Lyka's adventure: Lyka and the secret forest by Atley Loughridge
Penguin, 2014. ISBN 9780143308324
(Age: 6-10) Planet Ahmee is dying, and there's only one robot with a
heart big enough to rescue it. Lyka, lovable friend to all living
creatures, sets off across the galaxy on a quest to find the answers
about the natural world that will save her home from the deadly
disaster that is climate change. Leaving behind everything she knows
and loves, Lyka must travel through space to the strange and wild
land of the scientist who created her... planet Earth! In a
high-octane race against time, she will cross all seven continents
to find hidden symbols and unlock the knowledge they represent. Will
she make it before Ahmee collapses and Lyka's fellow robots are lost
in space forever?
But this is not just a storybook. Created by Lance Weiler, it is a
multi-modal experience featuring not just the book but also a plush
toy that has a special pocket in its heart for the reader to insert
their smartphone to download and activate an app that unlocks a lot
more to accompany the story including extra story content,
activities, and sneak peeks into Lyka's world... (The app can be
downloaded without the toy - an activation code is included in the
introductory pages of the book.) There are also supporting websites
- http://www.penguin.com.au/lyka/
and http://www.lykasadventure.com/
- and the concept is explained on YouTube.
However, it is much more than a gadget-driven, short-lived
experience because it has been deliberately created in a partnership
between Penguin Books Australia and Connected Sparks
to support the Australian Curriculum Sustainability cross-curriculum
priority. Lyka travels across Australia addressing key environmental
issues using science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics
(STEAM). Penguin have developed a range of teaching
resources to support this learning and there will be a
series of eight chapter books which have all been reviewed by
scientists and science teachers plus the Cloud Institute for
Sustainability in Education.
This may herald the future face of children's reading and their
expectations of it. Multi-modal and multi-media that engages them
through real-life issues and interactivity, introducing 6-10 year
olds to their world in a unique way.
Barbara Braxton