FableVision is waving hello to summer! Though summer break may look different to many students this year, FableVision has put together a list of resources and activities for your kids to enjoy and keep their minds sharp.

As more camps, schools, and families continue to be affected by the global pandemic, our studio is proud to provide resources for both you and your child in order to provide fun, exciting and new ways to take this summer to the next level! Whether you’re looking for some fun coloring pages, challenging and engaging educational games, or craft and activity-filled new shows and films to watch, we gathered our favorites to spice up this summer for you and your family.

Summer Banner

Soak in the summer fun with our new summer banner, designed by FableVision director of art and animation Bob Flynn. Celebrating the first day of summer and all the wild adventures with friends the season can bring, this banner is now also available as a printable coloring book page. Release your inner artist, and be sure to share your artwork and tag FableVision through our Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram channels for a chance to be featured on our social media pages!

Click on the black and white image to your left to download and print your own FableVision summer 2020 banner coloring page.

Cyberchase Fractions Quest

Brain power to the rescue! FableVision is proud to present Cyberchase Fractions Quest, our newest game that integrates a story-based setting with a research-based approach to fractions learning! Combining research-supported teaching methods with an engaging narrative context to motivate students, players embark on a quest to save Cyberspace from the villain Hacker and his henchbots Delete and Buzz. Stepping into the role of the hero, players travel through a series of minigames to deepen their understanding of fractions and tap, jump, and solve their way to success!

Aligned with Common Core Standards for Grade 3 and 4 mathematical structure, this game grounds students' conceptual understanding of fractions and practice math while on summer break!

The public beta version is available for free for a limited time on FableVision Games.

The Paper Girls Show

Are you ready to let your imagination run wild? In partnership with Global Tinker, FableVision created a new STEAM-powered animated series that encourages girls to find innovative solutions to everyday problems. Follow best friends and makers Caily and Reese as they discover the fantastical paper world of Confetti and find inspiration to solve their real world dilemmas.

Each episode provides corresponding activities and curriculum that introduce viewers to a different type of accessible technology. From paper circuitry to 3D printing, viewers are able to learn about the world around them through relatable characters, creative storytelling, and magical art and design as they explore Confetti.

Empowering young girls to create, play, and imagine, this STEAM-based series allows for children to experience science, art, engineering, and programming in a whole new way that shows them: “If you can dream it, you can make it!”

Season one is available to stream now on YouTube.

Quandary

Planet Brazos needs your help! Playing as the captain of a new space colony, players must help their settlers solve ethical dilemmas by considering each viewpoint and making the best decision for the community as a whole. A Learning Games Network and FableVision-created game for the classroom and at home, Quandary develops and trains students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills and uses character development and story to help players understand the difference between fact and opinions, and apply the skills they gain to real world problems.

A multi-award winning ethics learning game, Quandary is available for free on the Quandary website.

Go Wild! With Ranger Rick

Learn more about your favorite animals in Go Wild! With Ranger Rick, a FableVision-created app for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF)’s Ranger Rick magazine series. Engaging kids ages 4-9, this app features three activities: Mystery Animal, That’s Wild!, and Rick’s Pix. In Mystery Animal, players are given a range of clues and prompted to guess the animal they think it is! In That’s Wild!, children read and laugh along to riddles, jokes, and fun facts based on all of their favorite animals. In Rick’s Pix, children and parents can either take or select a photo and create a whole new image to save and share using stickers, nature backgrounds, and fun frames. Designed to immerse young players in the natural world, this app leverages real wildlife information provided by the NWF.

The app is free to download with a Ranger Rick magazine subscription, providing young children a whole new digital experience of nature!

Good Thinking! The Science of Teaching Science

Debunk myths in your classroom with the Good Thinking! The Science of Teaching Science animated series. Created by FableVision for the Smithsonian Science Education Center, the series provides teachers with opportunities to learn how to best adhere to next generation science standards, perfect for summer professional development! Each episode offers insightful pedagogical ideas that educators can explore across a large range of subject-matter. From topics like natural selection to energy and gravity, Good Thinking! is a useful tool for teachers to learn how to best deliver heavy content in an approachable fashion.

With a new lesson and demonstration on how to engage with students every episode, this series is research-proven and vetted by experts, helping to deepen understanding of STEM topics for both teachers and students.

Good Thinking! is housed on the Smithsonian website, YouTube channel, and on PBS Learning Media.

The Word Collector

Discover the magic of words that can connect, transform, and empower! Written and illustrated by FableVision founder and award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds, The Word Collector is an empowering book centered on celebrating the power of words. Published by Scholastic and named as a 2019 Outstanding Literary Work for Children by the NAACP, this book marks the importance and journey of finding your own unique voice in the world.

FableVision also created an accompanying animated film of The Word Collector to bring the story of a young boy who collects words that inspire and move him and the people around him to action to life.

