Mandeltot: Behind the Book
A Dad on a Mission
As a dad, I’ve spent countless hours reading to my son, watching his eyes light up at bold shapes, bright colors, and playful stories. But I always wondered—why do so many baby books stick to the same simple patterns? Why not introduce something truly mesmerizing?
That’s when I had an idea: what if I could take one of the most beautiful, infinite patterns in mathematics—the Mandelbrot set—and turn it into an engaging experience for babies? A book that wasn’t just fun to look at, but also sparked curiosity and wonder in little minds.
And so, Mandeltot was born! But bringing it to life was a whole other adventure...
The Technical Journey: Math Meets Storytelling
Creating Mandeltot wasn’t just about writing a cute baby book—it was about finding a way to make fractals fun, engaging, and accessible to the tiniest readers. Here’s how I did it:
🎨 Playing with Colors
I started with this Mandelbrot generator, a fantastic tool for exploring the intricate beauty of fractals. I experimented with countless color combinations, tweaking hues, contrasts, and gradients to find the perfect look.
In the end, I landed on a red, black, and white palette. Why? Because high-contrast colors are easier for babies and toddlers to perceive, making the visuals more engaging and stimulating for early brain development.
🔍 Zooming into the Infinite
The Mandelbrot set is endless—zoom in, and you’ll find new, intricate patterns forever. So I spent hours exploring it, hunting for the most captivating shapes and structures. My goal? To find forms that felt almost alive—twisting, swirling, and inviting curiosity with every page turn.
I wanted each page of Mandeltot to feel like an adventure through this mathematical universe, guiding little readers (and their parents!) through a world of patterns and symmetry they might never have seen before.
📖 Crafting the Story
Once I had my visuals, I needed a story to match. But how do you tell a story about something as abstract as the Mandelbrot set—especially for babies?
I kept things fun, simple, and rhythmic, weaving a playful narrative that makes the shapes feel familiar and interactive. It’s not just about looking—it’s about spotting, wondering, and exploring. The book encourages babies (and their parents) to engage with the shapes, turning each page into a mini-discovery.
📚 Making It Real
With the digital version ready, I wanted Mandeltot to be a physical book—something kids could touch, hold, and explore in real life. I partnered with a U.S.-based printer to create a durable board book, ensuring it could withstand all the drool, bites, and excited page-turning that little hands would throw at it.
👶 Testing with My Own Little Reader
Of course, the ultimate test was my own son. From the moment I showed him the book, he was hooked. He loved spotting the familiar Mandelbrot shape across the pages, pointing it out with excitement as he recognized it over and over.
That was the moment I knew—this was something special.
Sharing the Experience
Now, I want to bring Mandeltot to other curious little minds. I believe that introducing abstract math concepts early—in a way that feels fun and natural—can spark a lifelong love of curiosity, patterns, and learning.
So if you’re a parent who wants to introduce something new, bold, and brain-boosting to your baby’s bookshelf, Mandeltot is for you! Let’s make math magical from the very start.
Stay tuned for launch details—this is just the beginning of the adventure! 🚀