Thank you for visiting the site of Melissa Northway, the writer and creator of the Penelope series along with many other unique stories. Feel free to take a look around and don't forget to check out her latest work at picpocketbooks.com.
Polka Dots Publishing
Melissa founded Polka Dots Publishing, Inc. in December of 2010, with a goal to create interactive and educational children’s storybook apps and books utilizing digital technology. Our services now include consulting for new and established authors and developers looking to maximize social media platforms. From concept to creation, we can provide you with expert advice and strategies to make sure your app or book gets noticed. Learn more about Polka Dots Publishing
Penelope the Purple Pirate
“Penelope the Purple Pirate is a fun interactive romp with Penelope and her charming friends…wonderful read and discover app with great visuals and sounds! Love the fun filled facts at the end to test everyone’s comprehension.” -Alexandra Uhl, owner of A Whale of a Tale Children’s Bookshoppe
Learn more about Penelope the Purple Pirate
Gerry the Giraffe
“Gerry the Giraffe HD is a delightful story about Gerry and his quest to improve his volleyball skills... This beautifully illustrated book is set in Africa where giraffes love to play volleyball. Gerry is left behind when his friends on the “Super Sonics” team go off to volleyball camp...”
-Alison, The iMums
Learn more about Gerry the Giraffe
Current Giveaway
Oceanhouse Media Little Critter Collection #1 Giveaway
In conjunction with our interview with Michel Kripalani, Oceanhouse Media, has provided us with some major goodies to hand out to some lucky mates! Little Critter Collection #1 by Mercer Mayer is a series of ten books in one app and valued at $14.99 each! Good luck mates and make sure to share our interview with Michel as a… [Continue Reading]
In the Spotlight
In the Spotlight with Brian Felsen, CEO of BookBaby
If you are a self-published author you have probably heard of BookBaby. They can convert your book (or manuscript) into an eBook for a very reasonable price and help with getting your book into major distribution channels. With so many authors opting to go this route it is great to have BookBaby around. One of the… [Continue Reading]
Featured Guest Post
Guest Post :: Speech Language Pathologist, Leanne Pool
May is Better Speech and Hearing Month: Did you know that May is “Better Speech and Hearing Month”? To celebrate this month, I want to share about a specific area of language development, answering who, what, where, and when questions or as speech therapists usually call them “wh questions”. Answering wh questions is an essential… [Continue Reading]
From the Blog…
App of the Week: Sharing with Duckie Deck
Developer Duckie Deck has created some very cute apps for toddlers on up. Over eight million toddlers and preschoolers have played with their educational games. Their apps cover important topics, from brushing teeth to sharing with others – things that are essential for a healthy and well-rounded young mind. By showing examples of everyday situations in an imaginative and stimulating… [Continue Reading]
Guest Post :: Speech Language Pathologist, Leanne Pool
May is Better Speech and Hearing Month: Did you know that May is “Better Speech and Hearing Month”? To celebrate this month, I want to share about a specific area of language development, answering who, what, where, and when questions or as speech therapists usually call them “wh questions”. Answering wh questions is an essential… [Continue Reading]
In the Spotlight with Brian Felsen, CEO of BookBaby
If you are a self-published author you have probably heard of BookBaby. They can convert your book (or manuscript) into an eBook for a very reasonable price and help with getting your book into major distribution channels. With so many authors opting to go this route it is great to have BookBaby around. One of the… [Continue Reading]
Crafts :: How to Build a Pirate Ship
ARGH! Thar be pirates in them ships! Our friends moved last month and I asked them if I could use some of their larger cardboard boxes after they were finished with them as my intention was to build a cardboard pirate ship for me mates! Well, I did mention it was last month and the boxes… [Continue Reading]
App of the Week: Twinkle, Twinkle, Nighty Night
The other day I was driving my daughter to school and she was playing with the iPad in the car. She immediately chose to play with this new app I am reviewing today called Twinkle, Twinkle, Nighty Night by Alexis H. Purcell. I can see why as you can’t help but be drawn in by… [Continue Reading]
Oceanhouse Media Little Critter Collection #1 Giveaway