Visit wordcollector.org to learn more about the book and purchase your own copy! And to stream and listen to Michelle and President Barack Obama read the story aloud for the Chicago Public Library’s “Live from the Library” storytime sessions, check out the Obama Foundation’s YouTube channel. To watch the animated film, visit the Scholastic website.

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Sarah's shelfie with some of her books at home.

It’s the classic summer scene: you stretch out by the pool or on the beach, casually toss your flip flops to the side, a glass of iced tea sweating next to you. You reach into your bag and pull out…that read. You know the one. The one you’ve put some forethought into. Maybe you solicited recommendations from friends on Facebook, or maybe you went to the bookstore solely with the mindset of, I’m just going to see what calls to me from the shelves.

If you’re like me, the anticipation of summer is coupled with the anticipation of summer reading time. Whether your tastes skew fantastical, informational, or somewhere in-between, the reading time when the temperatures rise and the air is filled with the sound of humming air conditioners may as well be sacred – it’s a true indulgence, don’t you think?

Here at FableVision Studios, we put together our indulgent summer reading list, be it a magazine, novel, comic book, or whatever we’re flicking through this summer. Read on, add to our list with your own recommendations, and ask your friend the question: so, what reads are you devouring this summer?

Jordan Bach, Senior Developer

The Eustace Diamonds by Anthony Trollope: I've been reading the Palliser Novels, a series of six novels by Anthony Trollope; I just finished The Eustace Diamonds, which is the third. They're serials from the 1860s and 1870s, and are full of drama: broken engagements, fistfights, jewel thefts, and illicit waltzes. Interestingly, the novels also depict the political and class struggles of the time, which provides an interesting counterpoint to our current political climate.

Hannah O’Neal, Artist and Animator

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss: On the enthusiastic recommendation of a close friend, I'm reading the popular fantasy novel by Patrick Rothfuss.

Karen Bresnahan, Executive Producer

The Man Who Invented Rock 'n’ Roll by Peter Guralnick: Recommended only for those who want to read every little detail about the man who founded Sun Records and had an idea for a kind of music that would change the world. I’m not yet to the part of the book where Elvis Presley comes into the studio, but overall this story is a piece of history that I care a lot about.

Christina Kelly, Production Artist

Snotgirl by Bryan Lee-O'Malley: Bryan never fails to disappoint. After Scott Pilgrim and Seconds, I have high expectations for this series even after Issue 1. The story begins with a look inside a social media celebrity that, despite her picture perfect persona, has a toxic relationship with it. Her constantly running nose is a fact privy only to herself, until she meets a curious stranger. Looking forward to finding out what happens next after a very huge cliffhanger!

Leigh Hallisey, Creative Director

Siracusa by Delia Ephron: Two very different married couples (connected by a past romance) go to Italy on vacation together and it's so suuuuuper tense and edgy their anxiety rubs off on you. The book begins after the couples return, and they take turns narrating their version of the events leading up to the dark events hinted at in the beginning. The distinct voices of the characters offer a fascinating view into their psyches and motivations, and the rich descriptions of Rome and Siracusa transport you there. It reminded me of The Talented Mr. Ripley in many ways, so if you liked that, read this!

Ethan Thibault, Marketing Intern

The Dragon Behind the Glass: A True Story of Power, Obsession, and the World's Most Coveted Fish by Emily Voigt: I just finished The Dragon Behind the Glass, which is a non-fiction book about the Asian Arowana, the world's most coveted aquarium fish (one sold for $150,000). The book follows a reporter trying to find the fish in the wild -- a near impossible task -- and through that journey learn about worldwide exotic animal culture, far-off secluded countries like Myanmar and Borneo, the history of the natural sciences from Aristotle to Linnaeus, and more! It's a really fascinating read, and a great way to dive in (pun intended) to a bunch of worlds you might not know about otherwise.

Margarita Dekoli, Senior Developer

Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino: Beautiful description of the cities with all their underlying connections and symbolisms. Reading it has a soft, dream-like quality.
If On A Winter's Night A Traveler by Italo Calvino: Two voices talk to you in this book. Very interesting writing!

Brian Grossman, Technical Director

Cook’s Illustrated - The Science of Good Cooking by The Editors of America's Test Kitchen and Guy Crosby Ph.D: Science, sustenance, my OCD, and fire combine into a delectable stew in my belly. Yum.

Sarah Ditkoff, Marketing and Client Services Manager

Wicked by Gregory Maguire: How had I never read this?! I love stories that thrust you into worlds that manage to feel fresh and familiar at the same time.
The Fifth Petal by Brunonia Barry: I got my hands on an early copy of this (it comes out in January) and tore through it. Brunonia is my former employer and a dear friend, so I can't help but give her a plug here. If you've read her previous novels The Lace Reader and The Map of True Places, this is a signature Brunonia read -- a little haunting, a little mysterious -- a true Salem-steeped story that grabs you.

