A former Dundee animation student who created comic books to help children with dyslexia has struck a deal with a major publisher to promote his work.
Rossie Stone, 25, created Dekko Comics to help children with their schoolwork after his own problems revising for exams.
Struggling to concentrate and absorb information, he began creating his own comics to help with revision.
His grades improved and he went on to study animation at Duncan of Jordanstone art college.
Last year he set out to raise £10,000 through an online fundraiser to create more comics for widespread distribution.
The first two issues have been so successful he has struck a deal with HarperCollins on a pilot project that could lead to monthly Dekko comics being produced.
Rossie said: “We ended up not just smashing our Kickstarter target of £10,000 but went on to win Scottish grants and competitions.
“We made and finished our first two professional comics and they’ve gone on to sell over 800 copies around the UK and I have started being invited to give workshops at schools and teacher conferences about how kids can make their own educational comics.”
Rossie added a recent study by Sheffield Hallam University has found that comics are extremely effective at communicating information.
He added: “Our comics were tested and validated at several schools across Scotland.
“Now they’re being used in schools and receiving highly positive reviews unanimously as well as demand for more.
“We’ve had emails from parents telling us the comics taught their children to read for pleasure, which couldn’t be done before, to autistic pupils who wouldn’t engage in classwork making their own educational comics after reading one of ours.”
Rossie said the comics aim to bridge the gap between entertainment and education.
Dekko will launch a third issue in Glasgow on Thursday at an an event run in co-ordination with Dyslexia Scotland.
