Participatory Publishing:
Shaping Stories, Shaping Worlds

At Bug & Bear Press, we believe stories shape the world we live in—and that the best stories are those we create together. Participatory Publishing takes the heart of participatory storytelling—collaboration, creativity, and connection—and brings it to a new level, offering a tangible and lasting way for audiences to see their contributions reflected in the books they love.

The Beginning of a Movement

Participatory Publishing began with an idea sparked by the most imaginative voices of all: children. As a mother, Rebecca Young watched her own children transform bedtime stories with their endless “What ifs” and “That character shoulds.” Their curiosity and creativity didn’t just shape the stories—they made them their own.

When Rebecca began writing the Bug & Bear series, her kids eagerly watched her work through the manuscripts, chiming in with suggestions like, “That character should...” When she showed her son how she had woven his idea into a published book, his face lit up with pride. In that moment, Rebecca realized the incredible power of helping children see themselves reflected in the stories they love.

This realization inspired Rebecca to take participatory storytelling one step further, evolving it into Participatory Publishing, the framework for Bug & Bear Press. While participatory storytelling invites audiences into the creative process, participatory publishing goes further—creating something lasting: books that permanently reflect the voices and creativity of their co-creators.

The Philosophy Behind Participatory Publishing

Stories are more than entertainment—they shape the way we see the world and our role within it. By actively involving audiences, participatory publishing demonstrates the transformative power of collaboration:

• Empowering Creativity: Participants see their ideas woven into published books, showing them that their imagination has lasting, real-world impact.

• Fostering Collaboration: Contributions build on one another, demonstrating how shared creativity creates something greater than the sum of its parts.

• Encouraging Ownership: Publishing a book immortalizes participants’ contributions, giving them a lasting connection to the story and deepening their sense of agency.

Participatory Publishing is not a replacement for participatory storytelling but its natural next step. While storytelling engages audiences in the moment, publishing offers permanence—transforming fleeting creativity into enduring works of art that inspire for generations.

When young readers see that they can shape the stories they love, they begin to understand how their ideas can shape the world around them. Participatory publishing makes this philosophy tangible, empowering young minds to see themselves as creators, collaborators, and changemakers.

How It Works at Bug & Bear Press

Through our Creativity Challenges—Theme Team, Word Weaver, and Sketch-Off—Bug & Bear Press has created a playful and accessible framework for participatory publishing. Each challenge invites readers to bring their unique talents to the process:

• Theme Team: Dream up the big ideas that set the foundation for the next Bug & Bear adventure.

• Word Weaver: Craft rhymes and phrases that will be woven into the story.

• Sketch-Off: Draw the characters, objects, or settings that help bring the story to life.

The result? Books that are not just stories but collaborative creations, reflecting the collective imagination of a vibrant and diverse community. Participatory publishing turns readers into creators and stories into lasting legacies of shared creativity.