Polly Searles, Producer

Deep Down Dark by Hector Tobar: 33 miners trapped under ground when the San Jose mine in Chile collapses in August 2010 for a record 69 days, surviving on nothing much more than a cracker and sips of water a day. Even though you know how it ends, it’s a real page turner! Mind boggling that they were capable of surviving as a group for that long under those circumstances.
A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson: It's kind of a companion book to Life After Life but you don’t have to have read that one (In fact I preferred A God in Ruins). Alternates between the story of a WW2 pilot on his final mission and his life in the present day. Easy read, interesting story, and a big twist at the end.
The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith: From Amsterdam 1631, about the first woman painter accepted into the Masters guild -- to NYC 1957 art restoration and forgery -- to Sydney 2000 where the story all comes together. Fun to read about dutch painting and life for a woman painter in the 17th century.
A Garden of Letters by Alyson Richman: Continuing my interest in WW2 stories, this is about Italian Resistance fighters, first love, and music. History of Italy in WW2 that I was not familiar with.

Loren Lee, UX/UI Designer

Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter: Beautiful Ruins had everything I look for in a summer read—an exotic setting, interesting and intertwined cast of characters, and a fast-paced, romantic storyline. The Cinque Terre region of Italy has been on my travel list for years, and this book took me there, as well as offering a peek at the Hollywood studio system of the mid-20th century.

Adam Landry, Executive Vice President

Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben: I sorta blew through this one in a couple days.
The Summer Game by Roger Angell: Reading it slowly. Each chapter is kind of like a standalone short story.
The Matheny Manifesto by Mike Matheny: I've read it once, and reread different parts of it several times. I've also been sending along passages that I really enjoy to the parents of the Little League baseball team I coach. A sample excerpt: "I believe that the biggest role of the parent is to be a silent source of encouragement. I think if you ask most boys what they would want their parents to do during the game; they would say 'NOTHING.' Once again, this is ALL about the boys. I believe that a little league parent feels that they must participate with loud cheering and 'Come on, let’s go, you can do it,' which just adds more pressure to the kids. I will be putting plenty of pressure on these boys to play the game the right way with class, and respect, and they will put too much pressure on themselves and each other already. You as parents need to be the silent, constant, source of support."

Anthony Merola, Production Assistant

The Accidental Admiral by Admiral James G. Stavridis: The autobiography tells the story of how James Stavridis rose through the ranks of the navy to become a Four Star Admiral before being named as the first sailor to serve as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO forces. It is a fascinating story about leadership, diplomacy, and fostering relationships and dialogue with individuals to reach a common purpose and solve problems.

Peter H. Reynolds, Founder

Kids Deserve It! by Adam Welcome and Todd Nelsoney: Public education in the US needs a good kick in the innovation. This book written by front line educators who are what I like to call "gentle rebels." They help inspire folks to ditch the "one size fits all" test-centric approach to teaching -- and instead empower kids to inspire kids to learn creatively. Their book confirms my own "create bravely" philosophy and I am sure it will resonate with anyone who has children in their lives -- whether they're educators, parents, or caregivers.

Didi Hatcher, Lead Animator

What's Going On in There? How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life by Lise Eliot, Ph.D: This is an incredibly interesting book by a neuroscientist and parent, who wants to reveal to the general public, in accessible language, the amazing things happening in a child's head as the brain and mind develop in infancy and early childhood. It's mind-blowing how every little experience, every word, every touch literally shape the brain and the mind, and the future person in general. It's powerful evidence to the importance of the nurture element, both scary (will I mess up my kid for life because I did X and not Y when he was a baby?) and very reassuring (whatever cards you were dealt by nature, there's always room for change via nurture). I highly recommend this book to anybody who wants kids, has kids, or just wants to know how a brain is built.

Mitul Daiyan, Marketing Coordinator

Love, InshAllah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim Women edited by Nura Maznavi and Ayesha Mattu: A collection of thoughtfully assembled stories that provide an intimate look into the love lives of Muslim women. It spans across the spectrum of religiosity, ethnic make up, cultural backgrounds, and has something profoundly relatable for everyone -- Muslim or not.
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur: Rupi Kaur is a gifted writer whose poems are constructed from words as sharp as the shards from broken glass. They frequently pierce your heart with those lurking but dormant feelings. With dark undertones, her carefully assembled words come together to capture a snapshot of the experience of being a woman, the complexity of parental divides, gut wrenching heartbreak, and the vulnerable currents that come with resilience.

Yuri Guzman, Animation Intern

In Real Life by Cory Doctorow and Jen Wang: The art is beautiful and I especially like how the story touched on mature themes and told them through an adolescent's innocent perspective.