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New Phippy Book Guidelines: Enhancing Community Access & Engagement

Phippy and Friends have long been a beloved part of the cloud native ecosystem, making complex technologies more approachable through storytelling. As interest in these books grows, CNCF is introducing new guidelines to better support, distribute, and service community requests, ensuring that these books reach the right audiences effectively.

One key update is the introduction of two distinct types of books:

Project-Related Books – Books focused on CNCF projects created by the project maintainers to help educate the community about the project.

Kids Day Books – Books designed for young learners, Kids Day Books support CNCF’s Kids Day initiatives by making cloud native concepts fun and accessible. Typically, these books have hands-on workshop concepts built into the story to help provide fun and engaging learning methods. 

With this distinction, CNCF is streamlining how these books are produced, funded, and distributed, ensuring a more structured and impactful experience for everyone involved.

Project-Related Books: Bringing CNCF Projects to More People

Project-related books play a crucial role in explaining CNCF projects in a fun and engaging way. To increase accessibility and visibility, CNCF will now coordinate the time and location of book signings, ensuring they are officially included in the KubeCon + CloudNativeCon agenda.

Key Enhancements for Project Books

CNCF-Supported Production & Funding—CNCF will provide funding if needed for approved books, ensuring high-quality production and accessibility.
Structured Proposal Process – Project maintainers can now submit proposals for book creation at least 3-4 months before KubeCon + CloudNativeCon to allow ample time for review and production.
Official Event Book Signings—Each project-related book is eligible for one coordinated signing session at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon, which helps authors engage directly with attendees.
Post-Event Availability – Books will remain available for purchase through the CNCF online store, ensuring long-term access.

By refining this process, CNCF is making it easier for projects to tell their stories while providing the community with more structured opportunities to engage.

Kids Day Books: Inspiring the Next Generation

Kids Day books remain an essential part of CNCF’s commitment to education and outreach. To enhance the support and distribution of these books, CNCF is introducing new sponsorship opportunities and dedicated book signings during Kids Day events.

Key Enhancements for Kids Day Books

Exclusive to Kids Day – Kids Day books will now be distributed only during Kids Day workshops and will not be part of the main KubeCon + CloudNativeCon book signings.
New Sponsorship Model—Unlike project-related books, Kids Day books must be fully funded by an external sponsor.
Structured Submission Process—Proposals for Kids Day books must be submitted at least 12 weeks before the event. They must include a confirmed sponsor and an outlined plan for use in workshops.
Focus on Long-Term Accessibility – While Kids Day books won’t be sold on-site at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon, some may be available in the CNCF online store after the event.

A Stronger Commitment to Community Learning

By distinguishing between Project-Related Books and Kids Day Books, CNCF is making supporting contributors and young learners easier while improving the overall book distribution process. These updates ensure:

📌 Better coordination of book signings for maximum impact
📌 Clearer funding and sponsorship opportunities
📌 More structured processes to meet community demand

These improvements reflect CNCF’s dedication to expanding access, increasing engagement, and making cloud-native education more impactful for everyone. We look forward to seeing more Phippy books in the hands of the community—stay tuned for announcements on upcoming releases and book signings!

If you have questions, feel free to email marketing@cncf.io.