Lyssa-Noel Frater
Jamee Natella photographed by Evin Grant
Jamee Natella is a film producer and a newly published author in Japan, introducing young readers to the magic of cultural discovery through her debut children’s novel “Sam in London; Cheeky Kids, Medieval Blokes, and Giant Trousers.“ The book is part of her larger creative universe, Worldride Adventures, an expanding IP brand dedicated to helping children experience the world through stories that are adventurous, playful, educational, and emotionally engaging. Drawing on her international travels and decades of studio production experiences with her young son Sam in tow, Natella is inviting children to experience real world culture through travel, immersive experiences, and global storytelling that sparks genuine cultural exchange.
“My travels as a producer exposed me to the richness of different cultures. My son, Sam, and his curiosity about the world made me realize how many children lack these opportunities. I was able to see firsthand all of the different customs and cultures that make up the world around us, which inspired me to create Worldride Adventures; designed to provide youth with access to new cultures, perspectives, and ideas that can shape their worldview,” says Jamee.
Building a Global Storytelling Legacy
Jamee was raised in Chicago and attended the Chicago Academy for the Arts. Later, she would move to Los Angeles to enter the film industry. She had early success in the field, gaining studio experience with 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros, and Touchstone Pictures.
In 1995, she was lucky enough to be a producer on a short film that was one of the official selections at the Venice Film Festival, which helped Jamee gain recognition as a producer.
She was then offered to produce a morning talk show in Tokyo titled “Tokyo Tea Time,” which aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System, a major Japanese television network. This opportunity allowed Jamee to work internationally, realizing there was a high demand and market in the international space. Three years later, she launched Blueyed Pictures Inc., which is a women-owned international production and media company, currently headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Blueyed Pictures focuses on film production, commercials, events, and is partnered with IPG 360 for naming rights.
Jamee continues to produce films, with her latest being The Last Firefighter with SP Media Group that stars Jon Voight and Kelsey Grammer, and the upcoming sci-fi thriller, Moral Capacity. She is partnering with Sobini Films, Highland Film Group, and CAA Media Finance on Moral Capacity, set to go into production early 2026.
Where Fiction Meets Real-World Discovery
Jamee is not only a successful film producer, she is now a first-time published author whose advanced reader copy of Sam in London sold over 10,000 copies in its first three days in Japan.
With such early momentum, the story is expanding into a three-part series. Each book highlights a diverse ensemble of characters that children everywhere can identify with: Sam, who loves esports, music, and soccer; Irina, a Ukrainian refugee with a quiet sixth sense and the challenge of adapting to a new culture; Charley who is Irish living in London, bringing humor and wit to the group dynamic with a bit of quirkiness; Peter, the natural athlete; James and Taylor, Armenian twins from Los Angeles—one passionate about sustainability, the other about basketball, hiking, and track; and Mika, a pivotal character who is neurodivergent, obsessed with anime, music, and pets, and charmingly speaks Japanese with a British accent.
Together, these characters create a rich, multicultural world designed to reflect the many ways children see themselves and each other.
Throughout the story, empathy, curiosity, and emotional resilience are encouraged while also presenting differences as a superpower. Each book in the series takes place in a different part of the world, with stylistic elements inspired by the region featured in that particular story.
An advance reader copy of the book is available through the website and in Japanese on the Amazon Japan market.
Real-World Access for Gen Alpha
Worldride Adventures offers a growing collection of products and cultural experiences designed to bring global exploration to life for young readers, featuring a culturally immersive children’s book series with a sustainable backpack line. The line includes character-themed, travel-ready backpacks made from recycled materials, designed with waterproof fabric, hidden pockets, trolley sleeves, and functional side compartments, allowing children to charge their electronic devices on the go.
“Worldride Adventures is the first children’s IP to make cultural discovery adventurous, stylish, and educational; woven with music, gaming, and global storytelling. If you want your child to understand the “why” behind the world’s cultures, this is the brand that will take them there.” Says Jamee.
Families can also explore merchandise bundles that pair the books with the backpacks, as well as an interactive game online that extends the storytelling world through activities, a global newsletter for kids including recipe sharing, technology, and engineering as well as art. To discover the full range of offerings or purchase the Advance reader copy of “Sam in London; Cheeky Kids, Medieval Blokes and Giant Trousers,” visit www.worldrideadventures.com
If you’d like to learn more about Worldride Adventures’ cultural program, please visit www.worldrideimpact.org