Local Language Publishing

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” – Dr. Seuss

The Need

Throughout the developing world, most children don’t have access to children’s books in their local language. The few books that are available are either second-hand books in foreign languages or low -quality, black and white books for more mature readers – not the type of literature that is meant to spark a child’s imagination, curiosity, and a desire to learn to read.

The lack of children’s books is often due to market economics. It’s simply not profitable for publishers to print children’s books because local families cannot afford to buy them. Even in developing countries like India where there is an existing children’s book publishing industry, the need for early reading materials and lower-level science books is not being effectively addressed.

Our Approach

We are significantly increasing the quantity and diversity of children's books published in local languages by sourcing and publishing new children's literature in every country where we work. Our Local Language Publishing program is committed to providing children with materials that will inspire them to read, expand their minds, and develop a lifelong love for reading and learning.

The books are a fundamental component of our Reading Room library program. They are created entirely within the countries in which we work. We select local writers and illustrators to develop new culturally-relevant children's books. Some stories are adapted from local folktales; others are sourced from various writing competitions and writers' workshops sponsored and facilitated by Room to Read. These competitions and workshops promote literacy – a culture of writing, not just reading. Room to Read selects the highest quality manuscripts from those submitted.

Books are often field-tested by our staff with local children, to garner comments on plot, character development, language and general suitability for the target age group. All of our local language books are printed within the respective countries, where we publish 5,000 - 10,000 copies per new title and distribute them to our network of schools and libraries, and to other non-governmental organizations.

Our goal is to provide a variety of content to children in the developing world, covering a myriad of themes including: gender equality, the environment, health, art, beginning words and basic vocabulary, morals and values, family life, folktales, rhymes and poems.

Our Results

The LLP program operates in seven Room to Read countries (Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam) and publishes in 22 different languages.
As of February 2010, Room to Read has published about 433 original titles and printed more than 4.1 million books. Also, we have recently expanded into printing posters and new book formats, including story cards, big books, and conversation charts.
Because we publish in the countries in which we work, we are able to keep our costs extremely low: approximately US$1 per book.
In 2008, the LLP program won the Academy for Educational Development’s "Breakthrough Ideas in Education" prizes.
Room to Read is one of the top publishers of local language children's books in Nepal and Cambodia. Our Nepal books have won “Children’s Book of the Year Award” and in Laos we won the “Laos Book Excellence Awards” in both 2008 and 2009.
Most importantly, young children in the developing world now have access to new, high- quality books to read and enjoy.