In conjunction with our interview with Michel Kripalani, Oceanhouse Media, has provided us with some major goodies to hand out to some lucky mates! Little Critter Collection #1 by Mercer Mayer is a series of ten books in one app and valued at $14.99 each! Good luck mates and make sure to share our interview with Michel as a… [Continue Reading]
In the Spotlight with Michel Kripalani, President, Oceanhouse Media
Last year I met Natalie Aller at the home of Rebecca Cox whose son was getting a new iPad from an organization that provided 40 iPads to over 40 Kids in 40 States! It was a great experience to see firsthand how remarkable how much this device can help children with special needs. Since that time,… [Continue Reading]
One Appy Mama Reviews Samsung Galaxy S4 Cases
Product Review: Samsung Galaxy S4 Cases: Recently I had the opportunity to look at some new cases coming out for the Samsung Galaxy S4 from MobileFun.com and wanted to share them with my Android friends. Right now my favorite case for the new Samsung Galaxy S4 is the white Flip Cover from… [Continue Reading]
App of the Week: Dinosaur Zoo by Dotname Studios
Does your kid love dinosaurs as much as mine does? Then they are sure to enjoy Dinosaur Zoo by Dotname Studios. You will hear dinosaurs roaring, biting and even contributing to the ozone layer if you catch my drift… no pun intended. Apparently the 3-6 year old boys love when the Argentinosaurus has some… [Continue Reading]
In the Spotlight with Ron Engel of Smart Apps for Kids
When I released Penelope the Purple Pirate through PicPocket Books back in January 2010, I had no idea how much work it would take to get the app out there and noticed amongst all of the other apps on the market. Since that time, there has been a huge influx of apps available through… [Continue Reading]
Sid the Science Kid Movie DVD and $25 iTunes Card Giveaway
Our friends at Mindshapes are offering some seriously fun goodies to hand out featuring one of our favorite science kids… Sid the Science Kid and a $25 iTunes Gift Card to use as you like! The show Sid the Science Kid airs on PBS and is an educational series for preschoolers with a focus… [Continue Reading]
App of the Week: Mindshapes Sid’s Slide to the Side
Jim Hensen’s Sid the Science Kid is such a wonderful character and we have enjoyed watching the show together as a family since my daughter was about three years old. I love how Sid and his friends make learning about science interesting. One of our favorite episodes was the one where he wanted to know why a… [Continue Reading]
In the Spotlight with Karen Robertson
It’s a great time to be a writer as there are so many paths to take to realize your dream of publishing your book. Just the other day I was speaking to Reva Solomon who is the People Editor for the Society of Children’s Book Writer & Illustrators Magazine about how the industry has changed so… [Continue Reading]
Let’s Celebrate Giraffe’s Giveaway!
Did you know that Gerry the Giraffe was one of first stories I wrote after my daughter was born? I was inspired to write about a giraffe because I do just love them so – from their gorgeous faces and eyes to their gentle demeanor. I had my writer’s group help me with the story while I… [Continue Reading]
App of the Week: Ten Giggly Gorillas by Wasabi Productions
Who can resist a bunch of giggling gorilla’s? No one in our household that is for sure! Wasabi Productions Ten Giggly Gorilla’s is quite fun for the whole family to enjoy together. The first page offers us a chance to either have the story read to us or read it by oneself. There is even a… [Continue Reading]
In the Spotlight with Author Merrily Kutner
Last year I attended the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) South Coast Winery Retreat and met Merrily Kutner at one of the round-table seminars where she was leading the talk on eliminating unneeded dialogue in our stories. Merrily is an instructor with the UCLA Extension Writers Program and an award-winning author. She is a great editor and writer… [Continue Reading]
App of the Week: Fiete by Ahoiii
Developer Ahoiii from Germany has created such a wonderful app with Fiete. I love the simplicity of the story and the unique activities they offer. On the first page we see a sailor with a smile on his face waving to us. The story opens up with an octopus in the ocean, a ship sailing by… [Continue Reading]
Guest Post: Tracy Gail Churchman of Ty’s Adventures
The History of Ty’s Adventures: I started writing from Ty’s perspective in 2008 after we learned of Ty’s upcoming hear surgery and turned it into a blog in 2010. Ty is my oldest of my three sons and has Down syndrome. Two heart surgeries, a flat line, a pace maker (aka “Machine”) and… [Continue Reading]
