets of ordinary things. Illustrated by Julia Prokhotskaya. Vakosha. Moscow. 64 p. ISBN 978-5-00132-141-5
The
book has already been published in Russia
book has already been published in Russia
The book was very well-received by readers, made it to the shortlist of the Eduard Uspensky Prize, and was included in numerous book compilations. Workshops and book marathons were organized based on its themes.
The text of the updatedbook has been completely translated into English. All rights to the text areowned by the author. Illustrations arecurrently 10% complete.
After thesuccess of the book in Russia, we decided to offer it to publishers in othercountries. To do this, we created new illustrations andlayouts.
Are you interested
in the project?
in the project?
Check our other projects
Write to us
dashapublisher@gmail.com
