Coloring Pages

We're happy to say that one of the benefits of purchasing the e-book version of The Adventures of Captain Kai "Ocean Animals" is that you'll be able to find "hidden" links to printable coloring pages. Almost every illustration throughout the book has been converted into a coloring page so that you and your children can print new, fresh coloring pages over and over again.

Example Coloring Page

Aquarium Trip

Sage Kai, Uncle Jason, Baba (Grandmother), Papa (Grandfather), and Hiibaba (Great Grandmother) all piled into the minivan for a trip into San Francisco today to see the new exhibits at the Aquarium of the Bay, located at Pier 39.

I've uploaded a few videos of the jelly fish, some crab, and a shark. Listen as Papa wonders aloud about some questions that have stumped the brightest minds of our age. I guess some questions will have to remain a mystery.

Besides the animals in the videos, we also saw seven different species of sharks, various kinds of rays, a huge sturgeon, some tropical fish (one looked like Nemo), starfish, tree frogs, and even a banana slug.

This trip gave us the final inspiration, and "The Adventures of Captain Kai: Ocean Animals" should be finished soon.

Moon Jellies


Brown Sea Nettles


Shark


Crab

Paper Books vs. E-Books

今のところこの『キャプテンカイの大冒険』の配布方法について、オンラインでのダウンロードによる電子書籍（ｅ－ｂｏｏｋ）と製本した紙の本（ペーパーブック）の二つの選択肢を考えています。電子書籍にすることで実際のネイティブスピーカーの発音が聞けるよう、音声を入れたり、他にもぬり絵などのアクティビティをダウンロードする、ということも可能になります。それに電子書籍のほうが低コストで仕上げることができます。もちろん寝る前の読み聞かせや、外出時のお供などにはペーパーブックのほうが良いのですが。

ペーパーブックのご要望にもこたえられるよう日本にもサービスを提供している出版社（製本会社）を現在探しているところです。例えばlulu.comやcreatespace.com（アマゾン系列）などです。

もしおすすめの日本の出版社（製本会社）をご存知の方がいらっしゃいましたら、ぜひコメントをください。

We're considering different options for offering The Adventures of Captain Kai as an economical e-book and as a published paper book. Obviously, a paper book would be nice to read to your children before bedtime or away from home. However, an e-book offers the option of including audio clips for easy translation and other fun downloads, like coloring pages. Also, e-books are inexpensive.

For all of you that want paper books, we're currently researching the best on-demand publishers that offer service to Japan. We're considering lulu.com and createspace.com (part of Amazon.com).

If anyone knows of a great on-demand publisher in Japan, please comment back to us.

スニークピーク Sneak Peek

このブログで全内容をご紹介することはできないのですが、
マリッサが皆さんに仕上げの作品をちらっとご紹介したいということで・・・
（完成作品をお読み頂くには、ダウンロードをして頂く必要があります。）
現在のところマリッサのお気に入りのページは、キャプテンカイとサルのチートが宝探しの途中でサメにおどかされるシーンだそうです。でも、ご心配なく！次のページで２人は別の海の仲間に助けられます。

完成までもうしばらくお待ちください。タイのオムツを替えつつ、この本の仕上げをしておりますので・・・（笑）
↓マリッサのお気に入り、キャプテンカイとチートが岩に隠れていたサメにビックリするシーン

I don't want to give away the entire story, but Marissa wanted everyone to get a quick peek into Kai's latest adventure, "On The High Seas". You'll have to download the final version of the book to read the entire adventure, but Marissa's favorite page to illustrate so far is one in which Captain Kai and Chito are scared by a shark during their search for treasure. Don't worry though. On the next page, they're rescued by an ocean animal friend.

Give us a little time. We're finishing this book in between Ty's diaper changes.

Captain Kai and Chito are shocked by a shark hiding behind some rocks!

Baby 泰・凌人（タイ・リョウト） | Baby Ty Ryoto

我が家の第二子、泰・凌人（タイ・リョウト）マッカーネルが
３月１３日の金曜日午後１１時２５分に誕生しました。
母子共に健康で、兄セイジは新しい弟にくびったけです。

↓私たちのちびっ子冒険家、セイジ＆タイ

Our second son, Ty Ryoto McConnell, was born just before midnight on Friday, March 13th. Mama Yasuko is recovering nicely, and big brother Sage is fascinated with his new little brother.

Here are some pictures of our two little adventurers, Ty and Sage: