“You take the pictures, you make the dreams!”. That’s the theme of our new book, and we need your help and support to bring those dreams to life.

We are Rachel Williams and Peter Warrington from Not Quite Newtown in Sydney, and we are joined for this book by Sydney street artist and illustrator Akisiew.

“you make the dreams” is the third in a series of street art photography and illustration books for kids, following on from the Pozible-supported The Girl Who Made Rainbows and the self-published The Stripey Street Cat.


In “you make the dreams” we use 16 vivid scenes to encourage children to deconstruct where the visual aspects of their dreams come from – from their observations and memories of the world around them. And then to help shape those dreams into even more wonderful and fantastical adventures, by noticing the small, the unloved and the potentially forgotten.


Creating contexts that encourage children to connect with their places and spaces is the driving vision of Not Quite Newtown – especially for kids who live in cities, with their warts and all textures and street art. Not always "pretty", but far more interesting and truly beautiful than the (insert)Lands of movies and some kids’ books.


The themes are challenging and complex and sometimes moody, as dreams are. But it’s a fun and exciting experience - as a recent Children’s Book Council of Australia review of the previous titles suggested: “... happy events emerge here from shadowed spaces.”


Akisiew brings her street art sensibility to the creation of the characters who populate the story, including girls, a giant fox, a small family of unknown species and friendly alien folk.

Rachel's photography again provides the backdrops, with her signature style, using street and street art scenes from Sydney and Melbourne. She and Akisiew then digitally compose each scene as an artwork, recreating the layered, surreal, mash-up of dreams.

Pete's rhyme reflects the patterns of sleep, from doziness to deep dreams to waking.

We need your support to bring this book to life. We are self-publishing, to maintain creative control of this unique but challenging project. So how about helping us bring “dreams” to life by grabbing yourself a signed copy of the book in the rewards section. You’ll be forever part of the project and its success, our extended family.

But there’s also some other great rewards for the kids in your life, and even some – like your very own Akisiew mural – for the adults amongst you. Jewellery, prints, all just in time for Christmas! You give us the money, we make the dreams :p

The book is at the proofing stage and we are looking to raise the cost of:

Printing
- the book is hard cover and full colour
- this covers scans and pre-press
- printing (and the 5% Pozible charge)
- delivery to us in Sydney

Marketing/Distribution
- marketing and publicity
- promotional materials and a beautiful window display

Rewards
- material used for all the great rewards
- distribution of rewards to you

We're getting a larger print run this time around which helps keep costs for everyone down. You can help make sure you, the great stores who take a punt on our books, and we the artists all benefit. Self-publishing keeps it cheaper and real, as we do all the print production, sales and distribution, marketing, accounts and warehousing, too.

This is the third title and fourth production process Not Quite Newtown is undertaking. We have the runs on the board. With the artwork completed and merchandising sorted, once we get the "go" on the project we will swing into gear to ensure the book gets into shops in time for Christmas and all the rewards people pledge for are delivered, to specification and in good time. All with a smile, and a hug (if you want).