Together - A picture storybook about the values of Open
Channel: Gino Fransman
Date: 2021-09-29

This picture book is for young children and adults alike. It can be  read and explored together. The story is about three friends who  went on an adventure down the river to build a playground. On their  way they meet other animals who seem to put obstacles in their  way. Read the story to discover what happens next. 
The story was written and illustrated by a group of individuals from  different parts of the world who worked together online over 6  months. They also had the help of many other educators from  around the world who generously contributed their ideas and the  characters of the story also originate from their contributions. All  committed to creating a socially just world where education is  available to all. Values such as sharing, collaborating and helping  others are central to this mission of what is called open education  and will help towards achieving the UN’s Global Sustainable  Development Goal 4, “Quality Education for All”  
https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal4 
Some may recognise other stories and fairytales in this story. The  illustrations are a remix of details of exhibits from the Rijksmuseum,  Amsterdam, available under CC0 and new illustrations. 
This project was supported by a Global OER Graduate Network  (GOGN) Fellowship in 2020. 

Together, by the GOGN picture book team is licensed under a Crea tive Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. This license enables you to copy, redistribute this book in any  medium or format and remix, transform, and build upon for  non-commercial purposes. All you need to do is add the attribution  and link back to this original work. 
The picture book team 
Chrissi Nerantzi @chrissinerantzi, Principal Lecturer in Academic  CPD, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK; open practitioner and  researcher, picture book writer and crafter. She co-authored this  story with Helene, Penny, Paola, Verena and Gino. She also  co-illustrated the book with Ody. 
Hélène Pulker @HelenePulker, Senior Lecturer in French, The Open  University, UK, open practitioner, teacher trainer, language materials  developer, researcher in open and distance education, Co-author of  the picture book story. 
Penny Bentley @penpln doctoral student at the University of  Southern Queensland. She co-authored this story with the team. 
Paola Corti @paola5373, Project Manager at METID, Politecnico di  Milano (Italy) and OE Community Manager at SPARC Europe. She  co-authored this story with the team. 
Verena Roberts @verenanz, Adjunct Assistant Professor with the  Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary &  Instructional Designer with Thompson Rivers University. She  co-authored this book with the team.  
Gino Fransman @ginofransman Academic Developer and  #OpenEdInfluencers' Project Leader at Nelson Mandela University  (South Africa), OE4BW project author/ mentor and advisory board  member & Open Advocacy champion. He co-authored this story with  the team.  
  
Ody Frank @ody_frank, Sixth-Form animation and game design  student. Ody co-illustrated and designed the book.  
Bryan Mathers @bryanmmathers Founder, Visual Thinkery. Bryan  provided mentorship to the illustrators.