2013
May 28
Novacarta
…was incorporated on May 28, 2013 by Monica Axelrad, Dejan Dincic and Urs Richle – in Geneva, in the Pâquis district, in Monica’s kitchen.
This was the result of a long journey of events and discussions between the three around various ideas for books and projects.
For several years, Monica and Urs had already collaborated together at the University of Geneva in the field of interactive narration (“Digital Interactive Storytelling”). Dejan had brought his expertise in the field of e-learning.
Monica had two children (son 2 years old and daughter a few months old) when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the hospital she received a children’s book that explains cancer. Her son loved listening to this story, which reflected many aspects of his new reality to him – with one exception: This book showed a traditional nuclear family (mom, dad and a daughter) while Monica lived alone with her two children. It was a friend of Monica’s, Veronica Teight (who joined the 1st project “Lia and the Peas or What’s Cancer? afterwards) who said to her one day: “You know, the chapter in the book where the father goes to the zoo with his daughter, I skipped it because I don’t know what to explain to your son compared to his own father…”
This is how the idea of an adaptable book was born:
What if we created a book that adapts to each family situation to explain exclusively what cancer is? What if we could choose who is sick: mom or dad? …the different treatments available or necessary? …choose your graphic style? …language?
Monica Axelrad passed away from cancer on April 19, 2016.
2014-present
January
Our first project was born! – “Lia and the peas – or What is cancer?”
After a fundraising phase, the Novacarta Association launched its first project/1st book in early 2014: “Lia and the peas or What is cancer? This adaptable book explains the cancer of a mother or from a father to the children.At the end of 2015 the first books in French, illustrated by 3 Geneva artists (Adrienne Barman, Tom Tirabosco and Johan Walder) were printed.
2018-present
June
Our 2nd project is born! – “Benjy and his journey through cancer”
Benjy fell ill with cancer. But what is cancer? And what influence has on the life of a child, on his family, on his friends?
2022-present
January
Our 3rd project is here! – “Where has the joy gone?”
Our 3rd book talks about depression, a disease that also affects those close to the patient and often leads to guilt in each member of a family, what about children? Thanks to this book, children can finally understand what happens to their mom or dad who suffers from depression.
