/decisions · 2026-08-02 · ops · kids-books-shopify-wedge

Kids-books-on-Shopify wedge — pick concept + character

Notion task 357f7d49-36d1-8100-a842-c7c9b3c01542 · Surfaced 2026-05-05, sitting in Inbox 89 days with no click-back. Both-owned: Ray can scaffold once you pick.

You wanted a physical-product Shopify learning vehicle — POD kids books illustrated via video-to-stills (Kling/Fal, character-consistency pipeline already proven 2026-05-04). Three concept directions and three character anchors were sketched; nothing's moved because it's stuck on your picks, not on any build work.

Concept candidates

How Things Actually Work — data/AI/science topics for kids 5-8, recurring kid-scientist character. Anchors to your domain expertise; hardest for random KDP authors to slop-imitate. Ray-recommended.
The Curious [Place] — recurring character visits real-world locations (Tampa wetlands, server farm, Smithsonian). Travel/discovery shape.
Big Ideas for Small Humans — persistence/kindness/courage concepts. Most personality-flexible, most crowded market.

Character anchor candidates

Ray-mascot-adapted ("Ray the Curious") — extends existing brand; character-consistency pipeline already solved. Ray-recommended.
Original new character — clean slate, no brand cross-pollination.
Real kid — most differentiated, hardest (permissions).

Lock in

Approve

Go with Ray's picks: "How Things Actually Work" + Ray-mascot-adapted character. Ray drafts the pipeline doc + scaffolds book #1 scope next.

Approve + send