Is Pacha’s Pajamas poised to be the next breakout children’s edutainment franchise?
Ron Roecker thinks so. And he should know.
The President and Chief Brand Navigator of the Enfluence Group – widely recognized as THE go-to Grammy and music industry expert – has been a featured industry insider on everything from Access Hollywood,Entertainment Tonight and Extra to CNN, MTV and E! Entertainment; and has worked with such industry giants as Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Mary J. Blige , Kanye West and Roberta Flack. Check out his blog at BeDifferently.com.
Pacha’s Pajamas is a Children’s Pop Musical that inspires kids to be superheroes for the planet and the first Green Pop Musical soundtrack album ever. Roecker, declares that the project — featuring such incredible talent as Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def), Cheech Marin, rapper Talib Kweli, R&B legend Lester Chambers and the Agape Youth Choir — is, in a word, amazing! Roecker continues:
When you look at franchises such as Sesame Street or Dora, you see how powerful they can be in educating by entertaining. However, that’s an incredibly difficult balance to strike and every aspect of it has to line up.
Editors Note: Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer made $1B in the past nine years. While Dora is certainly edutainment, teaching a handful of Spanish words is not transformational entertainment in the way we think of it. ~ Melia’s Papa
When I was introduced to Pacha’s Pajamas, the franchise potential of this engaging environment-focused children’s property was so obvious. The multi-cultural, global resonance and the diversity of artists involved set this up to be the new form of children’s edutainment.
It ranks amongst the highest caliber of product out there in this genre and should get a great deal of recognition. The theme, the execution and the passion of its creators make Pacha’s Pajamas and its important message is something that everyone should support.
The tale — narrated by Yasiin Bey and interspersed with rocking songs featuring Talib Kweli, Lester Chambers, the Agape Youth Choir and a host of up and coming young stars — follows a little girl named Pacha, who through her dreams becomes a superhero for nature, joining with plants and animals to bring balance to the planet.
In its first incarnation as a children’s book, Pacha’s Pajamas had already received the support of such heavy-hitters in their fields as renowned spiritual leader/motivational speaker, Reverend Michael Bernard Beckwith and Vandana Shiva, environmental leader and adviser to the International Forum on Globalization.
“Pacha’s Pajamas will open the minds and hearts of countless children, introducing them to the magic of Mother Nature in all her wondrous manifestations as plants, stones, animals,” says Beckwith, who was featured in the film, The Secret and has been a frequent guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
“Pacha’s Pajamas presents unheard voices, songs and stories of nature,” adds Shiva, “calling forth empathy for all beings and engaging young people in a conversation about the future. I am excited to share this story about Pacha, a little girl with big dreams, who calls on us all to live our dreams of a world that honors balance, unity and the beauty in all of Nature’s children.”
Produced by the Oakland, CA–based organization, Balance Edutainment – a company committed to providing ecological education through entertainment and story –Pacha’s Pajamas is a labor of love for the company’s founders, Dave Room and Aaron Ableman.
Though posited as “A Story Written By Nature,” Pacha’s Pajamas is Ableman’s brainchild. His passion for the planet’s well-being comes naturally. Growing up under the mentorship of Hopi Elders and children’s musician, Raffi, Ableman has been working as a superhero for the planet his entire life. An acclaimed musician/rapper Ableman has worked with on behalf of the environment and ecology with the likes of Dead Prez, Ozomatli and Joan Baez. He’s implemented eco-arts programs from India to Haiti, is the Executive Producer for the Clean Energy Tour and has been featured in such publications as the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, San Francisco Examiner, Montreal Mirror and on CNN.
“I’ve done my best to create opportunities for children and families to sing and dance their stories. As an educator and artist, I believe we need a revolution in learning, using storytelling and edutainment to stay fresh for the next generation. I wrote Pacha’s Pajamas as a prayer that we will all awaken to the power of our dreams and realize our oneness with nature.”
Stephanie DuBois is a freelance journalist who worked for 30 years as an entertainment writer for Beck/Smith Hollywood, Creator’s Syndicate and Tribune Media.
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