Option to Add Local Family Photos - Spring 2025

A full-color customization of our soft-cover books also includes the option to replace our standard family photos on one of three Spreads (2, 3 or 4) of our Rock-A-Bye Baby Reader and Despertar a la lectura with your organization's families!

A full-color customization of our board books also includes the option to replace our standard family photos on one of three Spreads (7, 8 or 9) of Rock-A-Bye Baby Reader, Despertar a la lectura, Bunnaby Bunny and/or El conejito Claudio with your organization's families!

There's no extra charge to replace your first spread's photo substitutions with a  full-color customization. You designate which Spread to replace with your photos among the 3 allowed with your book format.

IF you wish to replace TWB's Standard family photos on additional spreads, please contact Cheryl for printer estimates. (It'd even be possible to replace all photos for a super-local early literacy campaign.)

IF your cover customization is in grayscale, plate charges would be incurred to add family photos. Please contact Cheryl at 612-990-6011 to discuss the options and charges.

Professional photography isn't required. Nowadays, most cell phones can produce high-quality, digital photos.

Jpeg files are anticipated to be 1.5 to 3.0 MB and can be sent to TWB via email. (Follow your own organization's photo-release protocols.)

NB: The family photos are near-square. Let your photographer/s know this ahead of family sittings to best compose useful shots. Some cameras/phones can be pre-set to "square-shot" composition. That way, portrait shots aren't even a temptation...

When emailing us the shots, indicate each shot's intended Spread and berth (Top, Center, Bottom).

The family photos in our Baby Readers model reading to an infant. The goal is for new parents to connect to at least one of the photos. Consider the new parents to whom you plan to distribute custom Baby Readers. Recruit families from those populations so your books represent the cultures and ethnicities of your specific area.

Keep an eye to balancing your books' counts of various populations: moms, dads, girls, boys, teen parents, grandparents, expressive families, quiet families, newborns, almost-1-years, racial/ethnic populations, disabled family members and/or babies/toddlers, etc.

NB: As you switch out TWB's original photos, the demographics will skew differently depending on the mix of local families you recruit. (Be on the look-out for Dads and Grandpas! They're photo gold, proving that men are excellent read-aloud care-givers.)

It's been TWB's experience that moms and dads are very willing to participate in an early literacy project to help other families. And, they're exceedingly proud to receive copies of the finished book after publication.

**We highly recommend all Baby Reader photos feature a 0-1 year-old among family, sharing books together. Likewise, all Toddler Reader photos should feature a 1-3 year-old with family members and books.

• Consider asking parents to wear clothing that connects to your area. This worked very well in a book where a university cap and a high school team T-shirt were worn by parents reading to their babies. That said, items that promote company or status branding should be avoided. (The distinction between a T-shirt that boosts for a State Park vs one for a cola brand.)
• A client successfully photographed its families in the city's new Library. While the photos were focused on the people, the location read well and could be identified.
• A well-known local landmark or favorite park in your area might serve as a backdrop.
• A local celebrity with a baby (or grandbaby!) might sit for some shots as a public service - like your other parents - to promote early literacy.