Teaching with a local context
One of literature’s greatest strengths is its ability to introduce new concepts, but for young readers, a connection to the familiar is essential. That’s why we scout and develop the talent of local authors and illustrators, who introduce concepts like simple math, personal health, family life and beginning vocabulary with a familiar backdrop that children will recognize from their own lives.
More than just informative, our books are fun and engaging. The stories speak to children's interests, allowing them to expand their minds, nourish their imaginations and explore worlds they never knew existed.
Writers' and illustrators' workshops
Room to Read recruits new authors and illustrators through open calls advertised in the local paper and through universities. We then select the best submissions and invite them to professional development workshops where they are introduced to the basic concepts of creating storybooks, and can engage in facilitated peer review of each other's manuscripts and illustrations. For many of the writers and artists we work with, the workshops are their first foray into children’s literature, so the opportunity to experiment and to garner feedback from other professionals is invaluable.
Our local language books have consistently been recognized over the years for their superior quality, having received several national book awards, industry praise and even the UNESCO 2011 Confucius Prize for Literacy.